Topic: Chinese mini tug the Q3 kit! (Read 16900 times)

Tugtower · « **on:** April 01, 2020, 09:35:14 pm »

I’ve seen a few people build the chinese mini tug kit recently and it looks to be a great little kit, so I went on eBay and there it was the kit a lot of people are doing... I scrolled down and sadly everywhere thy at sold it they were all out of stock... :confused: I kept scrolling down the page and anyone who uses the eBay app like me knows there is a similar item section close to the bottom which is where I spotted this chinese tug kit called the Q3 one kit I’ve not seen anyone else build yet.. so I figured for the grand total price of £45 to buy it... it arrived today 3 weeks after ordering... from China.... hopefully not Convid19 infected (unlikely the way it was packed in shrink wrap cellophane)

So I figured since the kids are driving me batty and won’t let me to the workshop for long periods I only get an hour or so in the evenings at the moment to myself I thought I would try this kit since I’m unable to dedicate long periods to my current projects, this ones also small enough that the mrs will let me build it in the house on the dining room table!

So as per eBay I had a few options in kit and parts, so I ordered the base wood pack and the window set, I left off the running gear as I like having better options, and now the ability with the lathe to make up custom shafts etc...

This boat unlike the other Chinese kit running around is designed to take a 2208/2212 kv brushless motor! And if you have seen this on eBay there is a cracking photo of this flying out of the water quite literally!!!!!!!

So for those who enjoy my custom builds let see what I can make with this kit!

Tugtower · « **Reply #1 on:** April 01, 2020, 09:35:49 pm »

The box arrived very well packed, the box itself with the parts in was contained in a much larger box covered in foam wrapping and the foam penuts, as you can see from the photos the actual kit box was undamaged, and shrink wrapped, really well done for that, the parts are perfect ( as in not damaged) opening the box the wood parts again shrink wrapped, so no warpage so far on a quick look, and there is a chinglish set of instructions but with a lot of colour photos which will help decipher some of the language issues I hope.

As you can see from the parts I have all the wood parts laser cut and a base board, the plastic card windows and Perspex glass, mast material, and a set of what I think are water slide transfers.

I’m not sure if a stand is included in the wood parts until I have a look through, but making a stand isn’t really a big deal...

So let’s get on with it!!!

Tugtower · « **Reply #2 on:** April 01, 2020, 10:49:38 pm »

Oh dear first error and it’s a big one... the laser cut sides don’t match... I don’t think this is designed this way given the frame work inside... after a good while I’ve determined the material to add and The material to remove to make this align correctly... as you can see both frames need top and bottom adjustments to take the frame work.. one frame needs more material at the base the other frame requires material from the top.... sigh... i imagine this is a laser cut error....I just hope the rest of the boat isn’t this way...

Tugtower · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2020, 12:44:29 am »

I’ve corrected one side almost perfectly to fit the frames correctly, I have to tidy up some of the cut angles as they are oversize slightly... but as you can see from the frame mock up of one side all the frame parts for that side now sit exactly where they are suppost to be in conjunction with other parts, now all I have to do is make up the other side....

Sigh this is a bit of a ball ach to be honest as one side was higher and one lower so both needed adjusting....

The fix was easy enough after working out which part sits where and where each part sits with each other, it was simply a matter of marking up the difference on matching ply size offcuts and supergluing them to the frame once dry I coated the seam with superglue and bicarb to make a thick paste and sanded smooth.... I will look to reinforce the joints as I progress ( probably use some 0.5mm veneer on one side to strengthen and keep everything tidy) but right now the parts are pretty tough!

I really am hoping that’s the last of the error on this kit... to much of it and I’ll be remaking entire parts to fit!

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2020, 01:07:32 am »

Aha! A rival build!

It's hard to see how that piece was cut out incorrectly?!
If the 'manufacture' hasn't noticed, there must be hundreds of kits out there wrong!

Tugtower · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2020, 01:48:28 am »

And finally at almost 2am... both side frames are now spot on, I’ll clean up everything tomorrow once the glue has fully cured and work out where and if I need some reinforcement in those areas..

