Topic: model duck or waterbird (Read 6696 times)

ermine · « **on:** December 20, 2006, 10:22:40 pm »

I'm into wildlife sound recording, and know nothing about model boating, so this mat be a daft idea...

What I want is a RC model duck or something, so I can get my microphones closer to waders and suchlike without scaring them off or hassling them. The audio gear is small enough to fit into a duck, or I can transmit the signal to a landside receiver. I can probably get a model duck from somewhere. I'm not looking for speed, and I can't record if it's windy. However, I'd want to cope with the flow of a small river, indeed just like a normal duck. The system wouldn't be powerd when recording, but it shouldn't make too much noise under power to minimise disturbance.

Is that sort of thing possible using RC model boat technology and electric power - I wouldn't want to go IC for the sheer racket and the potential pollutions issues?

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2006, 10:29:09 pm »

There are people who have converted plastic full sized ducks to R/C. A small motor should be pretty quiet and do what you want, so yes, it should be quite feasible.

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #2 on:** December 21, 2006, 12:12:45 am »

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Modellers/Ron_Hill/1ndex.htm
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Modellers/John_Picton/1ndex.htm
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Gallery/Steve_Middlebrook/Gallery11.htm

Doc · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2006, 01:06:31 am »

ermine,
You might check here (give it a quack!... sorry couldn't resist);
www.vac-u-boat.com
No idea what it would cost to ship but it's certainly a duck, and not difficult to build at all (some already done for you). I do know it has 'room' for a sound module so probably wouldn't be difficult to record your 'quacks'. The owner, Phil, is very helpful.
- 'Doc

Guy Bagley · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2006, 09:23:55 am »

we have members who have done conversions to shooting decoys, boths ducks and canadian geese, should be easy enough to do........
i would favour the bigger fowl if it suits your needs, more room, more ' freeboard' more load carrying ability.....

and they are pretty cheap to convert-you only need a 2 channel radio to operate the bird...... as speed is not an issue a cheap off the shelf drive system should work ok......no need for schottel drives or kort nozzles......should be a good project..... good luck with it

Tug-Kenny RIP · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2006, 09:36:32 am »

Hi Guy

You made I laugh ............ a Duck with Kort nozzles ..... thanks for that

Merry xmas

Ken

tigertiger · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2006, 10:26:01 am »

There are also new RC sets with telemetary,

I have seen minicameras installed (cost about 250 dollars US), I am sure sound is also achievable. this woul allow you to record on a laptop on the bank. You can then add an additioanl dimensin to your sound/data capture.

This might sound like a lot of money to some, but I have seen 'twitchers' spend lots. MOstly on 'Birdline' ::) ::) :-\

Welsh_Druid · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2006, 11:00:00 am »

Hi Ermine

see below a photo of my r/c Mallard. The reaction of other wildfowl to it is interesting. Other ducks often swim away from it rather rapidly ( even looking over their shoulder to see if its following ) however when they are in a flock being fed they will let it get in amongst them. Swans which menacingly warn off ducks which get too close seem rather puzzled by the r/c one and nervously hiss at it.

I would agree with Guy Bagley though that a goose might be better - there isnt a lot of room inside a Mallard for the motor and radio gear PLUS recording equipment.

There is more information on my website ( go to my profile and click on " Dons Boats"

Don B

Stavros · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2006, 06:30:28 pm »

I have a Duck for Sale pm me for details

ermine · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2006, 08:30:05 pm »

Thanks for all the help and pointers guys - much appreciated. I'm gladI'm not the first nutter to try this - the vac-u-boat guys seems to have it well sorted...

I've already got a 2.4G mini transmitter for the audio return which is about the size of two 4ch receivers side by side. I'll use 50p electrets for the first runs. Interesting to hear about the reaction fo the real wildfowl, I had hoped it might be accepted a little better - maybe in the long run what I need is a piece of powered anonymous looking driftwood. A goose would make the engineering easier, but geese seem to have a bad rap with waders and some other birds.

Jonty · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2006, 09:32:31 pm »

Interesting about the plastic mallard frightening real ducks. Shooting friends tell me that decoy pigeons only fool the real birds when you fit them with actual pigeon wings. Bit chicken and egg, that. If you haven't shot any pigeons, where do the wings come from?

