When
is a Billing Banckert not a Banckert? |
Part 1
I started with a ‘Dick Smith’ motor and plastic hose drive but it wasn’t a success so I lashed out on a Uni coupling and a 400 motor with a brass prop that I reduced the pitch on and it pushed the side of the bathtub for ½ Hr. without too much heat. I’ve used an Msonik ESC, which I’ve had a good run with in other boats. The little fan is out of my nephew’s old laptop. (Don’t tell him) I fitted a mini servo and switch that’s hooked up to a little Tooter for now, but will eventually have a proper horn simulator. The boat had it’s first sea trial (Lake trial) a while back on one of my Scope client boating days and my mum was driving it round and round in circles. The rear hatch was just sitting on and not waterproofed yet, so on hearing her ask if anyone could see the tugboat, I jumped in cloths and all and rescued it as it was going down for the last time. The tip of the bow was just visible! I took it home and stripped everything for a service and it’s all cool. While it was afloat it went very well. The reverse steering is a bit slow due to the Kort nozzle being fixed with 2 rudders aft of it, but it was otherwise quite fun to drive. I put the tug build aside for a few weeks as a guy I met at the lake asked me if I’d restore his late grandfather’s Pond Yacht that he built in a German POW camp! I jumped at the chance and it’s going well too. I’ll send more on both of these as it comes to life. |
Part 2 I’ve gotten underway with the Tug build and so far, I’ve made a fibreglass hull and deck using the kit plastic ones as moulds. It worked out well and I’m very pleased with the finish. I’d highly recommend this to others as long as you keep the resin layers thin and seal the plastic well with a moulding film and wax etc to prevent perishing of the styrene. The glass is much tougher and doesn’t need all of the reinforcing that’s required for the plastid deck etc. I’ve fitted the prop shaft and some frames and I’m now starting on setting up the motor and other electrics. |
Part 3
See a video clip at:
http://www.magpieyachts.com/files/TugBanckertGrandLaunch.MPG |
All for now.
Regards, |