Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: jeff351 on December 09, 2017, 04:30:53 am
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First post here, not sure where to start or what thread to post in. (mods feel free to move this if needed.) A long time ago I was into 1/35th scale military and won a few awards at shows and as a member of the IMPS. Then I got into RC cars, then into real cars...and the list goes on an on. Long story short, family member got an RC boat, I just had to match him, and after a couple of days of flipping my high speed boat way out in the lake, I decided to get a recovery tug.
Picked up a lightly damaged Aquacraft Atlantic II tug off ebay. (I could have gone with the Southampton tug, but I got a good deal with the Atlantic instead.) The boat is entirely sufficient to do what I need it to do, but I was never one to leave stuff well alone. I will be modifying it to look more like a sea tug (not trying to keep it true to form of any particular tug) and just have fun building it.
Step 1 is to remove the bridge, scale accessories, and the deck. I initially just sliced the handrail off the lip of the hull with an X-acto, then used a jigsaw on low speed to trim away the deck. Next step will be to use a sanding disc to remove the remaining deck material from the inside edge of the hull.
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Ruining a perfectly good model, this looks like my sort of post! I shall be watching the project develop with interest :-))
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Ruining a perfectly good model, this looks like my sort of post! I shall be watching the project develop with interest :-))
{-) {-) {-) ..........you guys have more imagination than me.........but I like these old yankee harbour tugs..........will watch with glee and enjoyment..........is it all made from ABS plastic.
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{-) {-) {-) .......is it all made from ABS plastic.
The hull and deck is actually nicely made of fiberglass. Looks solid overall. Nothing wrong with it other than I want a different style tugboat.
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The hull and deck is actually nicely made of fiberglass.
that surprises me.!
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progress. Found a neat looking tug "Ocean Tundra" that I will base my project on. My hull isn't quite the right shape (bow shape being the biggest difference to the real tug) but it gives me something to reference. Since I don't plan on making an exact copy, I have plenty of leeway on design. But I do like blue. So thats a start.
In photoshop I superimposed a picture of the tug over the hull of the Atlantic to get an idea of where to begin, matching the water lines together and merging the scale. Then I erased away to find a common line.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2VTwSdRD85ZDlpnkgQc5ONvf495m044oEbC1h8-vfn680mswFEBp-n84R2L0uaa_GwAjhc5OpGpGALyvHGnlIoebOP5wCCKTTRPBiaXs40tSnsf6hSzJJOP82KQw7dZ1CQBGLc4SuOw)
Then I printed the picture out, sprayed a bit of white paint to make it easier to see my line, and marked where to cut.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/HPD5ehbLG11H06KdyhzB5Q0DQUzu1X4Ro_-YcMw_60EEFVuA7wB9ZFj2GwK-PlEL-vjzFg-0woF50JcpM-yfqOOQyhYiONpEqZciE2N6WnKVXVPZB0MiScWPXLbshAbTvXjVxkYKb6M)
Used a dremel with a plastic cutting blade the trim off the excess. No turning back now!
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/eBLKpU5omjueGPya_Tac3q92sIDBZLr5w06VPmmp7TOPlM1wd9ik2A6RNsUWrtHYIG3Cg4SZSfa2eKrYJd4d2Vsm6M9W7P0TlbZYcfIfO5sCA7dUggBf7hHbu4aBrC1hTTuZ22zyXw4)
Made a template out of poster board and glued some graph paper to it so I can better guesstimate where to put the superstructure. In this picture it looks weird, but the paper cutout IS actually symmetrical. I rounded out the bow shape a little bit to closer mimic the real deal. Tonight I started making a laminate of 3/32" bass wood strips to lay down for decking. Immediately realized that the superglue leaked through the seams and I glued it to my work bench. :(( So thats where I will start tomorrow. Prying my deck off the workbench.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d0I6-fBnkAjAREt8h5TuOPLnq9V5_xhAN3agk8lU247Tpdu0nsgOK32suDEbg-b-XbTCaBiA6VxooZEcUMMPZm9W1BdjeQHG_uVGqRHfxRXgzQLXviVFUcyK3ADv3-5p9arqJHrDhQs)
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I've been busy plugging away slowly at this build. Collected several important parts, such as an upgraded prop with 3/16" shaft, u-joint, motor and gearbox, and a 3 ch radio.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_o9QwBcgDI9K4OEniKf8VlYCZwoYpiMsemLL8v2gxDr2Z6r8QheHQQa5-tchJi49aTPmaQPYQoQuxEfI2a63SMhgW1ia4ChpZYqJFBokD-gHNq1zFeEBKSewdnEtaAFsktB8Z77Np0k) (https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/upGBnoG3bwrah-eT_XvEx0BCOLfFMUV_Cu38RM5VE_RMn6ISxBOv_qj84PubcTPjm2Mnu3a3CnAt4Dm5xC7rINFGasK5gL0k4XmNnBxmDX6skyE04sVo7bgnVSbMRcgNC7uPN70s-3Y)(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/cUqg9UM8CPzZ-RsaG_yZ44LeAqOttqz9d9vjc0VuLji80zWl6abl-WPa-LVUgjmE-o9JVXPmPNwhxvLgk6s28WMEWeGz_RvG0ZsVflO0XbiTChtJ4ns1Eq3msLWiOwoBDRO2Uk0_Qoo)
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Progress report
- Bulkheads out of 1/4" plywood.
