Blog

Krick Police Launch

I have just started to build the Police Launch that I have had for a while. Work commitments have left me with little time lately but hopefully I can get a good run on this one for a while. I hope to finish it by late July which just leaves me enough time to send it to Hungary so that I can test it. The kit is said to be good for a beginner. This would be good as many years ago I built a Patrol which took me five years. I am currently restoring this one as well but I think that will take most of this year to complete.😁 I have started by buying the speed controller. The motor is a 400 brushed. Probably not going to be too difficult to keep up with this one. The kit itself is not too bad considering the price, but I do feel that the ABS vacuum formed hull could be of a slightly better quality. Also I am finding the ply wood to be rather brittle. Does anybody have an idea for a good filler to use to fill the chips which will take to acrylic paint. I have prepared the hull and added the propeller shaft and rudder holes. Care taken here to avoid splits in the plastic. Cellotape on both sides before drilling helps.🤓 I have assembled the internal parts which hold the motor, battery and rudder and also fitted the prop shaft.😲 I will start on the deck and superstructure next. An additional note about the kit. The instructions are reasonable but they are in black and white which is not helpful considering they are photograph based with text. I found a PDF on the web which is in full colour. Why don`t Krick supply this. Surely not that expensive.🤔

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Blog

Pilot Boat

Winter approaches again so what better than a new project,.......to go along with the other two yet to be completed. I have excuses. Honest!! This new one is a bit different again. No wood at all this time. It is the Aero-naut Pilot Boat. I thought it didn`t look too much of a task but I think I will have to re-assess as it is tricky in parts. I have assembled the hull frame, which although the parts are rather loose fitting until glued went ok. I have, however, stumbled slightly on the next stage, to fit the hull skins. The instructions suggest to cellotape them in place prior to glueing. Not as easy as it sounds as considerable bending of the parts is required to get them to fit, too much for the tape. Does anybody know of an easier approach please. The ABS is extremely difficult to hold in position when trying to tape it, which incidently, does not hold anyway. Should I warm up the skins or will this distort them and give a rippled finish. Any help here would be appreciated.🤓 I will continue with the refurbishment of the Patrol for now as I have been trying to manipulate the sides of the Pilot boat into place for hours, no, days!!.😡😤

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Media

japanese

my japanese built from kit sailing on our pool at the hooton park trust site ellesmere port

5 years ago by nutrunner

Blog

Range Safety Launch?

The ‘Range Safety Launch’…………. Intro. I am now the owner of this boat. Wooden, good hull lines and hull paint work but needing to be finished. I am told that it looks like it started life as a kit, but has had considerable modification to at least the above deck layout and detail. Advice is that it could be a rather simplified Range Safety Launch, but maybe I can use a little ‘artistic licence’ and just make it look interesting and capable. There are two main reasons for sharing this project. 1. I will undoubtedly need guidance 2. Maybe some of the information will assist others The hull is 44 inches ( 112cm ) long and 14 inches (36cm ) wide, it has two brushed MFA Torpedo 800 motors………. and weighs in currently at 15 lbs 4ozs (6.91 kgs). It is large enough for me to be able to work on reasonably comfortably and apart from the cabin/upper deck areas to be ‘improved’, I aim to introduce sound, lighting, active radar sweep, search light, together with maybe a deck hoist and water /fire monitor appliance. At my age it is difficult to tell the difference between wishful thinking and dementing…… However, the prime aim is to try and achieve at least some of this whilst having the boat usable during the current ‘season’. There is so much knowledge, good will and help available on this site that even before I touched a thing, information came pouring in. If anyone feels like making a contribution then please just ‘pile in’. Have ordered some parts so next time should have something to show. NPJ.

