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[Hutchjon]

Returning to Boat building after many, many years away,i found a lot of things have changed.So to get back into building, i chose "Frederick Spashester" a Drift trawler,scratchbuilt off the plans,(first mistake) i should have scaled it up,The built contained with many mistakes followed by (i should have remembered that) it's a bit like riding a bike,you never really forget only need a nudge in the right direction,Superstructure and all deck fittings made,motor, prop tube and rudder servo installed.The motor is a JP Power 400, so i bought a 7.2v Nimh batt pack,(Another mistake) the opening under the Wheelhouse superstructure is to small for my bat pack to get in !!!!!
Being as there are so many different types of batteries ( I was brought up on Nicads) My question to all you helpful people,  What would be the smallest type i could use,what sort do i need, I'm not worried about speed just getting the boat into the water.
Thanks in anticipation of a few replies
I recently tried to join the local Boating club at "Bryn Bach Park" Tredegar,went up on 2 Saturdays, eventhough it was cold,quite a few hardy members turned up,then the weather turned colder, the pond froze and not knowing any one to contact at the club i've been out in the cold for the last 5 to 6 weeks.
Thanks again

[John W E]

Hutchjon Hi ya there

When you built the Frederique Spashett, did you make the main fish-hold so that you could lift the top hatch off and give yourself access to the inside of the model.   If not, it would be adviseable to do that.   As that will enable you to fit a standard 6 volt  - 4.2 amp - lead acid battery inside, which will help a lot with the ballasting of the model.   If you do not have one of these batteries, your 7.2 NiCad Pack should fit through this opening but, you will have to add a good amount of ballast to your model in this area.  Unless of course you have the main motor mounted forward so it protrudes into the hatch area and if this is the case you will be able to fit 2 x 7.2 battery packs either side of the motor.

Hope that helps.

aye
john

[John W E]

 

[John W E]

Hi there Hutchjon

Take no notice of bluebird   he speak with fork tongue - and comes from the family of - he know nowt  

I just went into the loft to put some decorations away and had chance to actually measure the Frederique Spashett Model's overall length and to double check on drawings and it turns out that the model in Masterclass build is built at a scale of 1:32 - duh - this is larger than the plans, cos the plans I believe were drawn at 1:48 scale.  So, giving my model the overall length of 31 + inches and your model, if you have built it to the scale of the plan - will possibly be only 20 1/2 inches long...consequently the Fish Hatch will be a lot smaller.   So, now I realise where you are struggling to get the batteries in.

What I do suggest in this case - is - have you seen a company called The Component shop - they are listed in the traders section at the bottom of the main page of this forum.   Click on the subject traders link and just follow the link through - you will see it will bring up numerous traders and Component Shop is amongst them.

This company, I do know, will make up battery packs for you.   Whilst you are on their website - have a look at the Airsoft Battery Section - there are several types of battery there where the battery pack has been split into two and so may fit in awkward places.

Unless you are like me, and are lucky enough to have a son who does airsoft for a hobby, and every now and then one of his battery packs go missing.  Rumour has it that my son is going to start using lipo batteries - SPOT ON  

Aye
john

[Hutchjon]

Thanks for the replies and yes my model is as the plans, 1:48 scale. one of my first mistakes, next i fixed the prop tube and motor mount before trying out the motor ,i had to extend the prop shaft and fix the motor below the fish hatch,
The question then is, can i get some AA size batts that could power the boat and yes you have answered my question, Nice to be well read (compliment)
i will look in The Component Shop,see what they can do,I,ve included a photo to clarify my problem

[barriew]

Have a look at Lipos - much smaller and lighter than NiMh - even AAs. You do need to buy a special charger, but probably worth it given the size and access restrictions of your model.

Barrie

[Hutchjon]

Thanks barriew, Once I've finished my reply i will look at Lipos in "The Component Shop" that bluebird mentioned,but some of the reading I've done, they don't print a pretty picture of Lipos,they have to be treated with care more so than other Batts.
in for a penny ,in for a pound.
Thanks again to u both )javascript:void(0);

[malcolmfrary]

For relatively small models like this I tend to make up a "sausage string" of cells, usually with a long link in the middle.  This enables me to put the cells where I want them rather than building the boat around where the battery insists on going.