- Reinforced the hull with fiberglass (the were a few cracks in the hull...I purchased it as a 'damaged item')
- Got the prop shaft installed, bent up an oil tube to fit through the deck opening (more on that later.)
- Made a platform to hold the battery and electronics.
- Liberal doses of 2-part epoxy, and sealed up the wood with polyurethane.
- Maybe install a sound board
I'm not looking to win any awards, just having fun building up a little recovery boat.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/CueE5hPJQjgE6AW0rq6MUjZZjQH05bBjgaSEdF-9A7oAq8YJi2q0DuzHzCvyXOnWB-KKmLG9a8LT-33mdirTWAqV4OBXlAvRrclvc3LOt9VZLqo0c_KFdTswjZVqB0x7jIYmZGfeaJI)
Trial-fit of various components.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/99K6eEKSOmgR2VssHUKCV8PfOWl1h1YhUeeAWr_srpUeInSEvNwPpwJBAgmSalDEXbnykeA2XZpx4ANeeHVNi-Nimdr8GBsRn8VKg2S0RQAc18NN_RBm4mb98sn_ykptlq6ZS-JuEKs)
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That's coming along rather well, loved the photoshop idea of the superimposed image.
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If you like the look of it then that is the most important thing. After all, it is you who have put all the hours of work in and have taken the enjoyment and warm fuzzy feeling of acheivement out :-))
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Fun part was being 95% sure the below-deck area was complete and time to attach the deck and splash guard around the main compartment. Plenty of wood glue and 2-part epoxy to seal it up. The splash guard looks really weird in this picture, its just an optical illusion.
The hole over the rudder gear will be sealed with a bolt-on hatch.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/njLmdBI7rlhhUaPJFOyqLVYXvtP7N0aRuSgw2lNmM5hgaJQ4CTdbgyGkuS7SPMdm771GFjoyDVO5zCKecNVCXiD3HclRligTOwvwE9LDPr78tspWkmBSG5_E0EmArKtPLg6PbJb_vjM)
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This is promising to be interesting. Tidy work so far.
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Working slowly on the deck. Sealed it all up with sanding sealer and filled a few seams with automotive body filler. For the gunwale I'm using aluminum that's about 1.8mm thick. Makes it easy to form the curves and stays in shape once bent. The port side pieces are already cut and just need to be bent. Once its all epoxied on, I'll sand around the edges to blend the lower edges into the deck and top it with some body filler.
Not a true replica of the Ocean Tundra but having fun regardless
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/NV9qU0y4Ts1RoktRoub9LKTVLuRktWGAtpE9VSTSiHUwriodEYtG4P1i-rVetrYUa5OnvF7F_87gvMBf_RZ5rvbWx4_kzSx4fo4sxxEwiErP7OhINEnm4P0N-ElRFH5nuSMlqlm9OcY=w2400)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BVLrBO6nYuJa4NVS8SgU7I07lM7_cCpa2VOPcXmumXAQ_Z7_ZmNLi51kai1-p8ozO6h2_Q8YRXFfYaIkIGNKRwPqFAs8X86IgudjsWmRGiVSj_DcM1_-bELbo7Z2_4oAfuxvavdGgDs=w2400)
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Looking great. Very nice transformation of the aqua craft tug.