6 years ago by NPJ

Response

HMS BRAVE BORDERER

I suggest you go to one of my old reports on my 48 inch Crash boat by Lyle G. The issue is most likely t5hat asn it is a MODEL it needs some extra support in full size water . A model thus NEEDS the advantage of planing strakes at the vertical hull and lower hull joint as it is a "Hard Chine design " and you may need to widen with an extra strake WIDTH though it can be thinned in its vertical configuration as it is blend into the forward hull skin. The wider chine is the secret of the MGB's s the Elco's and the Higgins and the BPBoat design . Though I live in the colony of Oz I have the British Power boat 41 foot 6 inch model at 48 inches , the Vosper Fast patrol boat , the Range Safety Launch , The BPB co Whaleback at 36 inches and the Black Maurader and even the Sea Queen and ALL I/Combustion powered and all over 15 to 20 years young and ALL as well as the Keilcraft 48 inch Cras Boat all all all have this trick and all get up on the plane as the "Brave class" with its Proteus engineer was still a planing Hard Chine hull and as such it is the hull chine strakes that are so essential to the design originated by was it Georga Selman ? and Hubert Scott Payne ?. Oldies are goodies and the masters of old need to be never forgotten for their skills. Regards Lyle and best construction wishes for modifications.

6 years ago by Lyle

Forum

EarlyVosper M.T.B by Simplas

Found on E Bay but sold in June of this year, a 42 inch kit of a Simplas Marine Construction Vosper M.T.B. It would appear that there are not many about now. I built one in 1972 and the kit contained a fibreglass hull with all fittings including the guns being in cast metal. Deck and superstructure were plywood and the boat was a model of an early Vosper as it had a very narrow beam and torpedo tubes were towards the stern. I fitted a DC Sabre 1.5cc diesel but had to add a lot of ballast which resulted in a sharp drop in performance. This was solved by replacing the Sabre with a Fuji 15 marine version glowplug engine . The boat was free running and as I was on an apprentice engineers pay and could not afford r.c.as I was having to support an ageing Mini. This was my transport from Ellesmere Port to the boating lake in New Brighton. If I had bought a Taycol Supermarine motor it would have solved all my problems as the battery would have been the ballast. Boaty 😁

6 years ago by boaty

Response

Renovating my Aerokits Patrol .

I had an MFA Spearfish in the mid 1990s and it was powered by an MFA Marlin or should I say underpowered. The Marlin was a good motor but was not really suitable for fast craft such as a powerboat or fast service launch like an M.T.B. I understand that MFA did an 850 which was for fast scale type models but in the end I put an Irvine 25 I.C in the Spearfish. At the time there was a motor called a Buhler which I think was Swiss . I used one😁 in my Perkassa running on nicads which performed very well. For the Aerokits P.T boat there are a lot of suitable brushless motors around and running on lipos will certainly give you all the speed you want.😁 Boaty

6 years ago by boaty

Forum

Aerokits MTB, what is it?...

Agreed John, but generally the USN used the term PTB, Patrol , and most other (allied?) navies used the term MTB Motor . RN of course also had pure MLs and MGBs, Motor Gun Boats - some of which I believe also carried torpedoes, just to confuse the issue further?, but I never ran across an MPT up to now.😲 Nowadays it's just FAC or FPB for the little bruvvers without missiles! Cheers, Doug 😎 PS Yep, I know the Wiki page you linked. That's the Power Boats demonstrator sent to the US from which the ELCO PTB boats were derived.

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits MTB, what is it?...

I think you would have to wade through the histories Doug but I think it comes down to the very varied arms carried. or just the crossover of Motor Patrol Boat and Patrol and Motor . Maybe Motor Patrol too as reading through some of the history I think they weren't sure themselves which term(s) to use. The Wiki description is an easier and informative one to read.👍😊

6 years ago by onetenor

Directory

(Racing Boat) Genesis

I bought this boat to give me some running time whilst I complete a major overhaul of my Patrol and build my Police Launch kit. I plan to try it for the first time next week in my local river. I would like to thank Doug (RNinMunich) for all his help to get the boat connected electrically as I have not used brushless before and needed to complete quickly. The boat is on it`s way Doug. Note. it is faster than 24km/h. Ran out of options. The instructions say 55km/h. (Motor: 3674 2074KV) (ESC: Hoddyking 125A Water Cooled) (9/10)

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Response

Renovating my Aerokits Patrol .

Brushless motors are fantastic, but you mat still find that prop will not be workable with a brushless. You may still need to experiment with props of different types and sizes. Unless you find someone with the same power set up and they can tell you the prop size that it works well with. I even found that rudder sizes made a difference on how the boat performed on the water. They can act as a brake and even cause the boat ti dig in on turning. Any way good luck and happy boating.

