Hi Ron, haven't spent a huge amount due to the fact that all the electrical bits are very cheap ($1 ea for a voltage reg, $8-12 for a pump, $30 ea for a motor (bought 2 as the first was not fast enough) and jet unit, $15 for the ESC, a few JST plugs and wire, $3 smoke pen, few lengths of silicone tube etc, plus balsa and f/glass, -probably not a lot more than NZ $200. A lot of things you buy of course like resin and paint, usually have to be bought in bigger quantities than you would use on one model, and may be used on other projects, so it's hard to work out an exact cost. I think the hull was the most expensive part, due to the cost of balsa and resin.

Mostly a lot of time, (hate to work out the labour cost on any model at going rates,- probably in the thousands)!

JB

Don't get too hopeful Graham, check out the latest bit of wire in the blog😂

JB

JB,

Looks like you finally have it sorted 👍 You are going to have to find something new to work on now 😉

Graham93

How much $ you have invested in this one?

Now it's the wait of Lockdown before you hit the water.
Looks like a neat project

Lockdown project or not, you have built a very nice model and I look forward to seeing her afloat, if ever they let us sail again!.

Nerys

Hi Peter, I could probably drive the boat on the right stick, and the truck on the left stick of the 9x TX,- I'd just have to sort out the smoke/air/water pump starting, which at present uses the left stick moved right and left to start/stop. The smoke etc doesn't run all the time, (just for starting as a display thing) and can be turned off at any time with Grahams clever little control board. It's not too much of a problem really though,- if I was better organised, I could probably hang one over each shoulder (or clamp them back to back)😁

JB

Hi JB - Martins eBay one looks like the place to start - add metal diffs and a good body - away you go .
Was thinking its a pity you are stuck with two transmitters - be nice to only use one like the old Futaba/Graupner F14 set they used for the German Rescue & Daughter boats..........

Hi Martin, 'SNAP'😁👍 see my comment to Peter (Red) just now. Also, pic is of what we have here in the hobby shop, (better quality,-brushless, metal gears etc,- - but still nowhere near the best, - ready to play) Stupid massively inflated prices!!! (and they go way over $1000 for similar ones to mine (a bit fancier, but don't do much different) Hence why I made my own!

Mine only cost around $80 to build, and I don't think it looks $1200 cheaper than the other one (at least not externally)😁lol

JB

Hi Peter, I've seen those on Ali Expr and they are about NZ $40 delivered. I've also seen them here in the hobby shop, (silly prices) and they are really only a kids toy, with the motors on the diffs, (very light construction). I thought about trying one, but the chances of it getting here in one piece would me minimal at best,- would probably arrive as a kitset😂 Probably only suitable for dragging itself around, as the gears in those things are usually only plastic, and non replaceable. Could be a bit of fun to play with, all the same.

My 'Jeep is 17" long x 8" wide and weighs 1.7kg whereas the Al Expr ones only weigh around 900g, so would be a bit light to tow the boat. Could be a starter for a better model perhaps, with a proper driveline and motor (using the original wheels) and a bit of reinforcing on the frame etc.

JB

What a coincident Red.
I have just been looking at these too
.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-8-4WD-Remote-Control-RC-Cars-Bi...

Martin555.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-8-4WD-Remote-Control-RC-Cars-Big-Wheel-Kids-Toy-Car-Monster-Truck-2-4GHz-UK-/133630178182

🔗

Hi JB - here's a pic of the 4wd for R620 or about $48nz - its about a foot long

Hi JB - no problem with the plans but doubt you would be able to cut by hand - grille for instance slots are knife blade width, and a lot of the detail is given by a light cut . When you do get the axles let me know the width and we can go from there - Defenders have the wheels protruding outside the wings (so bear that in mind for the width of the body) - already has a wheel arch extender. Note its the original type Defender - not the version launched this year. Defender would be easier to convert than the Series 1 and would probably be more in keeping with the Flareline.
As to the 48km - the nearest decent shopping centre is 55km away from us - and if you you need specialist bits & pieces its more like 155km................

Hi Peter, sounds like it could make an interesting project, but if I start anything else now, I won't be getting on with the real boat repairs, - the 12ft dinghy needs some major surgery on the top rail which I recently noticed has a bit of rot. I'll need to spend a few dollars doing that before winter if possible, and if I start a new model I'll get carried away and do that instead😁 I might slowly start collecting some parts to make a new 1:10 wagon later in the year perhaps as I'm running out of room for any more big models, and these don't take up a lot of room.

I might be able to knock up the body you have by hand from a plan or drawing if you have one which might be easier than trying to get things cut, as most of these places (more than 20 in Auckland) are miles away and the majority are specialist outfits doing metal work. One or two of them look ok and can do wood cutting, and one looks quite reasonable pricewise, but he is 48km away. I'll do a bit of research.