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***Topic moved and title modified***
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This looks great! What a transformation
, looking forward to updates.
Hama
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a few months later...used a 1/4" thick length of copper tube as a skeg. Cut up a paint pen for the gunwale. Plenty of automotive body filler, sand, more filler, sand...repeat. Got sick of it being so ugly and finally sprayed some primer to get a better sense of where I am now. Bought a neat little 3D printed rudder off ebay. Still need a little more work around the edges, then I can finally get on with the other fun things, such as....anything other than applying body filler and sanding.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/m1RxDFyKZ156n3vjgO9eHnGupTwOM8xOlPkCm5n6-eqPj3Sx-UB1_IpBvIPdA7_sLOOK1_CSSk07iWq63XpW0wjIoQA4N4SK57moAUOApMgvzb3U-KIs3QA8HbNVwHFrDHMC-6gk5Rk=w2400)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rDC1HTYiLtR8HUGF5swaPCZaBcR0syfHHbEPeomEsSD3rW5U9rKnjaxU0Afsh1s1fLbX-Kv0_LzcsVtUPhSJMYR3MabghkiK6Z3f1edEjnhZUrOn2ZFH8P82ng5DiF2lvVdtq6YelTI=w2400)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/WOD77XmFesSIpSyD1N7JdJTSHNiUrElAy6Ay23crrGcgsVOBvIWsOWNpU9ghL99OXG4FrPNfs8SgLHsfkLfnsEbJbAx_lwz8856tIHIyWoq77T04Q9OdzJ8kO8OGrZt4q3wjVkPGuPY=w2400)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gqBsHEjpzAOknhTtfB_FuEPmRueBi20e0vhlvvRNQMSEOT7yGP2tN2UAiW3G0QKKmst1iN4tqHWQtiUMVP7Ox0ymTDiKZK99i8s5duptOHNYosLOByW9siJCgiLjQh8VEc0OdGLyE50=w2400)
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Looking much better than the original donor vessel. Only worry being with the reduced draught, will you have to be careful not to add too much weight during the build? Still, it looks great :-))
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thanks for feedback. I'm not too concerned with weight, in fact if it sits a little lower than the original waterline, I would be happy. This is about the look I am going for
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/M609H7UE3c4sFxOfWDWedyiTs_Waj5NQGD9rNLgKe3xnUDFCQRR9lLHgbnSmrGG-WyidO5z7qdzwsJUb83lFW4sjzQ9GlpV_nAVFVyR4xlTSiAY63elReojUaORrRN9qTq35t0EpqF0=w2400)
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That looks just superb, good luck as construction moves on :-))
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Very interesting, and well done conversion :-)) .
Mark
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GyPfaMtbS5a6mI81UC980oTipSrO4W5ogGtK63EHXYMZ0VW-BGWqHNOjLNJ_MB1e7qqQ8rE0Jezl4bdr9tR-lgsWiSOxEdxX9dfqE0b6rm5QocyikpMg5ChnqfCyAlXXmz9rC3Ii1Pw=w2400)
Slowly making progress.
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Lookin' good.
Mark
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Amazing what you've done to that boat! Looking forward to the next update .
Hama
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I love it!, Buy a boat that you want only for the hull & use it to build something pleasing to your eye. Obviously you could see how the hull form would work for you. Progress photos please.
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update long time coming...I am still working on the superstructure but today I finally put in the water. Still needs a little ballast but it runs great. And I got to use it as a tug also. My Aquacraft Lucas Oil catamaran flipped over, so a family friend tried pushing it, and he somehow dry-docked his boat on top of mine.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LlnGcs3EHwNSNXri2efzXKwdPsSk-ARlwJe4QhdAv-xLT37jMZQi6VNelWVGwnNk_GrwTVGoLUGfSb8MCkfixu_R6X4VnK5Z7y4mS8_wZ2DwKX1RPw4i_OeYTVGfrCM6VE2w58CyCrI=w2400)
sending my tug out to the rescue. Towing a string with some wire hooks I made glued to some ping-pong balls. Plan is to loop around the stranded vessel to hook it, and tow it home.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6oV1IzA6KLholYmNfGbXdicM-YDZ0rfkcPLtHMn5ioD2yLj-9rClJCfrk_V6oG8gKAoN9YTLPkHyKt_70jdFBZlk1C3F_Bf9gtdybSi-jkgSJ_rIRAkRiu0yyPWGdEd4An704mDz9CA=w2400)
and it worked! No problem towing it in, the new motor and prop combo is more than enough power for this load.
