baby Severn

[J.beazley]

here we go then finally got my baby severn on the water at long last.

for a little bit ive been modding a little severn and heres a few pics of it on the water at long last.









Jay

[J.beazley]

i guess i best show people whats been done to the insides of my little friend.

with the grateful help of Shipmate60 (bob) this is what we have done to my Severn
ive used 2 x 380 type race motors with a sea rover 15amp ESC and a hitec 2channel reciever, using 35mm props and a pair of groupner small rudders to assist steering.
the whole lot running on a 7.2volt 1800mah buggy pack for the time being, but that will change when i have the money to upgrade packs.








and i think thats about it for the time being, will post more details if people want more info.

Jay

[maninthestreet]

Is this a modified version of one of those RTR kits that are available on Ebay?

[J.beazley]

yes this was one of the RTR models founded by the RNLI selling all over the place for around £50

as you can see ive changed a few bits and pieces 
looks good on the water aswell with the extra bit of power from the bigger motors.

Jay

[neilthebus]

Good to see these pics of your conversion of the Severn. I for one would like more details. I also have a modelof a U.S. coastguard patrol boat based on a Vosper Thorneycroft design that has a very similar set up to the Severn.

One of the motors packed up (rusted to hell) and I have stripped it down to its component bits in order to decide how best to modify it so any info on the Severn conversion would be appreciated.

Thanks for the PM by the way

Neil

[Aston]

for what it's worth, Model Boats magazine are publishing a kit special this month in addition to the normal magazine.  There will be  a full article in there on converting the Severn - I know, I wrote it !!

Aston

[J.beazley]

will be interesting to read that aston, whens the mag due out?

lots of people have lots of different set-ups in there Severn's, it will be nice to see what others have done and compare differences.

still got plenty of things i want to do with my severn to make it less "toy" like but it all takes time.

Jay

[johno 52-11]

Hi Jay

Your boat looks like its got a good turn of speed there. Having been involved in getting a 1/12 Severn to perform I have one small observation. With the power your putting out you might consider adding some trim tabs like the real boat. On a 1/12 boat they do make a difference from the up position (bow lifts just like yours in the picture) to the down position bow stays down.

Regards

John

[J.beazley]

Cheers for the observation johno 

already got some trim tabs on order just waiting for them to get here so i can pop rivet them on.
then all i need to do is adjust the trim to where i think it should be.

will post a pic when they get here

Jay

[shipmate60]

Are you happy with her now Jay?

Bob

[J.beazley]

yes bob

the only thing that lets it down now is the "play" time, new battery pack will be on the way shortly giving me longer times on the water.

the only other thing im in the process of doing is fitting a set of trim tabs, hopefully she will sit a little more level and this may or may not raise her out the water a little more.

apart from all that aside im more then happy with the little toy.

Jay

[J.beazley]

just an update on my little "toy" ive added a set of trim tabs.

using 2 pieces of brass sheet at 50mm long they are perfect and now she sits lovely on the water at full throttle.
i havent noticed any "drag effect" so to speak as she still gets up on the plain easy and cruises at a far speed.



will post pics of her on the water when i have someone to control her while i snap away

Jay

[Aston]

Hi Jay,  sorry for the delay in replying  - computer went into meltdown mode, and I only got it back today  :-\

The article is in the Model Boats kits special which came out earlier this month.

After all these years building and sailing model boats, and with my excellent command of the English language, I am now at last a publisht auther 

Cheers

Aston

[J.beazley]

i read the article in model boats aston, good right up by the way.

when i get time im going to make a new superstructure out of thin plasticard, 1 because it will be lighter and 2 i can add some more detail.

Jay

[modeliggy]

Hi,
I am a new owner of a baby severn thanks to a Xmas present and am interested in upgrading motors etc. I have tried to obtain a copy of the Model boats magazine article but cannot find a copy. Can anyone help with a copy of the article to get me started on the rebuild.

Thanks,

Ian

[barriew]

You should be able to get a copy of the 'Kits Special' Model Boats Issue here 01689 899200 or customer.services@encanta.co.uk.