Tired and confused as usual.

Roger in France · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2006, 07:12:42 am »

Given that is probably almost impossible to replicate a bird which is acceptable to other birds, why bother? I have seen all kinds of boats get close to wildlife. I think birds have good hearing and (like many animals) they may also recognise smells.

How about a floating log, big enough to hold all your gear and sprinkle some food on top?

Roger in France.

Welsh_Druid · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2006, 10:01:42 am »

Quote from: Roger in France on December 22, 2006, 07:12:42 am

Given that is probably almost impossible to replicate a bird which is acceptable to other birds, why bother?
Roger in France.

Because it can fool human beings

My Mallard had stopped and was being pushed back to the bank by a clubmates tug when a lady passing by was heard to say " why are they pushing that poor bird - is it poorly ?"

Don B

ermine · « **Reply #13 on:** December 24, 2006, 01:04:22 pm »

Don,

You airboat looks interesting, as one of the concerns i have is getting stuck with the prop fouled in submerged weeds. Presumably this is why they use that sort of thing in the everglades. Is it noisy - whenever I've seen these on TV the aero engine seems to make a hell of a din. And is it really steered by the vanes on the back - no submerged rudder?

Stavros · « **Reply #14 on:** December 24, 2006, 04:40:09 pm »

As Don is away now over xmas I will attempt to answer this question as I have seen it go !!!!,and boy does it go.Yes it is rather noisy,I would not use it personally in weeds just in case it got stuck,and yes it really does steer wiht the vanes at the rear and does not have a submerged rudder

JayDee · « **Reply #15 on:** December 24, 2006, 09:31:43 pm »

Hello,
This is a true story, chap standing at the lakeside, holding a R/C Duck by its head, just chatting away to his mates.
Along comes a woman, sees the Duck and starts to bash him about the head with her Handbag !.

" Not content with killing the poor thing, you walk around with it as a Trophy!" she shouts, still bashing him.

" Get off, its Radio Controlled " he says.

" Oh yes, you expect me to believe that, don't you !" and stalked off to find a policeman !!!.

The poor guy went home early, we were all on the floor laughing.

JayDee.

Welsh_Druid · « **Reply #16 on:** December 27, 2006, 03:37:18 pm »

Ermine

Glad Stavros answered you about the airboat. Actually is isn't all that noisy as it has an electric motor not an i/c engine - but of course there is noise generated by the propellor. There is nothing protruding underwater so nothing could catch in weeds but the main problem is that it does not reverse . Air propellors just do not function very well going backwards :( So if you did get stuck with it in a thick weedy area it could be a problem retrieving it.

Don

Stavros · « **Reply #17 on:** December 27, 2006, 03:45:35 pm »

OK WHERE WERE YOU THIS AM?????

Welsh_Druid · « **Reply #18 on:** December 27, 2006, 07:15:32 pm »

Quote from: Stavros on December 27, 2006, 03:45:35 pm

OK WHERE WERE YOU THIS AM?????

Driving back from Shropshire in heavy rain :(

funtimefrankie · « **Reply #19 on:** December 31, 2006, 09:40:49 pm »

At the marina on the Shropshire Union Canl were I keep my 1:1 Norman 25 there are some large carp that bask on quiet hot summer days (remember them). Anyway I had taken my duck for its first sail (swim?) Ducky went out to investigate the carp. One flipped its tail and nearly swamped the duck, then one started following it, duck turned right ,so did the carp, left turn both together, the carp a few inches behind. It was like a scene from "Jaws", Eventually I chickened (ducked) out, and brought the duck back to land.

glennb2006 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 08, 2007, 07:47:26 pm »

http://www.birdcheck.co.uk/whackthepenguin.htm

Try this Penguin

Glenn

catengineman · « **Reply #21 on:** January 08, 2007, 07:55:24 pm »

Quote from: glennb2006 on January 08, 2007, 07:47:26 pm

http://www.birdcheck.co.uk/whackthepenguin.htm

Try this Penguin

Glenn

Fantastic Glenn, had fun but only reached 325 so far but daughter will love it (if I let her on the computer) :)

News:

Author Topic: model duck or waterbird (Read 6696 times)

ermine

Stavros

ermine

Roger in France

ermine

Stavros

Stavros

catengineman