Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Hovercraft => Topic started by: 3838Derrick on November 07, 2015, 11:10:21 am

Title: Where to start??
Post by: 3838Derrick on November 07, 2015, 11:10:21 am

Hi all.  I've done boats, cars, heli's, Now I,m thinking about building a hovercraft.  I have no idea where to begin so I,m turning to you guys for guidance.
What do you guys do?   Kit? Scratch build? where to get plans?? HELP!!

Title: Re: Where to start??
Post by: John W E on November 07, 2015, 12:06:14 pm

Hi Derrick
This may help you as a start  :-))

http://www.myhobbystore.co.uk/browser/5568/unorthodox
john

Title: Re: Where to start??
Post by: Colin Bishop on November 07, 2015, 01:09:36 pm

There is a simple hovercraft build article in the current Winter Special issue of Mode Boats magazine: http://www.modelboats.co.uk/news/article/model-boats-winter-special-2015/22471

And of course there is also the Model Hovercraft Association website: http://www.modelhover.org/

Colin

Title: Re: Where to start??
Post by: Klunk on November 07, 2015, 03:14:53 pm

http://www.modelhovercraft.co.uk/
Try here. The fusion 400 is a good starter but go with the brushless option. The other hovercraft are good from intermediate to advanced. As said earlier there a new set of free plans out this month. Or go on the model hovercraft association for more info.

Title: Re: Where to start??
Post by: Sub driver on November 07, 2015, 09:54:35 pm

Check out
www.model-hovercraft.com
Mark Porters excellent site
You can download free plan for a Griffon 2000 including skirt templates then scratch build it from lite ply at a fraction of the cost.
If you build it as per plans it will perform excellently and teach you about hovercraft at the same time.
You can also swop the brushed motors in the plans for brushless if you want but it will perform very well on brushed 600 motors.
Thats how i started you can see where  i am now with scratch built scale models under this title that i have built.
Regards sub

Title: Re: Where to start??
Post by: 3838Derrick on November 10, 2015, 11:59:15 am

 I've ordered a Griffin 600 from Palaform. If this goes OK maybe I will try something a bit more adventurous!! I really like the look of the SR.N5 but I'd better walk before I can run.
When it comes to radios, what would you use? Stick or Wheel? I have both so ............
Derrick

Title: Re: Where to start??
Post by: Sub driver on November 10, 2015, 09:24:11 pm

Hi.
A good start. :-))
I would go for stick if it was me..much easier and quicker to control...you will be surprised how nimble they are with very quick rudder response on power..you will soon be mastering the tail slide turns most entertaining.
I take it you will be going brushless with a 3 cell 11.1 v lipo ?...thats the usual configuration...just make sure you put the skirt on the right way round as a few i know have got it wrong here.
Post some pics of it as you build it sure to be of use as quite a lot of people fancy a hovercraft but get put off for some reason...simples really.
Regards sub.