Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[Hunkin]

I have two baby severns produced for the RNLI - does anyone know if it possible to modify the the radio control system to use the existing installation so that each vessel works on a different channel - I have two young nephews who want to run these crafts at the same time.  I know that an alternative is to convert one of the craft using a different RC system but was hoping that I might avoid this cost. Stuart Hunkin

[dodgy geezer]

The cost of buying a new RadioLink 2.4Ghz Tx/Rx combo is £25. I would guess that any modification to the existing system - a pair of crystals plus mounts, perhaps, would be a similar cost...?

[Hunkin]

Hi thanks for your reply - will be investigating the route you suggest - can I continue to use the existing motors if I go down this route rather than replace motors rudders etc - for that had been my original intention Stuart Hunkin

[dodgy geezer]

Alas, I know little about these little lifeboats, and their internal fittings. I only wanted to point out that 'doing a replacement' needn't cost a lot.

Giant Cod does these radios at £25, and servos at less than £2 each.  If the lifeboats have the usual cheap 27Mhz systems they will not have much range or interference rejection, so the 2.4Ghz sets would be a marked improvement...

Alternatively, those lifeboats sell for stupid prices on ebay. So another option would be to sell the boats for £100 each, and then make up two lifeboats for your nephews from here:  http://modelboats.hobby-site.com/Tamar.html 

 

[Martin (Admin)]

Here's what I did to mine.....  http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1879.msg234213#msg234213

[john s 2]

Yes you could keep the existing motor set up. But the motor seals do tend to let in water, causing failure.John.

[Hunkin]

Thanks to all who replied to my enquiry - it seems that the best option will be for me to re engine one of these craft together with servo for rudders and RT/RX and I have noted several folk have done this and posted quite a lot of helpful information and photos showing their work  again thanks Stuart Hunkin

[dodgy geezer]

For the small EeZeBilt motors I use these ESCs - http://www.r2hobbies.com/eng/proddetail.php?prod=rcps51601 . They cost a couple of quid each - from China, admittedly, so I tend to order them 10 at a time. At this price they don't do reverse - but we are talking low cost....

For 'starter' RC, you want rock-bottom prices. I reckon that you can equip a boat with a radio transmitter, receiver, ESC and one server for less than £30 (postage being an extra  ). For the little EeZeBilts I push, the hardware fit (a prop, tube, rudder and motor) should be about £1 total. Paint is by far the largest cost. See the site for details. Of course, the radio kit can be used for lots of boats... 

You will probably find that if you convert one boat the performance difference will be such that the other lad will want his doing as well. Anyone else want to make low-cost R/C boats for children's presents?