Harbour directory
Original LesRo Sprite
Specifications
- Boat Length
- 22" (55.88 cm)
- Motor Type
- Brushless
- Drive Type
- Direct
- Props
- Single
- Max Amps
- 100A
- Battery Type
- LiPo
- Battery mAh
- 2.2Ah (2,200 mAh)
- Prop Type
- 2 Blade
- Prop Size
- 45mm
- Run Time
- 20 min
- Model Speed
- 20 km/h (12.4mph)
Photos
About this boat
More Like a Swamp Buggy?
I bought this model in fairly rough condition on eBay as it was the first LesRo Sprite that I had seen for sale since I became interested in them after I started to build the 30" Sprite Plus model from the excellent scaled-up drawings from Chris.
Looking more like a swamp buggy with its pusher glow plug engine fitted, the plan is to remove the glow motor and its mount (whilst causing as little damage as possible) and convert what is left into a model that looks a little more like LesRo intended it to be.
Bob.
I bought this model in fairly rough condition on eBay as it was the first LesRo Sprite that I had seen for sale since I became interested in them after I started to build the 30" Sprite Plus model from the excellent scaled-up drawings from Chris.
Looking more like a swamp buggy with its pusher glow plug engine fitted, the plan is to remove the glow motor and its mount (whilst causing as little damage as possible) and convert what is left into a model that looks a little more like LesRo intended it to be.
Bob.
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There were quite a few holes in the deck of this Sprite (ex swamp boat) where the frame that supported the ENYA 15 glow plug engine was mounted, and the fuel tubing passed through from the fuel tank that must have been mounted underneath the deck etc.
I have a section of short lengths of doweling oddments that I had "saved" so I drilled out various sized holes so that the edges of the holes were less fuel soaked to give the glue a better chance of working.
Suitable sizes of scrap dowel were selected to give a tight fit and they were pushed into the holes with plenty of PVA and sawn off more or less level with the deck.
A couple of hours later, the decks were sanded and a coat of white undercut was added to highlight the various repairs to see where I need to add filler etc.
Small progress....
Bob.
Lots more work needed to get this little boat looking tidy and on the water again.
Bob.
Chris has threatened to print a 23” version of the Sprite Plus drawings
I would be very keen to see these drawings and build a prototype from them as I think it will be a really good looking little model….and quick one to make too!
The small changes to the cabin shape have improved the look of the Sprite no end IMHO, and I would also add a cockpit windscreen (or fly screen) to it to finish it off……something I hope to make for the Sprite Plus prototype build.
Making a double windscreen for the cabin front rather than the original flat screen may not be true to the original design, but it does make it a much nicer looking model.
Maybe we should form a Sprite Owners Club to encourage the proliferation of this simple little craft?
This would be open to all current owners and/or builders of either a Sprite, a Sprite Plus, or a Mini Sprite Plus where we could share pictures and information about them to see just how far we can push this models performance and detail.
Just imagine, the first Sprite Owners Club annual gathering where we meet up to run them and show them together !
This could easily become a cult that may even spawn an air powered class as well, powered by brushless pusher motors inside a Hovercraft style of fan shield to keep them safe and look good…?
……….and an outboard powered class of course - hopefully for both sizes for the 30” Sprite Plus and the 23” Mini Sprite Plus.
Being simple, cheap and quick to build, this could become a very popular group - maybe with its own 23” racing class along the same lines at the current Club 500 - but faster and with brushless motor power……………..
Bob,
I cut out the large round hole as it was very ragged inside under the deck and replaced it with an oblong shaped insert with a plywood skin supporting plate glued underneath it.
The on-off switch hole also had a ply under-plate glued beneath the deck for the with shaped insert filler to sit onto.
Bob.
Bob.
Excellent restoration !
Very fine looking model !
The length of the boat is actually 23” long, but I only had the choice of 22“ or 24” so I ticked the smaller length.
I plan to fit a 90AMP SeaKing ESC, but the closest tick box for AMP size will be selected.
The information chart will be ‘adjusted” when the model is being run to finalise the actual details as they could change - but they are reasonable “targets” that are likely to be achieved.
Bob.
Not, being the best idea.
The Plus design improvements do add to the original Sprite design, without detracting from the simple original in any way.
Two sizes of Sprite Plus are really good to have available for anyone that is able to build from your excellent well detailed drawings.
Maybe the name could be changed to save any problems, but with the design and construction changes that have been made already, it is not exactly the same model, but rather one that complements the original.
Over the years, many modellers have built bigger (and possibly smaller) versions of some of the best models that have come from the pens of the classic design masters such as Vic Smeed and Les Rowell and they have never come to any harm for doing so.
No doubt (when they were both still with us) Vic and Les would have been quite pleased to see their designs being re-scaled and adopted to suite any particular users requirements, and could possibly be seen as quite a complement to the originals.
I am certainly looking forward to the day when my original Sprite has been restored and seeing it alongside the same size Mini Sprite Plus…..with big brother Sprite Plus too!
Such a simple “powered punt” idea has spawned into something rather interesting that has inspired some of us to draw and make modified version of it to build and enjoy.
Bob.
Perhaps SLEC should have re-released the Sprite kit with it's unusual looks and easy to build. Perhaps we should market the Sprite Plus!! Only joking!
Until recently, the LesRo Sprite has been a rarely seen model, but now they appear to be coming out of hiding.
Yet another Sprite is currently for sale on eBay today, it has some very old servos in it and an even older wiper board speed controller, but they are about right for the age of the boat.
At £120 it is a bit expensive given that the wiper board and most of the electrics could probably do with a refresh, and the boat would benefit from a clean-up and a repaint too.
……but it is a Sprite, and the one that I saw on eBay last week looked a bit rough and expensive, but it appears to have been sold, so their scarcity seems to command a higher price than I thought they were worth.
Bob.