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[rmaddock]

I was in school today, volunteering to keep me sane 'till my university find me a placement and...

...the Year 5/6 (that's 9-11 years old) class teacher asked me about RC model sailing boats.  Apparently they have got "some budget" and she thought it would be nice to build some model boats that actually worked. With RC. Something "old fashioned" looking.

Now this is a wide design brief but one I'm keen to encourage.  So, suggestions please.

I'm aware of Wee Nips (built one) and Footies.  I think they could even be built from card or balsa for easy and cost. I don't know what the budget is but I don't suppose it'll be very much.

So, what can be done that'll work but for very little outlay?

[Netleyned]

Bottle Boats ?

Ned

[rmaddock]

I wondered about bottles, but she's after something quite functional. They're lucky enough to be a very small but successful school so they tend to take on quite serious projects.

If I could come up with a functioning RC boat that used bottles as hull/buoyancy that might work.  Using bottles to make a cat' perhaps? Or as outriggers?

[nhp651]

I did this project as a teacher some years ago Robert.
I incorporated into the project the use of timber, plastics metal work amd then the electronics of R/C
Woodwork.making two halves of a "design of their choice". we gave them a choice of a simple tug, cabin cruiser or yacht, whereby they made the plugs in two halves for..........plastic work in Vac forming.

that was the plastics.
the metal work came into play with making their own prop shafts ( even the yacht had a small motor) with tapping their own threads (props were bought in) the soft or silver soldered rudder of their own shape and design,

and the electronics were brought into play when the science department got hold of some plans for simple 1 speed forward and reverse speed controllers, conversion of some old servos supplied by a student's dad who worked for McGreggors at the time.

the hwhole projetc was a year 10 project and took the academic year.....it was very successfull and gave both kids and staff in all the departments of the CDT area  a lot of fun.

neil.

[Netleyned]

http://www.mya-uk.org.uk/yachts/bottleboat.html

This is what I meant

Ned

[rmaddock]

http://www.mya-uk.org.uk/yachts/bottleboat.html

This is what I meant

Ned

Ah.....oooh.....now then. That looks interesting.  £75 sounds like a lot but I'll investigate further.

Neil, your school project sounds fantastic but a little above our Junior school kiddies.....well, without much more help than is feasible anyway.

[pugwash]

How sbout one of the Glyn Guest designs - you can get a reasonable sized boat for your (their) money and make it as
plain or as complicated as you like.

Geoff

[gingyer]

What about the Wee Nip sailing boats

[Netleyned]

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=18405.0

More info

Ned

[chingdevil]

How about a springer easy to build and fit out, should fit the budget as well


Brian

[steamboatmodel]

I did Pop Pop boats with a Scout Troop awhile back. How about a simple steam engine and steam generator, (calling them boilers causes explosion fears).
Regards,
Gerald.

[john s 2]

Would one or more of the Kiel craft models fit the bill? The plans are avalible thanks to a members dedicated site.Im not sure about cutting out the balsa,knives etc also glue sniffing? But joking aside this could make a easyish project. John.

[rmaddock]

Hmm. Lots of food for thought there. Thank you.

I need to bottom out (as my executive wife is fond of saying) exactly what the budget is and what the teacher's thinking of but.....I rather like the bottle idea.

As a project it needs to have enough challenge to stretch them and yet be achievable. It needs to have some element of design in it beyond just "what colour".  Something around the Barbie Catamaran is fermenting in my mind. No need for keels or heavy ballast. Nice and stable. Guaranteed buoyancy. Nice simple platform for radio gear. Could design a super structure or possibly sail shape etc etc.