Name: Not yet established

Scale: 1/60.

Flag: none at the moment.

Type of ship
Type: Steam gunboat from the second half of the 19th century, propeller-driven.
Sailing rig: Schooner. Gaff rig with two mainsails, two counter-mainsails, two jibs.
Reference vessel: There is no reference vessel. It is not a scale reproduction of a real-life ship.
Reference ship type: It is freely inspired by the "Unadilla" class ships, also known as "90-day gunboats", are gunboats that fought for the Union against the Confederates during the American Civil War.

Major differences with the reference ship:
1. The bowsprit is a little longer than it should be for having a single spindle; initially it was designed correctly, then I gradually added a few centimeters (but it's a personal obsession to increase every time I reconsider the piece).
2. All four lifeboats were arranged laterally in the reference class, whereas in the model there are two lateral and two central.
3. The hull has a totally different size and shape as it is completely invented. The model has no equal in any existing ship. Compared to the reference ones it has a greater displacement as the central ordinates are wider. Although it maintains a harmonious and slender line, it is reminiscent (limited to the hull) more of a commercial ship than a warship.
4. The cannons (in a completely independent way I tried to reproduce the Dahlgren typical of that period) in the model are all placed in battery, i.e. on the sides, while on the ships of the reference class they were also placed in fighter (at the bow) or amidships, of larger caliber.
5 Rudder: The rudder is different from the original ones of the period, both in size and shape. It also lacks construction details such as the gudgeons and pintles. A faithfully reproduced rudder would have had little or no effectiveness in RC navigation. In hindsight, I could have faithfully reproduced it and, only during navigation, I could have applied a removable addition (perhaps made of transparent plastic) that would be invisible once underwater.
6 Propeller: The propeller is different from the original ones of the period, in terms of its shape and number of blades.




Dimensions.
Overall length: 111.5cm (1115mm).
Length on perpendiculars: 94cm (940mm).
Length at waterline: 84cm (840mm).
Width (maximum beam): 17cm (170mm).
Maximum lateral dimensions (including side lifeboats): 25.5 cm (255 mm).
Draft (distance between the waterline and the deepest end of the keel): 8.5 cm (85 mm).
Maximum height (distance between the deepest end of the keel and the highest tip of the mainmast): 65 cm (650 mm).
Height of masts from main deck: 51.5cm (515mm)
Predicted theoretical displacement: 5 dm3 (submerged volume at the drawn waterline) = 5kg
Displacement (total weight) without batteries: 4900 -720-720=3460 gr.
Displacement (total weight) with batteries: 4900 gr. (4.9kg)


Dynamic features:
Propeller type: plastic (with internal brass core) with three blades.
Propeller diameter: 40 mm.
Propeller pitch: not known precisely, however medium short.
Commercial reference of the one currently applied to the model: Graupner.
Direction of rotation of the propeller: right-handed.
Axle fixing system: metal thread with steel cotter.


RC features.

Transmission system:
The electric motor is directly connected to the propeller shaft without reduction gears.
The transmission axis is made up of a brass rod, on one end directly connected to the propeller via thread and on the other end connected to the motor pinion via a fixed joint.
The transmission axis rotates inside an aluminum tube thanks to three ball bearings placed two at the ends and one in the center.
The axis line is parallel to the keel and therefore has zero inclination. In this way all the thrust is used for propulsion and there is no component that is dispersed downwards; furthermore the hull, especially at the start, does not undergo the typical bowing (the bow sinks during the start or sudden accelerations).


Rudder: The rudder is made of a piece shaped with a 3D printer pivoted on a brass axis.
The brass axis rotates inside a vertical aluminum tube thanks to microbearings.


Electric motor:
Currently it is a Graupner Speed 600 brush motor with the following characteristics:
Rated voltage:7.2
Operating voltage: 3.6 - 8.4 V
Speed: 18200 rpm
No-load output current: 2A
Output current at maximum efficiency: 12 A
Output current at lock: 85 A
Length (excluding shaft): 57 mm
Diameter: 35.8mm
Shaft diameter: 3.17 mm
Weight: 195g
Gear: forward and backward.
Positioned as low as possible under the main mast (in fact the mast does not reach the bottom of the bilge but stops before).