6 years ago by BOATSHED

Response

Renovating my Aerokits Patrol .

Thanks Boatshed. I have now purchased a brushless motor which I am making a mount for. I have a feeling that the lack of speed will be dramatically improved. I hope the hull will stand up to this dramatic improvement in power.😊

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Response

Renovating my Aerokits Patrol .

You say the MFA motor was strong but slow ?? Have you tried changing the prop and trying different sizes. I put a 4 bladed on a small version of a Crash Tender that I have built and it was a failure, I have since changed it to a smaller 3 bladed prop and it is better but now have 3 different sizes to change to and see if they perform better. I know they are not cheap., all 3 came to just over £35 but the first one I tried made a very big difference. You could even try smaller nylon props as they are a lot cheaper. I know they do not look authentic but when on the water they cannot be seen. if you have her on display at home you can always change the prop back to the nice brass one just for show.

6 years ago by BOATSHED

Response

Renovating my Aerokits Patrol .

Hi mouldbuilder. I have never had any problems using stainless shafts you may need a oiling point if using a long time. check this web site.

6 years ago by dennisw

Response

Renovating my Aerokits Patrol .

Hi Dennis. I have already purchased a brushless motor which will improve the performance significantly, I hope. One of my concerns for this change was whether the prop shaft could handle the four fold increase in RPM. The shaft is around 12" long. I am considering whether to make a nylon/acetal bush and push it up the shaft approximately half way to try to eliminate shaft whip should it occur. is this thought to be necessary or am I concerned about nothing.😊

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Response

Renovating my Aerokits Patrol .

see build blogs on this web site 👍 ignore my last blog about aerokit site.

6 years ago by dennisw

Response

Renovating my Aerokits Patrol .

I would change motor to a brushless motor & speedcontroler-see aerokit web site

6 years ago by dennisw

Response

Higgins PT Boat

Not me, never heard of 'em til now, but here are the specs and a pic😉 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huckins_Yacht_Corporation Happy Huckin', Doug 😎 Technical Specifications Lindsay Lord, a commander in the United States Navy who was stationed in Hawaii during the war, examines wartime PT boat design in his "Naval Architecture of Planing Hulls" and records the Navy's planing hull research and findings. This is the most complete source of information on PT boat hull design and construction, and provides hull test data as well as detailed analysis and comparisons of the various PT boat designs. U.S. Navy Technical Specifications of the Huckins PT Boat (Patrol Torpedo) Motorized Torpedo Fast Boat: Crew: 11 Length: 78 ft (23.77 m) Beam: 19.6 ft (5.97 m) Draught: 5 ft (1.52 m) Displacement: 42 tons Machinery: 3 x Packard 12-cylinder gasoline engines delivering 1,350 horsepower each to 3 x shafts. Surface Speed: 40 kts (46 mph) Range: 0 miles (0 km) Armament: 4 x 21-inch (533mm) torpedo tubes for 4 x Mark 8/13 torpedoes, launchers arranged as inline pairs along port and starboard sides. 1 x 37mm OR BOFORS 40mm Dual-Purpose cannon fitted on forecastle. 1 x 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft cannon at stern 4 x 0.50 caliber (12.7mm) anti-aircraft, air-cooled heavy machine guns in dual mounts (2x2), one emplacement amidships and one forward, offset to starboard. Optional 0.30 caliber machine guns, mortar launchers, rocket projectors and additional 20mm cannons (and captured 23mm anti-tank guns) as required/available. Ship Class: PT 95 Number-in-Class: 18 Ships-in-Class: PT 95-102; PT 255-264 Initial Year of Service: 1942[23]

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hello Canabus. Please can I take you up on the pdf files of the plans for my boat. I have an A0 printer so should be able to print them full size. I have looked all over for the originals without success. I am learning a lot as I go and wonder, looking back, if I have made a mistake. I bought the 3648 1450kv motor, yes, the beast. Just cannot help myself!!😁 Now that I understsnd these motors a lot more, I realise that it is an outrunner. Do you think I need water cooling and if yes, how is this done when the main outer can is rotating.😊🤔 Thanks.

