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๐ NiMH from hell
1 day ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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"6 months to fix" you say?? what, what, WHAT?? Its so hard to get good help.
I recently had to return a brand new LiPO to Amazon, it arrived with one of the 3 cells being down at almost zero volts.
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๐ Fitting The Electrics For Aeronaut's Diva
3 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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If you insist upon installing a fuse I highly recommend that you purchase automotive blade fuses. They are readily available...on Amazon & even in dept store automotive depths (such as Walmart). Use an inline householder for simplicity,installing it in the +battery lead,in a spot where you can readily pull it above deck for ease in changing. Those fuses are available in abt 5 styles/physical sizes, I chose to use the same ones as in my car (so that a box of assorted covers 2 items in the household. The blade-style automobile fuse is easy to handle, you can see whether it's blown or intact thru the side window of the fuse body, they are relatively inexpensive, readily bought, & easy to get in/out of the holder. Also the fuse element extends upward thru its case so during operation you can put a DVM on the contacts, a fuse is actually a known resistor, there are charts on the internet so you can determine fuse current just by measuring the mV across the fuse element. They are readily available for 16 values, 1Amp thru 80Amp.
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๐ Fitting The Electrics For Aeronaut's Diva
4 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Firefighter, altho I hav been sailing powerboats for decades they were always RTRs or ready hulls with very good instructions showing exact placements of the various components. I'm just now building my first wood kit,a box full of lasercut ply bits (ZIPP tug). So...I hav many of the same questions that you have. I've been very fortunate to be welcomed into METRO MARINE MODELLERS a Toronto-based sail/scale display/power club & i was instantly befriended by 2 avid power boaters who hav been wonderfully helpful,generous with their time,advice,friendship,bits n pieces. We sailed together weekly until the ice arrived. My point is,persist in your search for a local club, your hobbyshop where you bought your kit shud be able to help you find something in your area,they hav a vested interest in growing the hobbies they sell...trains,planes,automobiles...&boatsโต๐ค
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๐ฌ Re: Hull painted, starting superstructure
5 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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God bless those who agree to organ donor status after death. Otherwise many sightsaving operations wud not be possible. Speedy recovery to you.
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๐ฌ Re: 4. Fishing boat โAlineโ
8 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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Yes definitely an AQUACRAFT "Bristol Bay" trawler with many added details such as the anchor winch, detailed hatch behind the front cabin, & detailed door on the front hut. Mine lacks a smoke generator, is totally original. I bought it prior to 2010 so it's at least 13y.o. Came with a 27MHz radio system. RTR, just add transmitter & lighting AA cells & a NiMH 6-cell pack for propulsion. BTW the sails on the 1:1 scale model are for stability in swells, they are not for propulsion. With her lights on she looks fantastic a halfhour after sunset. The brass prop is a nice touch.
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๐ SSMBC Model Boat Meet Jan 15, 2023 (Winter in Florida)
10 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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Ron...love your wee barge with the dropdown beaching ramp. When i had a cottage near Parry Sound we saw that many contractors had those for servicing island cottages (zero road access). We see them occas at Bluffers Park, used by Conservation & by movie film crews. Noted the Stouffville facility, thank you.
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๐ SSMBC Model Boat Meet Jan 15, 2023 (Winter in Florida)
11 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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An inlet from Lake Ontario abt an hour west of me in Mississauga is signed no gas motors but in my limited experience there are not many nitro boats around anyway. Brushless+LiPO's hav pretty much supplanted gas or alcohol fuelly's.
Just 10min to the west of me is a huge park/multi-marina/2-beach area with a public boat launch, 2 slots. A few of us run there most THUR mornings in better weather. Currently the surface ice is coming & going as the weather fluctuates. We avoid harassing the Trumpeter Swans. Fortunately no alligators here.
Club is invited to exhibit at various consumer shows in which case the promoter provides a rectangular pond, altho seldom deep enough for sail keels & they don't always provide wind (big fans). Sportsman Show coming up soon, recently we attended a Zoomers Show (seniors consumer).
End of month our METRO MARINE Modellers is renting a recreation centre indoor swimming pool for an hour. Costly but a pleasant winter relief.
Some of us meet near-monthly in one gent's home for a show-&-tell to trade information.
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๐ SSMBC Model Boat Meet Jan 15, 2023 (Winter in Florida)
12 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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You hav wonderful municipal support. We are a city of 2.3 million people & our hobby is not well-accommodated at city facilities all along Lake Ontario. In fact, what was our "best" boat pond has been closed for several years for re-developmentโน๏ธ
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๐ฌ Re: USS Sea Shadow
12 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Very nicely executed ! Im intrigued by models that use differential steering as our venues on the shores of Lake Ontario are often clogged with weeds by early July. Two questions. Do her props break the surface of the water when at high speed? You mention the use of "plastic drain pipe", I can't quite read the print on the bare pipe in your pix. What is its internal diameter? Your pipe is off-white, we use a similar PVC pipe here in Ontario for supply, not waste, I'm using 3/4" to build a launch/retrieve cradle. Thankyou for posting so many excellent-quality pictures. Well done post !! of a beautiful model !!
