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[Langsford]

I am building the Liverpool Pilot Boat Edmund Gardner fron scratch. I bought the plans from the Liverpool Maritime Museum. I am at the stage where I have to decide what power to use.The space under the hull will only allow for a 1.75 inch prop although I could easily modify the design at this stage if though necessary. The hull is 42 inches long and of course I have no idea what the weight will be as yet. Would it be best to have a modification to allow a larger prop and if so what size and 3 or 4 blades. I also need a recommendation for the elec motor to go with it. When I powered my Bangarth I used a 500 motor geared 2.5 :1 with a three inch 4 blade prop and this works well for a similar sized boat and I thought I might modify the hull to do the same thing but I'm sure some of the more professional mayhemers will be able to give good advice.
Regards, John

[Liverbudgie2]

John,

You will probably find a motor such as the 777 available from Model Motors Direct or PSShips/Sirmar to be suitable, I would also experiment at using it at between 6 and 12 volts. The Edmund Gardner has, I think, a 4 bladed propeller, a scale version of it can be obtained from either the Prop Shop or from George Sitek both of whom advertise in Model Boats.

Using this combination it will not be necessary to depart from the drawings you have or, to use gearing.

The only other advise that I would offer is keep the top weight down as much as possible.

Also, if you are in the Merseyside/Southport area this weekend you might like to visit the International Lifeboat Regatta at Southport were there will be lots of people only to willing to to advise you.

Regards,

LB

[Langsford]

Thanks for the advice, I hope to get to Southport this weekend.
Does anyone else have any comments on this motor/prop question?
Advice is appreciated, John

[Shipmate60]

John,
My choice would be a geared motor like the one in your tug.
The 777's are OK, but I would go for a 550 motor on a 3:1 reduction g/box.
The beauty of the 550 is that it is will run happily on 6 or 12 volts.
If she is a bit slow on 6 volts you can up it to 12 or any battery voltage in between.
With the motor being geared the power consumption is greatly reduced which will give you longer duration.

Bob

[Langsford]

Thanks Bob, any suggestions regarding prop size? John

[Shipmate60]

I was assuming you will be using the present prop as it is to scale.

Bob

[Langsford]

Bob, the scale size is a 1.75 inch prop. What worried me is that my previous model, the Bangarth which is a similar length, has a 3 inch prop and I wondered if the smaller prop would be ok. That's why I wondered about the motor/prop combination.
Cheers, John

[Shipmate60]

John,
With a 550 on 3:1 you will get roughly twice the rpm on 12 volts so this should well compensate for the smaller prop.
Plus the hull is more hydrodynamic that a tug hull so these two combined should give scale performance.

Bob

[Langsford]

Thanks Bob, much appreciated, John

[FullLeatherJacket]

John
The Model Slipway Coaster is a similar size to your model. This uses the MFA geared Torpedo 500 motor and a 40mm prop (approx 1 5/8"). I can't remember if it's 3 or 4 blade, but the model goes nicely under power. The rule seems to be to use the 2.5:1 for 6v and 6:1 for 12v. I'd personally fit the 2.5:1 and a slightly bigger prop on the pilot boat (say 45mm x 4 blade), running it on 7.2v, but that's about all you need IMHO. That 3" prop on your Thug Tug is really more for towing competitions and probably too large for general pootling about round the lake. Liverbudgie is dead right about props; the Prop Shop ones are the very best - if you can get Simon to remember to send you one!
Suit yourself.
FLJ

[Langsford]

Plenty of foo for thought FLJ, thanks for the reply. I have to say the best thing I did after starting model boats was to join this forum, there doesn't seem to be anything that you can't get advice on. Except how to find the cash and the time that is.
Thanks to all, John 

[Langsford]

It is a long time since I started this scratch build and I have received a lot of advice on various different topics during the build.
As you can see it is now finished and is being reviewed in the next edition of "Model Boats".
I would like to thank everyone who has helped me with advice on the build, particularly Bluebird who has given a lot of help.

[Shipmate60]

So what power did you finally use?

Bob

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Nice looking ship you have there. Any chance of the build pictures.   

Ken

[Colin Bishop]

The Model Boats coverage is on the MB website http://www.modelboats.co.uk/ - article on the front page but subscribers only I'm afraid. The magazine itself will be in the shops on 7th May. A very nice model and a very interesting article, definitely worth a read!

Colin

[Shipmate60]

Oh right ANOTHER subscriber only!!

Bob

[DickyD]

Oh right ANOTHER subscriber only!!

Bob

Never mind Bob you can read my magazine if you like.

[Colin Bishop]

What else do you expect Bob - the magazine's not even been published yet?! Wouldn't be any point in publishing it if you give it away free on line, wouldn't be any magazine either! No such thing as a free lunch I'm afraid, I would have thought that you of all people would have appreciated that.

We do continue to publish a good selection of older material which is free to view as well so I'm not really sure why you are complaining.

Colin

[Shipmate60]

Colin,
I just asked a question in a thread on here, didn't realise an answer would cost £44-94 to access the information which I would already have in the magazine.

Bob

[Colin Bishop]

Actually Bob, it will only cost you the price of the magazine itself if that is the only article you want to read all year - you just have to wait until Friday when it comes out. However, for your £44 you will get 13 month's worth of articles plus access to all those published since January 2007. The publishers like people to subscribe rather than buy the magazine off the shelves of WHS etc. as they get a bigger share of the cover price which is why there is a discount for subscribing, whether by hard copy or online.

I'm sure Langsford will be more than happy to answer any questions about his model on Mayhem, the information itself isn't copyright in any way just because MB is publishing his article.

Colin

[Langsford]

Gosh, what have I started with this thread. From a neutral point of view, I can't see why any magazine would put all it's content on the internet for free, even the "Times" is charging for that facility and I don't suppose "Model Boats" has the infrastructure of the Press. It has to make a profit to survive.
Anyway, that's enough of politics from me.
The power unit is a Torpedo 500 geared motor running off 12 volts and seems fine.
Some of the build can be seen on the following thread and I would be happy to answer any questions.




http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=10729.msg100669#msg100669

[Langsford]

I purchased the plans for the Edmund Gardner from the Maritime Museum for £40. If anyone would like to have a go at the build, I will sell them the plans for £20 inc postage. I also have lots of photographs of the vessel in the dry dock.