Response

Re: Another Exhaust Smoker V2

Hi Doug, Yes, probably too much smoke at present, but I can always turn it down once I’ve tried it on the lake. I think it probably needs to be a bit OTT to make it obvious on the lake. In discussion with JB, he suggested that the smoke should only be on when the throttle is idle as you won’t be able to see it when the boat is motoring fast. So last night I wrote some code for a PIC microchip to switch the smoker on/off based on throttle setting. I could just have used another channel on the R/C to switch it on/off, but I’m short on channels and this way is more interesting. The functionality is initially with the throttle at idle, the smoker will be off. A quick jab forward on the throttle and back to idle will turn the smoker on. It will then remain on until the throttle is held forward for a couple of seconds, i.e. the boat is underway, when the smoker will turn off. It will then remain off whatever the throttle setting, until another quick jab forward from idle. I still need to test and debug the code. I have been using PIC microchips for all sorts of projects for many years and use a whole range of different types depending on the application. They are all programmed with a PicKit2 which plugs in to the USB port on my . I think the current version is PicKit3. I write software in assembler code and compile it with the free software available from Microchip. I have found that for model boat applications the requirements are generally very simple, and very few I/O pins are needed. I have been using PIC10f220 chips for these as I have a stock available left over from a product I used to manufacture and sell online. These have 4 I/O pins and work well for RCswitches, pulse stretchers, and the functionality described above. There are more powerful chips available for mor complex applications. Regards Graham93

5 years ago by Graham93

Response

Re: Fire Monitors Part 3

Hi Graham93, I had the same problem some time ago. Some videos work and some do not. So I watch on my now. Martin555.

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

Night Watch

"Singing glasses" Rooky🤓😮 Must have been interesting, could you select your Playlist!?😂 I only started wearing glasses at 48, typical effect of years of electronic engineering with ever smaller components. Dad (Electronics officer in the RAF) just said "Yep, you're right on schedule"! So no 'quick fix' available 😭 Last straw came while spending 4 weeks in Rio making endless changes to the system drawings for a COMMS refit for the Brazilian Niteroi class frigates (Based on the Vosper Mk10). Had to do all the drawings on a titchy Toshiba , ca 10" screen. After a couple of weeks started getting headaches and I had to go out and buy some reading glasses. Coupla years later came the varifocals🤔 Looking forward to your Patrol Report tomorrow for the NW Squadron Sub. Cheers, FLEET// 😎

5 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Night Watch

Lt Cmdr Marky reporting back for duty after manoeuvres up north. Due to unseasonably good weather it was decided to go round the coast rather than the maritime museum ,After a delay whist certain crew members did their hair and make up we headed to Cullen for lunch where all participated in the local delicacy of Cullen skink from there headed along the coast to Portsoy for a walk round the old harbour,next was Banff then across the river to Macduff here we went to the derelict art deco Tarlair open air pool (I think one of the members of this site sails here)I tried to post pictures using the mobile app but these haven't come through ,I will send them to my and try posting later. Disappointing to say Fleet ,Sunday was spent on a distillery tour or two- Glen Garioch and Ardmore samples were had by the rest of the crew.

5 years ago by marky

Forum

Experimenting

Hi Peter, That looks like you have been using my before I threw it at the wall. Doug knows what I am on about. Martin555.

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

Haydock Park 2019 boat show

Many thanks Roger for that information, I was struggling to find the maker, I thought it was a Billings boat, but the German flag on the stern mast was fooling me. It is a lovley boat, and sails superb on a 7.2 v stick, would love to see your boat, if you have the photo's on your pc/, take a note of the file, then go to 'post reply' on this website, and press the PLUS BUTTON on the right, and add the photo you want from the file you saved, hope that makes sense. cheers, Peter(Rooky)😊

5 years ago by Rookysailor

Forum

Workshop

I suppose if I made smaller models I would have just enough room to put my in my workshop. Martin555.

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

EeZeBilts From Keil Kraft

Well I have spent most of the afternoon trying to get my head around this CAD program. Slowly losing my temper So I decided to put the away before I threw it out of the window. Me and computers are definitely not the best of friends. A lot easier with this iPad. Martin555.

5 years ago by Martin555

Forum

3D Printing.

