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[amateur boatmaker]

hey all! for my a-level resistant materials project i have chosen to design and make a remote controlled, solar paneled, model boat. This is of course a very ambitious project so any help you guys could give me i would really appreciate.

Here is a questionnaire; please post back answers:  :) :) :)

Gender
    Male         Female
Age
    <20     21-30     31-40     41-50     51+

1.   Do you prefer making up model kits or buying it already made?   

2.   How often do you make up model kits?
    >once a week    once a fortnight      once a month
    Once a year

3.   Have you ever made a model kit from scratch?
  Yes        No
If yes, how did you design it?
_________________________________________

What was your manufacturing process?
_________________________________________

What materials did you make it from?


4.   What is your preferred brand of model kits and why?
    _________________________________________

5.   Would you prefer a traditional wooden boat or a modern plastic one?
 

6.   Would you want a controller that simply moved it forward, backwards, left and right?
  Yes        no, ________________________

7. How much would you be willing to pay for a remote controlled model kit?       <£20     £20-£40    £40-£50    £50-£100    £100-£200  £200-£300  £400+

Thankyou so much for your help    :) :) :)

[Martin (Admin)]

Hi amateur boatmaker,
Are you requesting a survey of what we do?

Martin - Admin

[dougal99]

How will the answers to these questions assist your project in making a model boat?

Your age ranges seem to write of a considerable sector of the hobby as 51+. Doesn't allow for much analysis.

There is already a comprehensive thread on kit versus scratch - take a look.

Model boat kits tend to be fairly complex, there are not many that can be completed in less than a month.

Making a model from scratch does not necessarily mean creating the drawings yourself.

Many model kits cost considerably more than £100, again analysis would be difficult with these restricted ranges.


The above is intended as constructive criticism.

Good luck with your project.

Doug

[amateur boatmaker]

hey martin

yeh i am asking for a survey sorry im completely new to this website!

[FullLeatherJacket]

Gentlemen - This young lady's name is Suzanne and she has already corresponded with me about this project. It was me who suggested that she might venture into this Lion's Den, so please treat her with due care, you rabble!
If anyone can point her in the right direction for the MMI Solar Challenge then that would probably be of great help. If anyone out there has actual hands-on experience of solar-power then that would be even better.
FLJ 

[charvey]

Hi Amateur Boatmaker,
I submitted an entry for the MMI Solar Boat Challenge, here is my attempt running around the canal system at Weymouth. The SB William Thomas ;-) was scratch built, with the only off-the-shelf bits being the Solar Cells, motor, two Cowl Vents from George Turner Models, A propeller from The Prop Shop (Both bought at the Beale Park Show earlier in the year) and some tooth pick / cocktail sticks from the supermarket.  The rest is sheet plastic and strip.  The design is mine, but is loosely based on a three island tramp steamer of about the WW1 period.  I had a great deal of fun planning and building the Solar Boat, and did well in the event but was nowhere near the fastest.   

If you have any questions please feel free to ask or PM me if you wish.

Chris

[Martin (Admin)]

Hi Suzanne,

I've just been over to this site and you may find just the tool you need for the job!
Don't know if it costs anything but worth a look.
http://www.makesurvey.net/engine.asp

It monitors and reports the results, has a email list and all sorts of other clever things!
Interface is very intuitive and you should be able to get an online survey up and running in no time.

Here's one I knocked up in 10 minutes! Model Boats & Model Boat Builders - What do you do? 

[Tom Eccles]

Hi Martin,

I was wondering how to best post a reply to Suzanne's survey. Your suggestion looks just the ticket!

If Suzanne would like to post the survey in a similar form I for one would be happy to help.

Yours Aye

Clegg

[malcolmfrary]

If you click the author, you will find an e-mail address.  A bit of cutting and pasting should get an e-mailed reply on it's way.

[pakirk]

I have Emailed questionnaire to you.

[amateur boatmaker]

hey guys,

Thanks all for your replies- if you want to do the questionnaire, as above, jsut email it to me. sorry i know its a bit time consuming but it looks like making a survey costs!

if anyone has made a boat from scratch i would love to see it so please email that to me too!

And please ignor any incorrect technical stuff in the questionnaire as some people have already pointed out.

thanks again all

Suzanne

[boatmadman]

Suzanne,

If you look in the 'our builds' section of this forum, there are many scratch built boats to see.

Keep us informed on how you are doing.

Ian

[toesupwa]

Survey answered and emailed..

.. from the other side of the pond... (USA)