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My RTR Plastic Race Boats
Bought the Club 500 to get used to a powered model and used for club racing. Then added the other two.
ChrisF
7 months ago
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The Fairey Fleet
I got interested in the hobby getting on for 5 years ago as something to keep me occupied during the winter months.
Soon after I bought a 47" Fairey Huntsman 31 off Ebay. It was a lovely model but I found it a bit cumbersome and so eventually sold it to a fellow club member. Before I sold it though I bought one of Dave Milbourn's prototypes off him that he'd used for producing the plans for his 1:12 scale Huntress. I found this to be a nice scale for the Fairey range of boats and set off on a mission to build a number of them all to the same scale. As well as scratch building them I produced my own drawings because they either weren't available at that scale or I wanted to modify them. A case in point being the Huntsman 28 where I wanted the whole superstructure to be removeable.
As well as the classic Faireys; Huntsman 28, Huntsman 31 and Swordsman 33 I wanted to build the more unusual ones and those, as far as I'm aware have never been built. These are the River Cruiser 23 (using a modified Huntress hull) from a black and white photograph, a Huntress Long Cabin fitted with a stern-drive, a Fisherman 27 motor sailer and a 17 foot Faun lake and river cruiser. The first five are being built and the last two I've produced drawings for. Instead of concentrating on the first builds I kept starting others!
ChrisF
3 years ago
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Fairey Faun
Not quite ready to start building yet as I must progress my other builds a bit more first but I'm chomping on the bit to get going on it so thought I'd kick off anyway.
Not the most exciting of boats but it is one that I've been planning to add to my Fairey fleet after seeing a small photo of it in a book I have which also provided the inspiration for some of my other builds.
Anyway, it is a small river and lake cruiser, 16' 6" long and is based on the hull of the Falcon daysailer which is of hot moulded construction, like many other Faireys.
Like my other builds I'm building at 1:12. The only drawings I could find were from a brochure showing the top and side views and it is those that I've used to start my drawings. The hull lines have been arrived at by trial and error and I hope they work out!
Most Fauns were fitted with an outboard, which was my original intention, but I've decided to do an inboard version first. Maybe an outboard later?
Because of the hull shape I've decided to do plank on frame which will be a first for me, so fingers crossed!
Hopefully it won't be too long before I can post progress of the actual build.
Chris
ChrisF
4 years ago
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๐ Brushed or Brushless Motors
2 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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I'm using a 30mm diameter 3 blade brass prop (as in all my builds but with different diameters) and I reckon one of those would be just the ticket. As for size the rule of thumb for brushed motors was not to exceed the diameter of the motor but with brushless they can turn a bigger one so 35mm could be a good choice.
It depends to some extent on how much room you've got and what looks right - does the plan show the prop? But ignoring that for now a 35mm or 40mm would work.
I see that your model can in fact plane, though in all probability they were used at mostly more sedate speeds so that the champagne wasn't spilled!
As to Faireys. I don't know if this is accurate but I view them as our equivalent of your Chris Craft boats. The wooden hulled sports cruisers were built in the 1960s and 70s and were raced successfully.
As to which one it depends on whether you want to build from scratch, from a wood pack as per Sarik or from a complete kit. Favourite? I like them all in different ways but do have a soft spot for the little Huntress but also like the Swordsman with the raised aft cabin a lot. SLEC do a nice kit for the latter but I think it's a little small at only 25" long which is why I'm building my own (started before the kit came out!) at 1:12. There are plans for a similar Swordsman at that scale if you want to scratch build.
What could be a favourite though is the Huntsman 31 Sport which doesn't have an aft cabin, just a big open cockpit and was primarily built for off-shore racing. The hull is the sleekest of the wooden hulled boats and looks very nice. There were never any kits or drawings produced for one but it's easy enough to alter an aft cabin version as a few folks have done. I started to build one but then decided I'd got enough full cockpit Faireys and so modified it to the more common aft cabin version. Here's my side view that I used for the build.
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Sea Urchin
2 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Be interesting to see how you tackle the rudder. That in my Faun, which is a similar design and I guess size was a bit of a challenge!
Chris
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๐ Weight calculation
2 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Hi ToraDog
Aircraft yes, and yachts, but we are talking biggish planing hulls here and in my experience the hulls are so buoyant it almost doesn't matter. Having said that, I always try if I can to even out the weight along the hull with the battery towards the stern but with my Huntress stern-drive model that was difficult to do. I was so relieved when I tried it in the bath!
The River Cruiser is basically the same hull but with more freeboard and has a conventional prop shaft and sits about the same.
What you don't want is nose down but even then it will plane with enough power. Like skimming stones all you need is a flat surface and motive power!