Now that is an interesting question indeed, Martin! In the "One to One" scale world, I have in my lifetime watched the steady march of machines taking over what i would describe as "Hand Skills" I have memories of being a trainee mechanical engineer and spending some time in a heavy machine shop and watching this guy "Knock on a cut" with a hide mallet. Just ease the lock nut and a tap with the mallet and he could put on a couple of thou! Today it is all CNC and robotics. The skill being in the machine maker, the software designer and the guys & gals that programme them. Now I am not going to dare to say who is more skilled the guy with his mallet or the guy who uses the software. They are both skilful in their own right. So if we turn that on its head and apply that to 3D printing. Software driven accurate 3D modelling against hand and eye skills. That is for you hardened purists to argue over. However I do just wonder if it may be a way forward for us to attract the next generation of modeller away from their X Box or similar to a and printer to make a modern model with a 3D printer. Was it such a heinous crime against modelling when Vac Formed parts arrived or heaven forbid Glass Fibre Hulls. I have a friend who uses a CNC milling rig to make the plugs for his gun turret silicon rubber moulds he uses to cast resin ones from. Is this not verbally the same? For me the choice will be what is the best way to make the part I need. When a logical engineering decision is reached, just get on with it and make a great model to be proud of. Great question Martin 555 am sure this will create loads of responses and run for ever

5 years ago by ikseno99

Forum

CNC boat kits...?

Bit of an update on my CNC router. All up and running now and I am well chuffed with the results. I abandoned the Arduino based controller and opted instead for a Duet 2 WiFi board, a 32 bit controller with on board drivers. The machine can be loaded with a job directly from my computer//mobile phone and progress monitored from same. I have also added a 7 inch Paneldue touch screen display for when my daughter is hogging all the internet bandwidth. It has been going for a couple of weeks now and I haven't stopped making stuff, all for other folks! I need to find some DXF files for model boats now. I have a set of plans for a Lysander aircraft that my mate wants me to cut out for him, so far my efforts to convert PDF into useable vectors have come to nought.

5 years ago by Nickthesteam

Response

Re: Aero-Naut Classic

Great post fantastic project - most of use Li-Po batteries without any issues allbeit in portable or computers, some cell phones, portable chargers and elsewhere. Heck, a standard alkaline 1.5 or 9 volt battery can cause issues if not properly used or placed under stress. But - I’ve made mistakes myself and come close to bad issues using power sources improperly or without heeding instructions such as using them full out without allowing them to cool. it’s all about using caution and precautions, understandably accidents do happen though

7 years ago by Brucef102

Forum

Invalid Files

Hi Doug - not all of us possess dumb phones - still use a desktop PC - not a either. I see it was not I that was wrong ! Stephen - know that computers don't do what you want them to do- only what they want to do. Worked as a systems analyst for a few years - could not wait to get back to being a boring accountant ! No need for apologies - think its a thankless job when you only get moans when you get it wrong - never praise when you get it right

5 years ago by redpmg

Forum

Turnigy Standard 9x transmitter

Solved the problem but the solution will not help others. I bought a Turnigy 9xr Pro. This uses the er9x firmware. What a difference. All of the switches now work. They were really easy to programme as well. I have now purchased the Smartieparts programmer add on and fitted it to the 9x. The goal is to upgrade it to the er9x firmware also. So far I cannot get my to recognise the programmer but I am sure it is only a driver issue.

5 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

CNC boat kits...?

A word about the electronics and software build.... Each stepper motor is driven by a 'driver' - a little switching unit like an ESC. This does the business of sending the power to the motor coils in the right order. They are quite cheap - about £10 each. To tell each driver to operate the motors in the right order you need a control box running the right software. You can use a dedicated for this, running a stripped down system called LinuxCNC, but I opted to use an Arduino, which was the option advised by the vendor. So here is a picture of the Arduino (at the bottom - you can't really see it) with a breakout board on top carrying the four drivers (which have the little blue heatsinks on them). I made up an aluminium box to put them in, and attached it to the cutting gantry. The Arduino runs a control program called GRBL. I take the plans I have drawn in DXF format, run them through some software called DXF2GCode, which turns them into G-Code, and then send that file to the Arduino via a USB connection using 'Universal GCode Sender'. All these items of software are open source and free to download. The Arduino gets its power from the USB connection. The stepper motors get their power from a cheap Chinese 36v power supply, and the cutting motor gets its power from an old power supply I had hanging around. If electronics frightens you then you probably won't want to do this, but the skills needed to wire up a boat motor are really as much as you need to put it all together....

5 years ago by DodgyGeezer

Forum

Editing Models in Harbour

With regards to new website it does not work on my ipad only on phone and .

5 years ago by Dick