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[RipSlider]

mrs Steve says that if I don't finish my current boat soon it's going in the bin as she's sick of seeing it in bits. In some ways, this is most annoying, but to be honest I have been fiddling too much and just need to get it done, so this is just the kick in the bottom that I need.


I have an on-going project to pick up, but that's more of an R+D sort of project, and will not create a nice model boat, rather a very messy boat with holes in the hull and tactically bent pieces of aluminium sticking out of the side.  So there is a question of "what to do next as a posh project?"

having just brought a whole load of whizzy tools and fancy machines - like a drill and a vice - I think I had better put them to some highly visible use so that the "why have you brought all that stuff when I want a new handbag..." conversations can come to an end. Scratch building or a kit requiring lots of work seem top of the list.

I have been looking at some kits, and there is a remarkable amount of excellent stuff out there, and the temptation to give the credit card a serious battering is high. I am still being strong, but I may weaken.
I also have a thought or two about a conventional scratch build - i.e a boat that looks boat shaped.

However, I do have a somewhat crazy idea at the back of my head as an alternative. I wanted to run it buy you clever chaps in order for you to:

a) talk me out of it as lunacy and so I can then go and buy a nice tug kit with a clear mind

or

b) suggest that it might be do-able and offer me some advice on how you think I would go about it.


OK - please have a look at the attached image.....

<<For now, I'll put up a link - sorry>>

http://www.sextondesign.net/BG/BG_Cylon%20Raider%20schematic1.jpg


You will immediately note that this is not a boat. It is in fact a spaceship from the sci-fi series Battle Star Galatica - the new version. It is a picture of a Cylon Raider which I believe often tried to shoot down buck rogers or captain kirk or whoever it is in battle star galatica.  It is therefore not a typical subject to be discussed on a model boat forum.

If you look at the front-on and side-on views though, you can perhaps ( maybe? ) see that it has the potential to be a boat. Power and rudder going in the middle bit. the "wings" could do with sticking up a bit more at the front to clear waves, and the main body needs tidying up a little, but to my mind anyway, it could end up being a interesting racing boat type of craft.


right up front, I'll say that I absolutely, definately do not want to make a scale model of this design. I like it's shape, it seems interesting and I suspect that with a whopping big motor in it, it might go quite quick, although it may be a swine when it comes to catching air underneath it and possibly flipping. What I definately don't want to do is make a scale model of a non-existant space ship complete with robotic face and lazer weapons!


I would like to request your assistance on a couple of things:

1) Could it be a boat? Ignore the geekiness/not to your taste issue ( as I think a lot of people won't be a fan of the design it self ) - this is more along the lines of "If i cleaned up the design, modified it a bit, perhaps altered the scale slightly, could a model be created that would move along the water and not either sink or tear itself to bits?

2) If the answer to question 1 is "yes" then my next question is:
What steps to I now need to take to alter the design to make it ship-like? I.e - how do I go from this pretty picture to a set of plans I could work from.

The things I "think" need to be altered are:

- smooth out the "wings"
- alter what would become the hull to be smooth and ...erm... more "hull-like" - this would also involve altering the front of the "body" to be plain and round and smooth. Also no lazer weapons!
- Widen out the body a little to allow space for motors/servo's etc
- alter the engine area to be suitable for running on top of water - not sure whether it would be better if these went completely if they were turned into two "humps"that would keep the vast majority of the hull of the water, with the two front "wings" acting as the other supports
- need to work out where a rudder would emerge from, how it would work etc. Same with prop.

3) Is this a stupid idea?


Any comments appreciated - complete honesty for question 3 fully accepted!   



Steve

Edit to post - can't seem to attach an image currently. I will wing a mail to Martin and the Admins, but I have added a link in for the picture for the time being. Sorry

[barryfoote]

Stupid idea........No........A little crazy......maybe..

It could actually make a boat so if you have the inclination, I would say go for it. Ask for lots of help and put all the experts to test.

The electrics could be interesting but FLJ always did like a challenge..

barry

[Seaspray]

Just go for it  


There is one or two Sci-Fi models myself and probably others would like to modify.

I like scratch building (if work lets me get near a model) as its a learner and you buy wood,glue paint as you need them, which suits my small pockets

Martin

[The long Build]

Go for it.

[tonyH]

It's one of those projects that could either be brilliant or a total dog so, if in doubt, go for it!

Just make sure that you've got enough buoyancy and enough holes to get at the inside bits.

Tony

PS It could always go better in reverse!

[Reade Models]

If I had one of those, I'd hang it upside-down in a cave.   

On a more serious note, wouldn't it build into one of these things like the Chinese keep on trying to sell me that both runs like a hydroplane and also flies?  I've often thought that I'd like one of them?  (Might get me out of model boating and back to flying)?

Malc



 

[tobyker]

It could almost be one of those russian surface effect thingies designed to carry troops across the Baltic at 400 mph to invade finland, Sweden - suddenly remembered - Ekranoplan

[nhp651]

Steve.......just how long was your last model sat on the bench before the misses said it was going in a bin bag???
don't for god's sake tell 'er about this one, lol

[Weeds]

Idea to make the shape of the boat:

Make a clay sculpture of the boat. Use alumilite or such to make a plastic mold of the shape. Once you have a plastic hull you can take it from there??

[RipSlider]

Steve.......just how long was your last model sat on the bench before the misses said it was going in a bin bag???
don't for god's sake tell 'er about this one, lol

Not that long to be honest. A week or so without anything being done on it, and I have moved house in the lean time. Mrs Steve doesn't really "get" the whole model boat thing. I think she see's it as an expensive way of me getting various different sorts of mess on the carpet.


The current model, if I'm honest, could probably fall together with a week of evenings worth of effort and a weekend of peace and quiet, but I keep fiddling with things and generally putting off the last big push.


OK:

Taking on board the "it looks like it might fly" comments, which might be a true representation I feel, I wonder if I could push you chaps on this a bit more.

Is there a way I can tell it it *will* end up taking off? As I feel this would be a bad thing in a boat.


Steve

[RipSlider]

Second question:

What do other people think to the "run it the other way around" suggestion - so "wings" are at the stern?


Thanks

Steve

[Seaspray]

If it were a real aircraft it would certainly help a lot in the visibility department for the pilot, if the wings were at the stern


Martin

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Hi Steve

Looks like a case for a new "springer".   Solve your buoyancy problems in one go. 

ken

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

It is one that hasn't been done yet....

 

http://www.hm-arts.com/starfleet_ydd/

Ah, see the video here for more inspiration.
http://homepage2.nifty.com/HIRAO/index.html