This is what this forum is all about, discussion and different views and experiences. Long may it continue!
Chris
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๐ Brushed or Brushless Motors
2 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Hi - it's 23" long and is basically a Fairey Huntress hull with more freeboard, so in essence a planing hull.
The motor is an Overlander Batteries Tornado Thumper V3 3530/14 1100KV. It's over-powered really as a 28mm dia. would be fine, but as I said it's nice and smooth on take-off and I run it on a 2S. I was tempted to try it on the plane but as the full-size boat only had a 20hp engine for river and lake use I've managed to restrain myself!
Infact I've got a couple of Huntresses which Dave Milbourn built with 28mm dia. motors which plane well on 3S. Not that you want planing performance with your gentleman's cruiser!
I'm building a Fairey Fisherman 27 which is a bigger and heavier displacement model and I'm trying a 2826/18 1000KV motor in that, so it will be interesting to see how that performs. I can always fit another motor if needs be.
But that's the good thing with brushless motors, their latitude and a whole range will work dependent on the battery voltage.
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๐ Weight calculation
2 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Within reason with planing model boats I don't think the weight matters that much (takes cover! ๐).
From my experience building Faireys the hull type is usually very buoyant and I think building heavy helps with how the boat performs i.e. doesn't bob around as much, sits well in turns and creates a good wash.
For most of my builds the motor is in the cabin which I balance out by having the battery towards the rear. But with my Huntress, having a stern-drive and the motor right at the back I thought I was going to have problems with the bath test with it sitting stern down due to the substantial weight there, but no, it sat bang on the waterline as per my other conventional Huntresses! And it performs really well.
Good thing with models and particularly if using brushless you can always fit a more powerful motor.
With long thin displacement hulls weight and its positioning is usually more important if not critical.
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Fairey Faun - More on the Rudder
2 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Talking of Faireys, with all the information I've collected for producing my build drawings i.e. kit drawings, drawings and articles etc. I've written a piece for Model Boat Magazine that lists all the kits and drawings ever produced. Should be in the August edition.
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Fairey Faun - More on the Rudder
3 days ago by
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Thanks Will, a bit different to our usual Faireys! ๐
Chris
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๐ Brushed or Brushless Motors
4 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Hi Chum - no that's an outrunner. I'm using them in all seven of my Fairey builds. The only inrunner I've got is for my non-Fairey water-jet project which needs a higher revving motor and they are more effectively water-cooled using a water jacket. I don't water-cool my boats usually but the inrunner motor with high kV and the water jacket came as part of the water-jet.
First photo is the River Cruiser installation and the second is the water-jet with the third being the boat it's going in.
Chris
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๐ Brushed or Brushless Motors
4 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Hi - I've heard that mentioned a couple of times but as long as a decent quality ESC is used then it isn't a problem. I'm not talking expensive here as I use HobbyWing Quicrun and with my Overlander motors my boats can pull away smoothly at very low revs.
As I mentioned I've used one in a boat in which a brushed would be an automatic choice, that's my Fairey River Cruiser. I'm also using them in my Fairey Faun (which is a small and slow river/lake cruiser) and Fisherman which is a motor sailer. River Cruiser shown.
Don't know about the difference between outrunners and inrunners but the latter are generally used in race boats and water-jets where low speed running isn't an issue.
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๐ Brushed or Brushless Motors
4 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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The main thing you haven't mentioned is the greater power, size for size that brushless has over brushed.
Also brushless will accept a greater range of voltages so if you need more revs you can up the volts!
I'm a big fan of brushless, being late to the hobby, as I like their engineering, and in my own builds even use them where brushed would be perfectly fine. The only brushed I have are in my plastic race boats like the Club 500 which it came with and my other ready to run boats. In many cases both types will do the job, unless you want very high revs with very fast boats or water-jets where brushless are the way to go, so otherwise it's down to personal preference.
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Fairey Faun - More on the Rudder
5 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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After allowing the servo mount to dry nice and solid overnight I tried it out by piggybacking from one of my Huntresses. I increased the end points with the Tx but even then I could do with a bit more rudder movement ideally but I think it's Ok and will be fine for slow speed running on the lake.
So I shall dismantle the rudder assembly now so that I can paint and varnish the hull and can then progress the RC installation so that I can give it a trial run before starting on the superstructure etc.
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๐ Fairey Faun - More on the Rudder
6 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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๐ Battery options
6 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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As ToraDog says those motors are far too high a kV, something around 1500kV would be more like it, especially as you are running two motors. Lower kV motors would be shorter and therefore lighter.
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๐ฌ Re: More photos and dimensions on the Launcher
9 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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That's really useful as I must make one. Probably make it in copper pipe as I can solder that and don't need to worry about protection from water.
