So, I decided that the 7.2 Speed 400 motor was just a little too “hot” for the Tina, even with the 2-1 gearbox. I had purchased a 5 pole 380 sized motor that was very mild, installed that and gave it a go..it was a little too sluggish on 2 lipo. Against my better judgement I tried her on a 3 cell and whaddya know? Perfect. Good turn of speed but not too much, I can actually “throttle” it down to a much slower pace if I want.
So, electrics are done, wiring completed, everything bolted/Velcroed down and tightened up. The figure that came with the kit is in place, I need to paint the oars and probably do a ballast check, add ballast if needed, then try her out!
Cash

Young man did a good job, I’m impressed. I remember my first plastic model, got as much glue on the model as I got on the floor. My mom was not impressed..🤣

Very nice, looking forward to her maiden.

Shoot, didn’t see your unclogging post, pull the trigger too fast!!😮
Cash

Hi Ed. I have a buddy that does the files for a local hobby shop‘s 3D printer and laser cutter, he might have some info on unclogging, I’ll get with him next day or two see if I can get you some info.
Cash

Hi Pete. I think the hull acts a soundbox, but it doesn’t get really noisy till I add the oars. Wonder if they are transmitting the sound from the rowing mechanism to the hull?

Hi Ed. The kit came with a figure that is jointed, don’t know if it was originally part of the kit or an optional “fittings” kit. Still up in the air who I want rowing this thing. I’m really leaning towards a stuffed squirrel, or a Marvel superhero..Ant-Man maybe..

Here’s a few pics from the past couple of sessions...

Hi y’all. Here’s the video of the second test, this was after I had decided to use a geared Speed 400 unit vs a direct drive motor. Power transmission with a 7.4 lipo is much more manageable-she’s just in a hurry at full chat, not trying to tear herself to pieces!! Motor runs cooler too, and it’s a bit quieter..but just a bit.

Second test Graupner Tina-geared Speed 400

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Hi all. Painted the hull this week, I used Tamiya’s Racing White for the hull, and a mix of Tamiya Royal Blue and Testors “Aztec” brand blue for airbrushing. The white is a lacquer rattle can, the blue was airbrushed. I also tested a different motor and I think it’s the right direction for this boat, a 2 to 1 geared Speed 400. I haven’t installed it yet, tested it on a lash up, and it works well. After I get it mounted, I’ll start finishing the interior and fairings.
Cash

Tell them he’s moving the oar with telekinesis 🤣

Y’know, that’s a good idea...I have the felling it’ll quiet down a bit, but next shop time I might try it.

Thanks Ed. The Tina comes with a figure that’s jointed so it moves with the oars, but I’m thinking either a sailor from the late 1800s, a superhero or a toy stuffed squirrel. I “ghost” a lot of my boats but I can’t quite get away with that on this boat😁

Hi Martin. Yeah, she’s loud. My daughter called it “annoying “ to which I replied”you should know”🤣
Anyway, I still have some rigging, fitting and painting to do, and the mechanical plate isn’t bolted down yet so that might make her a bit loud..but then again, all the Tinas I’ve seen on YouTube are noisy too😳

Nery, she might be a dory, but I’m not sure. It’s a Graupner kit, so I don’t know if it’s based on an American or European design, or if it’s just a “generic” rowboat.
To be honest, I think she’d make a pretty steam launch.
Cash

Hi y’all. Sorry I’ve been off the hook, it’s been crazy at work. We usually have 6 people in the parts department, along with a driver and a stocker/receiver. We’re down to 4 total, not due to Covid as much as firings and resignations. As such, you could say we’re in our “Battle of the Bulge”, and awaiting reinforcements. Anyway, i did get a bit done the past 2 weeks and this morning. I’ve repainted the interior and motor plate a darker shade of brown, and I have the electrics and working bits installed. I’ve made a video of the first test runs, now I have to remove the oar supports and do the rest of the paint. Also, I’m still playing with motors, this thing was designed to run on 4 volts!! Who does that!!???! Still not sure how I’m going to trim her, she just might end up being a dory instead of a jolly boat, but we’ll see.
Again, sorry I haven’t posted or responded much, I get home I’m flat wore out. Hopefully we’ll have help soon.
Cash

Graupner Tina propulsion test

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Ed, you’ll have fun with that. You gonna run brushed or brushless?

I have a Spektrum DX4C that I use for my fast electrics, and my Robbe San Remo, which is fast-ish. Only way to go once you start hitting some speed. It’s a 4 channel transmitter, but I’ve only used it on 2 channel applications so far.

Ed, it’ll all be worth it first time you light the Smit up in the dark. You’re doing a fine job...keep up the good work!
Cash

Thanks!! I’ll check it out.

Hi y’all. I’ve spent my time at the bench installing the bulkheads. I installed the aft and fwd pairs first, made adjustments to the slots in the floor plate, then dry fit, marked and installed the rest. There’s also a bulkhead just aft of bulkheads 15 that’s supposed to be glued to the floor plate. In retrospect, I’m thinking it could have been glued to the hull proper, but the manual says glued to the floor plate, sooo...what I did to get it spot on is tacked it to the bottom of the hull with small drops of UHU, then laid medium ca on its top edge. I then sprayed the bottom of the floor with accelerator, and carefully laid it in place. Thirty seconds later I pulled the plate up with the bulkhead glued solid and in the right spot.
I had one bulkhead that had shifted a bit during assembly, and I didn’t catch it. I tried to remove it, but the top was glued fast and not coming off. I got the bottom loose, broke it free and shifted it just a bit, so it lines up better, and a little sanding saved the day. I’ve just given the inside of the hull a coat of paint, as well as the floor. I’ll lightly sand the interior, and the it’s time to install the radio and oar drive. Once that’s done, I’ll remove the plate/mechanical/radio assembly (it’s screwed down midships, and fore and aft to blocks in the hull) and finish painting the hull.
Cash

Brilliant!!! Nice job, she looks good underway.