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi Peter, we are all 'Standing on the shoulders of Giants'! Folks like Canabus, Dave_M and Jarvo, to mention but a few, showed me the way last year. Couple that with my insatiable desire to know 'How Things Work'! and here we are 😉 The Robbe should give you years of trouble free service. Have fun, Doug 😎 PS the 20A rating of the other charger is 'marketing blurb'! No one charges at 20A, unless they are into pyrotechnics and demolition😲

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Thanks Doug. Finally found the Robbe on Amazon for £42 plus delivery. I took your advice and ordered it as it appears to be the only one left anywhere. I will leave the battery until I get nearer to the re-launch. I also purchased the monitors and balance unit. There is no point in starting from total scratch. Thought it safer to follow your lead. Thanks. 😊Peter.

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Maybe we need an Enigma machine 😉

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi Doug, Here is the coded message that Steve's ship send of using flash Morse "#T#TTT ##EE 5#E ##E #TG## # 7# S". This is all it says. I'm an amateur radio operator...

6 years ago by figtree7nts

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi Peter, seems a bit pricey to me. For me two disadvantages- 1 Only a titchy 2 line display for setting up and reading the batt status, can't put much info in that, 2 External DC supply only. The Robbe version I use can be either 12V DC at the lakeside, or mains at home. Personally I wouldn't buy it for that money, but that's just my opinion and wadda I know😉 Surprised about CMB 😲 I always thought it was a real shop! Ciao, Doug 😎

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi Doug. Would you mind giving me your thoughts on this charger please. Thanks. Peter.😊 Charsoon Antimatter 2X300W Had to think twice about going to Cornwall model boats. it is a warehouse and not a shop.😡

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

PS: Attached is the user manual for a typical Quickrun Car brushless ESC. Par 3 shows how to program it using the TX. Para 5 shows a table of the options available and the presets marked with black background! I used the programmer to set the Running Mode to Mode 3, i.e. No Brake between forward and reverse! the programmer is also useful for setting other parameters; esp number of battery cells and Low Voltage cut off. Hope this helps to know what to expect😉 Cheers Doug 😎

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Glad to help Peter, I was a Brushless & LiPo newbie last year, guys like Canabus, Dave_M and co helped me make the quantum leap. Being a retired electronics engineer helped as well 😉 Know what you mean about 'a change now and again'! Did I mention that renovations / upgrades are often more awkward and time consuming than a new build? 🤔 I have a few other 'odds n ends' on the go for a break from the Sea Scout renovation. A Deans Marine HMS Manxman, an Alexander Engel GmbH AKULA II sub, and a Dynam PBY Catalina kit are queued up in the planning and research stages. Kit boxes are clogging up the cellar! Bits and pieces for various 1/350 Plastic Magic projects are being collected and prepared! it's all Go folks😊 Happy hunting at CMB, longish drive for me 🤔 Cheers Doug 😎

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Thanks Doug. That really helps me. I have read a lot about LiPo batteries and now have a better understanding. This experienced help is perfect. I did buy the 100A car ESC as recommended by Canabus but Hobbyking did not have the suitable programmer. I have left a message so they will respond when a new supply arrives. I have looked elsewhere for the programmer but all of the stockists I found do not have any stock. Supply problem? Thanks again for all of your help. A lot of sanding down and painting awaits me for the next few weeks. I plan to drive to Cornwall Model Boats this weekend to see how it looks. I am getting that hollow feeling that I should get a new kit to run alongside this rebuild. Just for a change now and again you understand😁. We will see. Peter.😊

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

PS re Monitor! There are separate 'Alarm' devices (i.e. Monitor) on the market for warning you if the Lipo is approaching the critical low voltage; 3.0 - 3.2V. Look on the sites selling batteries, they usually have the Monitors as well. Some can allegedly be coupled to the feedback telemetry to warn you on the TX display, but i ain't tried that yet 😉 LiPo Safe ESCs can also be programmed to slow down or Stop when the voltage is low. This is (to me) about the only reason to buy a programming card for the ESC. Everything else; stick positions for Full Ahead, Full Astern and All Stop you can do with the TX! 😎 PPS: Before Canabus jumps on me about programming cards! 😲 There is one other reason they can be useful: if you have a Car Escape as Canabus recommends! I discovered that they are usually delivered set up to 'Brake on reverse', which means that you have to shove the gas stick backwards twice to engage reverse. Otherwise it just STOPS!! The programming card enables resetting this to 'Boat Mode' so that the motors reverse immediately you pull the stick back. If you use Marine ESCs this isn't a problem as there ain't no Brake!

