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[red181]

Hi all,

some friends and I are just ordering 4 club 500's from modelslipway. Can someome please confirm what the set up should be, as my understanding is to race them at various clubs the specs are controlled in terms of batteries, motor mounts prop etc?

I dont want to build all 4, and then find out if visiting clubs to race, we either have illegal boats, or could have done a better build to make them faster!

I have spoken to model slipway, but the response was rather vague, saying that different clubs have different setups, so I am unsure what to do.

Many thanks

[Klunk]

My understanding is.
only what is supplied in the kit can be used, ie standard motor, propshaft coupling and rudder, no hot motors etc
no modifications below the waterline the only mod above the waterline is a place to put a race number!

very simple!
batteries are governed by  what was available at the time, so not sure now what with nimh/lipo etc
speed controllers are upto yourself, I have seen them with the motor wired straight to the battery with an on off switch actuated by the servo (not sure how this has been done!) or a simple full forward or stop spped controller!!
no doubt others will put their two pennyworth in!

[knoby]

Hi Red, Southend model powerboat club set the original rules for club 500 racing & all the rules are shown on their web site.
http://www.smpbc.co.uk/
not sure if they have altered the rules on cells though as I don't race 500's
hope this helps
cheers Glenn

[red181]

Thanks Klunk, and Knobby, great link, but I wonder if its out of date? particularly the no nims only nicad bit? as nicads are a dying breed?, and the mah available has drastically improved over the last couple of years

Also point 7, is the motor only held in with stick tape didnt really get that bit! 

[exvtop]

The Southend club rules are very much the same as our club (Sandwell) with the exception of batteries - assume that part of their web site has not been updated recently.
As NiCad battery packs are just about unobtainable now, our rule is to allow any 6 cell (or fewer?) NiMh battery pack and definitely no LiPo.

Mike

[red181]

thanks Mike, just what I needed, I have some nimh packs so thats less to buy, any limit on mah do you know? Any tips on how to get the best out of these boats? I see standard bearings only for the shaft,, and how are the motors held in? I saw a pic of one on ebay and it was held in with a rubber band!

Thanks

Paul

[exvtop]

Our club does not have any restriction on battery capacity although a 2400mAh pack should be more than enough to see you through a 4 minute race.
Have a feeling though, from personal experience, that higher capacity packs (I use 4300mAh) do deliver a bit more Umph(?) possibly due to lower internal resistance although they are a bit heavier than a 2400mAh.
Rubber bands - yes that's what most people use. Your Postman is a perfect source for these. They do the job although replacing them can be a bit like keyhole surgery. I glue a piece of sandpaper to the bottom part of the motor that's in contact with the motor mount - seems to help. Don't cover any holes in the motor though.

Hope this helps,
Mike

[exvtop]

Oh, standard bearings. You cannot upgrade any of the supplied kit components.

Mike

[colin-d]

we also race these boats in germany, so if you would like to come over the next race is 29th August and the 12th September.

our rules originated from the modelslipway website, which i think came from the Southend model powerboat club of course we have translated them into German and modified them slightly.

but the main parts are;
1. Build the Kit as it comes, all the parts must be there, no alterations.
2. no alterations below the waterline.
3. Batteries any 6 cells Sub C in size (no Li-Po not yet we are testing)
4. any type of race course max race time 7 Min's
5. emergency stop cable (on/off switch accessable from outside the boat)
6. the motor is picked out of a sack on race day, returned at the end of the day
7. only original parts can be used for repairs (eg; cuplings, shaft bearings, prop)
8. a place for the starting number

you can see more info here

forgot to mention; the website linked above is in German

[red181]

thanks everyone,