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(Fire Boat) Aerokits Fireboat crashtender 46"
twin 800kv motors, propshop props, 22.5mph, 4 x 7.4v lipos
painstaking rebuild, see the full build in the blog section (ESC: turnigy 60a) (9/10)
pmdevlin
12 years ago
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(Working Vessel) The Orca
the boat has working cabin and nav lights, a smoke unit, a bespoke sound unit which incorporates original sound clips from the movie, operated from the transmitter, which has onboard stereo speakers, and an amplifier!
Panit colours are realistic, the codes were provided by Universal pictures! Figures were painstakingly recreated by remodelling star wars figures! (ESC: Electronise) (8/10)
pmdevlin
13 years ago
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(Pleasure Craft) Veron Huntsman 28
24.5mph is the max speed recorded using eagle tree data logging, great fun, but short run times. I have a number of gear ratios that I can use, depending on the size of lake, do I need acceleration, or max speed for bigger lake. its a Veron Huntsman 28, weighs 6kgs with batteries, heavily modified, next year will get a twin brushless conversion, as this is a very inefficient set up (Motor: Scorpion 890KV) (ESC: Castle creations 120Amp) (10/10)
pmdevlin
13 years ago
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(Fire Boat) Fire Boat
Gearbox on 2:1 ratio is also used, for now its just direct drive. Very efficient, however the boat rolls far too much, over time the spray rails have been rubbed down, they need renewing to improve stability, straight line speed is very good!. Boat was originally made by my Uncle in the early 1960's (Motor: Turnigy T600 880KV) (ESC: Turnigy 60amp) (8/10)
pmdevlin
16 years ago
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Members Blogs
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Aerokits 46" twin screw brushless conversion
Today I had a run with the new batteries, and It was a great success. I wasn't after more speed, although I couldn't help myself seeing how fast It would go, but wanted more efficiency, which didn't happen as I went too fast, and better run time.
When you have a big lake all to yourself on a sunny bank holiday morning, you just got to open It up. Data logging was on board, so with 5 cells per motor, almost 20 mins going fast most of the time, I recorded 25.3mph which Is stupid speed for this boat as It Is so heavy now and a whopping 939watts, 51.82 amps, which are maximum spikes.
On a smaller lake It would last a lot longer, but I like speed!
pmdevlin
6 years ago
Recent Posts
๐ Dickie harbour tug
8 days ago by
๐ฌ๐ง pmdevlin (

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https://youtube.com/shorts/LPfbVj40dKI?si=F56AJ2QT45suoPNY |
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๐ Dickie harbour tug
8 days ago by
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The grandsons birthday is creeping up, and I still have a box of untested bits. So for a 3 yr old, there needs to be a novelty factor. I need to get the hydrant pump working, and it would be nice to have a load of lights switch operated
So yesterday I took it to a lake to see what and if it ran, and didn't leak. It went OK, and probably a correct speed for a youngster. I tried a 9.6v nimh, 7.4 v nimh and a small 6v lead acid, and there was no noticeable difference. The lead acid might have been a bit heavy, but would give best run time. I am staying away from lipos because when I'm not there, there is a potential for over discharging.
The water pump makes a lot of noise, but it doesn't pump, unfortunately, and the transmitter isn't a done deal. The throttle range wouldn't set as a none running centre stick. Reverse was useless, I wonder if I can alter the esc settings.
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๐ฌ Re: Aerokits Sea Commander. Strange Handling ?
11 days ago by
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Now that you are talking about rudder size, did you try my recommendation regarding resizing what you have?
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๐ Dickie harbour tug
11 days ago by
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Sorted the transmitter to have a sprung centre throttle stick on left. This was an aero transmitter, so would not have a reversing throttle. It was surprisingly easy once I worked out all the springs etc where there, they just needed to be adjusted. Using same principle, I was able to lock the up/ down if the right stick, do only now have left right for rudder. Got the rudder working with some mods, someone else has been in here so everything needs checking๐
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๐ Dickie harbour tug
12 days ago by
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It's a screwdriver!