Radio receiver:
Currently it is a Turnighy 9x 2.4 Ghz 8 channel with the following characteristics:
Frequency: 2.4Ghz.
supply voltage: 4.8 – 6.5 Volts.
dimensions: 52x35x15 mm
weight 18 g.
positioned immediately under the deck in a central position, forward of the funnel.


ESC with integrated BEC:
ESC for commercial-type RC cars, very economical and widespread, with a fairly standardized shape and size. In this way you can easily find an identical spare part in the event of failure and subsequent replacement:
It has the following characteristics:
Brushed ESC 320A:
Direct Current: 320A
Reverse Current: 240A
Braking Current: 250A
Voltage range: 4.8-8.4V
PWM Frequency: 1.5KHZ
BEC Voltage: 5.6V, 2A
Size: approx. 34x34x16mm/1.34x1.34x0.63in (without heatsink)
Reference brand: bought on Amazon.
Located high up immediately under the deck in a central position forward of the mainmast.


Rudder servo mechanism:
Analogic Servo 6001 MG da HobbyKing
Features:
Torque(4.8V): 6.0 kg-cm (83.3 oz/in)
Torque(6.0V): 7.0 kg-cm (97.2 oz/in)
Speed: 0.16 sec (4.8V) │ 0.14 sec (6.0V)
Operating Voltage：4.8 ~ 6.0 DC Volts
Weight: 56.0 g (1.98 oz)
Bearing Type：Ball Bearing x 2
Motor Type：DC Motor
Gear Type：Copper
Operating Temperature：-20℃~60℃
Working frequence：1520μs / 50hz
Size：40.7 x 20.5 x 39.5 mm ( 1.60 x 0.81 x 1.56 in)



Winch 1:
Sail Winch Servo 13 kg / 0.7 sec (360 deg) /55 gr. from HobbyKing
Specifications:
weight: 55 gr.
dimensions 40.5 x 20, 2 x 38 mm
speed: 0.9 sec. / 360 deg (4.8 Volt) – 0.7 sec / 360 deg (6.0 Volt)
torque: 11 Kg (4.8 V) – 13 kg (6.0 Volt)
operating voltage: 4.8 Volts – 6.0 Volts
gear train: metal
Positioned abaft the foremast, it controls the foremast boom and the two jibs.


Winch 2:
Same features as the first.
Positioned forward of the rudder winch immediately below the deck, it controls the mainmast boom.


Batteries:
two AGM batteries, voltage 6 Volt, charge 4.5 Ah.
The compartment is configured for batteries with the same dimensional characteristics as the FIAMM FG 10451 which has the following dimensions: 70 x 47 x 100 mm, weight: 720 grams each.
The compartment allows you to move the batteries a little further forward or backwards in order to adjust the longitudinal attitude of the ship. It is advisable to position them all forward for correct alignment. If, however, you use the small compartment further forward, then it is better to move them backwards. The small room is currently not used and is empty.
Instead of the AGM batteries described above (which do not fully exploit the electrical power of the engine) it is possible to use batteries of different types, such as 7.2 Volt, 5 Ah NiMh battery, with the following dimensions 47 x 24.5 x 139.5 mm, because space allows it.
It is also possible to place one or more batteries above the AGM batteries or in the other free compartment forward. In this case the overall weight will increase slightly and the lateral righting thrust will decrease (as the ship's center of gravity will rise) but still in completely acceptable terms.
The configuration should be changed.


