Topic: Thunderbird 4 (Read 6503 times)

D108 · « **on:** November 04, 2015, 03:16:35 pm »

A few months ago I acquired a large (8x4) sheet of foam insulation from the builders working on next doors extension. I think it's polyurethane, it's that colour yellow, with foil on two sides. To be honest I did not have a use for it right away. It was free, too good to pass on and well I thought it just might come in handy.
So with free foam I needed a use for it! My friends son is mad on Thunderbirds he asked if I could make his son an RC Thunderbird 4. I had a use for some of the foam at last ! The foam is very easy to cut and sand, almost too easy it generates a lot of dust so you need a mask but you do get nice results. The foam was skinned with fibre glass to give it a hard shell, it is too soft to leave bare.
I have added a few lights , the intended sailor is four and he likes toys with lights. Its powered by a Playmobil unit, I saw the item on another post (that I can't find now) I have had a few test runs in my garden pond it seems to work really well.

Brian60 · « **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2015, 04:11:22 pm »

well done and 10/10 for the innovation.

D108 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2015, 05:28:48 pm »

Thanks Brian
Here's a video of the basic body during a test run in my garden pond.
https://youtu.be/KGnecWjRNK8

nivapilot · « **Reply #3 on:** November 04, 2015, 05:38:16 pm »

Brilliant.....I love it

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #4 on:** November 04, 2015, 05:54:12 pm »

Quote from: nivapilot on November 04, 2015, 05:38:16 pm

Brilliant.....I love it

Turns like a London taxi, doesn't hang around either!

Brian60 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 04, 2015, 06:40:17 pm »

Seeing the video has just given me inspiration. One of those Playmobil units could be hacked apart and turned into bowthrusters on a bigger build surely!

D108 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 05, 2015, 04:12:43 pm »

Quote from: Brian60 on November 04, 2015, 06:40:17 pm

Seeing the video has just given me inspiration. One of those Playmobil units could be hacked apart and turned into bowthrusters on a bigger build surely!

Brian

You could hack it I suppose and use it for a bow thruster when you take the prop guard off, it just pops off for cleaning, the props are quite crude but as you see they do work quite well. Being mostly foam my model is pretty light. I'm not sure how well it would preform pushing a heavier boat. I am taking her on a test run at my local pond this week end. I may get a chance to see then. The unit was £34. It's not super cheap but it is solidly made and the little controller is very nice to use. I'll get some pics of the props and the unit installed
Paul

jarvo · « **Reply #7 on:** November 05, 2015, 08:49:38 pm »

I was thinking, what are the innards like, wonder if a proper RX and ESC could be fitted?
How does it fit to the hull?

Mark

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #8 on:** November 05, 2015, 09:39:03 pm »

( Here a finished one! - https://youtu.be/CuBPX4BtLoA )

D108 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 06, 2015, 06:34:42 pm »

Quote from: Martin [Admin] on November 05, 2015, 09:39:03 pm

( Here a finished one! - https://youtu.be/CuBPX4BtLoA )

That's brilliant, I'm sure my friends son would want to be driven around in that, his parents less so.

The unit has a fitting on the top with a tapered hole inside this hole attaches to the base of the Playmobil toys, it comes with an A frame that has the same fittings on. The A frame allows the unit to be mounted a few inches lower. Hope its clearer in the pics. The A frame is a very snug and solid fit.
To decided to mount my unit using the A frame, I thought it was easier than turning a small taper and making a small fitting to hold it. I cut a hole into the foam on the under side of the hull, the A frame sits fully in the hole. Which is lined with plastic sheet. I then have two screws that fit into holes I drilled into the A frame. The unit is snug onto the bottom of the hull. Using this method the A frame and unit are still able to be used as they were designed Just in case my friend wants to use it on another model and it will take a few moments to remove.
The battery pack for the lights sits in its own hole behind the A frame's. the small hole is a tube for the aerial it leads up to the top of the fin.
Does that make sense ?

The propellers are easy to expose the rubberised guard pops off. The unit looks as if it is sonically welded so It would need to be cut open for any hack of refit of equipment.

D108 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 14, 2015, 08:12:22 pm »

She's done, I'm not handing her over yet. We have a local show in December (Poynton Cheshire)where there is access to a swimming pool so I intend to have a little fun before it's packed away for Christmas.
http://www.themodelshow.co.uk/

Crossie · « **Reply #11 on:** November 14, 2015, 08:21:33 pm »

Well done! There's going to be one ever-so happy little boy come Christmas morn'!

Davenotdone · « **Reply #12 on:** November 14, 2015, 09:23:49 pm »

F.A.B !!! The finish you have got on that is superb,

but where is the front bumper / headlight type ' thingy ' ? Only joking, you have done a real nice job with that foam you found, a real credit to you, regards Dave ( Thunderbirds fan ) Martin.

D108 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 14, 2015, 10:28:13 pm »

Thanks guys ,
I left the light bar /bumper thing off I'm not sure about her future sailor but I know his dad is a clumsy b****r
Paul

red181 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 16, 2015, 10:31:37 pm »

that is awesome, the finish you have is so good, did you use glass cloth?

D108 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 17, 2015, 07:00:42 pm »

Quote from: red181 on November 16, 2015, 10:31:37 pm

that is awesome, the finish you have is so good, did you use glass cloth?

Thank you, I used some fairly light weight cloth I had left over, the cloth was too lightweight to lay up a hull. Being lightweight it rubs down very easily with minimal filling.

Paul

Plastic - RIP · « **Reply #16 on:** November 17, 2015, 07:04:06 pm »

Awesome end results!

thething84 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 18, 2015, 01:22:17 am »

that looks great. He is gonna love it. That reminds me i need to finish the one for my son.

D108 · « **Reply #18 on:** December 15, 2015, 12:39:10 am »

TB4 had her maiden voyage over the weekend at all a local show. Enjoyed by children of all ages. I let the children watching take control. the play Mobil unit was excellent. We had four half hour sessions in the pool. https://youtu.be/cj0ckSUEfmM

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #19 on:** December 15, 2015, 09:54:15 am »

Good job!

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