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Ukmc_tAH_FzEBcK6LmnL7Mg6_KtR-mLrBRIg5ru5a-IA-qdh3ppLL_S-i_BGUMj7krCJXBe5NJpvVgHs9IFzjK6QAth04lf89hGqEFrjisbkObWJuTRhASrTo1NIFz7uzA1xg-0xhlk=w2400)
Having a retrieval vessel makes a huge difference when going to the lake. Now I dont have to worry about getting a boat stranded away from shore, in fact now I look forward to it :-))
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Been watching the build with interest , as we seem to be from the same mind set as I buy a hull convert it and then the rest is scratch built , very satisfying if a tad long to build , but thats not a bad thing eh .....good luck and keep us posted over here please .
Regards Ivor .
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so another lapse in time before the next update. So many projects, its easy to forget what else is in the shop.
Basic structure is complete. Painted up with some weathering effects, not sure when to call this complete, I've discovered its real easy to get deep in the weeds with details like radar, hand rails, lights, etc. Its ONLY a retrieval boat anyways %) It does need some more 'stuff' added but im not sure what...
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Since this boat is built solely for fun and to retrieve our fast boats when they flip, I went through a couple of trials before I made a system that works very well. The string and ping-pong ball took a little longer to capture the stranded vessel, and was trickey when the boat was more than 100meters from shore.
Came up with a drag-net type of system which mounts to the boat with a swivel to allow for variations of roll, pitch, and yaw. Bent up and TIG welded some 3/16" (4.7mm) steel rod for the frame. Floats are plastic soda bottles. Heavy duty nylon line acts as the catch system, I ran several lengths of it to improve the entanglement. The whole thing folds flat for storage and takes about 2 minutes to install. All I do is pass alongside the capsized craft, and this snags it and makes for a simple retrieval.
At this point there isnt much left to do. It works perfectly. All I need is to make it move faster to the rescue...might need to build a bigger tug next!
My Aquacraft Lucas Oil cat served as the test subject
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/kFDpAJG-uI64sHc5CZrAcQ_5wfSWL8QZbY_3Ob35KQIi_qauigdMZFW_N5SoJPtoOibN7LwFA6g0YHy0R7ECGWkSBX3mr7CD46gYl_JuCldzLgl2AFzxBGZCwtCy9w-7rFORkFvnRK0=w2400)
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(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/N9IMfBetpezivCXdQDkNg8TEQBB0CV4geQKuBL_hYEGFsXoEn4Vkmrs-1FEO9M4bFB_k9xWZ6RJypWqvqzDLj2QTfgXY4CzzGnG6HIaIfU5upJVcCU4EDhE_sHwEJmTra_HvgM0a71k=w2400)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/XjjF9Sca6f1XZ_ZonKukS5wN4LIDxEnrnfDowo0jw1LZhPNat9kSIVhAl-5DqAnK-_AeJlGS6VvHwAh3XN8VYGX80gLdhpM-v6NFTIw4pXVtZh1EBf5XvU7Txu7_PtwfH29dPuURhUI=w2400)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yX9k0PsC5AhmZSvPGC9qJpo3pmjvC20ckToR80wIrXR47jrvqWyVOMEbrNfQh30nneRjrIYGTbyp8R2AOAqXJDGPWuHwfdXnZrN479zP-RB0OW2UtIRJpA8ow1M9s9PSCgpJrqfV-Fo=w2400)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/1fn5yQ3UWVBIW_QMQtte_0zZq8PlXb9icBD0WVhXPuuTIBtLt3Fku6iYFRrtWvhijHfQFi8OMVx8UrRYTTt3bh2cytx9giE3eGSleVk7s3IZq1s8GNB0oidkyA1aVnz7vhFMJu-mVng=w2400)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/2SbxZWrgkBIcMWgZtt87dU4tzCKYdgbFkIak3bIlx4uEHOA4yfkFN-7u-cQehLGdE-2zVgQfDqvb1QGYvH8ifvBoTz9mTO68WHcvYcN1LzlhZku1VTVkS1QD53INhSR4XLSIOd8BZWY=w2400)
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Some fine! Quite an ingenious rescue system.