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    Registered
    23rd Jan 2022
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    LewZ
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    Member No.#6724
    Registered📅23rd Jan 2022
    Last Online📅28th Mar 2024
    City📍Clearwater, Florida
    Country🇺🇸United States
    Gender♂️Male
    Age👶80
    Posts💬604
    Followers📣7
    Likes Received👍1989

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    Liked Operating Cranes 3 days ago
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    Lew Zee (LewsModelBoats.org)
    About
    Retired senior designer of test/production equipment and CAD Operations Specialist. Hobbies: RC scale model boats; RC scale armor; 3D modeling & 3D printing; web site design and maintenance.
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    Recent Posts
    💬 Re: Pond Noodle buoyancy
    2 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 15 Views · 0 Likes
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    SPQR - Contrary to your statement, I supposed you never heard of "Double Planking" on real boats?
    Lew
    Florida, USA

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    📝 Smoke spaghetti
    2 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 25 Views · 5 Likes
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    Seems like I commented on people advertising for free on this site not long ago. Don't know how that would work out tax-wise. Perhaps through a donation level🤑 where one can advertise in a certain area on this site.

    I noticed that Dainesh did have a few likes so he has at least two fans. I also believe that no one should advertise in subject threads. At most they can create their own subject, in this case something like "Smoke Generator (unpaid advertisement)". This way people can ignore it, comment on it, etc. Otherwise drop the member. Has anyone tried this product?

    I'm sure that others will continue to recommend (or not) products that they have tried, not having any financial ties to that product.

    Lew
    Florida 😎, USA

    📝 Coast Guard 47 MLB help
    2 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 16 Views · 1 Like
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    Have any of you who built or has a USGC 47' MLB experienced continously seemingly unsolvable leaking?
    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA

    📝 Death of a member.
    2 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 85 Views · 7 Likes
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    Colin, I am very saddened to here about the loss of your son. My prayers will be with you and your family.
    Most sincerely,
    Lew
    (Florida, USA)

    📝 Operating Cranes
    3 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 42 Views · 3 Likes
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    Cash (et al.)...

    Yes, this towboat is scratch built in 1/35 scale and about 28 inches long. Two direct driven propellers in Korts, two stern rudders and four flanking udders.

    It is a conjecture design as I did not have any drawings to follow years ago. I wanted a towboat with a large flat deck for placing markers (buoys) remotely out in the pond.

    It no longer looks like this as I added a full deck house with the other levels lifted up. No crane now. (That was scratch built out of styrene and could extend manually.)

    The link below has more photos and info.

    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA


    https://www.lewsmodelboats.org/M-towboat-MV-David-Sizer.htm
    📝 Operating Cranes
    4 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 56 Views · 9 Likes
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    I have not seen much on cranes for model boats and thought this would be an interesting topic. I have built several small non-operating cranes mounted on some of my models. Perhaps some of you might share some photos and video as well ideas about RC operating cranes. Did you scratch build or use a kit?

    To start off, I placed a photo of one of my scratch built non-operating cranes in this post. However, how about some operating cranes and the mechanisms🤓 used to operating them?

    Lew
    Florida ☀️😎, USA

    📝 Coast Guard 47 MLB help
    4 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 33 Views · 2 Likes
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    Your last photo in this posting is the one I mentioned about the inner side of the transom😀. Lew

    📝 Coast Guard 47 MLB help
    4 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 35 Views · 2 Likes
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    Wow! Nice pic's Bruce (1946). Interesting though, not a clear shot of the inside of the transom. That's where most modelers get it wrong, including ProBoat's RTR.
    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA

    📝 Coast Guard 47 MLB help
    4 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 34 Views · 4 Likes
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    Bruce (1946) - can't tell you what the difference between versions are. Sometimes the boat builders will share information (sometimes not).

    I do remember there are some videos out there where the CG will give tours of the boats. You might try that and capture a few screen shots.

    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA

    💬 Re: Mowe 2
    4 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 46 Views · 1 Like
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    Doug, weren't you taught to wash your hands after applying carpenter's glue to "micro" ropes when you were little?
    Lew

    📝 The games we play
    4 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 34 Views · 3 Likes
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    First a little history to describe rc scale model boating on the west central coast of Florida.

    1974 we created the Suncoast Scale Model Boat Club (SSMBC). First in this area. Lasted about 5 years.

    Mid-1980's BAEB was created by different people. It was a very formal club, dues, leadership, charter, etc. I joined in 2011. BAEB fell apart in 2013 as a small group wanted everyone to go rc sailing instead. Arguments ensued,

    2014 I re-created the SSMBC. No dues, charter, directors. Very casual.

    Unfortunately "casual" comes at a cost. No organized activities probably because that requires volunteers.