Barrie

[J.beazley]

you could always wait until the end of this month and get a copy of Marine Modelling Magazine, there featuring the conversion in next months mag.

if you want any info just shout i shall try my best to inform 

Jay

[ofat1]

Hi, Just finished this project,the Life boat looks great, same set up as J Beazley as I am a novice and no idea how to R/c boats, other than Sail winches and rudders!
Great article, it has helped me in understanding motors, engines etc.
I have 2 x 380 motors, a viper 15a esc and a dodgy 9v 1800mAh rechargable battery from an old r/c car,she ran fine for 3 mins, cutting out 30 metres away, a short range i thought, as my r/c yachts will cover over 150 metres using the 2 channel Futaba gear, possible esc interference? but she ambled along for 10 mins at a medium slow pace until dying completely.

My questions are, is there any way to increase range, (re-siting esc?)
and you have said you may upgrade your battery, what would you be looking at, more V or mAh, i have seen 7.2 2100mAh batts on ebay but am unsure if the esc can handle it.

[DickyD]

Hi
Afraid I dont know the answer to your problem, but if you are after a new battery try these people first

http://www.component-shop.co.uk

Some of the chaps on here have used them and they apparently give good service and cheap prices.
Sorry , that sounds like an ad for an escort agency. ???

Richard

[J.beazley]

glad to see im not the only one playing with these litle "toys".
the way i overcome my trouble with volts and running times was to go up in volts to 8.4volts 2700mah and im using a light weight pack.

the key is to keep the weight down, your ESC can take upto 12volts so i would suggest using a 9.6volt AA cell pack as there light and you have the power.

Jay

[ofat1]

Thank you both, i have now ordered battery packs 9.6 v 2200mAh from the component shop suggested, good price too I thought, compared to e bay.

So to clarify the Esc amp rating, this is for a full amp and not the mAh I thought?

[ofat1]

Me again, attatched pic of myBaby Severn on the water, lovely turn & speed,the batteries lasted a good 20 mins on 3/4 speeds around the pond, good choice, thanks, just a quickie on electrics on this thread, let me know if i need to ask else where?

I may be over cautious, but i fitted a 10 amp in line fuse in the setup to protect the esc, this blew nearly straight away, i then fitted 15 amp fuse which was ok until i attempted full speed, as i said before i was all overr the pond @ 75-80% power, but the last notch proved too much! Am i being over cautious with the fuse ,although i would rather blow the 25p fuse than £20 esc?

[J.beazley]

looks like you get good speed with your Severn.
better off blowing fuses at least there cheap to replace.

dont think i have ever taken my Severn to full throttle so wouldnt know if it might blow my in-line fuse.
could only suggest going upto a 20amp ESC and use a 15amp fuse.

Jay

[ofat1]

Cheers Jay,
Didnt know if you were going to say the esc should handle the amp or not, i might just have to keep to 75% for the time being,do you not think that even with a 20 amp esc i still might blow the 15 a fuse? and also does the esc draw more current the larger it gets? therefore negating any pwer improvements.
regards Steve

[Stavros]

Have done a conversion myself using MFA300 motors will post piccies asap and let you know what it goes like Stavros

[J.beazley]

Get some pictures up Stavros

I was thinking just how many people have done this type of conversion???
would be nice if companys like Impact worked with modellers like us to improve there models, seeing as a fair few of us have taken it apart and remoulded it into a nicer model.

Jay

[barriew]

do you not think that even with a 20 amp esc i still might blow the 15 a fuse? and also does the esc draw more current the larger it gets? therefore negating any pwer improvements.
regards Steve

It might still blow the 15A fuse, but you would have another 5 amps to play with - so could try a 20A fuse. The amount of current drawn by the ESC itself is more or less constant regardless of rating.

Barrie

[ofat1]

Barrie,
thanks for that, this is the way i am now inclined to go, i will try 20a esc & 20a in line fuse (as this is the nearest ampage i can get) but it should still give the esc protection.
This is my first r/c motor fitting, boy what a learning curve! Bottomless pockets required eh!
Regards Steve

[J.beazley]

I think including the cost of my model ive spent around the best part of £120 on my little Severn.
Im in the process of building a new super structure out of thinner plasticard which is proving to be difficult.

Thinking about it i might just buy another Severn and use the lightest hardware i can get and see how well it performs.