JB

Hi JB - bought a whole off road vehicle to convert - very expensive complete with simple 2.4 ghz RC - all of about $33nz . Decided it was too nice to butcher . You could get one of that type as it comes with sprung shocks, good wheels & tyres etc . Only 2wd though the 4wd version is about one and a half times that...........

As to the body I can send any type file eg dxf dwg, jpg etc - most lasers run on dxf files. We charge R10/minute so Defender body would cost about $20 +material here. Nice thing is you can make it any size you want ................Just takes a little extra work to make it suit the material thickness............

Hi Peter, there's certainly some nice stuff to build with on line, but if I got too carried away I'd blow my budget in no time. I might just wear out the bits I've got at the moment, and slowly buy some better bits for it as I find them. I think I've found one which might be worth a go, which has spider gears, which would be better for steering, but worse for towing (don't think anyone's made an LSD for models yet!) Certainly something to play with over the winter.

I could buy a decent set like the pic, which has hardened steel gears, LH and RH crown-wheels and pinions (for front and back, but no spiders) but the price is rather nice, and how could I mount them on parallel springs. You'd have to buy a splitter box (black one on the right,) drive shafts, trailing arms, shocks etc,- the list goes on and on with these things and they'd end up costing way more than boats to build. Perhaps if I win lotto😁

Could get things laser/water cut here no problem, but I'd have to sign my house over to get anything done and wait a year to get it, (they are not really interested in small jobs,- same with engineering jobs) It would be easier and cheaper just to buy a body from the hobby shop or Ali Exp. You'd also have to give them drawings in a format they use on their particular machine, (tried that with printing decals on vinyl once,- wanted to charge me about $8 a letter to draw it up and print it)!

JB

Would it come with a ramp Martin😁? (and beer holders)?

JB

Hi Graham, I now have sandpit envy😂

JB

Hi JB - Already have the Bucket & Spade - big ones for the garden unfortunately ............
Have some small surfboards bought for the grandkids too - but too b cold here in the South Atlantic....
Herewith pics of the ones already found - See Banggood does have an agent there - makes it easier. The big set is metal - perhaps you should start with the right parts - can always send you drawings of a Series 1 Land Rover body - or the new Defender SWB . Can get them cut on a laser from liteply ...........there must be a service in Kiwiland surely ?????

I like that Graham.
You could do a second version one with a pool.
Then he could have a paddle whilst using his boat.LOL!!!

Martin555.

JB,

"I'll have a sandpit with a bucket and spade next😂"

I've already succumbed to that temptation! I'll send you the plans if you like 😂🤣

Graham93

Hi Peter, no problem getting that type of tyre on Al Exp, just the rim size can be a problem. My problem is the scale of the truck I think, - it's somewhere between 1/10 and 1/14 scale,- bit of an uncommon size, due to it having been just a big non scale kids push and go car. The front axle is a perfect fit but the diffs all seem to be either too wide or too narrow. The diff I have is a copy of a Willtoys diff, but it has no spider gears, which makes steering tricky at times (really good for a drift car). I think I might have found the same diff with spiders so I might buy one and see. I'll keep looking for a matching front andrear diff and something might pop up. One more problem is,- most are made for multi link suspension and coil-over shocks, not leaf springs (had to tie and epoxy mine in place).

I need something which is 7" to the wheel centres, (1/10 ends up at around 8 1/4") but most will end up 1"too wide or too narrow. There are so many combinations (not to mention wheel offsets which they do not mention) that you could spend forever (and a lot of money and waiting time) trying to guess what will fit. I think with the right surface, it wont be a problem (I took it out on my street the other day, and it hauled the boat up the hill with no problem, (slope is about 25deg). Pics are of the parts I used. Front axle is supposed to be for 1:14 scale and is nicely made, but I can't find the right type of diff to match it. Has to be really strong to take the torque. Has around 1.8kg of pull on carpet before it starts skidding (only takes 300g to move the boat on a hard flat surface) so not too bad.

It's really all only for a video, but is actually a lot of fun to play with😁 (I'll have a sandpit with a bucket and spade next😂)

JB

Hi Jb - the tyres I was thinking about look like miniature tractor tyres or they have hundreds of rubber studs - rock crawlers seem to use them. Sure you could find a wide enough diff - the 1/18 scale ones are suitable for my purposes but they range up to 1/10 scale . 4wd would make a huge difference - Banggood has an agent in SA so deliveries are OK . Do they have the same in NZ?

Was going to use a miniature tractor to launch my 7" CC but the internal rechargeable batteries have expired and its too small to use standard ones. Pity because it only needed a small garden pond...........