    As for the virtual ranks I don't think that would work out here. In fact that might discourage people. Some members are local, some over 30 miles away.

    It's a shame that rc scale model boats aren't more prevellant here with year round good weather and a good (free) facility.

    But we enjoy the basics, model boating and fellowship.

    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA

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    📝 EASY AND CHEAP FLASHING LED CIRCUITS
    5 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 63 Views · 3 Likes
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    These circuits based on the 555 timer have been around for quite a while. Used these over 30 years ago. Have one in my CG boat. Lew

    💬 Re: Mowe 2
    5 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 54 Views · 5 Likes
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    Congratulations on your first boat! Looks nice! Hint: Want to stiffen up those lines (ropes)? Pull them tight and take some watered down carpenters glue and rub it into the lines (between fingers). Super glue will work too but will darken the lines.

    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA

    📝 Monitor drawings
    5 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 37 Views · 3 Likes
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    I came up with several drawings by searching on Google using: Viet Nam era monitor. These were US Army's LCM-6, also know as "Mike boats". I've been on a LCM-5 which is slightly smaller. Interesting ride. Stops fast😮 when it hits the beach at full speed.

    Lew
    Florida , USA

    📝 Coastal Steamers
    5 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 41 Views · 7 Likes
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    One of our club members has a Buffalo. I don't know if it is the same as your because you don't have photos yet. This is a Dumas model.

    Lew
    Florida 🙄🌩️, USA



    https://www.dumasproducts.com/?product=city-of-buffalo-lake-steamer-1270
    📝 Coast Guard 47 MLB help
    5 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 49 Views · 5 Likes
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    I hope this one helps. The second photo is my modified Pro-Boat.
    Lew
    Florida, USA

    📝 Star Wars Patrol Boat (1/6 scale)
    6 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 75 Views · 14 Likes · 1 Comment
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    This is a model I built several years ago. Someone gave me an old wood hull which I turned into an experimental boat, and wound up being a Star Wars Storm Trooper patrol boat. I generally don't do many "funny" boats and try to keep everything to scale. I believe this is a good example of making a comical boat to scale (no stuffed animals, etc.).

    It never performed well as it was small and the six "C" cell battery pack weighted the boat down giving very little freeboard (about 3/8 inch) and a slow speed.

    I decided to replace the 3000MAH 7.2V Nimh battery with a 2S Li-ion 3500MAH &.4V battery. Last Sunday I took it to the SSMBC meet and it went very well but after 50 feet it died. (It was the motor.) So that is now replace and it will be over two weeks to the next meet.

    So, in the mean time I took some photos of the fix-up and "innards". In particular you can see the adapter I made to fit the 2S battery where the hobby battery sat. It is 3D printed. I placed the file on "Thingiverse" (link below) in case anyone else is interested.

    I plan to get some videos at the next meet.

    Lew
    Florida 🤓, USA


    https://www.thingiverse.com/search?q=7.2V+Hobby+Battery+adapter+for+2S+Li-ion+&p
    📝 Propeller Rotation (common propellers)
    7 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 25 Views · 1 Like
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    Len1... "Screws" comment was a joke. No explanation on how the "screws" work was needed, at least for me. I have 3D designed and printed several "screws" in the last few years.

    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA

    📝 Propeller Rotation (common propellers)
    7 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 40 Views · 2 Likes
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    That hand thing is pretty neat.

    I guess that identifying the direction of a prop boils down to this: Knowing which side of the prop is connected to the shaft, put the prop shaft side on a flat surface and the edge of the blade that is closest to the surface is the direction to forward. Or, just simply like s screw. Wait a minute! Aren't props often called "screws"?

    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA

    📝 Sea rover cabin cruiser
    8 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 36 Views · 2 Likes
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    Thanks ChrisF. Too many variables, besides the motor and prop dimensions (diameter, pitch, lead, etc.). Got to consider the hull size, shape, weight, even the wind resistance when you talk about speed. Always nice to hear the actual results (run in the water) given the equipment and boat used. Good luck.

    Lew
    Florida 💤, USA

    📝 Propeller Rotation (common propellers)
    8 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 83 Views · 7 Likes
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    (This is a carry-over from the Sea Rover Cabin Cruiser subject. I thought that there was enough unique conversation on propellers that this deserves its own subject.)

    There might be some confusion in identifying a propeller's rotation for forward (and reverse) boat movement. Perhaps this might help explain this for most ordinary propellers.

    Of course one way to identify which way a propeller fits on the boat is the hub and which side is usually threaded. Some have a through hole (and cross pin slot) where nuts are applied.