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi MB, can only say what I have which works and I ain't set the house on fire yet 😉 Not surprisingly for someone living in Munich both mine are from German companies! Robbe Power peak Uni 7 and Graupner Unimat 14. There are later versions of both around nowadays but you can still find these on Amazon / Ebay etc. Both of them have automated programmes for various Lithium types, NiMH / NiCad (not recommended these days!) and SLAs. Robbe is now defunct and their Marine stuff taken over by Graupner and marketed as RoMarin! Pics also show the Balancer Adaptor Boards, necessary to connect the balancer cable of the battery. This ensures that each cell is equally charged 😊 I also included in the pics the little battery Capacity Testers I use. They cost around a tenner and are very useful for checking the capacity before a run or charging, as well as the voltage and capacity of each cell, which gives an indication of the battery condition. I found some duff cells with the tester in a few batteries I'd only just bought 😡 When looking for / buying a charger look also for a LiPo Safe bag to charge them in. E.g. LiPo Guard. Charger may cost 50 quid upwards depending on how many charging outlets you want and how many Bells & Whistles. But I get on well with these two 😉 I like the Robbe version cos I can charge two LiPos at the same time. Also in the pics are a few of the charging cables I made up with gold 4mm bullet plugs for the charger end and Tamiya and BEC (for my Plastic magic stuff!) at the batt end. Such adaptor cables are also available 'ready made' but I just like fiddlin' 😊 Hope this helps, Cheers Doug 😎 Nearly forgot! Can't say for sure what current your motor will draw cos I don't know all the other details, but a 40" boat will need some shove! So I wouldn't go below the 5000mAH if you want a half decent run time. A 40" boat can carry a bit of weight! And batt power is more useful than pure ballast 😉 Recommend a little Wattmeter to check the max current draw - see last pic. Basic theory! A fully charged 5000mAh (or 5AH) batt can theoretically deliver 5A for one hour, or 10A for half an hour and so on! Say your set up draws 20A with the 'pedal to the metal' then a 5000mAH batt will 'theoretically' last 15 minutes. Theoretically cos other factors are in play; initial charge state, temperature, internal resistance of the cells, cable losses etc. The latter is why I only use gold connectors! The higher the batt capacity the higher the price and weight. So suggest you start with the 5000 and see how (long) it goes. Then check the weights of higher capacity batts (and the bank account / management approval😉) Bon chance mon ami!

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Thanks Doug. Do you have a preference on a charger and is the monitor I saw you mentioned in an earlier post important. Finally, for now😁, would a 5000mAh battery 3s be about right for the 1450kv brushless motor I bought. Thanks. Peter.

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi MB, don't recommend you use ANY kind of batteries in parallel, esp. LiPos, unless you have a connection / distribution board in between that will stop one battery trying to charge the other. This will happen if the two batteries do not have identical charge levels! Component shop have such a board (from Action Electronics) to do this. Also, you will probably find that, for example, 2 x 2500mAH batts will weigh more than one 5000mAH batt🤔 and be more expensive. Only advantage I can see in using two instead of one is that you can put them either side of the keel to help reduce any rolling tendency. Effect is minimal I think though. Cheers Doug 😎 PS: One per ESC and Motor as Jarvo is doing - Fine. Two in parallel feeding one ESC - not so fine! 😉

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi Mate, there was an offer on ebay £5 each for 2200mah 3s lipo's, so i took the plunge, bought 8 of the beasts, 2x2 in my Fireboat, with twin 700BB motors, thinking of swapping to brushless but SWIMBO has ideas for the garden!!!! Mark

6 years ago by jarvo

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Thanks Mark. Is there an advantage in using two 2200mAh batteries in parallel instead of one 5000mAh or is it price. Do you have any views regarding a particular charger. I have never used LiPo batteries before and I read they can be problematic if not used correctly.😊

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi MB, the motor you have would go well on 3S lipo's, as to the Ah rating, cheepish 2200mah in parallel is the way i went using a Y lead, others may say go for larger capacity !!! your choice. Mark

