OK Martin,
But what should we put in such a guide?
Who can predict the myriad of potential difficulties / finger troubles new users may have?
Let's do a quick poll!

I'll stick up a new thread in the 'Website related' section where all you good folks can post what you are having trouble with. Then we'll see!🙈
Cheers, Doug 😎

I totally agree.
A lot of the members really know there stuff and are extremely helpful.

Martin.

Hi Martin you not the only one I also post and hope for the best.
However do find a lot of guys here are a great help with extensive knowledge in modelling

'All at sea' huh? 😮⛵🚤

I think that it would be a good idea as when you join the site you need a bit of guidance. And you don't know who you can contact to get help.
I was lucky as a good friend introduced me to this site so I had someone to contact.
Obviously it will need someone who is very capable and knows how this site works inside and out.
I only get by with a wing and a prayer.

Martin.

Hi Martin, "How To"
That's not quite what I meant but I see what you mean!
(Or 'where you are coming from', as Ed and friends might say😉)

Hi Doug,
"How to post".
Maybe in the how to's a section on how to use this site. (For the new Guys)


Martin.

Sounds good👍
Looking forward to the Blog or How To post Elsrickle👍
Cheers, Doug 😎

Have got some small geared motors spare and can work through my 6 volt reducer in use with the smoke generator. Switched in conjunction with my esc so it runs when the prop runs. Also the same switches to run pump for engine cooling.

Most likely using an LM317/337 etc or an LM 78xx IC I guess!?😉
PS I drove my radar scanner on Hotspur at a gentle pace using an old linear servo modified to rotate continuously. Powered by a single 1.5V dry cell it trundles around quite sedately for yonks. No RC, just a simple ON/OFF switch. I take the battery out after every run😁
Cheers, Doug 😎

Many thanks for all info and photos a great help. Will follow your advice have a very small geared motor and an adjustable voltage regulator I built from circuit on the web slows the motor by adjusting pot. without loss of power.
Will put on some photos of the Fifie soon.
All the best Ian

BTW Elsrickle,
Pics I've found of the class show a crossed loop antenna with circular elements, see attached.
Second pic shows wartime RN configuration.
Doug

Hi again GSN,
having trawled the net (😮) it seems that the Milford Star was originally built for the RN as one of the Round Table class of Trawler / Minesweepers, so you are probably dead right 👍

So Elsrickle, you need to slow your antenna right down! Or just sweep it left - right in small arcs. Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi GSN,
the very early ones used on warships and subs yes.
Here we are discussing a civil use on a trawler I believe, so we are not talking 'targets' as such.
More a 'general' radio watch service perhaps. Guess earliest civil fits could have been manual.
If so perhaps mpr instead of rpm might be appropriate? 😉
Don't know what era the subject model is from unfortunately.
Cheers, Doug 😎

As far as I was aware a DF loop was turned manually and used to tune in on a signal and thereby gave a compass bearing to the target.

Hi again,
"Thanks for the info will send more details next I have a query "
Thanks Elsrickle. I didn't want to appear overbearing in any way but I've often noticed that we have had many queries where guys here have the answers if only they are given all the parameters of the application and problem.
Sometimes we have had to draw out the info we need piece by piece. Therefore I thank you for your prompt response with exactly what I needed👍👍
Ship's of that era would not have had any radar at all so that settles that issue.
Happy rotating (don't get your knickers twisted though 😮🤣)
Cheers, Doug (AKA the nutter in Munich) 😎
PS I'm sure that all members here would love to see some pics (maybe even a video?) of your Fifie. Lovely old typical Scottish fishing boats I believe.

Hi Elsrickle,
Thanks for the photo👍 Every picture tells a story 😉
That is definitely a very basic loop detector, so it must rotate to find anything.
But not like an egg whisk please 😮 The display in those days would have been a phosphor CRT which needed time to react, so around 10-20 rpm or so would look fine.
I heartily agree with you that adding such basic functions of the original as 'special' functions of our models is more than half the fun. Not to mention the challenge of realisation 👍
Cheers, Doug 😎

Thanks for the reply here is the photo taken from a model it is the Caldercraft Milford Star same as I am starting to build

Thanks for the info will send more details next I have a query

Many thanks. The boat I am about to start is the Caldercraft Milford Star and saw the direction finder on the parts list. Have seen it on a photo of the model and if it turns while the ship is sailing I would like to make mine work the same. I fitted a water pump in the Amati Fifie I have just completed with it pumping out water from the side, as engine cooling and would like to incorporate it in the Milford Star if it had the same thing as the effect is quite good. I enjoy adding these extras to my models where they were fitted in the actual boats.

Gents, Generally-
Antennas for the relatively inexpensive commercial NAV/Weather radars generally rotate.
The box often seen directly under the antenna contains the gearbox for this.
Sometimes the whole thing is hidden in a fibre glass radome anyway 😉
The more elaborate multi-function, fixed antenna (panels etc) radars are the domain of the military. But radar wasn't really the question anyway.🙄

Antennas for Radio Direction Finding (RDF) can be rotating loops / crossed loops (bit old hat now though) or fixed multi-element antennas whereby the receiver and display electronics sense the progress of the wavefront across the elements and show it (+/- 5° or so) on the screen. Usual RDF sets for trawlers and other commercial vessels operate in the VHF band, in particular for detection of VHF IMM Band distress calls.

Can't be more specific without knowing what you are trying to depict Elsrickle.
Attached is a link to a typical modern VHF/UHF SAR RDF unit, also showing the type of multi-element antenna used.
If your model is of an older type vessel it may well have still had a crossed loop antenna.
More input = more output!!

APPEAL TO ALL SHIP MODELLERS:- At this juncture may I respectfully request that when asking for advice please provide all possible/available information on the model concerned!
Type, Name, era (when built if known) of the original, equipment fit of the model and intentions of the modeller.👍

Regarding 'water spurting' (😮😌) This is the outlet of the engine / generator cooling water circuits. As far as I have seen ALL ships have them. You may not notice this on modern stealth warships - cos they 'pee' underwater 🙄
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi,
Do you mean Radar?
Do you have a picture or photo of it.

Martin.