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๐ Maiden voyage disaster
12 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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You are in the UK so unlikely to sue, thats very much an American thing. If you were dealing with a Canadian he wud apologize (thats a Canadian thing, we apologize for everything even when its not our fault)& his house insurance wud cover your GoPro loss+your "toy". Our provincial insurance wud cover your medical, & if he was a typical Canadian gent you wud be offered something for your "pain & suffering". Yes,get a tetanus booster & the police shud insist upon veterinary certification of the dog's rabies vaccination. Your doctor may advise you to be treated for rabies exposure anyway, its a terrible way to die...there is no treatment for it to save you. In Canada the dog wud be immediately quarantined..... for observation.
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๐ Maiden voyage disaster
12 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Terrible situation, I'm sorry for your losses. As a dog lover (hav had 5 large, 6 small) I apologize for the card's behaviour. There are no bad dogs, just bad dog owners. If you were American your msgs wud hav had the words "lawyer" & "sue" but i am wondering how these things are handled in the UK? PLEASE get well soon,& best wishes for a positive outcome from your other health issue. I can relate to your reconstruction, feel that something very positive will come out of your aggressive rebuild. Hope we see more pix soon. All the best.....๐ค๐.
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๐ Billings African Queen
13 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Thankyou Lionel for giving me hope. I first saw the AQ kit in a hobbyshop in N.Bay ON back circa 1986-1993,was in a fully-loaded Gov't car at the time,cudnt purchase it. I love the movie,hav the VHS & book set. About 1994 i found one online,its sat unbuilt ever since. I was intimidated by the lack of instructions abt building,adding RC. In 2013 we had a basement flood & my Bogey&Hepburn IKEA dolls grew mould in the humidity. Its 2023 now, the kit sits in my livingroom with other intimidating kits DUMAS PT109, US ARMY74' ST TUG,GREAT LAKES FREIGHTER. I really shud learn to do more research before I buy kits. I'm a very inexperienced kit-builder,shud stick to preform ABS hulls or completed fibrglas hulls. Well, after seeing your post I opened the AQ kit for the first time in 28yrs,discovered a beautiful hull,& I'm not so reluctant to try figuring out the motor,battery, & steering needs. My kit includes the hardware pack so I hav prop,driveshaft,stuffing tube. Thankyou for giving me the prod that i needed!!
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๐ฌ Re: Revell Hermann Marwade research vessel
14 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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How long is she? And what is the exact name of the Revel kit? I'm in Canada, not sure we will hav that here, so j will need to do an internet search using exact name. Looks like a great model !!
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๐ lead acid battery
15 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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12Volt LP-7 batteries need not be kept "uoright" while being either charged or discharged. There is no liquid electrolyte to pour out of the vents.
If one chooses to use a "motorcycle"-style lead acid battery, with liquid electrolyte (it will hav screw-on cell caps) then the battery must be kept upright at all times.
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๐ lead acid battery
16 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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I hav been using SLA (Sealed Lead Acid) batteries since 1972 both professionally & as hobby batteries. I concur with all of the earlier remarks. In my experience the situations of outgassing, leakage, & battery failure hav resulted from OVERCHARGING, either thru excessive voltage being applied from the charger, or excessive charge current. Simple chargers often lead to problems as they are unregulated, simple devices, designed to meet an inexpensive price point.
A safe charger for a 6V SLA supplies a max of 7.4V, voltage regulated, max current 1.35A to a 4.5Ahr battery....so a minimum recharge time is approx 4 to 5 hr. For a 12V SLA the max wud be 14.8V (this # suggests, BUT do not use a charger intended for a standard lead-acid car battery)
SLA has several advantages for the model sailor: relatively inexpensive, very available in a variety of physical sizes, standardized terminals, can safely be charged without removal from the model, serve as ballast, & can be safely connected in series or parallel without using isolating diodes.
Yes, I do use LiPO's in certain vessels,for lighter weight,longer runtime,but remove them to protective bags for charging & storage,then reinstall immediately befor a run. In comparison I hav found SLA to be relatively carefree.
My years of experience with NIMH in model aircraft have also taught me that they are an inexpensive, lightweight, easily-managed option.
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๐ Zippkits 650 kv outrunner
17 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Thanks, i hav looked at both mfgrs' products on amazon.ca I'm reluctant to buy highly-processed lead (?) when the ads don't give enuff info for me to figure out how much weight I wud be purchasing. I purchase quite a few things off amazon.ca for this fantastic hobby but ballast won't be one of them. Think I will go check out BassPro for large fishing sinkers + bulk buckshot used by reloaders
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๐ฌ Re: TID TUG
18 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Thank you for pointing me in a direction. Im really quite unfamiliar with most boat terms. Further to your help I did some research on "skeg" & found this which is also a keel extension but projecting downwards from the hull, faired a bit more than just a bearing at the base of the rudder
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๐ฌ Re: TID TUG
18 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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What do you call it where the bottom of the rudder is supported like that ??
