Members Harbour
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(Pleasure Craft) Billings Sea King
Found at a Boot Sale in a sorry state. Retained the 2 Como motors but replaced ESC with Chinese Fan Cooled 320a. Acoms AR-201 Rx, Futaba servo all linked to new old stock Acoms Techniplus Alpha 27mhz Tx. New rudder, original propshaft with new couplings. Hull painted in Hammerite Gold and Plastikote white. Retained orignal Billings decals. New stanchions and rails. Re-veneered deck and added some fancy balsa work. Plains well after contra-rotating the props. (Motor: 2 x Como Drill) (ESC: Chinese 320a Fan cooled) (8/10)
AllenA
6 years ago
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(Tug Boat) Springer
Built as a rescue boat, the Springer seemed to be the easiest to build as I am still a Novice and to while away the time after my knee replacement. Blew up some plans off the net to 23" length and 10" beam. Makes her about 1/12, I think. Built from 3mm ply in the main. Powered by the LRP 12v Truck puller and direct drive via 12" ball raced prop-shaft with home made oiler and 50mm 2 blade propeller to be changed to 3 blade asap. Led lights front, back and upper. Transmitter Turnigy TGY i6, Rx TGY iA6, Esc 320 amp with fan. Ballast yet to be added and should slow her to scale speed. interesting build had some problems with upscaled plans from a pdf. Goes well in the bath but will post video as soon as I can get to the water. (Motor: LRP 12v Truck Puller) (ESC: Chinese 320A with fan) (7/10)
AllenA
6 years ago
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(Pleasure Craft) Dolphin 16 (19)
This is the Meccano Magazine January 1967 issue plan, built in balsa. I didn't do a build blog as the construction is well covered on the net. Started with an A4 plan and used Excel to enlarge it onto 9 A4 sheets. I chose something simple as I haven't built a boat for thirty years. Really enjoyed the build and re-learning how to overcome the problems that always arise. She is oversized being 19" long and having a 7.5" beam. She sits nicely on the water and begins to plane. Will upgrade the the battery sometime. The decking is worktop edge strip pre-glued but in future will use the unglued strips. The cabin was adapted to extend over the whole boat as there was little space for modern electrics. I will add in and out air vents as the motor will need to breathe. Also, the true model should have an upper deck and windscreen and this will be easy to add sometime in the future. Really surprised and pleased with results from aliphatic wood glue. The finish, which I am not completely happy with, due mostly to my own impatience, was achieved with Ronseal multi purpose wood filler, lightweight fibreglass laminate with Eze-Kote. Paint is Acrylics and Marine varnish. The electrics are: Acoms AR 201 Reciever, Servo Acoms AS 12, Cheap Chinese ,supposedly, 320 amp ESC and 7.2v Nimh battery pack. The Graupner Speed 600 8.4v, bought it cheaply some months ago, was already in one of my boxes and you can see the adaptation required to fit it into the boat. All the Acoms controls I picked up at a boot sale including an Acoms Techniplus Alpha Transmitter on 27mhz. inside I used Hammerite Smooth Gold as I couldn't buy silver. Modern Hammerite is thin and squeamish and took 3 coats to provide reasonable coverage. One final rant I do like the new silicon wires but they are a nightmare to solder to a motor. I think I will use soldered connectors in future. So there we are, first model in 30 years and now so many models to build and so little time. Lessons learned...... don't be impatient. (Motor: Graupner Speed 600 8.4v) (ESC: Chinese 320amp) (7/10)
AllenA
7 years ago
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(Pleasure Craft) NorStar Wave Princess
Built in 1980s restored and RC fitted 2017. Kit built from ply. Graupner 12" prop, MacGregor Digimac 3 controller with MacGregor MR23A receiver converted to JST connectors and Carson Reflex servo to brass rudder (Motor: Graupner Speed 600) (ESC: Chinese 320amp) (6/10)
AllenA
7 years ago
9 Attributes
Recent Posts
π Graupner Elke HF 408
4 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Roy, Mine was a restoration of a wreck I picked up at a bootsale. All the information compiled in the photos I sent was gleaned from online sources. Good Luck with your project Regards Allen
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
4 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
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Hi Roycv, Please click on the following link which will take you to my Amazon file on the Elke. It has plans and instructions etc. Sorry to be slow responding i've been enjoying the caravan while i still can. Regards Allen
https://www.amazon.co.uk/clouddrive/share/WNr8qLMjcY8nIeoa9xx2mA0Bjhfbt3pCbuWjxC |
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π advise required
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Teejay, I have a couple of Carson Reflex sets and they are as good as gold. The only problem is the cost of the receiver. I eventually changed to the TGY i6 from which I can control 20 models with receivers a third of the cost of Carsons. Hope the info helps. Allen
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
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Hi Dave and Doug. I love it when you two start chatting it's like tipping a cornucopia of knowledge all over the floor of my workshop.
