Topic: Detailing "The Rat" ( H.M.A.S. Ararat ) (Read 4703 times)

BrianB6 · « **Reply #70 on:** April 18, 2012, 12:06:52 AM »

Why NOT to try out a new boat in front of the public.
I took 'The Rat' to our local lake for a trial. The steering servo was backward so I promptly ran her into the bank at a fair speed.

Fortunatly it's a Specktrum 5 so just a matter of reversing the trim on the Tx.
There was to much weed to try her out properly but certainly plenty of knots with the JR 480's and 35 mm. 3 blade props. Bit noisy though, mostly from the motors and Huco couplings. Could be the speed controller does not suit the motors and is creating vibration.
Does anyone know of a coupling that is not a universal joint. I remember Ripmax used to have one with a plastic sleeve that was suitable for i.c. Probably long gone.
Otherwise I will try using the Graupner 480's that I have.

Norseman · « **Reply #71 on:** April 18, 2012, 01:21:26 AM »

There was a thread a few months ago all about couplings - I'll try and find it.

Dave

Norseman · « **Reply #72 on:** April 18, 2012, 01:29:46 AM »

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=33847.0

BrianB6 · « **Reply #73 on:** April 18, 2012, 05:22:36 AM »

Thanks Norseman
I might try some plastic tubing as an experiment and if it works buy the proper thing.
I put a 10 amp multimeter in circuit and adjust the motor mountings for the lowest current drain so the alignment should be pretty close.

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #74 on:** April 18, 2012, 05:59:16 AM »

Brian, I made my own couplings for HMAS Bundaberg, using some car speedo cable between two brass fittings turned up on my lathe. There's a photo in reply #27 here -
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=18654.0

It works very well and is extremely quiet, far quieter than the universal joint types.

Your boat is looking fabulous, very impressive indeed

Peter.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #75 on:** April 18, 2012, 11:10:40 PM »

Hi Peter, thanks for the compliments. I just hope she is not too "pretty" to sail.
I have thought of cable but how does it go in the 'unwind' direction?
I am off to our Clarke Rubber store today to see what plastic tube they have.
The ones I remember from Ripmax and the current ones from MMB etc. seem to have quite thick walls which probably won't be the case with Clarkes but it is worth a try.

RAAArtyGunner · « **Reply #76 on:** April 18, 2012, 11:37:26 PM »

Brian,

You may want to also look at car part places such as Autobarn, Super cheap, as they stock tubing which is fuel resistant.

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #77 on:** April 19, 2012, 12:08:08 AM »

Quote from: BrianB6 on April 18, 2012, 11:10:40 PM

I have thought of cable but how does it go in the 'unwind' direction?

I've had no problems with unwinding, Brian, probably because the piece of cable is so short (less than 2cm) and the water resistance on the props is not great. A short piece of speedo cable is actually extremely hard to unwind by hand.

Peter.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #78 on:** April 20, 2012, 05:15:03 AM »

Well! Clark Rubber had plenty to choose from.
I bought 6 mm. clear plastic at $2 per metre and 7 mm. car vacuum hose at $4.50 a metre.
I am trying the latter as it is slightly more flexible and has a thicker wall.
504 Gateway timeout has resulted in the picture coming up twice.
Did you know that room 504 was where the bugs were ironed out on the first internet.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #79 on:** May 01, 2012, 06:40:13 AM »

Lousy photo. It's not so easy to hold the transmitter and the camera at the same time.

Under way. At last!

Plenty of speed with the 35 mm. 3 blade plastic props.
Does anyone know the equivalent in 5 blade brass? "C" type 168 series.

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #80 on:** May 01, 2012, 06:59:15 AM »

Quote from: BrianB6 on May 01, 2012, 06:40:13 AM

Lousy photo. It's not so easy to hold the transmitter and the camera at the same time.

That's why I got my wife to take the photos of Bundaberg's maiden voyage. It's a great moment when your latest creation gets under way for the first time. She certainly looks the part on the water, Brian, and I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun with her.

Peter.

DickyD · « **Reply #81 on:** May 01, 2012, 07:10:43 AM »

Very nice Brian.

Have you done your davits yet ?

BrianB6 · « **Reply #82 on:** May 01, 2012, 10:29:34 PM »

As I mentioned before, not in front of the public

DickyD · « **Reply #83 on:** May 01, 2012, 10:53:08 PM »

Hear you met my mate Martin d u. at that posh pond you use.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #84 on:** May 02, 2012, 03:04:56 AM »

Yes, we finally met. A very nice bloke.
It is his lake as TF 72 sail there.
Our group went along to add our support to the "Wooden Boat Assn." day with them.
We sail at Lake Illawong, further south. All welcome on the 3rd. Sunday in the month from 11.00 am. onwards.

Missouri (1:100) leading Bismark (1:100) and Cornwall (1:72)

No comment on the progress of the davits.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #85 on:** May 07, 2012, 06:50:18 AM »

Quote from: DickyD on May 01, 2012, 07:10:43 AM

Very nice Brian.

Have you done your davits yet ?

Very slowly coming along.

Guide Rails and Shock absorbers.
Winch. Bits and part assembled.

Glenedge · « **Reply #86 on:** May 11, 2012, 06:19:37 AM »

Looking good Brian!
I thought you were making 4 davits????

Glen

BrianB6 · « **Reply #87 on:** May 11, 2012, 08:33:18 AM »

You have got to be joking.

