Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Yachts and Sail => Topic started by: vintagent on May 18, 2010, 12:10:43 pm

Title: R/C in scale sail
Post by: vintagent on May 18, 2010, 12:10:43 pm
Hello all, I am becoming more and more concerned by the "mine's bigger than yours" attitude about R/C gear that is eveident on here.
I'm sure it's just one-upmanship and I fancy not so prevalent amongst the gentlemen of scale sailing as the wide boys of fast electrics ( ok2),so what R/C gear do you all use?
I have only old, but working 27 meg and I ain't a-changing it for no fancy box of knobs, chai-rlegs and pump-handles.

Regards,
Vintagent
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: tigertiger on May 18, 2010, 03:00:05 pm
I have a Futaba Attack 2ER, 2 channel 27mhz in my Mary J Ward. And the same in my Victoria (not scale sail).
I will use a cheap 4 channel when I finally get round to finishing my Loise Helois.

In future I will be building bigger models, where my key concern will be radio range. As such I will be looking at quality sets and not the cheapest on the market.

One thing I will say about some of the bigger 6ch sets is that they are programable for different models. This means that if you have 6 models, you only need 1 transmitter, with 6 recievers (one in each boat), all you need to do is tell the transmitter which model you are operating. This will save either money, or time (swapping out the receivers when you cahnge over models) and there will be no need to reset any limits on servo movement.
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: alan colson on May 18, 2010, 03:23:27 pm
I use mainly 27meg and a couple of 40meg radio sets on my selection of boats, with more people changing to 2.4 I am finding it easier to get a frequency when I want it.
Alan
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: vintagent on May 18, 2010, 04:42:29 pm
That's pretty much what I thought, gents.
Perhaps my future is with scale sailing rather than power of any kind.  I have a 1/12th model of my old Victorian cutter to build. Since I lived on it I should be able to model it pretty convincingly and I always fancied doing a model of a Norfolk wherry from the plans of Gleaner in Black Sailed Traders.
I prefer not to use stuff from the east, so my Digimac will be used in those as well as my old Mini-Hex if my son can find it!
Oh why oh why did I swap my lovely Skyleader?
But for me, two functions is plenty.
I don't compete, I just like to think they'll work if I want them to.

Regards,
Vintagent
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: dave301bounty on May 18, 2010, 06:08:03 pm
Myself ,and this is my opinion ,27 meg has never let me down ,Ijust put a split frequency on .no problems .
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: regiment on May 18, 2010, 06:19:58 pm
what is split frequency thanks  also if the hull is 34 inch long how tall is the mast  trying to build a sailing boat
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: Colin Bishop on May 18, 2010, 06:37:28 pm
Split frequencies are additional intermediate frequencies in the 27mhz band between the main 'colours' that became available in the 1970s as the quality of R/C gear improved. So between Red and Brown you could have Red/Brown if my memory serves me correctly.

I still have a couple of 27mhz Futaba M series sets which work fine - not much competition with them these days.

Colin
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: vintagent on May 18, 2010, 07:01:28 pm
Regiment,
your ship's rig will depend on the type of boat it is.  Victorian cutter, taller than long, J class- motorise a phone box!  Smack- about square or a little less.  Generally a gaff rig will be shorter than a bermudan.

Regards,
Vintagent
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: regiment on May 18, 2010, 08:02:51 pm
thanks for info but what is split frequency regiment
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: Colin Bishop on May 18, 2010, 08:04:16 pm
I have just explained that above Regiment! It's an intermediate frequency between the original main ones.

Colin
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: regiment on May 18, 2010, 08:06:21 pm
thanks colin missed your reply
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: vintagent on May 19, 2010, 10:28:38 am
Is there still a tolerance of we old R/Cers with our little coloured flags at ponds these days?  Haven't been to a model boat do in years.

I'd hate to make the trip and find that everyone's flashing the eastern magic around and poo-pooing the good old English 2 function propo or earlier.

