More changes, (not again you say😐) this time the original nozzle was re fitted, as I found that the very clever improvement I made, (a flasher, smaller, better fitting brass one), wasn't so clever after all (can't be brilliant all the time😁) and was restricting the flow. The performance was quite a bit better today (still not startling) and it seems obvious now that MORE POWER will be the next step (have a higher KV, 35 sized brushless coming on the sampan to try).
Had a chat with a long time expat UKer (ex British army) at the pond today, and he mentioned that he has an Aerokits fireboat 'kit' still in the box he hasn't started, (you might be able to hear the conversation) and that he was modelling in the 60s in the UK, running diesels in his boats. He was sailing a Kyosho Seawind today (as was the other guy),- and they look like a nice little yacht, and sail well.
HARTLEY FLARELINE, FIRST CRACK AT TRAILER LAUNCHING.
I decided to risk a salt water trial, as there is no place I can think of with fresh water and a smooth beach or ramp which doesn't involve a 100 mile round trip (most beaches where I am are ocean beaches and others are soft sand/shell. The only lake I can think of is 112km away and I'm not THAT keen. Launching went ok but retrieval was another matter, not helped by an 8mph side wind (looks calm but is windy) Had a number of goes and discovered a few things which need changing, (extra front guide posts and rollers either end of the pads) The rubber resting pads stick like glue so I'll have to make some pop up rollers at the ends.
The pads hold the boat slightly above the centre rollers to avoid damage and stop it sliding off while shifting it. New front guide posts are needed as the boat only draws about 30mm and goes right over the trailer with it underwater 😮(no prop or rudder sticking out,) so it might help locate it when coming in. Jeep had truckloads of power (just fitted a new even lower geared -geared motor -1000rpm/min @ 12v), but unfortunately being only 2x2 (not 4x4) and being half the weight of the boat/trailer combo it couldn't get a grip in the mud, so needed a bit of assistance, (as did the boat getting onto the trailer). Cut out most of the vid with the boat missing the trailer about 10 times, but scored a direct hit once😊. Heaps of fun trying and heaps of washing and CRC when I got home! Going to need some new bearings at some stage, - the ones in it are rubbish and have only lasted for about a few hours running, noisy as anything now, even with gallons of oil. Stainless NMB ones next if I don't change the jet to something else, (another thought on propulsion happening)💡
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 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)😁
Tested the new reversing bucket, and it has improved reverse power quite a bit (actually was backing into a strong wind). Bit hard to gauge the reverse steering as there was a 10-15mph wind blowing the boat all over the place, (looks calm but wind funnels through the area from either end at times). Performance hasn't changed with the new grille unfortunately, but the flow looks slightly better. I noticed the reduced brass nozzle I had made was creating a small amount of back pressure, so have re-fitted the original oversized plastic nozzle for the next test.
Trying a method of producing correct engine sound using BT for the seaplane tender.
I purchased a small BT player which has a number of features including recording. It can output using BT to a BT speaker, so I recorded an engine sound (Detroit 4-53 for the seaplane tender) I found, and copied it a number of times using the player and the vid on the computer (paused the recording, ran the video back, started recording again, etc etc) worked reasonably well. Very hard to find a sound which is continuous for a decent length of time, especially sounds of older engines which may not exist or are in museums. Used the BT feature to send the sound to a small BT speaker sitting in the boat.
Now I need to find out how to get the sound to accelerate and somehow get it into my 'GT Power' engine sound unit files, (the sounds on that are in lots of small WAV files linked to the TX throttle movement (I think they are on an SD card and they just loop where you stop the throttle, and advance or retard to the next file as you move it) A bit of investigation is in order.😀
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',
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!
Finally got a good day, so raced down to the pond and threw the boat in. 2 problems, 1: battery had run down a bit with all the testing, and the new 18kg digital servo winch needed every bit of 4.8v, so functioned intermittently, meaning not much sail control, 2: jib boom needs a kicking strap to stop it 'skying' and tangling (knew it would happen but wasn't a worry). Apart from that, everything worked perfectly ( cheapo China Futaba knock -off rudder servo still worked fine on the low battery which is a bonus)
Sailed brilliantly like it did over 40 yrs ago, and as it's set will sail hands off on a reach, being nicely balanced, (even with the crappy jib,- which I had to make,- well actually my mother made for me,- back in 1980 after the original was stolen by a kid at the beach, while my back was turned😠) Funnily enough it was made on the same Bernina I used to sew (horrendously) the jib foot after trimming it for the boom a few days ago.
A few more things to improve and add, but pleased to have it back on the water. Another crap video, -seems to get blurry once it's been through the movie editor and You tube ) One day santa might bring me a Gopro, ("yeah right"!)
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.
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
I tried to put this up in the How To Articles...but it does not have url upload capability. So here it is. This is a very good video on how to work with fiberglass with odourless resin. It is very simple and should make those who are nervous about this process feel very confident.