6 years ago by jarvo

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hello. I hope I can get a little help with battery choice. I have been reading the comments above and elsewhere on the site, and have decided to go along the LiPo route. I purchased the Turnigy 3648 1450kv brushless motor along with the Hobbyking brushless car ESC 100A w/reverse. I have done a little research on this battery but still do not know the exact battery I should be looking for. Please can you help with the following: What voltage should I be looking for. To have a reasonable useage period, can you advise on a suitable mAh rating. Please can you recommend a charger. Should I have a charge alarm. Should I have a monitor for cell voltage. Are there any other accessories I should have. Thanks in advance. Peter.😊

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Blog

Renovating my Aerokits Patrol .

I built this Aerokits Patrol over about ten years and finished, as I found painted under one of the life rafts, in 1993. I sailed it at my local pond and all went very well. The only problem I had was the speed. it was quite slow. The MFA brushed motor was strong but slow. I have received a lot of help so far on this site for which I am grateful. I have decided to do a complete renovation which is scheduled to be completed whenever. I work all day so can only spend limited time doing this. We will see how it goes. I must admit that I am not too concerned with the result being authentic to the prototype. if it looks good and I like it, that`s good. Sorry if you like things to be perfect to the original. If you see something I plan to do which you feel can be tackled differently, please shout. I may not always follow advice but I will always listen. I have attached a few pictures of the boat as it is for reference. it`s still not too bad for 35 years old. Just in case you notice, I have no idea as to why I thought it was a good idea to block the Captains view with a gun tub.😱 I will be stripping the deck back to bare bones soon so will post more soon. Thanks for looking and in advance for all the help that I am sure is just around the corner😊

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi Peter, of course restorations are OK blogs! 👍 There are several on the site, including my Sea Scout 'Jessica'. It's sometimes more awkward than a new build. Look forward to yours. Cheers Doug 😎

6 years ago by RNinMunich

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi Biggles. I am at a very similar level to you. I am seeking help from the kind members so that I can improve my skills. I built this boat in 1993, which by the way, I had no idea about until I removed one of the life rafts to find I had painted the completion date on the bottom. I am currently stripping the paint and trying to get advice on the painting method. At present I am tending to favour air brushing Revell aqua paint but I am open to other views. As for the spray rail, my boat has never gone fast enough to need them. To be clear, is this the rail around the joint between the hull and deck which my boat has. Told you I was a beginner as well. With the more powerful motor, anything that keeps water from the electrics must be good. The gun was supplied by Battlecraft in Bideford. it is in 1:24 scale. I have just purchased a 40mm Bofors for the stern. Nothing like a lot of weapons. Perhaps I should have some torpedoes one day.😁 I have just bought a 3648 1450kv motor from Hobbyking for mine. I am advised that this will sort out my slow speed problem. I have also been advised to fit Lipo batteries. I probably will once I get over the thought of a large fireball on the river or in my house during charging.😉 Would love to hear how the renovation goes. I am considering starting a build blog as it might be a good source of gaining extra knowledge. I am not sure if a restoration will be ok on the build blog so I would appreciate if a member in the know could comment on this. Work keeps getting in the way of my plans but one day!! Peter.😊

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

I have an Aerokits Fast Patrol Boat, what scale 20mm deck gun did you buy is it 1/24? Also I was thinking of powering mine with a Graupner 700BB Turbo motor and Nicad battery packs or Lipo batteries. My hull doesn't have spray rails, should I fit some? Sorry for all the questions but I'm returning to powered model boats after a long absence! Thank you for any help received.

6 years ago by Biggles

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hi MouldBuilder I use solid joints for motor to shaft coupling, but, Banggood have metal universal joints which come in different hole sizes. Canbus

6 years ago by canabus

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Hello RNM and others. The 20mm gun arrived today. I am really pleased with it. To my surprise, it does move up and down. it has no rotational movement. I will attach pictures at the end. I bought the "beast" motor that you suggested Canabus. I will have to see how it fits in. Do you think the universal joints I am using now are suitable or should I upgrade these considering the RPM. One other question I have for today is about paint. Can you suggest a suitable paint to use on my boat. I am not concerned about the colour, just the type/make at this stage. I read an article here earlier that suggested to use Holts car spray cans. What are your thoughts on this. I have an air brush if this is more suitable, but would like help on a suitable paint choice. I will attach the gun pictures now. if there is a particular angle you would like, please reply and I will try to add tomorrow. Thanks. Peter.😉

