This is the Metcalf kit and it has taken approximately two years to build!
It had its maiden voyage on Monday 8th July.
It is powered by two Speed 720 motors and a 12 volt battery.
It is sailed on Cheddar Model Boat Club lake in Somerset.
Apologies for the blurred pictures of the boat on the water.
Not easy trying to use 35mm SLR with telephoto lens and radio control at the same time.
More boat details to folloe.
just adding the little final touches and other small fixings. any tips on what sort of glue to use to fix all the small bolt heads around the rear deck main hatches? istarted the build last august so it has taken me 10 months to 99% complete the build including the Y boat,but still not had it in water yet but very soon
This is a fun boat!
With a steam engine that really runs, it is quite a crowd pleaser.
The tank and parts are brass, and silver soldered together. The heat source is sterno, placed in the tray and Ignited. This boils distilled water in the boiler, which is vented to the piston. The hole in the freeboard is the "exaust".
I'll have to post a video of it operating.
Howdy,
It runs pretty good. The 3 blade screw pushes it right along.
Have you had your engine running since you put it together? I've been experimenting with different types of fuel, one that would be more controlable with temperature to try and limit output. Right now its all or nothing.
I'll post a video soon.
Yes I did run it with the solid fuel but that is what has put me off. I have thought about building a small gas fired boiler- I built a 3''dia vertical boiler for another boat- just wondered if it was worth it. I have a two foot hull which might suit it- or it might be too heavy -what sort ofweight is your fantail all up? I know that was designed for the plant.
What other fuels have you tried? it would be nice to see a video when you get round to it- always interesting
HI All,
Thought you might like to see some pics of my RTTL. 35" long and built from the Vic Smeed plan. She is powered by 2 belt driven 480 motors with 2 speed controllers and 2 7.2 NiMH batteries. Based on the boat stationed in the Maldives in the 1960's.
Dave.
My model of Soclaine (MGS) Built in 1985. Trawler kit originally called le Zenith 1/24 Scale. My name change is in memory of our beautifull daughter who went to heaven just over four years ago. Anyhow model is beautifull on the water powered by Como MFA 919 Series Electric Motor.
All power is from a lead acid 12 volt battery,lights, running gear . Using a simple set up of two channel Planet T5 Radio.
I sail the boat at Rutherglen Boat Club Glasgow. The weight of this boat is really awesome and I kept adding lead untill it was nearly Impossible to lift,must be getting soft in me old age.. 👍 lol Deck crane is made from odds n ends and an addition..IAN
Dear friend Dennis
Your kind words mean so very much to us and we thank you most sincerely for such a kind thought..Yes our wee lass was truly the gentlest kindest human being you could Imagine..See her here http://cheryl.hamilton.muchloved.com
Built out of house guttering to a scale equivalent to model railways HO the layout is approx. 4 x 3 ft. Mounted in a wooden frame and provided with a protective see through cover it fits into the car and can go anywhere. it has been an on-going project to build RC boats to suit. Those used at present are commercial products (loa 5" (125mm)) with simple two channel two prop drives - not proportional but with forward and reverse and by operating one or both props plus reverse steering is OK. Battery life limited to 6-8 minutes with similar recharge time. Built largely from scrap and odds and ends the project cost well under £80. The idea is/was to have several units and link them together to make a large layout!
RTR minI electric speed boat with proportional 2CH RC. 280mm loa (11")
Good boat and fast. Watercooled brushed motor. Normal problem with commercial mini-boats is lack of proportional RC but this is fine. Battery life about ten minutes - low freeboard and takes on water but electrics/RC have proven resistant to regular swamping!
I liked your boat. I also have an 11 inch boat with an extended exterior rudder that brings the length to 13 inches. Mabe the exterior ruder helps to keep water out of the boat this sort of rudder is seen on gas boats in usa.
Using a 3.7g micro-servo. it is possible to install this small unit within many of the existing model Radar parts or scratch built models to create a working model Radar setup.
Here is an example of one fitted to my RNLI Trent lifeboat. I am using the bottom of the servo housing to clamp this unit to the underside of the base of the kits Radar platform, this helped to reduce the overall height and to maintain the scale size.
These servos are available on eBay at £1.89 including postage from China or Hong Kong.
I found this easy to mount and I have kept the servo electronics, connecting this servo to a spare channel on the receiver. This enables the radar to rotated in both directs at adjustable speeds or just stopped. I usually have it adjust at slow : scale speed, setting this with the trim on the transmitter.
Photograph of working Radar installed into Trent RNLI model.
HI Dave
Yes the gear noise is a problem, tried to fill the gear box area with some light grease but not a good solution ..messy and too restrictive.
Going to only run the radar when under way, switching radar on via a mercury switch and the forward momentum. Noise not a problem that way and it won't wear out as quickly.
Built for the MMI Solar Boat Challenge a number of years ago and includes the winner (Amber Sol-air !) that had to complete as many circuits as possible of a canal system constructed out of household guttering in a fixed time. (the gutter naturally limited the size - loa, beam and draft). All built out of depron from my own head - with enough left over to build several more ?!
There are a number of ideas for propulsion - all powered by solar panels, no batteries. The pool is 12 feet diameter and great for boats of this size.
MMI ran the event in three different forms over two seasons (arond 2007/8) - a circular gutter track with as many circuits as possible and also 3 circuits in shortest time, then drag racing - straight track knock ot competition.
As far as I know they have no plans to do more. They were great fun and pulled a lo of interest, incuding from youngsters because they were simple and cheap - but actually delivered!
I have a number of build shots the Clyde Puffer build that I'll post.
Yes I am pleased with the two 720 motors and have a sound unit "the noisy thing" fitted as well which makes it look and sound like the real thing. 😊