Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Springer Tugs => Topic started by: woodybob on August 25, 2008, 11:38:47 pm

Title: Scooter
Post by: woodybob on August 25, 2008, 11:38:47 pm
I started this Springer last year.  It was inspired by a Google search that came up with SLING SHOT.   It’s a wood hull, fiber glassed, then painted.  Some of the deck fittings I got from Wet Goose Marine.(http://www.wetgoose.com/)   Other’s were scratch built be me.  An Astro Flight Ferrite 15 Marine geared motor, (water cooled) Vantec RET 512 ESC, & twelve 4500 Ni-MH batteries power it.  Prop is a Raboesch 176-03.  I get hours of run time with this set up. The rubber bumpers are Rubber Baby Tugboat Bumpers. (http://mysite.verizon.net/res1tf1s/id12.html)  Like all Springer’s, under full power, the decks are awash.  However, it takes on very little water; I think it comes from the prop tube while in reverse.  Here is a Kmot video of Scooter: http://wavelit.com/media/926/A_Springer_Named_Scooter/
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: Weeds on August 25, 2008, 11:46:02 pm
what materials and painting technique do you use?
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: ralphhager on August 25, 2008, 11:51:30 pm
Woodybod nice Springer. O0
  Could you show us how you made the rudder....ralph1937 :)
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: woodybob on August 25, 2008, 11:55:59 pm
The hull is 1/2" ply I had lying about, bottom is 3mm ply, doubled up, the cockpit was formed with 1/64" ply, laminated making it 1/32".  I used Testors Marine paint for the bottom, (anti fouling red) Tamiya flat red for the cockpit. (airbrushed) Flat black & various shades of gray for the deck, which were hardware store enamel aerosols in a can.
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: woodybob on August 26, 2008, 12:02:40 am
Woodybod nice Springer. O0
  Could you show us how you made the rudder....ralph1937 :)


It's made of plywood laminated together.  I used brass rod and drilled holes for the cross members then soldered them to keep the rod from rotating in the wood.  It works great.
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: Weeds on August 26, 2008, 12:22:13 am
thanks. very detailed info... O0
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: woodybob on August 26, 2008, 05:01:05 am
This is what the cockpit looks like below the deck.  Hench, SLA's were out of the question.  To high.  A slight oversight, but since I get hours of run time on the Ni-MH, it's all cool.
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: Arrow5 on August 26, 2008, 08:31:01 am
She looks low in the water Woody,what does she weigh ?  The prop-guard must have a bit of Kort effect?
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: woodybob on August 26, 2008, 02:24:07 pm
She sits right on the waterline arrow, as soon as I hit the throttle she hunkers down, you know, Springer dip.  Scooter weighs it at 8.6 pounds.  (.0038 Metric Tons) 
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: Martin (Admin) on August 26, 2008, 03:33:39 pm

Nice, Very nice!  O0
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: Arrow5 on August 26, 2008, 04:06:20 pm
Thanks Woody. No problem keeping the deck clean then O0
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: Colin H on August 26, 2008, 05:09:18 pm
Very nice Woody would you mind if I copied your idea.


Colin H.
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: woodybob on August 26, 2008, 05:49:51 pm
Thanks boys.

Copy away Colin.  O0
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: Colin H on August 26, 2008, 10:11:13 pm
Thanks Woody,

If you have read the thread o my build you will know I am new to scratch building and I thought that nicely curved cockpit might stretch me a little.


Colin H.
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: tigertiger on August 26, 2008, 10:32:44 pm
Nice springer
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: SteamboatPhil on August 26, 2008, 11:38:54 pm
Very nice, you have done a nice job, and given me an idea for my next one  O0
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: woodybob on September 17, 2008, 04:58:56 pm
The cockpit was very challenging.  I hot glued stilts inside the hull to stage the floor in position, then built up from there.  First time for me.


Thanks Woody,

If you have read the thread o my build you will know I am new to scratch building and I thought that nicely curved cockpit might stretch me a little.


Colin H.
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: woodybob on September 17, 2008, 05:06:24 pm
Scooter gets tagged.
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: Mr Andy on October 18, 2008, 08:07:55 pm
Very very nice, a bit of imagination goes a long way.

Andy. :-))
Title: Re: Scooter
Post by: woodybob on June 02, 2009, 07:13:59 pm
 Just got done adding a water cooled heatsink to Scooter's Vantec 713P ESC, also swapped out the Astro Flight metal gear box with an Astro Flight belt reduction set up.  Scooter runs much quieter now, and hopefully cooler.  With no ventilation below the deck it gets pretty warm in there.  O0