Hi y’all..it’s been a minuet since I’ve been on here. Getting ready for Christmas, the annual NTMS Christmas party, work, etc. I haven’t been at my bench for a few weeks, so I decided to drag a simple kit out of my stash and build it up…the Graupner Pollux.
This kit has been gone thru, some of the vac formed parts have been cut out but not finished, but it’s very buildable. First thing I had to do is build a stand. I pulled my trusty Ryobi scroll saw out from its hiding spot under the bench, got it set up, then the blade broke…and I couldn’t remember where I put my spare blades. So I built the stand up using plasticard for the uprights which I reinforced with 1/8 in ply strip, and used dowels to connect them together. I then looked at the kit and plans.
I did not have anything similar to the Speed 180 gearbox called for, so after I trimmed and sanded the hull I made up a motor mount for a 28mm outrunner. The motor I’m using is a little hotter than I would like, it’s 750KV, which is not a “hot” motor in any stretch but is a little hotter than I would have liked…but it’s in my stock, so I used it. The shaft was missing from the kit, so I had an 1/8 in I.D Dumas tube and shaft that I cut down to suit. I have a few 3 blade props in the right size for this boat, they’re set up for a drive dog or pin style shaft. They are made for a 3 mm shaft, so it was easy to clean out with a 3.2 (1/8) drill bit to fit my chosen hardware. I also am using a rudder from my parts stock, which I started to mount in the original location, didn’t like that so I moved it aft a bit to give a little more clearance for prop installation. The original hole is filled from the inside by the rudder tube support, the rest of the fill will be done later. After I got every thing ready I checked fit and alignment then glued every down. I then built up a servo mount and did a Buick install and test on the linkage, after that I glued down a battery floor.
That’s where’s she’s at now, I’m going to get the ESC and receiver mounted using Velcro, and once I’m statisfied that I can access them via the hatch I’ll start on the deck.
Cash

Hi y’all. The radio is installed in the hull, and the deck is installed. I built up the rudder access hatch from 2 pieces of plasticard, the inner piece is a press fit into the access hole, the upper piece has an overlap of roughly 3/16 inch all round. Once I was satisfied with the rudder linkage and installation I tack glued it at the corners. Once primed and painted it will be sealed, if I have to get it loose and can pry it up to effect any repairs. The deck has a one piece coaming that is glued under the deck via a molded flange.
I drilled and cut out the freeing ports, one was a little bigger than the others as cutting out freeing ports is not my strong suit, so I trimmed the rest to match. The hull is very thin abs, the bulwarks is almost a knife edge topside, so I added a strip of 1/16 plastic inboard flush with the top edge, then added supports between the added lip and deck of the same material. I have to do some cleaning op and light sanding the the hull is ready for primer and paint.
Cash

Hi y’all. The last couple of weeks, actually well before Christmas, a couple of bugs have been circulating in North Texas. One of my fellow countermen goat flu B, another a viral infection. I’ve felt it taking passes at me for two weeks, but never had any major symptoms, till Friday night..the virus took residence in my chest. So, went to the doc in a box, it’s a virus, no flu, just started my first course of steroids this morning, already feel a sight better and the congestion is loosening and becoming more manageable. However, this made me miss my outing with my club mates today, so😠
Anyway, I felt good enough to do a little painting this week, and finished the painting today. Might do a semigloss clear, might not. Decided on black below waterline, orange up to the railing, gray deck, will do the superstructure white trimmed in orange and maybe a dark blue band around the funnel top. The superstructure main parts are primered ready to paint. I also took some thin brass and made a rudder shoe, got lucky and lined everything up properly so the rudder works as advertised with no binding.
That’s all I could do this time. Since I had already painted the deck I had to do a lot of masking to get this where I wanted it, but it came out pretty good. However I sill have some touch up to do on the railing. I’ll get more done this week and weekend as I mend.
Cash

Hi y’all. Feeling a sight better, however this virus hangs on a bit after the initial onset of symptoms. My energy is coming up, so I did a bit more on the Pollux.
I got the superstructure painted and the decals for windows and portholes applied. Took a piece of 1/8th pinstripe and cut it down to about 1/16 wide, apples that to the funnel between the orange body and the black top. The kit came with fittings, so I painted up the bollards and installed those.
Then came the mast. The mast is a vacuformed part that had already been cut out. The kit was never actually started, but some parts were already cut out from their sheets. The mast was a little rough, and it’s hollow, and fragile. So I cleaned up a bit and filled the back side with abs sheet scraps, and sanded the heck out of it, then primered. Next time I’m at the bench I can see any thing that needs to be cleaned up, then I’ll re-primer and gin from there.
Once this boat is finished, I’ll run it a few times, see how she handles, but I’m thinking I’ll put a different receiver in her and set her up on my pistol grip DX4C, and let her be a pass around boat.
Cash

Hi y’all. The Pollux is ready for her maiden. I was originally going to use a 2200 2 cell lipo for power but I would have had to add a LOT more ballast to get her to 21 ounces, so I’m using a 2 cell hard case shorty 5000 mah pack, still had to add about 3 oz ballast.
I had an altercation with the paint. I used some ca kicker to finish assembly of the superstructure. Usually I use Bob Smiths brand, never had it attack paint before, but I had some off brand and it acted like thinner. Ticke me off, had to spot sand and fix it best I could. I’ll keep it for emergencies, but I’ll use the Bob Smith for the most part.
Anyway, once she maidens I’ll post pics of the splash, till then y’all have a good week.
Cash