Regards,
Vintagent
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: Harbottle on May 19, 2010, 03:06:02 pm
What's the problem with foreign made (i.e.Oriental) R/C sets? I used to have Futaba M Series in 2 and 3 channel form, and recently Hitec Laser 4. The Futaba was (and probably still is for those who still have them) superb and very reliable. The Hitec ... you switch it on and it works. What else do you want?
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: alan colson on May 19, 2010, 03:31:21 pm
Vintagent, I go to various shows around the country and also do competitions at local clubs, the 27meg and 40 meg are still used by many people and it's getting easier to find a free frequency these days, why waste money on new radio if the old stuff works well, spend your money on other things, like a new boat, an electronic speed controller or in my case a few pints at the shows when I am away with the caravan and not driving.
Alan
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: vintagent on May 19, 2010, 03:55:44 pm
Absolutely, Alan.
Thanks for that assurance.  Also, it looks so nice.  You should see the heads turn when the Digimac comes out!

Harbottle, if you want to use the perfectly reliable foriegn stuff, you are welcome.  So do I sometimes.
I didn't say there was anything wrong with it, I said I preferred English.
However I have the leftovers from my son and my brother's dabblings, meaning I have Acoms and Hi-tech sets.  Rather than let them molder I will of course use them, but I prefer English for my older models as it all ties in nicely with their age, etc.
Any further discussion about these things can only break the politics rules, so best we leave it,  (but if you ever come across Skyleader or Launch Link sets, please let me know!) :-))

Regards,
Vintagent
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: Greggy1964 on May 20, 2010, 09:09:29 am
Vintagent,

You're always going to find that one up manship thing with men,

You know, the 'my sausage is bigger than your sausage'  syndrome :o {-)  especially in models where money is no object!

My local pond is no different, they always have to have the latest gadgets and doo-dahs

There a couple of fellows that will ramble on for hours if they catches you, blathering on about the latest and best in brushless motor technology and hyper fandango super-duper cutting edge technology in batteries, I just have to smile politely and hope they catch someone else's eye soon!

In fact I left the club years ago because two ego's were battling for club comadore, it was like a mini election craze with bitching and back biting!

I just want to sail me boat in peace :((

There is a thing going up there built around these tiny little plastic soap dish power boats that belt along with only the tip of the rudder blade and the lower prop blade touching the water.

The competition and the  >>:-( tempers >>:-( are comical during races :-)) %) O0 {-)

Human nature I guess.

*IDEA!*

Maybe we should give all the world leaders one of these things with all the most expensive knickknacks and ujermerflips and let them battle out their differences at the pond side.

I would save a fortune in destroyed hardware and lives on the battlefield! <*< <*<
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: vintagent on May 20, 2010, 10:08:43 am
Maybe I'm odd, Gregg, but all that tosh has never appealed to me.  Really.  Maybe it's because as I have never really given a damn about what people think of me, I have always been able to ignore the ways of Man!  I dunno.
My son-in-law lives for a "wind-up".  He seems to think that he's getting a one-up on his workmates.  He never tries it with me, though!
I really don't get it.  Never have. But he's come close to the boot a few times.

Similarly, I don't follow fashion or fad. If something I have works, that's all I ask of it.  Everything else I make.
The boats I model need only stop, go, left, right.  So 2 function propo is just fine.  I'd drop a tone set in my older boats if I could get some, for the interest value, but I'm not paying ebay rates for collectors' items.

As for the politicking, well that does rear it's ugly head often, doesn't it?
I've seen it in everything from model railway clubs where there'd be the "guru" figure who likes to rule the roost from his favourite stool in the clubroom, to the "tanks are the Kings of models" faction from some morbidly obese blob who only moves once a month to take his endless Verlinden T34s to the model club, so he can poo-poo everybody else's efforts. You can imagine how he hated me for taking my latest professional commissions along.  Yet I only went for the company of a couple of amusing fellas with whom I'd enjoy a Wexford or two in the Pub afterwards!
When I took a brass master of a Scimitar tank to display, he soon shut up!

The classic car club?  Same thing. One guy will pay whatever it takes to have THE Concours perfect Spitfire or TVR and won't even speak to the raggy-arsed 'erbert like me who used to kick his old Spitfire if it cut out in a left hand bend!  Not a straight panel on my old green Mk 2!  Then I replaced the carbs and all was well again.  He also shut up when I towed him home after a competition when his immaculate Mk 1 GT6 broke down.