I know why I left them to the end. All the odd angles, three attempts and they are still not right.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #88 on:** May 20, 2012, 06:15:18 AM »

"The Rat" had her first public sail today.
Worked beautifully!

Only one small problem:- the 35 mm. props almost got her plaining and she became unstable at full speed.
Reduced them to 30 mm. which lowered the top speed slightly and kept her level. Even so she was probably doing 40+ knots if full size.

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #89 on:** May 22, 2012, 03:28:15 AM »

Brian, mine also goes too fast at full throttle, but it's easy to pull the stick back a bit until it goes at a more realistic speed.

Peter.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #90 on:** May 22, 2012, 08:28:06 AM »

I agree about reducing throttle but if it has to go too close to neutral then you loose delicate control.
Better to get the props. etc. right so you have control over the full range.

I thought that the 'Moonraker' aerials would get easily broken and be an 'eye' hazzard so I have made them removable by using 2.5 mm. mini plugs and sockets. Easy to just push in and pull out and very secure when in place.
For those of you who have been wondering about the davits I spent 3 weeks trying to make them out of plastic to save weight. Different glues, pins, bolts all failed. They just fell apart as soon as I looked at them.

In the end I went back to brass and soldering. So much quicker soldering and if the angle was not quite right, so easy to make small adjustments.
The first one was made in a week! Despite the fact that there are over 50 parts just in the main assembly.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #91 on:** May 22, 2012, 08:28:06 AM »

I agree about reducing throttle but if it has to go too close to neutral then you loose delicate control.
Better to get the props. etc. right so you have control over the full range.

I thought that the 'Moonraker' aerials would get easily broken and be an 'eye' hazzard so I have made them removable by using 2.5 mm. mini plugs and sockets. Easy to just push in and pull out and very secure when in place.
For those of you who have been wondering about the davits I spent 3 weeks trying to make them out of plastic to save weight. Different glues, pins, bolts all failed. They just fell apart as soon as I looked at them.

In the end I went back to brass and soldering. So much quicker soldering and if the angle was not quite right, so easy to make small adjustments.
The first one was made in a week! Despite the fact that there are over 50 parts just in the main assembly.

Glenedge · « **Reply #92 on:** May 22, 2012, 09:25:13 AM »

2 or 4 davits???

They look marvelous but not too heavy are they?

Glen

sjbatche · « **Reply #93 on:** May 22, 2012, 10:53:51 AM »

Hi Brian

Great job on Ararat, it sounds like its a real performer.

I love the davits. I have been agonising over how to construct and mould these things for months. Still no clear direction as there are just too many parts for a simple mould.

Would be good to see some photos or a video of her on the water.

Keep up the great work.

Steve.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #94 on:** May 22, 2012, 11:34:29 AM »

Sorry Glen, only one so far and a few bits for the next.
It's all hollow tube so not too heavy.
Hopefully some photos of her on the water in a month when i meet up with the "Group photographer" again.
Not sure of videos unless I can get my son in law to visit the lake.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #95 on:** May 27, 2012, 08:22:06 AM »

A bit better picture but reducing it to under 160 kb means I have had to trim it considerably and the colour is a bit off.

DickyD · « **Reply #96 on:** May 27, 2012, 05:30:06 PM »

Hate your davits Brian, make mine look 'rubbish' [Didn't type rubbish]

Your davit is excellent, a real work of art.

I'm just out of hospital again and hope to finish my boat soon, once I am feeling better.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #97 on:** May 28, 2012, 12:17:55 AM »

Davit, singular.
Hopefully I can start on the next one some time this week after taking grandchildren to school because No.1 daughter is sick, picking up furniture that my wife has bought at the op shop, buying a new soldering iron to replace the one I damaged etc. etc.

Glad you are home.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #98 on:** June 02, 2012, 07:57:13 AM »

~~Davit singular~~
Davits plural.
But NO more.

Just placed in position and still needing some hydraulic activators.
And no! I am not going to do the hydraulic lines, even if I knew where they all run!

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #99 on:** June 02, 2012, 08:04:34 AM »

Beautiful job, Brian, lovely workmanship. I'm green with envy

Peter.

BrianB6 · « **Reply #100 on:** June 02, 2012, 08:08:00 AM »

Thanks Peter
I'm blue with cold. No. 1 daughter pinched all our spare electric heaters to take on a calisthenics camp this weekend including mine from the workshop. 4 degrees C. this morning.

Peter Fitness · « **Reply #101 on:** June 03, 2012, 12:22:42 AM »

Quote from: BrianB6 on June 02, 2012, 08:08:00 AM

I'm blue with cold.

Well, you will live in Melbourne

Mind you, it's not too warm up here at the moment, either - quite wet and miserable, in fact

Peter.

RAAArtyGunner · « **Reply #102 on:** June 03, 2012, 01:30:22 AM »

Brian,
It is also raining in Sunny Queensland, must be the change of government

BrianB6 · « **Reply #103 on:** June 03, 2012, 03:41:59 AM »

We blame our location on one of my sisters in law, who came to Melbourne and invited us to join them from UK.

Then moved to Canberra.

Another did at least warn us of the joys of winter in Montreal! Sorry any Canadians.

News:

Author Topic: Detailing "The Rat" ( H.M.A.S. Ararat ) (Read 4703 times)