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Guestbook

Guestbook Post

I have been a member of the forum for just over a week. I have to say that the help given by members is without limits. I am so pleased that I found these people. They enjoy the hobby and have no problem in sharing their knowledge and experiences even when they are busy with their own projects. I built a Patrol many years ago and wanted to refurbish it. The changes in the hobby which have taken place in the twenty years since I built my boat have surprised me. My project has grown from just tidying up the deck to a complete replacement of the motor and control. I now know that I can continue with the improvements knowing that there is a freindly helping hand just a few clicks away. My thanks to you all, and in a few years time I hope to be able to help others.😊 Peter. Paignton, England.

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Forum

Aerokits Patrol

Thanks for all the information. I have purchased the motor, ESC, Tx and Rx for starters. I will sort out the batteries next week. Still considering the LiPo option. Thanks again for all the help. Peter.😊

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

Media

PT 109

PT 109 was one of the hundreds of motor s (PT) of the PT 103 class completed between 1942 and 1945 by Elco Naval Division of Electric Boat Company at Bayonne, New Jersey. The Elco boats were the largest in size of the three types of PT boats built for U.S. use during World War II. Wooden-hulled, 80 feet long with a 20-foot, 8-inch beam, the Elco PT boats had three 12-cylinder Packard gasoline engines generating a total of 4,500 horsepower for a designed speed of 41 knots. With accommodations for 3 officers and 14 men, the crew varied from 12 to 14. its full-load displacement was 56 tons. Early Elco boats had two 20mm guns, four .50-caliber machine guns, and two or four 21-inch torpedo tubes. Some of them carried depth charges or mine racks. Later boats mounted one 40mm gun and four torpedo launching racks. Many boats received ad-hoc refits at advanced bases, mounting such light guns as Army Air Forces 37mm aircraft guns and even Japanese 23mm guns. Some PTs later received rocket launchers. This Proboat PT 109 model was brought in 2013 for £100 these boats are rare now, This one had a few faults with the propshafts they were bent and noisy both were replaced, with quality 4mm shafts, motors twin 600s were also replaced by Graupner versions along with mounts and couplings, basically all the running gear, also two ESCs by Aquapower were added and a 2.4G RC system.

6 years ago by CB90

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Aerokits Patrol

Hi MB, Sorry for late response, I've been occupied with varnishing and painting of my Sea Scout renovation. The Turnigy i6 and Flysky FS-6 are hardware identical but have slightly different software, not critical I understand. I have the German branded version of the Turnigy i6, called here HT-6. Attached is the excellent German / English User / Programming manual without the Chenglish gobbledygook! Flysky Chenglish manual also attached for comparison. Only mistake I found in the manual is re Binding (see pic); they mention Binding button on the RX when it is on the TX at bottom left item 13 in the attached pic of my German branded Reely version. BTW; iA6 is the RX type number. The TX is TGY-I6 or FS-6 for Flysky. Pics 4 & 5 show my Reely HT-6 and Turnigy TGY-I6 versions. identical except for labelling, same goes for the Flysky - see manual. Re: Servos: I have tested my TX and an iA-6 RX with all sorts of servos; Sanwa, Futaba, Hitec amongst others some going back 30 years and they all work fine. I currently have an iA-6 RX and ancient Hitec standard rudder servo in my Sea Scout and it works just fine. Re: controlling the ESC; it just plugs into the RX like a servo. Usually channel 1 or 3 depending on whether you want throttle on the right or left stick respectively. Re: 3D printed stuff 'brittle or not'; depends on what type of filament they use for the print so can't really say. Up to now have not had problems. What I have noticed with some 3D plastic and resin items is surface defects, pits etc, which need some treatment before fitting. Resin also tends to be more brittle than 3D plastic prints. Resin don't bend well and don't like knocks! As I discovered with the resin gun barrels on my Graf Spee 😡 Will be replaced shortly with turned brass or Alu! Re: LiPos; attached is a file from Model Boats mag of Hints and Tips for using LiPos. it also explains the tech jargon surrounding brushless motors, i.e. interpreting model numbers and parameters😉 All for now, cheers Doug 😎

