I've recently acquired a second-hand, part built "Inga IV" sailing ketch - an old German (Schuco/Wedico) design now produced by
Kingston Mouldings. (You can see a really nice built example
here on the SRMBC site.) It's quite a large model (1090mm/43") and also quite wide with a beam of 11".
I've been thinking of building a larger sailing model for a while (having got the RC sailing bug via a RTR "Sea Lite") and this looked like a much nicer subject than most of the commercial kits currently available (other than the very pricey Atlantis + Valdivia, and the Metcalf Moonbeam - which, whilst very nice, is a bit too advanced for my current skill level, with the need to make a 100% watertight hull/deck join, sew the sails, make a keel weight, etc.)
The model I bought has the deck installed along with structural supports for the radio gear inside, a rudder + arm installed along with auxiliary motor + prop shaft, and also the basic structure of the cabins. No masts or fittings were included, or any components other than the motor - but it was still quite a bargain at £30 inc. postage. The hull/deck join and woodwork are all in good condition, and it looks like not much more work will be needed to get it sailing than with a commercial plastic hull from Graupner or similar.
However, though I've some very basic knowledge of how to set up the radio gear, sails and rigging of a sailing model (dismantling + rebuilding the Sea Lite helped with this), I'm still very new to this area of R/C and have no experience at all with large, multi-masted models. So there are quite a few areas I'm looking for advice with.
- Would it be possible to operate all 3 sails (including the mizzen sail) from one servo? If so, how would this be set up? If multiple servos are needed, could they be operated on the same channel, or would a 3+ channel radio be needed?
- What servo(s) would you recommend for the sails? I assume something fairly large + powerful would be needed. I'd prefer to use a servo, rather than a
winch, if possible.
- The model is designed for auxiliary motor propulsion (and mine has a motor + prop shaft already installed). Is this worth bothering with, given the additional cost of an ESC and extra radio channel? I don't have any objection to motor power in principle (most of my models are powered rather than sail) but from my (limited) experience, it seems like large, Bermuda-rigged models can be manouevered easily in all but the calmest conditions under sail power alone.
- The hull is internally ballasted, with no bulb/fin keel (mine doesn't have any ballast installed). I assume ballast weight + distribution is fairly critical in a sailing model this large without a keel - although the mast isn't as high, relative to the hull size, as on more modern designs, and the wide hull should also help with stability. What would be the best material + method for installing the ballast? Bagged lead shot?
- Finally, would reasonable quality pine dowel be a suitable material for the masts + spars? I'd rather not use aluminium masts if possible.
Any help would be greatly appreciated! I've already contacted Kingston Mouldings about the possibility of buying the plans separately.