I'm re purposing the airboat as a camera boat, as I found it's a bit too heavy and needs more freeboard. Goes well but I think I'll build a better one as it's a bit battery hungry. Recently bought a cheap kit of camera mounts, and one of them was just the ticket for mounting a camera in a better place. The bracket I've used is for a motorbike helmet camera, but as I sold my last bike a few years ago, I won't be needing it.

I removed the camera mount base from the rear behind the prop where it was originally, and attached it to the foredeck along with the helmet bracket. The bracket can be moved to any position or the whole thing unscrewed and turned 180 deg to lean out over the bow.

I might be adding twin hull extensions with rudders to lift the boat up as well (catamaran like) and changing the motor for a less hungry one. Can't believe it's been 2 years since it was finished !

Finally got round to improving the steering. It tended to slide a bit much on turns, keeping the fingers quite busy, so I've now added 3 - 10x12mm strakes to the bottom, and used the adjustable mount to crank in a bit of down thrust to lift the nose. Works a lot better now (probably gone a bit the other way if anything) but at least it runs straight on full power and turns without spinning. Might halve the down thrust, as I want it to slide a small amount so it steers a bit sharper.

Vids in the media gallery.

Also fitted a camera mount so I can use it for filming . I have also swapped the 9X RX for a an HK 6DF RX and re bound it to the 6DF TX I use for small planes. This will enable it to be used as a rescue boat without clashing with the 6DF TX (modded for boats) I am using for most of the boats, (except the Hartley model which uses the 9X TX as more channels were required)

Pylon braces now painted black, (to keep Martin happy, - if it looks crap, blame him😂)
JB

Just fitted some alloy pylon braces, as I think the pylon was flexing under higher throttle and affecting the steering, Seems to have made a slight improvement.

Finally got to give the boat a run on the new pond I recently found (only 1km from my place and didn't know it was there, -And I've been travelling 30km to the other one!☹️😐) Also spotted 2 more a short distance away which I'll investigate. Boat went really well on the water and was easy to control, (apart from an excursion into the grass😁) Bit dark to see well, as the sun was going down on the other side of the hill, so I couldn't give it too much power for long, as I was losing sight of it in the shaddows. Turns well (if a bit skippy) and slides without tripping a chine (I built a slight V in the stern which flattens off to the bow) Might add some spray rails, although it stayed pretty dry on the deck with no cockpit leaks.

I'll do a daylight vid when the sun's up, (been dark and raining lately)so I'll be able to see what it's doing properly, (just couldn't wait any more,- hence the night sailing😁 Tail light works well! and easy to see for orientation at a distance if you turn slowly.

R/C ELECTRIC AIRBOAT FIRST WATER TEST 30 05 20

▶️

First big test in an open area. Bit of a dark day with rain looming so I went down to our local sports grounds for a test skid. Went ok but hard to keep straight due to getting slippery at speed. Might need to reduce rudder throw, but I'll see how it goes on water first. Thrust line may need adjusting as well, but was hard to tell while running here, as the wind was blowing about 10 knots and a bit gusty.

Ended up on the rough concrete walkway at one stage, ripping the plastic protection to bits and getting a case of gravel rash (plastic did its'job well, saved a lot of paint damage). 😀Touched up at home and added another coat of clear for a bit more protection. No doubt it will suffer in the future just due to the nature of the boat. Might need to add some 8x8 hardwood skid strakes on the bottom or aluminium runners. Also for land use I might see if I can get hold of some thin Teflon sheet to strap on. Didn't notice on this run that the tail light light lens had come off when it went over the concrete on a previous run, and the batteries had fallen out😁. Found everything, but will zip tie the lens on next time. Hit fairly hard and I heard it go over the concrete from 100m away.😮

Boat should go a bit better on the water, as it takes about 75% power to unstick its' 3kg weight on the grass. Once moving it only takes about 50% to keep it going. Bit more testing required yet, but looks promising. Should track better in the water as well.

R/C ELECTRIC AIRBOAT TEST

▶️

Ready to go,- final pics, (maybe) just waiting for the weather. Made the pin retaining clips for the rudders and a 'fairlead' for the rudder actuator rod as the last jobs. Checked the programming on the ESC and gave the boat a float test in the indoor test tank ('big white') - only draws 1/2in at the stern, tapering away to nothing at the bow. Final weight is 3kg with 4000mAh 3s LiPo. Should stick to the water ok. May have to play with different motors, props, lower KVs etc) for noise reduction (small props going fast make lots of noise) -don't want to upset the natives! - whiners everywhere these days! I also have an on board digital battery monitor/alarm for 'drive-by' checking.
JB

Made up a decal for the front and clear coated it and also the 2 deck side decals.

99% ready for sea trials (after I've checked whether it will float, in the neighbours pool) Radio box velcro'd in, cockpit/battery cover securing sorted (hooks under front lugs and over embedded 3mm threaded rods at the back and held down by silicone tube pushed over the rods) Found some thin sponge self adhesive strip for battery cover and radio box. Waterproofed the gaps in the ESC shrink wrap and backs and joints of all plugs with marine sealant.

Added an air scoop on top of the canopy which blows down on the battery for cooling (hopefully) The air exits through the raised center of the cockpit/battery cover. Battery is held down with a velcro battery strap. Also fitted a small strobing (6 settings) bike tail light on the rear of the pylon for dull conditions (also for seeing direction if operating at a distance)

Covered the access holes for the steering servo slide out tray screws on the deck with doped coverall for future access.(just poke a screwdriver through it if necessary) Servo is under the deck in the battery compartment, so normal access is not possible (servo is screwed to a tray/block which slides into guides under the deck, and is secured to a block through the deck holes, - necessary for service or replacement)

All motor and mount screws loctited. Thrust angle is adjustable by nuts on motor backing plate. On off switch is inside the radio box but is quick to get at due to a locking bar over the lid (ply and balsa bar which is radiused on the ends, and is turned and jammed in place cross ways against the inner partitions, and holds the lid down firmly on the seal) basic but it works. Needed everything as waterproof as poss due to proposed use in salt water. Only thing left to do is to make a couple of cranked brass brackets to hold the rudder pins down.

Now it's ready, we are about to have some rubbish weather, just had a week of beautiful fine calm days!☹️. Had a bit of major tree surgery to do yesterday, and was clambering around 20ft up a huge Acmena in the top corner of my yard, lopping off 300lb branches to give my other trees some light -nice sunny calm day- "perfic" (OFAH) for tree sculpting! Nothing as satisfying as hoeing through logs with your chainsaw!😊

Was wondering what Chinese Hackwood would be like for carving a boat out of (just lopped some big trunks off one of those as well, - supposed to be the most flexible wood in the world, and very white) I'll let one dry and see what it looks like,- might be good for a tug if it will dry without splitting. Might do a bit of pre carving with the chainsaw while it's soft.

Tail light strobe on R/C airboat

▶️

Sun was out, mud was in down the estuary, so what better time to pollute the atmosphere with a bit of spray painting!😊. Just have to make some gaskets for the pylon and cockpit, re-fit the radio gear. hinge the cockpit for quick battery access, buy some printer ink to knock up some decals and Bobs your aunty. Colour is 'Chrysler Orange' -(metallic) - same as the charger in Dukes of Hazzard. One of the standard colours for chargers. Almost play time😊