    Many, like the Graupner shape being discussed, has the leading edge is curved and the trailing edge is straighter as identified in the photo. I'm sure that most experienced boat modelers know this, but it might help newbies understand how to identify propeller rotation if they were looking at an unpackaged propeller. (There are so many different propeller designs that I would not call this a general rule, but as a guide.)

    Lew
    Florida, USA

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    📝 Sea rover cabin cruiser
    9 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 38 Views · 1 Like
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    ChrisF...

    I noticed in your posting: "To plane you want around 9000 - 10000rpm loaded, so around 12000rpm unloaded."

    Why would you need more RPM to make a lighter boat achieve the same speed as a loaded boat? Are the numbers reversed? Just curious.

    Lew
    Florida, USA

    📝 Sea rover cabin cruiser
    9 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 38 Views · 2 Likes
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    Boatshed... good observation. I pulled the prop (still in the original packet) out of my "drives box" and you are correct. In fact I have two of these "Graupner 2308.40" and they both state "CW". Over on this side of the ocean that would be "CCW". This is an older prop from Graupner, perhaps before 2010. Some of the pictures of props in the closed bags show right of left hand rotation instead of CW and CCW.

    (The intent of this posting was to help solve a lack of speed for the "Sea Rover", and was supposed to suggest the size, type, and pitch of the propeller as inadequate. I'm glad you pointed this out though.)

    Thanks',

    Lew
    Florida ☀️😎, USA

    📝 SSMBC Meet, Sunday, MArch 17, 2024 9a good one - finally!)
    11 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 38 Views · 10 Likes
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    Aha, finally the luck of the Irish😇 (Happy St. Patrick's Day) struck upon the SSMBC! After several months of wash-outs and low attendance, the Suncoast Scale Model Boat Club finally had a nice, well attended meet.

    About a 10% chance of rain was predicted, which is good. On the way to the park the low clouds were heavy with mist. Not quite a fog, this did give us some UV protection. (We typically run from 11 AM to 1 PM.) No wind or breeze, overcast, and a temperature of about 75-80F (24-26C) and just after noon the sun broke through. This was almost perfect for operating scale model boats.

    Plenty of boats, from a "first time in the water" to the routine but still good looking boats were there. With about double the recent attendance, everyone was happy.

    Lew
    Florida ☀️😎, USA

    💬 Re: Deck
    11 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 25 Views · 3 Likes
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    Just be careful with the "black" Sharpies. I've seen them fade to a purple.

    Lew

    💬 Re: Cradle
    14 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 53 Views · 2 Likes
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    Isaac, the length of the metal cradle is a little short for launching off a dock like ours. However, it is the right length for transporting when using it like luggage.

    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA

    💬 Re: Cradle
    14 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 54 Views · 3 Likes
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    Jim, a fellow member of the SSMBC, designed a strong cradle for model boats several years ago. It was liked by so many other members they have had Jim make more for them. Each has their own way of installing the protective foam.

    In addition to the photos, here are some of the specifics: Tubing is 1/2 inch EMT conduit (steel tube used in building wiring). Bent and welded. Handle is located over the lateral CG. Sits low to the ground. The best I have seen yet!

    Enjoy.

    Lew
    Florida ☀️, USA

    📝 Lipo vs Li-ion
    14 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 52 Views · 4 Likes
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    Years ago I wanted to build an ironclad (US Civil War) but could not find a decent way. I got some small coal used for the small RR steamers but that would require a good size hot box. I also tried incense but it burned too slow requiring many burning at the same time. Even looked at "stage smoke".

    I hope someone can come up with a decent non toxic black smoke.

    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, USA

    📝 Sea rover cabin cruiser
    14 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 66 Views · 3 Likes
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    Perhaps the answer might be back at the prop conversation. You said 40mm, a little over 1-1/2 inch. I happen to have a 40mm Graupner propeller (left in photo) in my drives box, not impressive😔 looking for a 30 inch boat wanting to plane. If this is close to what you have, I doubt 15,000 RPM will achieve that speed.

    Now look at the other prop😉 in the photo. That is a 2-3/4 inch prop with a high pitch and much more surface area on the blades. Big difference, and probably more like what you are looking for.

    Out of curiosity does the real boat of that design plane?

    Lew
    Florida , USA

    📝 Lipo vs Li-ion
    15 days ago by 🇺🇸 LewZ ( Captain)
    ✧ 51 Views · 4 Likes
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    I know this is s little off for this subject but in Andi1's response he mentioned using a vape for a model boat smoker. Obviously they don't make continuous "smoke" but when the throttle is suddenly increased in many larger diesel engines that also gives a short blast of smoke, only darker.

    Soooooo, anyone have any experience with vape "smokers" in MB's? Anyone achieve darker smoke?

    Lew
    Florida ⛱️, 🇺🇸



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