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[BlazingPenguin]

Anyone ever built or ran of those RC  'landsailers' or 'land yachts' ? 

I really fancied the idea and was stupid enough to buy the little National Geographic toy....useless!
I unearthed a buried project with a fellow clubmate and put it away for a rainy day. Spent this evening working on it this evening, it was obviously a kit as there are 'parts' for it and a body shelll...along with a 'plank' as a subframe.

I've replaced that plank with a shaped plank that will sit inside the body moulding, looks much neater and will add some strength, I've beefed up the alloy cross member with some timber and that also looks a little better, I think the alloy axle tube was looking a likely casualty first time out!  >:(

Have to get something 'yachty' sorted out for trimming that big mainsail now, although I think a standard sail servo will take care of that.

[Roger in France]

Last Easter I watched some folk having great fun with land yachts at the Paris International Model Exhibition. There maybe a picture on Mayhem. They seemed to achieve considerable speed with little wind over a large paved, not particularly smooth terrain. Some had quite large wheels, I estimate as big as 100mm.

The problem seemed to be stopping them. This resulted in frequent collisions with walls, fencing and each other. I am sure you are right to strengthen your build.

Roger in France.

[BlazingPenguin]

I would have thought that it would be muck like yachting....let out the sail and make a sharp turn Roger?

[Roger in France]

So would I! But either it isn't or else nobody ever told them and with my command of french i was not getting into any technical explanations.

I also think there is a greater problem in losing momentum on wheels than in water.

Roger in France.

[d-jnana]

Anyone ever built or ran of those RC  'landsailers' or 'land yachts' ? 

A couple of years ago, marine model international published free plans for a small land yacht. I think that I may still have it in the loft.
It did not have the greatest performance, but the suggested sail plan was a bit small. It was however great fun up and down the bike path in Swansea. In a stiff breeze it sometimes just about passed a jogger, only to stop against the first dog t**d. They it seems are an occupational hazard for land vehicles.

If you still want a copy of the plans and the article that goes with it let me know and I'll have a hunt for it.

GARY

[BlazingPenguin]

Cheers Gary but I've got that, it came with a boat plan on the reverse.

I agree that they have to be a decent size to take advantage of any breeze, current model has a much larger sale and better wheels.
I've seen an italian site where they go really well Cari a vella or somethings it was called, but some great video on there.

[d-jnana]

Hi blazing penguin.
You have reinspired me. I have just dog out of the attic a project abandoned mid way through. Its a land yatch chassis in reverse ie one trailing wheel and two up front. It is however powered by a small aero engine and steered with an air rudder. like a circular saw travelling at speed at ankle level. anyone wanna go.
GARY

[Tug]

This is something I envisaged when not knowing if any water was in the vicinity when moving, I came accros a site supporting these [don't think it was English though] having several sets of spare sails I aquired a set of roller skates (poor lad) removed the best wheels, got 4, but now it is in one of the boxes yet to be unpacked with all the other good idea's for the next winter project, running out of winters though...... :'( ,

what's wrong with a servo opperated drop skid for stopping ie; old steerie style      [sorry youngsters],  Tug

[BlazingPenguin]

My yacht also has the trailed steering wheel, static 'push' test seems to look more than adequate.
Next problem is a sail control, obviously a sail winch owuld be great, but when pennies are tight thats not an option, they seem to come in around £20-30.
Next likely would be a motor driving a loop, with limit switches, but that then means a battery pack and more weight.

Mine was nothing more than a stick and a plastic moulding, I've cut a board to fit the shape of the moulding, that should give it a little more strength at the expense of access to the internals. I also cut a bioad to support the front axle, this also looks miles better, much better than the former 'racing sausage' look.

I had a look for the italian website, but it seems to have gone offline, pity as there were build article, videos and animation of how things worked.

[BlazingPenguin]

The offending article!

[d-jnana]

If I were you, I'd try an ordinary cheap and cheerfull servo (or possibly a metal geared cheapy (give howes models at kidlington, oxford  a ring, they do them for about £6 if I remember right)) and just fit an extension arm to it. Then attach to the boom nearish to the goose neck ( made that adjustable on mine) with a fixed length of cord, it worked well even after I had doubled the sail area.

GARY

[Greggy1964]

The full size thing ain't so bad either, she's an old Class 5 racing yacht.

The rear wheels are Kawasaki alloy 7 spokes.
 


This baby is capable of about 50 - 70 mph in a good blow, that is if your nerve and your bowels will hold!







Tearing down the beach at those speeds, laid down feet first gives you quite a buzz! kinda like having a tiger by the tail.

The acceleration is phenomenal! weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

The old girl is no longer competitive with the modern carbon fibre jobs. I don't race but I've kept her for buzzing down the beach and she's a bit of a head turner

Her body needs re-skinning now as the plastic has gone brittle, looking for some aluminium sheet, I think she'll look great all polished ally!

These guys are potty and if they weren't two up this thing would take off!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mul0Nxvdd_Y

Personally I'm not THAT crazy!

[Greggy1964]

Then of course there are these guys . . . . . . . .

These things are built from plywood with a solid vertical wing and can be built in your garage.

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/wingboats/?yguid=230904676

fancy a go?



That little black blob at the stern end is the guys helmeted head

If you join the Yahoo Groups site you can access the plans to build one, next winter project perhaps?

I had a hand in producing the early CAD drawings in the file section corporal_nobbs2003 is me

And these babies really move!

[Nordsee]

Last Easter I watched some folk having great fun with land yachts at the Paris International Model Exhibition. There maybe a picture on Mayhem. They seemed to achieve considerable speed with little wind over a large paved, not particularly smooth terrain. Some had quite large wheels, I estimate as big as 100mm.

The problem seemed to be stopping them. This resulted in frequent collisions with walls, fencing and each other. I am sure you are right to strengthen your build.

Roger in France. Here you can buy Electro magnetic brakes for model Aircraft, big ones that is, cost about 50 pounds . be better than hitting someone! Have a look in www.conrad.de in model plane accessories.