Tugtower · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2020, 12:23:00 pm »

Now the glue is totally set and rock solid, I spent some time cleaning up the worse of the frames, overall they won’t be tidy but will work, I’ve also triple checked that they are correct in terms of parts lining up now, so I’ve photocopied the better of the two frames ( they are a tighter fit to the other parts) so if anyone has this kit and finds the parts are also wrong just drop me a message and I’ll post/email you a 1:1 photo copy of the frame how it should be for you to adjust yourself of remake the part.

Talking of remaking the part I was tempted to do that myself, however I don’t have any 3mm ply on hand, I only have a huge selection of 0.5/1/2 and 3mm... I don’t think long term this correction of the frame will effect the model long term with the right reinforcement and once painted you won’t see the repair anyway. Lazy I know...

So if you need the frame correction let me know!

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2020, 02:13:41 pm »

This is strange.
I have cropped the offending parts from Martins picture (blue infill) and the kit that Tugtower originally posted (grey infill). It appears that the offending parts on Martins picture look exactly the same whilst one of the offending parts on Tugtowers photo has a differing depth of wood around the castellated edge . It night be an optical illusion but it might also make for an interesting build if the hull ends up shallower than the other parts expected!

I know that the original tugs (like Martins) were designed by one vendor and then bootlegged (often badly) by others. I wonder if that has happened here.

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2020, 02:20:20 pm »

Tugtower
Did you get stung for VAT & duties?

Taranis · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2020, 02:29:54 pm »

There's a few in the UK. I'd try a cheeky offer of £40 and see what comes back

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOT-DIY-Q3-Mini-Tug-1-18-Harbor-Tug-300-Mm-RC-ABS-Wooden-Ship-Model-Kit-Set/303521843410

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toys-Set-DIY-Model-Q3-Mini-Tug-1-18-Harbor-Tug-300-Mm-RC-ABS-Wooden-Ship-Kit-/392737094165?hash=item5b70f47a15

Tugtower · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2020, 02:31:19 pm »

No VAT or DuTy charges on that import, but we’re still on the negotionation till dec so importing through EU is as normal until dec.

And any of these claiming to be UK based are probably lies.... they just put UK as their profiles location to gain sales...

Tugtower · « **Reply #11 on:** April 02, 2020, 02:42:24 pm »

I’ve started tacking the frame together this afternoon with some thick superglue, I’m pleased to say with the side frames now adjusted everything inside lines up and is square and level to its relative faces and parts... hopefully this is the last of the errors... fingers crossed...

The reinforcement for the base I will just do with some epoxy on the under side so it can’t be seen, the top edge I will address later once I get The boat flipped over and start on the deck.

Taranis · « **Reply #12 on:** April 02, 2020, 02:50:52 pm »

Quote from: Tugtower on April 02, 2020, 02:31:19 pm

any of these claiming to be UK based are probably lies.... they just put UK as their profiles location to gain sales...

I get what you're saying Aron but not all Chinese sellers post from China, they have UK stock and distributors. Best way to check is by the expected delivery date, UK is little more than 7 days.

Model is looking very solid, are you going to waterproof all the inside surfaces before adding the skin?

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2020, 02:53:44 pm »

Quote from: Taranis on April 02, 2020, 02:29:54 pm

There's a few in the UK. I'd try a cheeky offer of £40 and see what comes back

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOT-DIY-Q3-Mini-Tug-1-18-Harbor-Tug-300-Mm-RC-ABS-Wooden-Ship-Model-Kit-Set/303521843410

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Toys-Set-DIY-Model-Q3-Mini-Tug-1-18-Harbor-Tug-300-Mm-RC-ABS-Wooden-Ship-Kit-/392737094165?hash=item5b70f47a15

Both the above vendors are based in China although the speed of delivery suggests that they might have kits rather nearer.

The images of the kits in both links do not have the Tugtower problem but if the photos are bootlegged ( as happened with the original kits) then who knows.

Tugtower · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2020, 02:54:24 pm »

And finally here is the frame fully erected, all the edges chamfered on the frames that are supposed to be to take the skin flush, I’ll now spend some time epoxying the joints and true up the hull to ensure square, but it’s pretty much perfect as it is given the base board.

Tugtower · « **Reply #15 on:** April 02, 2020, 02:57:55 pm »

To answer your question Andy, yes I water proof the internals of all my boats, some I just epoxy varnish others I epoxy and paint depending if the boat has internal details which are seen or could be seen easily.

For this boat I will actually epoxy and paint the internal frame work to hide the frame errors, nothing looks worse than constantly seeing where there was an error!

