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Author Topic: Model Water Skier  (Read 3257 times)

chrislang

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Model Water Skier
« on: May 26, 2014, 05:25:54 pm »

My model powerboat 'KIKA' is crying out to tow a model Water Skier, I have a plastic figure chopped and reshaped a bit from a Pound shop soldier and I've had some thoughts on Piano wire tow lines and buoyant skies but wondered if anybody else has tried to do this. All ideas and experience welcome please.
Chris
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Tug-Kenny RIP

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2014, 05:30:56 pm »


My first reaction on reading your letter is that the poor man is never going to stay upright unless he's on a big wide plank.      :}

Have you considered a rigid attachment to the boat ?  Something like a wide strip of clear plastic back to the skier to stand on.

Just a thought

Ken


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barriew

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #2 on: May 26, 2014, 05:36:30 pm »

A member of our club has one - not quite as big as your soldier perhaps. Its skies are fitted to a piece of clear plastic. It took many attempts to get the correct position and angle of the tow lines, but now it goes well. I'll see if I can find a photo.




Barrie
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Steven.T

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2014, 05:39:32 pm »

I think Ken has hit the nail on the head there, getting him to stay upright will be even more difficult than the real thing!
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chrislang

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2014, 06:04:53 pm »

Thanks guys,
The wide strip of plastic idea, sounds good and might even work, I'll give it a try and let you know how I get on.


Regards
Chris
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grendel

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #5 on: May 26, 2014, 06:13:50 pm »

how about a keel under the water to counterbalance the skier?
Grendel
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surfs up

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #6 on: May 26, 2014, 07:14:53 pm »

Use to run a water skier many years ago I had slightly oversized skies and a torpedo shaped keel in a triangular formation


SURF
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Umi_Ryuzuki

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #7 on: May 26, 2014, 09:03:24 pm »

I did a similar set of oversize skis, and cut the two skis and left some tabs of wood between them.
I then soaked them and used a wood form to bend the tips up. Then soaked the tabs between to
and put them in another jig to give them a nice V shape.

My tow line ran from the boat to the first connecting tab between the two skis.
This kept the tow point low and prevented the boat from tipping the skier forward over the tips.
The line was then run up to the skier's hands to look like he had a good hold.
At the back of the skis I had a brass rod that hung down and back at about a 30° to keep the
skier pointed foward.

After I had given away the speed boat, I added some clear acrylic wings to the skis, so that I could
then tow the skier behind one of the tug boats. The increased surface area makes the skier plane
nicely, and no one really sees the clear pieces while he is in motion.

 :-)

john44

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #8 on: May 26, 2014, 09:45:45 pm »

HI guys,
The chairman of our boat club did an article in a recent Marine Modeling
mag. on how to build a skier using Barbie dolls and 1" ally strip
I made 3 up to now. They all work very well pulled behind our ski boats.
I will post a picture tomorrow.

john
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john44

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2014, 02:33:16 pm »

Hi guys,
sorry for the delay. You should get a good idea how to build a skier from the photo,s

john


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john44

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Re: Model Water Skier
« Reply #10 on: June 06, 2014, 08:41:47 pm »

Come on you guys,
has anyone built one yet?

john
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