Jay

[johno 52-11]

I was thinking just how many people have done this type of conversion???
would be nice if companys like Impact worked with modellers like us to improve there models, seeing as a fair few of us have taken it apart and remoulded it into a nicer model.

Jay

Hi Jay

The problem is that you are looking at this from a modellers view. I met the guy from the RNLI who was setting this model up a few years ago. What he was after was a RTR for less than £50. I am aware that there have been quite a few that have had problems with the pod motors. My hope is that a few kids will enjoy playing with them and when they break will find the information from sites like this and the articles that have been published in the mags on how they can be improved and have a go at updating them. Then hopfully they will see a model  kit and get that and have ago a building a boat and that way we get some youngsters intrested in our great hobby. The main thing is that if a youngster comes to you and says I have a broken RTR what can I do with it don't tell them to throw it in the bin but point them to the information about how to convert them. This might get them intrested and then you have a young modeller.

John

[J.beazley]

I see what your saying John, maybe i should of thought before my fingers hit the keys.

just a thought it would be a good idea if the rtr boats had hop-up upgrades that could be bought seperately, that way kids could upgrade as and when money allows them to. Bit like us with our bigger models we buy a kit and upgrade as we go along.

Jay

[ofat1]

Without Jay & Astons' posts on this site and marine modeller mag, my 10 year old son and myself an addicted sail boat nut, would not have tried this upgrade, we just didn't have a clue. So on that note we say thanks to getting two generations into this!
We have enjoyed it so much we now intend a type 23 Frigate construction.
Steve & Jack

[J.beazley]

Im glad i could be of assistance and im sure the late Aston would be happy.
I started with my little Severn then went on to building my Schutze and havent looked back since.

dont know whats next on the table but i want it to be BIG.

Jay

[explorer750]

Could you use a single 500 motor instead of two 380's as this will run on a 15A esc with no problem.

[shipmate60]

Yes, but a graupner 400 should be enough power.

Bob

[explorer750]

To run a scale boat you would need two shafts and so a gearbox is needed can anyone recommend one.

[banjo]

Belt drive
 

[shipmate60]

On of the problems with this severn is weight, the hull and superstructure take her almost to waterline.
The original electronics is a single unit, but when fitting her out with rudders, receiver and servos can make her rather deep.

Bob

[explorer750]

Running one motor instead of two would help this.

[Willit]

this is all very interesting

I've linked it to my friend who has one of these as bought.

Its performence was sluggish to say the least, and it took me a while to figure out the steering on it (yes it really did confuse me!)

I know for a fact he won't do any of this stuff to it, but its good for him to know.  He is a young enthusiast who might, just might, take up the challenge!

I've set him off on a project by giving him an old ABS hull I had knocking around.  This had a shaft and prop as well as a rudder already fitted, and I myself fitted a deck, so he's off to a good start.

[Martin - admin.]

Any converted one of these boats to single screw?

Martin

[shipmate60]

Yes Martin, there are lots about.
There were at least 3 at Beale this year all single screw.

Bob

[Martin - admin.]

Excellent! I ran mine yesterday at lunchtime and the fitted motors are ..... c---!

Anybody on here got a photos of the internals of their single screw conversion of the "Baby" Seven please?

[shipmate60]

Be a devil and go brushless!!!

Bob

[Martin - admin.]

Here's my conversion! http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=leOgy2izc2Q
Article to follow...

[Tester]

That's a coincidence, I just dragged mine off the shelf and started to convert to single screw yesterday.

I'd be interested to see your build Martin, before I get to far with mine

Richard

[Martin - admin.]

Will do...... don't fit an M2 prop shaft, use a M4!  :(

[J.beazley]

Blimey this thread still going 
Almost a year on and my little Severn is still going strong except my son uses it as more of a bath toy now more then anything  ::)

Jay

[kinversand]

Martin,

Still interested in hearing about your baby severn conversion.

Also, why do you say not to use M3 shafts ?

Cheers

Dave

[shipmate60]

You wont get a ready made prop to fit a 3mm shaft.
The Standard Shafts are 2 mm, 4mm. and 5mm for scale models.
Some odd sizes for IC boats.

Bob