Taranis · « **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2020, 03:01:40 pm »

Nice

I think I'll join the club when she gives me my pocket money

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #17 on:** April 02, 2020, 03:47:53 pm »

Which ebay vendor did you get your kit from?

Tugtower · « **Reply #18 on:** April 02, 2020, 04:08:19 pm »

This is where I brought mine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254282830524

Just be aware buying from the same vendor as me may result in the frame issue I’ve had... just a word of warning.

Tug Fanatic · « **Reply #19 on:** April 02, 2020, 04:25:01 pm »

Quote from: Tugtower on April 02, 2020, 04:08:19 pm

This is where I brought mine.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254282830524

Just be aware buying from the same vendor as me may result in the frame issue I’ve had... just a word of warning.

Yes and he appears to use the same photo with the blue background and equal sized parts as everyone else.

Tugtower · « **Reply #20 on:** April 02, 2020, 11:05:58 pm »

Ok so some good progress... No real issues so far glad to say...

I’ve epoxyed all the joints on the base to strengthen the frame correction, that modification is not failing any time soon that’s a fact.

I’ve also glued on both side panels from bow to mid stern, going off the plan it says to start at the bow and push back... that works but the side panels are to long so they overlap... so I tried adjusting the bow to have more of a v shape to see if the rear would fit together, sadly that’s not the case as pushing to bow to a more pronounced V shape which is how the manual photos show it the bow has no glue points...

So I got the bow right to the frame with only a small gap from the stem and chamfered the seam, I’ve glued and epoxyed all the way to the 3bulk head and marked where the stern overlaps both sides using the formers center point, all I have to do is trim the stern part of the panels a couple of MM and they should both fit to the frame and butt up together nicely.

This is a job I’ll do tomorrow, I’ll give all the epoxy joints some time to really harden up as the stern requires a bit of twisting to get the shape, I don’t want to break a joint through impatience.

More tomorrow... hopefully!

NickelBelter · « **Reply #21 on:** April 03, 2020, 07:31:42 am »

Apparently the poor fit is due to the legitimate kits being poorly copied by various other manufacturers in China.

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=40210698&postcount=73

Martin (Admin) · « **Reply #22 on:** April 03, 2020, 11:55:47 am »

Not so sure if they are rip-offs, I get the feeling that package is sold on to the next ebay seller .... it's just a commodity and no technical checks are done, maybe just a parts count..... maybe they just buy 50 kits and flog them on...

Good luck trying to send one back!
( But Chinese sellers do seem to live in fear of ebay claims. )

Taranis · « **Reply #23 on:** April 03, 2020, 12:05:02 pm »

Indeed especially if posted from China! If you start a returns process with pictures to evidence an issue it normally results in a full or large refund.

Tugtower · « **Reply #24 on:** April 03, 2020, 12:22:26 pm »

At the moment I’m not sure if this is poor fit or the parts are just slightly over size... even “decent branded kits” can be oversize on certain parts or contain errors in mouldings etc...

The base of the hull part is also oversize slightly, which I expect the deck will be too, fortunately oversize parts aren’t an issue as you just trim to fit, under size is an issue which I’ve not had yet.

To be fair it’s only been that single frame that caused a problem, and it wasn’t a huge issue to fix it just took some forward thinking, I just put that down to the last operation the laser cutter did cutting the opening of those frames and the stepper motor jumped or missed a step... that’s not uncommmon issues either even for top end massive cnc machines to jump or miss a step... I say that with some confidence as all other parts on the frame plank fitted perfectly, and the fact the frames that were off it was only the internal that was wrong both the external shapes both matched.

To be honest for £45 I knew I was taking a chance on the kit not being quite right but I’ve had nearly 20 years of building models to k ow how to fix most issues that can pop up on a kit, this is no exception.

Overall the kit is going together fine, but their quality control should have picked up this error if it’s found more than once on kits... then again it could have been a 1 off... the rest of the parts look ok right now, I’ll know better once I get to using them,
but for those who are buying this kit just know I can supply the true frame size and dimension as a cutout so you can fix or make up new frames from some 3mm, just send me a message and I’ll mail or email it over. Just send me a message here or on my other forums

Aron

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Author Topic: Chinese mini tug the Q3 kit! (Read 16900 times)