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๐ Dickie harbour tug
13 days ago by
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I'm sure that's what it was called 10 yrs ago! We had one for my young kids, then sold it as they grew up. So now my 3 yr old grandson is asking for a boat๐
His birthday is next month, and at that age too clumsy for a proper model boat, by pure luck one of these tugs came up on fb for ยฃ40, it was local, so I got it. I've stropped it down, it's had a life!, but motor runs (very small!) I've got the rudder thing working and the hydrant pump that wasn't working now is๐
The rebuild continues, I've just got to figure out how to get the throttle to self centre on the transmitter
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๐ฌ Re: Aerokits Sea Commander. Strange Handling ?
13 days ago by
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That's a good point chum, a model plane, particularly a high winger, in a turn can exhibit adverse yaw, so the nose is pointing away from the turn dropping the tail. You mix in via the transmitter opposite rudder, you are turning the plane using the ailerons. This brings the nose round, tail up, and it all looks as it should. So in theory, start a vigorous turn and back off on the exit to correct the hull๐
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๐ฌ Re: Aerokits Sea Commander. Strange Handling ?
21 days ago by
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I have found some pics, unfortunately not of the actual boat in question, this is the larger 4 foot version, and is twin screw, so the pic is just to show the rudder . As a matter of interest, this had a similar issue but no where near as bad
I was very sceptical when I was advised this was the cause of my bow submarining in fast turns, but like you, I had tried everything. Raising the spray rails, changing the size, and profile, changing the cog, and the props, all to no avail, so this was an actual fix. I will never say this will work and so on, when I've never actually tried it myself, and it might not work for you, but what have you got to lose!
When the rudder turns, firstly the part behind the rudder post is acting against the forward section, if it was a car, and you slammed on the brakes, the front of the car would dip. Once the bow dips, the spray rails are useless under water, and the bow gets wet and becomes heavier, coupled with the hull wanting to roll. that big brass lump on the back is like a brake when applied in anger! Use the damaged one, take a bit off at a time, and use the transmitter to compensate, even a pretty basic spektrum dx6i has a whole host of programming features to help out. Its common practise with rc planes to use the tx programming to soften turns, get rid of twitchy set ups . The pics are the rudder blades as purchased stock, and what I ended up with. The boat with the submarine issue was the same hull, just smaller and single screw. The rudder ended up narrower on the front section than this boat. When running slow,. I dialed in more servo throw on the transmitter to give more turning authority, activated by the flick of a switch. It might not cure your issue, but you have tyried everything else๐
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๐ฌ Re: Aerokits Sea Commander. Strange Handling ?
22 days ago by
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Regarding the diving on turning
I had this issue really bad on an aerokits 3 foot crash tender (fireboat) which I was pushing way over scale speed.
There are a couple of things in play which have not been mentioned much if at all. Centre of gravity being one. Move the drive battery rather than add dead weight.
My fix was the rudder, and believe me, this was the cure.
Most of the mass produced brass rudders have blades that are way too wide for faster scale boats.the second you introduce turn, it acts like a big brake slamming the brakes on whilst you try and accelerate is causing all manner of handling issues with the hull. The pole on these rudders is central, so when it's applied, the back of the rudder acts against the front, difficult to explain sorry you want more blade at the front, the turning side. I cut small sections a bit at a time, and ended up with half the blade pretty much, problem was solved. It wasn't me who figured this out it was a very experienced engineer friend. We watch slo mo videos of the boat.
Next, if you have a digital tx, use you exponential settings and add expo to the rudder, it softens the mid stick movement, and when you apply rudder it takes away that nervous sharpness at the beginning, giving the hull a chance to alter its attitude. You need the spray rails they get the bow on the plane. If they are under water you may want to raise them. The expo by the way is on a rate 2 pos or 3 pos switch. When going fast flick the switch, and when slow turn it off.
Paul
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๐ฌ Re: 42" Veron Fairey Huntsman 28
1 month ago by
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I only dip in and out very occasionally now as I'm into rc planes, but cant help being drawn into any posts about the Huntsman 28, especially the Veron. Mine hasn't been wet for two years now! Its heavy, but is so nice to use, especially in choppy conditions. My only regret was not going twin screw๐
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๐ Orca with a full crew looking for jaws. ( filmed in slo-mo)
9 months ago by
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I just couldn't settle........... Nixie the submarine is off the shelf. If I can remember how to get a 40 meg radio set to work, I might see if I can get this thing to operate as a shark
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๐ Orca with a full crew looking for jaws. ( filmed in slo-mo)
9 months ago by
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Wow I'm back to remembering my desire to have a shark with my orca. I tried everything, towing, shark at side, shark at front, and it never hit the spot. I then thought about an rc shark.