6 years ago by RNinMunich

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Aerokits Patrol

Hi MouldBuilder As for radios they are the same, go for the Flysky. As for servos I think Futaba ones will work, but, the price of these from Hobbyking are cheap. The good balance will have auto cutout, but, check out club members to see what they use or model car clubs. The 1100kv has power to drive the boat. The kv rating is the base and multi by the voltage to get unloaded revs. 1100 x 11.1 volts(3s) 12210 and 4S(14-8volts) 16480rpm. Canabus

6 years ago by canabus

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Aerokits Patrol

Thanks Canabus. I have just checked out the transmitter/receiver sets. Very reasonably priced. I really do want to upgrade. The Turnigy is around £40 whilst the Flysky is around £34. Do you have a preference?😊 Would my Futaba servos still work or would I need to change these also. I know this might be a strange question, but as you can see from one of my pictures above, I have a servo operating the speed controller. How do you control an electronic speed controller with the radio. As for the battery, is the safety bag used to put the battery in for charging in case it catches fire? I am a little wary about using things that I may not have control over. I have been looking at brushless motors. Can you say a kv range I should be looking for to possibly increase the speed issue. You have mentioned 1100kv and others above but was just wondering what you would cosider to be sensible bearing in mind only one motor is practical witout major hull surgery. Can I assume that if a motor is given a kv rating that all motors are based on the same criteria, or are there other variables. Thanks. 👍

6 years ago by MouldBuilder

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WWII Italian MAS 562

MAS 562 (Motoscafo Armato Silurante: Torpedo Armed Motorboat) While Browsing the internet I came across a free plan dated 1969 if a italian Motor I found the craft interesting as it had a stepped hull, and this looked like a challenge, so more research and historical digging. Built in 1941 by Baglietto, Varazze: built of wood (mahogany). Baglietto, Varazze: built MAS 561 through to MAS 570 MAS Baglietto class 500, 4th series" Displacement 27.8 tons Displacement max 28 tons Length 18.7m Width 4.7m Draught 1.5m Propeller shafts 2 Machinery isotta Fraschini petrol engines and Alfa Romeo or Cararo cruising petrol engines Power, h.p. 2000 or 2300 / 140 or 100 Max speed 43 to 46 knots Fuel tank 1.5 tons Endurance 350 nautical miles at 42 knots Armament 1 x - 13.2/76 or 1 x - 20/65 Breda 1940, 2 x 450mm Torpedoes , 6 - 10 x Depth charges Crew complement 13 persons MAS 562, was captured by Germans 9/9/1943, transferred to RSI, was painted in disorientation camouflage, was captured by American PT' boats on June 30, 1944 and PT 306 towed the prize into Bastia. it was painted in disorientation camoflarge It is one of the few to have survived the war and passed to the italian Guardia di Finanza in the 1950's. in 1940 there were 48 MAS 500-class units. The plan shows the gun on a box platform not the case on the real boat. Making this boat so small has been a bit of a challenge. Running gear 2x Graupner 600 8.4v about 70watts each at rated voltage. 2x shafts 2x opposite turning propellers (2 or 3 bladed) 3 blades on real boat. 35-40 mm 2x ESC 1 or 2 Batteries The Model after studying plans and photographs I could see a few things that I could add to the plans. A cambered deck A revised transom shape (not square) Two propshaft and two electric motors with air cooling. A reduction in the number of frames /ribs as the boat I was going to make was only 29in (83cm) long. the three main problems with the hull where :- the new frame positions and the thickness of the stringers the wood I used was too thick 12mm x 6mm for a small boat Correct gun and position. The Hull is now skinned I will upload some photos soon.

6 years ago by CB90

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Aerokits Patrol

Hi MouldBuilder I use the Hobbyking Turnigy IA6 which is the same as the Banggood Flysky I6 2.4G 6 channel sets. You can set up 20 different models of the one transmitter. I have both and are great units. I was scarce of this Lipo stuff years ago, but, a good balance charger with a safety bag you will be OK. A battery alarm is a cheap handy little unit or add a sensor unit into the boat so you can monitor the battery voltage at the transmitter. Check out you tube about the radio. Canabus

6 years ago by canabus