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๐ฌ Re: 1930 Chris craft runabout ( Driftwood)
19 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Beautiful !! But too much work for me. I wud prefer a ABS hull, preferably one-piece, rather than 2 pieces joined down the centreline
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๐ฌ Re: Deck, wood and bulwarks.
19 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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๐ Zippkits 650 kv outrunner
19 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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Yes, I hav purchased one for my "currently-building" single-engine Springer tug from ZIPP. I also purchased a twin tug but will be using brushed motors there as I hav them to hand, $$$ already invested incl the brushed ESCs.
I shall be using dual 6V sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries in both tugs rather than LiPO's & expensive ballast ( I wud need to drive a very long way to BASS PRO to buy buckshot )
Two photos of the single-engine under construction, my first wooden hull in decades. Gorilla glue & CA, my my my how construction has improved since the 1970's .... especially appreciate the quality of lasercut plywood
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๐ Buck converter
19 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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I wud say that it wud be cheaper just to buy the higher-voltage LIPO battery
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๐ graupner mc-26
20 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Try a bit more separation between TX & your RCVR, I have had something similar years ago, the components didn't like to operate when placed too close together. Say, 8' instead of having your TX almost on top of the RCVR. It's a bit awkward, but try it.
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๐ฌ Re: Aeronaut Kalle
23 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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No universal joint in your drivetrains?? Just wondering. I'm relatively new at this, my 4 plastic-hulled GRAUPNER hi-speed electrics came with universal joints in their pre-installed drive-lines. These kits were ARTR, almost ready to run, i just had to change out the mechanical stepper switch speed control & add rudder servo, RX & NiMH battery.
I'm building a Zippkits Springer tug with their brushless motor, I have every chance to do the drivetrain without a universal, but just wondering abt the wisdom of hoping for perfect alignment as the boat ages.
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๐ฌ Re: Guestbook
25 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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๐ Billings St Roch
29 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Many many years ago I was able to visit/tour the StRoch in Vancouver BC. It's a very small vessel. Then the next time I was out there I wanted to visit it, but it was closed to crawling around onboard. Apparently it was not "accessable", so since a person in a wheelchair can't get up there & explore, now it is closed to able-bodied persons as well. "WOKE" culture, PC(political correctness). I first heard of StRoch in abt gr5 when I was 10y.o. That wud be 1957. It was in our history text. I'm 75 now, wish I cud view it again. RCMP vessel, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Proved that we "owned" the Northwest Passage
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๐ฌ Re: RAF Fire Boat 34" Original Keil Kraft Kit
30 days ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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Thru out my reading of posts here I hav seen multiple references to "RAF fire boats". I recently purchased this complete,running model from another member of MMM...Metro Marine Modellers...here in Toronto,Canada. Is this a RAF fireboat? Can someone please explain what/who "RAF fire boats" are?? I thought RAF=Royal Air Force,am I correct in assuming this?Or am I missing something? & why does the RAF have so many? Growing up in Toronto I seem to recall the City having one fireboat,under the municipal fire dept,to deal with houses on the Toronto Islands & industrial fires along the waterfront.
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๐ Recent Promotions
1 month ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

Petty Officer 1st Class)
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I'm very new here but quickly learned of the value of the info & opinions available to me on this website. I shall contribute $$ when I can. Merry Christmas to all, even to those who do not celebrate the birth of our Saviour JC.โต๐ค
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๐ Cheap Epoxy
1 month ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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Good (Monday) Morning, I take it that your Poundland in UK is very akin to our DOLLARAMA here in Canada. When this chain store first surfaced everything in the store was just $1. Well, over the past 7yr prices have gradually increased. Some of the blank books, diaries, journals are now $4.50 & yes we have CA & epoxy. 4 tiny tubes of CA for $1.25, one of the few bargains in the store. You can about stock your entire kitchen in the BETTY CROCKER aisle! And their clear plastic bins with snap-on lids are abt 1/3rd the price of Wal-Mart. โตMerry Christmas, Everyone, may not be politically correct to say so, but its my sentiment !!
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๐ฌ Re: Amsterdam Wijsmuller
2 months ago by
๐จ๐ฆ RodC (

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Your 9 pictures present your model very nicely, documented with that backdrop of the real tug's features. You hav helped me by showing aft deck rigging options for tow. Thank you for posting ! I love tugs as well, one being refitted after rolling over to sink, + two new ZIPP kits on the bench. One is single brushless, the other will be dual brushed...using items I already own. SLA batteries in both. On the other hand, here is my fav, an AQUACRAFT BRISTOL BAY TRAWLER no longer available. Its on 27MHz, uses a 6-cell NiMH, runs several hours. Full navigation lights run off 2 AA cells, great for evening & night running. Thats my Ryerson university degree as backdrop
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