Current electrical configuration:
One of the two batteries described above is connected to the ESC and therefore powers the electric motor. It does not power the receiver because the ESC BEC positive lead has been isolated. The receiver with the winches and the rudder servo are powered by the other battery.
There is a fuse between the motor and ESC.
It is easily reconfigurable by placing both batteries in parallel and resetting the positive cable of the BEC.
Or the two 6 volt AGM batteries that power the ESC can be placed in parallel (with isolated BEC positive) and dedicate a small battery pack to the receiver and servos.
Alternatively, one or even two (because there is space) 7.2 Volt, 5 Ah batteries can be dedicated to the ESC; in this way the power of the Speed 600 motor will be fully exploited (7.2 Volts instead of 6 Volts). If only these two batteries are used, it will be necessary to use the BEC of the ESC (not isolating the positive) to power the receiver and servos. I would prefer to use the remaining space for a smaller 6 volt battery to dedicate to the receiver and servos; a 6 Volt 3.2 Ah AGM battery, measuring 34 x 67 x 103 mm, or an even smaller and lighter NiMh battery would be fine.
As another alternative, you can use a 6-volt, 6-ah LiFePO4 (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate) battery. As I recently discovered, batteries are sold that are the same size as the 6-volt, 4.5-ah AGM ones (i.e., 70 x 47 x 100 mm) and with the same faston connectors. In practice, the two cylindrical LiFePO4 batteries are inserted into the same container as the AGM ones. This way, while taking up the same amount of space, we can increase the electrical charge by 3,000 to 4,000 mAh (12 Ah instead of 8 or 9 Ah).
Other solutions, aimed at introducing an electricity reserve, involve the use of an exchange relay and a remote control switch that engages a channel on the radio receiver (which has three free).


Construction Details
The hull is built using the classic frame-and-plank method, starting from a completely new design. The planking is made of double overlapping battens. The hull has 32 frames, connected to each other by longitudinal reinforcements (made of wooden squares) as well as the hull and decks.
In addition to the hull, the following parts were built from scratch (with drawings and independent design inspired by images and videos): masts (including the cheek, mast cap, asthead, cross tress, spars, moorings, spreaders, gooseneck [parrel, boom claw, jae-rope]), both standing and running rigging, sails, ladders between the two decks, davits, compass, rudder, propeller shaft, pegs, gratings, skylight, cannons, lifeboats, lifeboat davits, anchor bit, large cleats, funnel and rear structure, baskets, sail hoops, rings, and padeyes, fife rail, cathead and pin rail.
The following components were purchased and already complete: bow winch, anchors, blocks, deadeyes, belay pin, rings, steering wheel, propeller, hawsehole, cleats, and fairleads.


Maintenance and repair details.
The deck has four access points, starting from the bow and going aft: a small one forward of the foremast, one aft of the foremast, one forward of the mainmast near the funnel, and the last one aft of the mainmast.
The first cover (the one forward of the foremast) can be opened by unscrewing four hidden screws.
After removing the screws to hold the cover, the capstan can be used as a knob. The compartment is empty. There is no need to open it unless you decide to use this space.
The second cover (the one aft of the foremast) provides access to the battery compartment and the first winch. This is the only cover that will need to be constantly opened and closed to allow navigation for battery insertion and removal.
To open it, you need to remove the four cannons above it (the cannons are secured to the deck with a small nail inserted into the wood and four hooks) and the six screws.
After removing the cannons and screws, you can use the large skylight in front of the lifeboat for support.
The third cover (the one forward of the mainmast, near the funnel) provides access to the radio receiver, fuse, and ESC. It does not need to be opened for normal navigation, but only in the event of a malfunction. This compartment should be opened if you need to check or replace the ESC, receiver, fuse, and related wiring.
To open it, you need to remove the two cannons above it (the cannons are secured to the deck with a small nail inserted into the wood and four hooks) and the four screws.
After removing the cannons and screws, you can grab the black superstructure just behind the funnel.
The fourth cover (aft of the mainmast) provides access to the second winch, rudder servo, electric motor, rudder shaft, fixed coupling, and propeller shaft. It does not need to be opened for normal navigation, but only in the event of a malfunction. This compartment should be opened if you need to check or replace the second winch, rudder servo, electric motor, rudder shaft, fixed coupling, or propeller shaft.
To open it, you must remove the two cannons above it (the cannons are secured to the deck with a small nail that penetrates the wood and four hooks) and the six screws.
After removing the cannons and screws, you can grab the superstructure behind the rudder wheel.
There are 20 hidden screws in total.
All the screws are hidden under the deck (a section of the floorboard near the screw is removable). Above the piece of floorboard near the screw is usually a ship component, such as cannons, cannonball boxes, or rigging.
A small manual with explanatory images and videos has been prepared to help you remove the individual parts. Some parts, such as the ESC, require freeing the wooden cotter pins and joints before replacing them. The most difficult part to reach is the electric motor. To remove it, you must first remove the winch.
To replace the propeller, remove a piece of wood aft of the propeller. It's not necessary to break it because it's secured with a wooden cotter pin, but the paint may have bonded the pieces together, and the cuts may need to be refinished. Before unscrewing the propeller, you must remove the spring steel cotter pin. A dedicated guide with text and images has been created for replacing the propeller.
Replacing the rudder is possible, but requires removing the vertical pin and a spring steel cotter pin. A dedicated replacement guide with text and images has been created.