Hi Peter, the 'Jeep' has a truckload of torque but it overpowers the grip. Tyres are soft 3"x1-1/4" but it was just the mud it was on. What you probably can't see in the vid-(it's a bit dark) are the wheels spinning, and it doing an impression of a rotary hoe, (pretty scale really😁). I'd stamped the mud and stones down but it still dug through. I would have used the concrete ramp and it would have been fine, but without brakes, it just wanted to run away backwards, as the ramp is quite steep. The whole outfit weighs nearly 13lbs so I'll have to see if I can make a driveshaft brake, or change the ESC to one with a brake, -(only a cheapo in it for testing at the moment).

I enjoy playing with this sort of stuff, and the challenge of trying to make it work. I had a look at making it 4x4 but there are no diffs the right width (the rear diff's an example,-sticks out for miles) Almost everything is a different width, as the are mostly copies of individual kit parts and don't match. Re never growing up,- look how many are on this site😂 as long as we are enjoying what we do.

JB

Good One JB ........... Looks like you had a lot of fun - but as you say tow vehicle looks a little underpowered - has the buggy got the soft off road tyres ?- they do add extra traction - definitely better than the solid type

Checking Banggood under gears came up with front and rear diff units complete with steering arms quite cheaply (plastic geared) but also found a set of replacement brass gears for the units also reasonably priced - may well pay you to convert to 4wd using a new front axle........

(Wanted to motorise one of the self designed WW2 Willys Jeeps kits for our Laser, still have a couple unbuilt - and possibly another selfie a Series 1 SWB Land Rover)

Better half tells me I have never grown up - but are we not allowed a second childhood..........

A lot of fun Martin, shame I had to go over to another area to do a video, but you have to go somewhere where there are no people (hard these days) if you don't want people asking questions while you are videoing, (sort of spoils it with people yakking all over it,- even when you have a camera strapped to your noggin and it should be obvious what you are doing!) I managed to get in just after a guy left on a jet ski and finished just as he came back😊

Not a bad idea- re the TXs,- I should really just operate the truck on the left stick of the boat TX (I use the right stick for throttle and steering for the boat and the left stick to turn the water and smoke on, (but that could possibly be put on another switch). Probably won't really get used enough to worry about it though. The truck TX is used for the other boats as well.

I'll do some mods to the trailer and give it another go somewhere better if I can. I'm also going to experiment with a different drive system for the boat perhaps, although I do like the jet as it's a bit different (even though it's a bit slow,)😀 Re ramming the trailer, - the cheapo ESC won't go into reverse quickly, the all of a sudden it will. I'll be getting a better ESC when I can (Quickrun maybe) or I might change it all to brushless.

JB

It looks to me like you had great fun Jb.

So if the boat dose not go on the Trailer you ram the boat with the trailer LOL!!

Maybe next time the Truck, trailer and boat go out again how a bout making a board on a lanyard that will hold both transmitters.
Then you could switch from one TX to another TX with ease.

Martin555.

I'm always modifying Graham😁, I'm never happy till it works😂

JB

Hi JB,

Really like the launch off the trailer. Looks really good. You just need a bit more practice on the recovery 🙄 and perhaps a few modifications 🤔
Graham93

Glad to see your humour is still intact Martin😂 -very clever😊

JB

Jb,
There was two comments in your last post that i thought summed me up.
'Always windy and rough', and 'old and knackered'. LOL!!!!

Martin555.

Good to have a break Martin, otherwise you can get a bit stale, and modelling becomes a chore. There are other things in life to do, and modelling should be something to fill in spare time. I had a long break from flying models (did a few racing boats) when I got married the 1st time, then picked it up again later. In between times, I re-did a few full sized boats, in between working overseas and here. Now I have too many models to use and I'm getting out more, rather than breathing balsa dust for hours on end.

It's getting a bit expensive these days anyhow, and places like HK have gone downhill a lot from 10 yrs ago, and their prices have gone through the roof, (especially shipping costs which are just a rip off.) I have these boats in the yard I've done up which I should be using (or selling) but they are a bit like big models, and are hanging around like the models inside my house, and I don't want to part with them. Sad I know, and they will rot in the yard if I don't get A into G and do something about them. Pain in the butt maintaining them and their trailers as well.

None of them are worth a huge amount, being old style - it's just the work that I put into them to restore them. I still use them from time to time, but the way the weather is these days (always windy and rough), it's hard to get out, (plus I'm getting old and knackered😂)

JB

Hi Jb,
Thank you for asking but i am not sure when i will get back to working on them.
I have been model making most of my life and have decided to have a break from it for a while.
I know it has been quite a few months since i worked on them but i will get back to them one day.

Martin555.

Hi Martin, I usually test my planes in calm weather so you get an idea of the trim. I don't usually worry too much with boats as you can see if they will be successful or not, pretty quickly. First time I've tried a jet but as previously mentioned, it's only at the cheap end of the scale and may need a bit of mucking around to get the most out of it. Main aim is to get it running reasonably at a scale speed, and be able to back the trailer into the water and drive the boat off and on again for a vid, to sort of complete the whole project. After that, it will probably sit on a shelf gathering dust, like most of our models do😁 Think I must like the making and proving more than the playing😀.