At the time Glynn guest had a plan I'm model boats mag for a simple submarine called nixie. My plan was a dorsal fin over the tower, I wanted the fin to surface and dive. It seemed a simple build, but nixie has currently Sat on the shelf for several years. I just couldn't get it to operate correctly.
I see now on ebay etc there are rc sharks quite cheap, but I bet they don't work in a lake, more for paddling pools and bathtime!
If anyone can build me something I would take it!
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๐ Vosper crash Tender general arrangement plans....
10 months ago by
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The plans where sourced from original many years ago when this site was first developed by Stephen and was dedicated only to the vosper fireboat crash tenders. Peter timberland one of the first founder members had the first copies, and we passed them around between each other. Most are poor quality unfortunately however there is enough info on this forum to make very accurate reproductions, I would suggest look at the build blogs, I have a very detailed one from several years ago that contained many photos and plans, hope that helps
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๐ Minature action camera
12 months ago by
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Ebay, but quite a few years ago, they where called keychain cameras, and where very cheap. Probably spy cameras now, just buy a dead cheap one, see how it goes, they are mostly 1080p hd now, mine where poor quality
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๐ Minature action camera
12 months ago by
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cheap keychain cameras, one front one back, and a mobius action cam attached to a cap brim with velcro for when I'm flying RC planes
this video was years ago, pre HD! so the quality would be much better now. capture video, and a cheap card reader for the pc, and simple editing using windows movie maker!
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๐ Fairey huntsman steering
1 year ago by
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Ha ha that's the one!
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๐ Fairey huntsman steering
1 year ago by
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Yes I experimented with a load of props, x, s two blade, 3 blade, and so on. Using data logging by eagle tree I was able to compare actual results, run time, amp draw, speed and so on. The x 2 blades where very good, I think the best size was 52mm, but that cleaver prop was specially commissioned by Simon, gosh cannot remember the company name! But he makes brass props. At the time he had some props in development and used me to try a few. The design of the blades gives it more push and less cavitation, and it looks nice! I sent him all the data. I can also change the gear ratio as its belt driven to suit the lake I was running on, fast acceleration and lower top speed on a small lake, a d better top speed on a big lake. I love the meddling and testing. A single screw v shape very heavy hull single screw will reach a point that it's reached its maximum speed, I got there with this boat!๐
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๐ Fairey huntsman steering
1 year ago by
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Hi,
I don't come here very often these days, picking this thread up a bit cold, attached is a pic of my prop, its called a cleaver. I tried many props, I like meddling, better than just sailing. I had an onboard data logger that measured amp draw and gps speed. Propguy helped me a lot and is worth a call if he still trades, I always said I would convert this boat to twin screw but never got round to it. When reaching max speed which was 25mph, the hull gets very unstable, as it want to roll over! Its a veron Huntsman 28, 4 foot long
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๐ Lipo vs Li-ion
2 years ago by
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Ha ha thanks!
This is a nice video. The sounds are on the boat tracks taken from the jaws film so actual real music and dialogue. It's operated from a trigger switch via transmitter, and the smoke unit now also comes out of the engine hatch
https://youtu.be/TOO0QfESH-I?si=muO2BmhL9yU8RE60๐ |
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๐ Lipo vs Li-ion
2 years ago by
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I made my own smoker, spent ages trying to create black smoke, carbon, diesel oils, and so on, even bIts of rubber!
rubbish quality video but gives you the idea, its wire from a hairdryer wrapped around a piece of dowel covered with some roof insulation soaked in oil in a metal box, with a small pc fan to blow the smoke out, juts need to remember to fill up the oil via the exhaust stack every 15 m ins or so or the hull will get hot and then you do get black smoke. !
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๐ Raf Tender PAINT Colour
3 years ago by
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here are the colours, taken from Vosper original plans. Like I said earlier, the cabin sides are darker, but thats if you wanbt to be real picky!
