Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Springer Tugs => Topic started by: Z750Jay on March 31, 2014, 10:37:31 pm

Title: New springer
Post by: Z750Jay on March 31, 2014, 10:37:31 pm
Hi all,
Here is my first go at a springer. It's  my first model boat build so was a bit of a learning experience !
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: grace on April 01, 2014, 12:48:28 am
great looking tug  :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: derekwarner on April 01, 2014, 12:58:27 am
Z750 says ..... "was a bit of a learning experience" ........we can see that & it appears an excellent first build  :-))

Also apparent you have followed the regulations with the nav lights on the tree  O0...congratulations......Derek
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: Z750Jay on April 01, 2014, 06:32:08 am
Thanks,
Luckily I work in a dockyard so get to see ships and tugs daily. You can't see it in the photo but I also but she is also flying the flay for ' May have problems manovering ' as she is my boat to learn with  ok2
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: Z750Jay on April 07, 2014, 12:12:59 pm
Managed to get to the lake on Sunday afternoon. Windy with choppy waves, just what I needed to test the water tightness of the tug. Only one other person about and he was using a sailboat so there was no one really to run into/get in the way of/make mistakes in front of. Hardly a drop made it in which I was happy with considering what probably makes up the lake water. Only a few snags occurred, the prop is useless in reverse ( new prop on order with a bigger pitch), it chewed through a 7.2 v NiCad in about under 20 minutes ( got a 6v lead acid gel to try) and the rough conditions dislodged the battery which broke a wire to the motor. Nothing to do with my spirited piloting - the springer surfs quite well and ploughs through the waves rather pleasingly  :D
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: html on April 07, 2014, 05:42:42 pm
Nice looking springer there, I power mine on 2 x 6volt 4ah sealed gel batteries in parallel lots of power and ballast as well. Do not worry about how much water goes over the bow, they are known for that. At full power my original springer could have over an inch of water washing across the bow, but nothing inside.

Keep up the good work

Brian
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: Z750Jay on April 07, 2014, 06:24:39 pm
Thanks, I was going to sort the wiring out to run two 7.2 NiCad in parallel. That with a better prop should sort some of the issues out
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: eddiesolo on April 07, 2014, 07:18:53 pm
My springer has two 6 volt gel types-as mentioned good for ballast and endurance-just tootle about-built for shoving, towing not screaming across the pond  {-)


Nice work on yours, like it very much, it looks superb. :-))


Si:)
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: Z750Jay on April 08, 2014, 02:10:18 pm
Ah, pootling about. That may be a BIG factor in chewing through the batteries as the water was so wrough I was at full ahead most of the time. Crashing through the waves and surfing on them was kind of fun though %)
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: Dessie B on April 08, 2014, 03:15:16 pm
What a lovely model, well done.  :-))
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: eddiesolo on April 08, 2014, 07:20:36 pm
Ah, pootling about. That may be a BIG factor in chewing through the batteries as the water was so wrough I was at full ahead most of the time. Crashing through the waves and surfing on them was kind of fun though %)


 {-) {-) {-) {-) I like it...out of my way water!


Si:)
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: Z750Jay on April 10, 2014, 05:05:59 pm
New brass Roboesch prop arrived today so that's one problem down. The local shop helped (Fratton model Centre) with some advice and a different motor. Naturally thenew motor does not quite fit plus the new battery arrangement ment that i started 'remodelling ' the interior. The only good thing about that is finding several grub screws that had rolled under my battery stowage. I am also going to mount the motor on a shock mount as the kit mounts it direct to the hull so you produce a lot off noise.
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: Z750Jay on April 22, 2014, 07:40:40 am
Finally got a photo of her underway. From the Chichester Canal thing yesterday. Apart from having to stop every 10 minute to clear the weed fowled prop she did fairly well. After running for about 2 hours things were getting very warm so a superstructure rebuild is underway to give the electronics some more space.
Title: Re: New springer
Post by: cuppa on April 26, 2014, 11:02:01 am
That is a really nice springer Sir. Well done.