BTW, when are we going to see 'more of the Cottis' ? (and the sub) I was enjoying watching the progress and the amazing detail you were putting into them (as was everyone I'm sure) Hope you are not getting too stuck in the 'chinflu' anti enthusiasm mode, might take your mind off it if you can get back to it👍👍

JB

Hi Jb,
A slightly unfair test, maybe you will have to wait for a really calm day.

Martin555.

Hi Peejay, I have a number of GT Power sound units and a couple are the sound and light versions for cars, (stop/tail lights, indicators, headlights) which have 50+ sounds, from formula 1 cars to diesels (but not much I can use) and the also have provision to select a horn. Haven't tried any of that stuff yet as not needed on the boat, (could probably use the horn) - hence I have a bunch of LEDs (red, white. orange) which plug into the unit still sitting in the boxes, waiting for the right project. Was going to use some for dash indicators etc but couldn't be bothered with all the extra wires!

JB

Hi Peter, the new little BT player can actually record sounds, then you can play them straight to the BT speaker which is quite cool. I can see having a lot of fun with this😁. Re the bicycle spoke idea, you could link a geared motor to run with your main motor to get the correct lower and top end 'revs',

JB

Hi JB,

Looking forward to HEARING your progress.🤣

Graham93

Somewhere on my workbench, I have a sound board fo Diesel engine noise to be hooked to the motor so it would vary with speed. It is to go in my trawler, once it stops being ‘decor’. I already have a speaker in the boat for the horn.

It may be the one offered by Harbor Models, who offer it with a 2” or 4”
Speaker. It also includes a horn.

https://www.harbormodels.com/sounds.html

🔗

Of course you could go back to simple methods JB - use a bit of plastic on a electric motor shaft - have that beat on an object as it rotates - try various objects until you get the right sound - let it speed up and down then record the noise on your smart phone . up to you to get it onto the BT player..............
Old idea dredged up from from Model Maker days (except for the cellphone - anticipating any inane comments !) - bit similar to the playing card in our bicycle spokes as a kid which turned them into motorbikes............

It is not a good sign if you get no reply, unless Covid is interfering with normal service.

Martin555.

Hi Martin, as I said once before, "great minds think alike"😂.

I'll have to get hold of the tech guy at GT Power, - they reckon they can do a custom sound if you send them a file, then you can download it to your unit. Tried once before to find out some info on what file they need, but no reply.

JB

Hi Jb,
I have done similar with an old MP3 player,
Recorded engine sounds and copied and pasted several times.
So when i switch on the ship you hear the engine sound, but like you unable to speed it up or slow it down.

I have also recorded the sound of the ship alongside the jetty and that sounds the same even when the ship is underway, so that is the one i will use for the moment.

So i look forward to hear about your progress.

Martin555.

Very nice video, instructionnal

Hi Captain Ron.
Congratulations on your promotion.
Just out of curiosity what are the dimension of the outboard motor ?

Martin555.

Those look real nice.

No leaks! Fun build

A lot of flat bottomed boats are built with the bottom planking going across the bottom, I have built three in my time, but they generally need something extra to keep them watertight, usually some form of double planking. The last one I built, quite a big sharpie, I doubled up with 6mm marine ply.

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Aerostar55.
Nice work altho it dose seen a bit of a long winded way of doing it.
But if you had done it with a sheet of thin ply it would not have that planked effect.
Well done.

Martin555.

Great job, health Zdenek👍

Hi Eric.

Looking good.
I would be interested to see more photos of this Lifeboat and its crew.

Martin555.

Hi the Graupner yachts are the best, I have a Gracia and she sails very nicely and such a pleasure to watch. She had a small change last year to the servos and works for ever on a 4 AA cell pack 2300mAh. I have a little less sail area and have a sail servo the same size as a standard servo and this copes OK.
regards Roy

JB,

Looks like a perfect day. I find sailing very relaxing and quiet, with no engine/motor noise. Can be quite challenging though, especially when you need to bring it back in to the dock.

Graham93

Hi Martin, Nice and quiet and very relaxing, and with a decent battery you could run all day for free (almost) - the less you move anything (winch/rudder) the longer you can sail. You could go the length of the pond in the right wind with just a touch of rudder now and then. No shafts etc to worry about.

JB

Hi Jb,

Did you find that more relaxing than an electrically power boat or just the same.?

Martin555.

This is an excellent Video.
I can't get Eze Kote is SA but, I can get Z Poxy products.😊

That's a good, handy video.
Thank you for sharing it.

Will

T'ink dat cool Phil.
Liking dat man.

Congrats Rasta Lieutenant.

Martin555.