COOL!! As Doc Hudson said in the first Disney “Cars” movie, “ Hot Snot we’re back in business!!”
I like getting a print mag in my hands, and the occasional free pull ou plan is a big bonus to me as I’ve been described as a bit of a...(ahem) “plans whore”😂
I used to buy “Aviation Modeller International” almost every month for several years, loved their plans, built a few planes from them. I also went on a bender of old timer plans about a decade ago, I’d scour eBay for plans lots, and if it was a good deal, I’d buy it. I also keep my plans from projects I’ve built. I have a 2 drawer file cabinet full of aircraft plans, and now....I’m starting on boats. Have a few sets already. I might be an addict.
Oh, did I mention the two legal boxes full of old model aircraft mags from the 30’s🙄
Cash

A bit late on the congratulations, so I’ll give all of our crew a big “Huzzah!” from the Lone Star State.
Sorry I haven’t been on much, we are very short handed at work, kinda wish they’d furlough me again, I could use the rest!!🤣

Thanks for the help Doug. Anything you come up with will be greatly appreciated.
Yep, I’ve thought about building a gunboat from the Civil War, either side, but I’m pretty sure if I built either boat it would offend somebody, somewhere. That’s the problem with my country. No middle ground, were like the old reed radios of the 60s. Hard left or hard right, no one seems to understand that life is like todays radios, proportional.
G’night!!
Cash

What I’m thinking is to put some small narrow strips directly under the fwd fairing, something I can screw down the fairing down to. The aft fairing can use the transom support. This way, I’ll still be able to get the floor out with a minimum of effort if needs be.
Hey Doug? You seem to have a wealth of arcane naval knowledge...I’m thinking about doing this boat up as a ships boat, captains launch or “jolly boat” from the mid 1800s to maybe early 20th century. Trying to find paint or trim schemes for a smaller boat of that type, maybe one with 2 rowers side by side with the officer of the day looking on, with a national flag and ships/officer’s pennant to boot. RN or USN. Any ideas? I know I’ll have to find/make/modify smaller figures, and the uniforms will be another matter entirely, but if you know of any references I’d be eternally grateful. If anybody else is reading this, same goes, don’t think it’s rude to chime in. I can build the boat and get her running, but to get from where most of these boats end up to what I’m seeing in my poor, old tortured mind is gonna take some help.
Thanks!!
Cash

So, I decided to install the aft and fwd pair of bulkheads, and so a test fit of the upper fairings and floor. From what I’ve read so far, the floor is designed to be removable as it carries the radio and rowing mechanism, while the fwd fairing just drops in place and is kept loos for whatever reasons that I have not yet ascertained. I measured twice, marked and installed, the aft set came about perfect, while the fwd fit the upper fairing slots but I had to adjust the floor slots after installation, which is no huge deal but still kind of disconcerting. Anyway, I’m plugging away a bit at a time, so the more I accomplish the more I’ll understand this beast. Don’t like the idea of the “slip-in” fairing though. Gonna see if there’s a way around that.
Cash

Thanks for the comments y’all. I agree with Rooky about Graupners kits. They sometimes take the long way around to get something done, when there is an easier way to accomplish the same thing. However, I like the German kits, Robbe, Graupner and Krick. Might be a little nostalgia as the first boat kits I built were when I was stationed at Ramstein, and I enjoyed every one of them. However, some of their aircraft kits were a little over-engineered. I helped a buddy build a Robbe Parat for electric power back about ‘91 or so. As we were building, I was literally chunking wood to the side muttering “don’t need this, that is too heavy” etc.
That Parat flew nicely, and we actually had it thermalling a time or two.😀

Did a bit more yesterday. The bulkheads are made up of 2 pieces of die cut light ply each, one assembly per side. I assembled them, once dry I did a light sanding. I checked fit on the first pair and they needed a little adjustment. Once I have gone thru all of the bulkheads I’ll hit them with sanding sealer and install them.

Hi y’all. I thought I would start an actual build log on the Graupner Tina. I did the gunwales, added some supports for the floor and assembled the floor today. The gunwales are made up of extruded plastic channel that is cut to size, then a pieces of balsa stock is glued in place. This assembly slips over the edge of the hull with the thicker part of the gunwale inboard. This is not as easy as it sounds, as the hull is made of a plastic that seems to be part abs, part styrene. It’s pretty tough, but the hull is flimsy in tortion until bracing is installed, and the gunwales help it keep its shape. Slow and easy is the word. Once I had the gunwales made up I tacked them in place, and when I made sure the hull wasn’t twisted I ran thin ca on the mating surfaces. The transom gunwale was a bit of a pain, but I got her in. Needed a spot of filler on the diagonal joints at stem and stern, but it looks the part.
I then added the floor supports and built up the floor, which is made up of 4 parts of die cut ply, doubled up for strength. I sanded a bevel to almost kind of match the hull sides angle, and did a test fit. Needs a touch of the sanding block in a couple of spots but she’ll fit.
That’s all I did this morning, will try to get some more done this week and I’ll post it here.