I found my original notes and the motor is a Mabuchi TD224 23.
The shafts are: S.H.G Marine Miniature Propeller Shaft Assembly
Stainless Steel Propeller Shaft assembly with Brass Outer Tube
M2 Diameter Shafts
An excellent range of miniature shaft and tube assemblies with Grade 303 Stainless Shafts and Hard Grade Brass outer Tubes.
The outer tube diameter is 4mm, Shaft Diameter 2mm The Bearings are Oil / Water lubricated Acetyl material and are extremely hard wearing and quiet, The Shafts are Threaded at one end with an M2 Thread. The propellers are:
RADIOACTIVE MA 3045 RC MODEL BOAT 3 BLADE 30MM PROPELLER M2 THREAD 2 OFF.
As my Nimh battery is reading 8.09v so it's unlikely that there is a weak cell, I will recheck all the readings and be a little more precise to ensure I am not leading you on a wild goose chase. The biggest clue is that I have just measured the battery holder plate. The measurements are L130mm, H36mm and W65mm. Looks like the only battery that will fit is the PS-630 6V 3.0Ah 150mA 134(L) x 34(W) x 60(H)mm 0.7kg or similar. This looks right as it will probably take care of the ballast issue and it's no wonder my normal 6v battery wouldn't fit. it will be a couple of weeks before I can put her on the lake but at least the battery is ordered. Thanks again for all the info. One final thing... Can you tell me how to measure propeller pitch?
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Dave, Can't find the motor I have on the Mabuchi site. My guess it is quite old. I think it is a TD 224 that I picked up at a boot sale from a model plane enthusiast. So far I have run it on a 7.2v nimh so will change to 6v asap. I gave it full throttle in the bath and no sign of heat or fumes in battery, motor or esc. Thanks for the help. As you say a quick turn around the lake is in order. The fuse advised by Doug is now installed.
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π (Pleasure Craft) Billings Sea King
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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'So 'ark an' 'eed, you rookies, which is always grumblin' sore' (Rudyard Kipling)....... until it comes naturally I remain a Rookie. I'll give you a shout when I get to 90 and, hopefully, still afloat then I will deserve it.
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Agreed Doug. The Rookie forgot the fuse again.
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
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Hi Doug, I put the Watt Meter to use and with about 16ozs of ballast, might need a bit more, had 6.77 amps at full forward with just over 40 watts . At complete stall with prop spinning she jumps to 40 amps which I guess is to be expected. She is, obviously, too fast for scale so I will need to control via the Tx. Might look for a smaller propeller.... what do you think? Thanks for your help.
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Thanks Doug. I am not sure I would rely on my Chinese friends' measurement of amps but I have used a few of the ESCs and they haven't blown up yet. How would I go about testing the amperage? I have my little unused Watt Meter. Do I, simply, connect it between the battery and the ESC and take the reading while running the motor? Sorry to hear about the snow, we are just moving into Spring. Primroses and Daffodils are out and days are lengthening. At last.