Deck was painted in cerrux none slip paint. You can achieve this by first dusting with light coats a textured paint, till you get the effect you want, then paint over in bs631 or whatever you use. Using modelers license ๐ we all paint our cabin tops in a real glossy finish, can you imagine that actually happening! all the crew would fall off๐ then same with the hull, by the way, I did this! just because I thought it looked better
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๐ re keil craft raf tender
3 years ago by
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๐ Raf Tender PAINT Colour
3 years ago by
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Hi,
regarding the colours, I was very friendly with Peter Dimberline, and Peter Henshaw, both where original members of what was the Fireboat website, I was not far behind them!. PD knew someone that served on one of these boats, and between the 3 of them, they found the original Vosper plans etc, one of which had the paint codes.
BS639 was the deck colour, but the cabin sides was a darker grey, I dont have the code to hand at the mo. PH painted his boat this way, and it just didn't look right. I painted my 3 foot and 4 foot using BS639, but we reckon over time the correct shade was lost as time went on, you can see whilst its the correct code, it looks a bit green. I went to great lengths to get things right, but we can all use a bit of modelers license to create what we want. There where only two of these boats, they where not mass produced, it was infact a failed project as they arrived too late. The flying boats they where supposed to support where pretty much at the end of their useage
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๐ Spray Paining problem....
5 years ago by
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i had exactly the same, with white halfords rattle cans, after careful prep, wiped on cloths, etc, warmed cans, and so on, changed brand and the issue went. Im not a fan of halfords paint, the high build primer can also cause issues. I was painting on plastic also, which had been primered with plastic primer, then etched, and then regular primer. unfortunately its a rub down and start againโน๏ธ
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๐ yep 120a
5 years ago by
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ive used those esc's for aircraft, they are very good, and more top end of what hobbyking sell. You can programme without the card, but its a fiddly affair, following series of beeps etc. As said, plane dont fly backwards (however there are a couple of water planes that do have reversing esc) I would sell it, and buy a dedicated boat esc, some even have the option of water cooling
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๐ Veron Huntsman 28 brushless belt driven
5 years ago by
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Thanks for reviving that video! I run a belt drive gearbox, the boat should really be twin screw, at 25mph its on the verge of turning over due to the torque roll, I promised to do it many times, but cant bring myself to tear it apart๐
I prefer the 28, its a bit rare, I've taken a lot of pics, and got a fair few videos, but this one years ago is my absolute fav!
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๐ 3 foot Perkasa for sale improved and reduced since last offer
5 years ago by
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now sold
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๐ 3 foot Perkasa for sale improved and reduced since last offer
5 years ago by
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Hi all,
tried to sell this some months back, no interest, so I decided to do some improvements, to make it perform better, and easier to use. I removed the triple screw set up, and replaced with a single motor. To make things as easy as possible to use, I have installed a Graupner 700bb brushed motor. You can use any battery chemistry with this, and it offers a wide voltage range. I have also removed the scale rudders in favour of slim ones. As its gone from triple to single screw, the prop wash isn't over the rudders now, so there is possible improvements to be had, I just used what I had to hand.
Price reduced with two options
1/ all running as per video, Ill leave the orange receiver in if someone is using spektrum transmitter ยฃ150
2/ no running gear, just bare bones boat ยฃ100
This is a bargain for a real nice hard grp plastic model. It has nice detail, and no wood rot or delamination worries. It will offer a nice project for someone who wants to make it run and perform to suit their own style. I will include the original 3 motors, props, shafts etc so if you want to go back to triple screw you can.
I can deliver to Wirral or Cheshire (contact me first) or arrange a meet up (all subject to social distancing rules) if you are still housebound subject to none refundable deposit as I don't want messers. My latest RC Plane project arrives on Friday, I desperately need the space and money!
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๐ Perkasa for sale
5 years ago by
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Hi all,
now things have started to relax somewhat, I'm back to work, travelling between Wirral and Crewe, so can now offer a drop off to Wirral or Cheshire (please ask first) to any prospective buyers, it can be dropped at the end of your path, subject to full payment in advance, this offer is not to look, if you need to look first then its a trip to north Wirral.
I need the shelf space, and the funds for something else, so I want this gone now, so price reduced to ยฃ180.
thanks
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๐ฌ Re: Final reveal!
6 years ago by
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well done its real nice, hopper is my fav of your figures!
now.โฆ I tried various ways of having a shark, tried towing one, and tried various submarines, all failed, ive got the plans from glyn guest to build "nixie" which is a small easy rc sub, if I can get that to work, with a dorsal fin, great!
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