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[sunnybob]

Having spent some time now on examining the shafts and tubes, I think they are for the scrapper.

One of the shafts is no longer true, and I dont have the machinery to re-true a 14" x 5mm shaft.

Also one of the rolled brass tubes is coming apart at the seam at one end.

Its sad, because these were the only parts of the 50 year old running gear that I have left, but they are just not vible to repair, considering they can be replaced for around £25.

So now I am in the market for a pair of 14 or 15" tubes and shafts, anyone have any suggestions? I've tried redbank and they are out of stock.

Bob

[malcolmfrary]

http://www.westbourne-models.com/erol.html#5605X0
should be westbournes shafts and props page.  The shafts are shorter than you want, but might be long enough to do the job.  Being the same-ish OD as the existing ones should make the replacement easier. Relatively speaking.

[DickyD]

http://www.angliamc.fsnet.co.uk/

Anglian Model Centre do shafts from 5" to 20"  M4 and M5.

[sunnybob]

I swear this boat is going to make me lose whats left of my hair

I have spent even more time on these props, and I think I can make them work at least for the time being.
I've filled the tubes with a cleaning paste, and spun the shafts with the motors, so they have honed themselves. the slight seam split I can solder shut.

Not perfect, but this isnt a competitive racing boat I'm dealing with.

I just cant believe the mares nest of all the wiring plugs in this hobby. And each time I ask for one type, i get told that "theyre a fire risk" or "phew, wouldnt trust them to stay connected" time you lot got together and picketed the manufacturers at some trade shows.

On a positive note (cor, there's a first), having given up trying to find my Bronze paint in useable sizes, I walked into a toy shop today to look for a couple of 6" human toys to put in the boat for a scale comparison, I turned a corner and quite literally, there were 50ml tins of bronze at face height

Made by Humbrol, who dont even list these on their web site. i expect theyre as old as my boat is, so that will be nice to paint

Bob, half way down a very very long road.

[malcolmfrary]

When hunting down connectors I think many of us head for our nearest auto accessory shop.  The "proper" model stuff has been developed for the ready made market, and in that context is fairly foolproof - it is difficult to connect incorrectly.  If you are making your own up, auto connectors are much less fiddly and more reliable.  The alleged fire "risk" comes from trying to use economy parts in high performance situations - e.g. you wouldn't put old remoulds on a Sierra Cosworth and expect to live long - using components rated for relatively low current is not good in a racer, but gold plated contacts are a waste of money if they are only going to carry a fraction of their rating. 

[sunnybob]

Malcolm, youre absolutely right. I now have more gold on my connectors than I have ever owned before in my life. :(

My problem has been that I quite literally "catapulted" into this hobby from a standing start, with absoluutley NO experience of anything useful in completing my boat, and am still sorting the wheat from the chaff regards people I can and cant trust for info.

This forum has been a godsend for me, I have learnt more here than the two nearest "specialist hobby shops" have told me, and I now know to discount entirely one of those. >:(

I AM making progress, its slow, but with the help of you lot, its definitely progress.

Bob

[DickyD]

It aint rocket science Bob, though there are people on here who treat it like it was ie gold connectors when your cruiser or whatever will run just as well using the old fashion block connectors. They try to set up their R/C so it will achieve 1/4 mile range when you cant see the damn thing after the first 150 yards.
They set up motors, batteries, speed controllers and props so that the model will run allday on one charge, who sails continuously all day ? The idea Bob is to get your model set up to suit you not anyone else. Accept advise but dont take it as gospel. You wont be long on here before you figure out that there are several people on here who give the sensible straight forward advise that you can understand and there are some that waffle on for ages quoting this that and the other in all their wonderful technical terms, at the end of which you wont have understood a word. All trying to be helpful in their own way.
Waffle over, enjoy the hobby. 

[Shipmate60]

Bob,
Is there any way you can post pics of her on here?

Bob

[Peter Fitness]

Well said Richard. Regarding connectors, I have standardised on the Deans variety as, provided they are all wired with the same polarity, it is impossible to connect them incorrectly. They are also extremely corrosion resistant, important to me as we sail in salt water. Using this method, I am able, if neccessary, to interchange batteries, motors and speed controllers easily and quickly. I started off using the Tamiya type, but had some problems with these, and after trying another kind, settled on the Deans. However, this is just my personal preference, and newcomers to the hobby would do well to heed people such as yourself.
Peter.

[sunnybob]

Bob,
Is there any way you can post pics of her on here?

Bob

I havent been able to find any gallery on this site. I have just a couple of the boat on my brothers website.

www.pbase.com/john_cooper/boat_rebuild_project

 Not much yet, but more are due as and when I manage to get the electronics under way.

[Shipmate60]

She looks an attractive model, and the shafts looked good too.
I can see why you wanted to keep them.

Bob

[boatmadman]

Nice looking boat, and yes, the hardware looks good.

Ian

[malcolmfrary]

I can see why you wanted to keep the original hardware.  Someone put a lot of work into it.

[sunnybob]

I can see why you wanted to keep the original hardware.  Someone put a lot of work into it.

That was my Dad. He was a first class metal worker and engineer. He did all this when I was still at primary school (45 years ago now), thats why I'm trying so hard to keep it all together.

Commercial value? fourpence three farthings.
Sentimental value? priceless.

Bob

[DickyD]

Your photos as requested Bob

[Shipmate60]

Bob,
One company (and I cant remember which one but someone on here will know) produce shafts ends that are nylon.
Might it be worth considering fitting these to your shafts, you can get the inner shafts in 4 or 5 mm.

Bob

[sunnybob]

Thanks, but I'm OK for now with the shafts. they aint pefect, but theyll do.

This whole rpoject is just to get the damn boat going, after 40 years of sitting on a shelf. I'm desperately trying to keep costs to a minimum.

If the boat actually works, and I find I like the hobby, I might upgrade in the future. But for now, I just want it in the water and running ::) ::) ::)
bob