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๐ For Multi Screwed Boats and Their Control
10 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Depends to some extent on the model. If it's a planing boat and is usually run fairly fast you don't really need help with turning and so one ESC running both motors at the same speed is fine.
With two or more brushless motors most need to have their own ESC anyway so the question doesn't arise.
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๐ What Kind Of Tranmitter Do You Use and Why Did You Choose That Type
11 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Cashrc - can you use Hitec receivers with it?
Chris
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๐ If Money Was No Object
11 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Nothing! I'm building all the ones that I want, namely seven Faireys and a non-Fairey water-jet project.
Chris
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๐ What Kind Of Tranmitter Do You Use and Why Did You Choose That Type
12 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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I mainly use Hi Tec as I bought a boat off Dave Milbourn which had a Hi Tec receiver in it but he recommended them anyway. Pity is though that they stopped producing transmitters and receivers but I've managed to stock up on the later for my existing and planned builds. The Flash 8 I have is very good as it has multiple channels and memory for many models.
I've also got a Radiomaster wheel Tx which I use for my plastic race boats and Tamiya Unimog which is very good. And a couple of very cheap wheel Tx's that came with the ready to run plastic boats and they do the job.
Chris
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๐ Cheap Chinese Electronics Or Reputable Makes
14 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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They are pretty much all Chinese so you don't have a lot of choice in where they are made.
But the reputable makes are good. My mantra with buying all things is to try and get something in the middle price range where you should get better quality but still good value.
I take the view that my builds have taken a lot of time and money and so I'm not going to risk using cheap electronics.
Some folks use them without problem but with say the ESCs you have to take the max amp etc. with a pinch of salt.
Chris
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๐ Fairey Fisherman - Bow and Stern
19 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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๐ Esc size
20 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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What type of boat are you using the motor in, as that is a very high kV and as suggested the ESC needs to have a high capacity.
Unless it's a very high speed boat or being used with a water-jet it might be better to use a lower kV motor with a lower capacity ESC?
Chris
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๐ For our cozy a little Humor
25 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Sent from one of my sons to the other. ๐
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๐ฌ Re: SEMI SCALE FOAM AND GLASS MODEL OF MY 15FT 1953 SCHOCK US DESIGN DAY SAILER.
25 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Nice full-size and model boats. You have a good eye for shaping the hull.
Chris
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๐ Animal and nature photos to enjoy.
26 days ago by
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Thanks. The design ended up quite big to accommodate the inner room as at the time we had a squirrel that visited the garden regularly and they will take young birds so I wanted to make it as safe as possible.
The robins like it and have filled the entrance area with leaves as well so it's nice and cosy!
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๐ Animal and nature photos to enjoy.
26 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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๐ Fairey Fisherman - Breasthook
27 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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๐ Fairey Fisherman Hull Off Building Board
1 month ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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As per the title I've just removed the hull for the Fisherman off the building board so that I can make and fit the breast hook etc. and form the bow and stern out of balsa blocks.
It was obviously heavy when combined with the board but now it's off it's surprising light.
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Fairey Faun - Rudder
1 month ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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Hi Phil - I bought it off Amazon for ยฃ40.99. Bit more than a simple soldering iron but cheap compared with a top quality soldering station and for my infrequent soldering it does the job well. It's a Lytool Soldering Iron Station and is rated at 60watts which is plenty for my needs.
I've glued in the prop-shaft strut now as well. Will need to order some bits and pieces to finish the rudder off including an ultra-mini servo which is a bit smaller than the one I have, I'm sticking with Hitec and getting a HS40.
Chris
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๐ฌ Re: Fairey Faun - Rudder
1 month ago by
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Bit more progress with the rudder. I decided that the straps were too wide and didn't need four bolts so cut them down and then bolted them to the stern. I also decided to go with the bought rudder (a Krick item) and cut it down and filed it to size and shape. The brass tube came from the Billings parts as that from Krick was steel.
The stock will then need to be cut down and drilled to take to take the control arm which will be 2mm threaded brass rod which will pass through the transom. I then need to figure out where to install the servo, probably at the stern. I've got a small servo in my stock but may have to source a micro-servo, will shall see.
Chris
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๐ On my roof top this morning
1 month ago by
๐ฌ๐ง ChrisF (

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This reminds me when I was in the garden a couple of years back. A squirrel used to come along the fence for food. On this occasion something spooked it and it jumped across to the brickwork of the house at the back of us and proceeded to go straight up the wall! It then climbed onto the roof and went along the ridge. After awhile it came down. Unfortunately I didn't get a photograph.
I did have more time for another visitor though!
Chris
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