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Elke stripped down, cleaned and base colours flatted. Hopefully, on the water in about a month. I read somewhere that she, originally, had a 300 motor and with a narrow propshaft gap I am down to a 2mm propshaft, 4mm OD. Looking in my motor box I have a 300 motor with 2:1 gearing set up. Actually fits perfectly as the propshaft has to be low to the keel. I plan to use a 30mm 3 blade propeller, because I have one in my box, and hope, that even though it is slightly big for the motor which is 25mm diameter, I will escape any undesirable consequences. Noticeably, the stanchions and safety ropes only run along one side of the deck. I assume that this is to facilitate nets being brought in on the open side?
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π Billings Kongeskibet Dannebrog #410
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Selwyn. I'm about 8 miles west of Cardiff and I usually go to a couple of Boot sales each week. if you look at my posts I've been very lucky of late.
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π Billings Kongeskibet Dannebrog #410
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Just luck at he moment as some of the local dealers know that I will buy most boats at the right price. in the middle of restoring the 1960s 70s Graupner HF 408 at present then I will probably start on the Dannebrog. Good sailing Selwyn.
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π Aero kits 34β Sea Commander and Model Boats Mag June 2012
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Penfold,
There is a copy on Ebay now Β£2. Here's the link
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Model-Boats-Magazine-June-2012-9160g/1342376261. |
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Thanks Carsten,
That would be brilliant if you could.
Best Regards
Allen
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Forgot to say... I found these..see photos inside the Elke. On the back of the card it says Xmas 1943. God Bless Trumpeter and all who sailed in her and flew from her. God bless Captain Harry Oram.
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π Cromarty
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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π Graupner Elke HF 408
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hope you are not becoming too bored with my boot sale stories but I seem to have hit a rich vein at the moment and can't resist. Here's the Graupner Elke HF 408 picked up on Sunday for Β£14. Pretty good nick with lots of bits and does not appear to have been sailed or fitted with RC. Again, any help or advice really welcome. Retro fitting a propshaft could be a problem.
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π Artesania Latina Amsterdam
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Thank you Mark that would be brilliant. Will pm you asap. Allen
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π Billings Kongeskibet Dannebrog #410
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Hi Mark, Went through discontinued model plans without luck. The trouble is that it's almost 60 years old now. I am a little disappointed with Billings. They have produced so many models and they could provide a great database to modellers and make some money. Thanks for the response I guess I will have to be a bit inventive. Allen
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π Billings Kongeskibet Dannebrog #410
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Also, at the boot sale, I picked up this Billings model from the 1960s for Β£7. Again requiring considerable restoration but she has beautiful lines and is fundamentally solid. I have emailed Billings for any plans, drawings and instructions but based on my previous experience I am not holding my breath. So if any one has pictures, plans, instructions which might help I would be happy to purchase them.
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π Artesania Latina Amsterdam
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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It was worth venturing down to the Boot Sale this morning as I found this Amsterdam Tug with fittings for Β£20. It is an Artesania Latina model and needs considerable restoration. If anyone has plans or build instructions which might help, I would be happy to purchase them.
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π (Tug Boat) Springer
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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π Building base boards.
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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That's great Marky..........Let there be light and there was light.
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π motors
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Sorry Doug, no insult intended. As to revealing, I just remember Miner's Fortnight at Barry island in the 50s. Not a pretty sight. Sorry, also, to hijack the conversation I will go back to my Springer now.
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π motors
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
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Hi Doug, Obviously, you, like me, remember woollen swimming costumes. Photo for Bryan
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π Springer Pusher Tug
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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π Smit Nederland no 528
6 years ago by
π¬π§ AllenA (
Chief Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Santa came early this morning in the form of a part built Smit Nederland 528 I found at the Boot sale for Β£40. Couldn't put the money in the owners hand quickly enough. The kit looks complete and the Accessories box too. Propshafts, propellers and motors are fitted and all she needs is some TLC. The fact that the purchase came with a Ford Sierra 1/10th RC body and decals was icing on the cake. I was tempted to put this in How many projects is too many.... but I had to buy it didn't I?
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