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[bwfc4ife]

Hi Guys,
 
I found the forum through google whilst trying to search for some help regarding a project that my girlfriend is working on.
 
She is a Science teacher at a secondary school and in February next year, has been tasked with putting together a challenge day for all of the year 9 pupils to take part in.
 
The idea is that they will be split into groups of 5 (approx 150 kids) and be asked to design and create a very simple model boat.
 
The idea of the project is that it covers all of the following areas: science, technology, engineering & maths.
 
We've been going through it and she came to the idea that she would ask them to make some very basic model boats. She will provide all of the materials and in their groups, they will work together to create the most cost effective yet best possible performance boats that they will all test in the pond at the back of the school.
 
To kick things off, we visited a local hobby shop in Bolton and managed to purchase a very basic propulsion kit which included a motor, a prop shaft, tubing and a propeller for just under a fiver.
 
Since we have left, the guy in the shop has been less than helpful and cannot really seem to be bothered to help us anymore.
 
I have asked the guys on another forum for some help and have received some idea's of how to power the boats with rubber band paddles which is going to be used as one of the designs but what we really would like is to provide all of the parts i.e motor, prop shafts, props & battery's etc and let them put together their own little powered units.

One of the other suggestions was an outboard motor or submarine propeller from hobbys.uk.com but the only problem with that is that it takes some of the science away.

Could anybody suggest what would be the cheapest way to put together such a kit or know where there is something of this nature available to buy so that we can continue with our planning of this project? I've been scouring the net and can't seem to find anything to fit the bill. Ideally, each kit (approximately 30 of them) would be around £5.00 each not including the building materials.
 
It doesn't need to be anything fancy, the kids will be given the choice of some basic materials such as balsa wood, plastic bottles and polystyrene together with the power side of things and then be asked to create their boats with emphasis being placed upon cost effectiveness and practicality, i.e. which boat is the fastest, which boat can carry the most mass etc.
 
If anybody could help to point us into the right direction and shed some more light on it, it would be greatly appreciated!!
 
Thanks Guys!! 

[MikeA]

WOW i never did anything that awesome in school!!! we got to go to see the school canteen and do experiements like how long it takes ice cubes to melt lol. How big do you want these boats to be and does the 5 pound budget include the batteries and motor etc aswell as the propshaft and prop?

[bwfc4ife]

Hi Mike,

Lol, was the same for us, i think the only thing we got to do was dissecting lungs which surprisingly, were still warm 

With regards to the boats, we are planning on supplying the materials and then they will have to buy each individual part that they require so there is quite a lot of scope with regards to the design.

We are only going to provide certain materials though so i would guess that the boats will be no bigger than 2 2ltr coke bottles stuck together. If they decide to use the other materials, i assume that they will be roughly the same size if not smaller.

We are going to be providing help sheets to so that they can get some idea's for the shape and designs for example, a catamaran style with two plastic bottles and either wood or polystyrene.

The school already has the batteries so it should be to cover the motor, motor mount (if needed?), prop and prop shaft.

I've been scouring the net but there are so many different parts and to put it modestly, i haven't got a bloody clue lol...

Thanks Mike!!

[Marks Model Bits]

Pm sent

[MikeA]

the hardest problem is the propeller. you can make a propshaft out of some 2mm stainless bar running through a ptfe tube. you then connect the propshaft to the motor with a peice of silicone tube. This method would be simple yet affective and cheap. But sourcing a 2mm push fit prop is a problem. i know those torpedo motors you are talking about because i used them myself, i bought them for the propeller only because i couldnt find anything else to suit. you can buy singal propellers but there too large for your budget because then youl need 20 quids worth of hardware to turn them. ill have a look about and see what i can do for you.

[MikeA]

of course mark can help 

[irishcarguy]

If I could make a suggestion with my limited knowledge. For starters get a set of plans, photo copy them & give each group the same plans.Plan sets are available through Model Boats magazine. There is a web site for a company that makes/ sells all sorts of electric motors , I think MFA are the motors, sorry I don't know the web site.They may give you a deal on motors if you explain what it is you are doing. There is is a company Marks Model Bits that make very good propshafts, He is on this forum a lot, I would ask him also for a deal on 30 shafts & rudders. If they all build the same boat from a set of the same plans, using the same motors & props etc. it may be the only way you can get the cost down to the # you have in mind. Also it will be cheaper to buy the wood in bulk & then divide it up among the teams ( get a little extra for spoilage). This is just my way, I am sure there are others. Anybody reading this that have the web sites for the companies I have mentioned PLEASE pass them on. If you want to discuss what I have suggested in detail, P.M. me , you will find my email address in my profile . Hope I have started the ball rolling for you. Mick B. 

[MikeA]

what have you decided to do then bwf?

[bwfc4ife]

Hi Mike,

Sorry for the delay in getting back onto here, i've had the page open all day but i've just been so busy at work!

I received a PM from Mark and i have contacted him directly this afternoon.

He sounds like a real stand up guy, was really helpful and full of great idea's with regards to the cost and to the actual project!!

We are going to contact him again tomorrow once he has had time to have another think and then we can see were we get too.

Thanks everyone for all your help!

I will keep everybody up to date as we get along with our progress and when the project is complete, will finally post some pictures for everyone to see.

No doubt there will be more questions to come along the way but i'm glad i signed up to this forum and everybody so far has been more than helpful!!

Cheers Guys!!!!!! 

[MikeA]

good  mark is allright hel do you a good deal.

[The long Build]

Glad You found the Forum, Did you see the pictures I posted on your Thread on the Model Boats Site, Although by the sounds of it The project seems to have already taken a big step forward...

[rem2007]

...materials can be had cheap enough, it doesn't have to be new, have the kids start searching charity shops or better yet, the grandparents loft, or uncles...their are alot of old model boats cirtculating dust in lofts all over the UK, ....and when I started, a friend who instructed me on setting up a propulsion system had a plan for a simple craft which can be made from cereal box material, simplky put card, he also told me years ago, he rc'd an old lunch pail, the club members has loads of laughs as passersby tried to pick it out of the pond across the way and it would propel out into the middle again , in short, they should use their imaginations, perhaps make a contest out of it, like a steering contest or straight running...just a thought...good for the hobby though koodoos to your partner.

Robert