Summary of materials used (excluding electrical equipment)

4 mm plywood for keel, frames, decks, and internal supports (for the servomechanism, winches, and ESC)
Basswood strips (first planking)
Mahogany strips (second planking)
Tanganyika walnut strips (deck covering and gunwale)
Walnut rods (all mast spindles, booms, and gaffs)
Walnut strips, rods, and squares (internal hull reinforcements, cathead, fife rail, pin rail, bitts, mooring bitt, truck carriage and gunwale, skylight, gratings, compass, ladders).
Other walnut materials (deadeyes, belay pins, blocks, capstans)
Bass squares (internal longitudinal hull reinforcements, gratings)
Brass (hawsehole, boom gooseneck [parrel, boom claw, jae-rope], various hinges, various rings, nails, handles, propeller shaft, rudder shaft, ballast bar, compass, chain plate, etc.)
Miscellaneous metals (anchors, chains, fairleads, horn cleat, screws, hooks, bearings, steering wheel, fixed joint)
Aluminum: Propeller shaft tube, rudder shaft tube, funnel.
Spring steel (connecting bar between rudder and servomechanism)
3D-printed ABS and PLA for gun carriages and rudder.
Plastic sheeting (side cranes, hawsehole, gooseneck [parrel, boom claw, jae-rope] for the gaff and reinforcement of other wooden pieces, funnel rings, gun carriages reinforcing the walnut wood)
Plastic (cannon balls, propeller)
Rope (of various thicknesses for the standing and running rigging, single and double tackle).
Polyester thread (sail seams).
Cyanoacrylate glue, various brands.
Mastic glue, various brands.
Paint: Spinnaker Wood Protection (all exterior surfaces except the sails).
Humbrol enamels (hull above the waterline combination HUM104 = 7 ml; HUM33 = 6 ml; HUM230 = 3 ml, lifeboats, guns, mast caps, rings, padeyes and hooks, funnel cables, funnel and superstructure aft of the funnel, chain plate, compass)
Poxylam 125 epoxy resin. Used inside the hull, in the hulls of all lifeboats, and on the side lifeboat canvases.
Lithium grease.


Reserve Buoyancy: It does not have sufficient reserve buoyancy to make it unsinkable.
If water enters the hold, the model is destined to sink.
It was not possible to create non-flooding volumes (with lightweight, non-waterproof materials such as polystyrene) due to lack of available space.
The only measure to prevent water from entering the hold is to close the lids with stepped stops. The seal is also ensured by the presence of grease between the contact surfaces and the tight closure achieved with the screws.
No water infiltration was detected anywhere, not even near the propeller shaft.
It goes without saying that in the event of a hull leak, sinking is unavoidable.