The slot car club...the geezer who runs it cheats, because he can. He sets the rules about which motors, then buys high speed ones so he can go 30% faster than everyone else and they tolerate it because he runs the club.

So I'm with you, mate.  I too, live amongst a lot of bodies and stretches of water any one of which I can sail my boat on without Johnny Wad showing off, or trying to!

Love your idea about the world leaders running models.
You could make it a weekend event.  Model boat racing, slot racing, buggy competitions.  I can just imagine I'madinnerjacket having a go at the marshalls, while O'bama's throwing string in front of Merkel's prop and Cameroon's spouting off about "fairness"!
I do wish I could draw cartoons!

Regards,
Vintagent

Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: tigertiger on May 21, 2010, 03:07:00 am
One thing I like about scale sail, is that it is not dominated by cash.
There is some oneupmanship with some officianados of the idea of 'scale', and the idea that there can be no compromise. This leads to some very complex engineering solutions. Good luck to them, but they are in the minority. I cannot win any arguements based on my modeling skills, but I usually manage to state that they (the elitists) are puting up barriers to new entrants to the hobby.

The other thing about historic sail, the boats look so darned good.
And the 'Wow' factor from onlookers gives me a buzz. Much better than the frustrations of not beeing able to sqeeze out another few m/sec, or shaving off a few more grams.
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: vintagent on May 21, 2010, 09:53:23 am
Tigertiger,
I can see your argument.  I can just imagine the ladies cooing about the romance of a square rigger processing gracefully across the waters, compared to a nervous, noisy multi boat.

I have enjoyed some multi boat competitions though when I've chanced upon them.  Exciting, but not for me.

I've never actually BEEN to a scale sail do, since absolutely yonks ago whenIi made it, late to a Thames Ship Lovers and Ship Model Society sail-in at the Round Pond and boy did that draw a crowd!

Regards,
Vintagent
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: malcolmfrary on May 21, 2010, 11:02:38 am
Quote
In fact I left the club years ago because two ego's were battling for club comadore, it was like a mini election craze with bitching and back biting!
More than one person in a club actually VOLUNTEERING for a job?  Thats either the ultimate luxury or great imagination.  I have found over the years that the bestest way to ensure silence at a meeting is to call for nominations for club ossifers.  Then the meeting moves on and its back to herding tomcats.
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: pugwash on May 21, 2010, 11:18:38 am
I know what you mean Malcolm - I was vice-commodore of our local yacht club which entailed maintainence of jetty, clubhouse and
anything else which moved or needed fixing - surprisingly I had the job for 8 years and was never opposed at the AGM because it meant
WORK got fed up in the end and left the club and sailed my boat to Corfu where to only work I did was on it. on the other hand
the commodore who was just a figurehead had stacks of nominees and got quite nasty with all the backbiting

Pugwash
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: Jimmy James on May 21, 2010, 11:33:41 am
My favorite T/X is my Old "Fleet" 40MHz 7 channel
It's user friendly and has a switch that slaves two of the channels on too one stick (the right & left vertical sticks) on a square rigger this means you can have independent control of the fore mast and main For tacking, but slave them togeather for normal sailing or in the case of a twin screw ship, independent control of each prop or slaved on to one stick for normal steaming...All at the click of a switch
I also use "Hi Tec" 40MHz & 27MHz T/x and R/x and find they have good range (our lake is 1700 yds long x 800yds wide) and so far I have never lost control due to range (Mind you I do run my aerials up the mast) This is one advantage of a traditional sailing vessel the aerial can be hidden in the rigging
(http://s3.postimage.org/s_3Mi.jpg) (http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Pqs_3Mi)
For the most part I use 1/4 power servos or sail arm servos ,,,,as apposed to drum servos I prefer capstan's mounted on geared motors

Freebooter
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: Tugwilson on May 21, 2010, 11:40:28 am
thats a nice ship Jimmy, was it scratch or kit built?
if kit can you let me know where you got it from.

Tug
Title: Re: R/C in scale sail
Post by: Jimmy James on May 21, 2010, 06:23:35 pm
Tug Wilson
 Check the thread Briganteen Freebooter under sail in YACHTS & SAIL R&D All the spects are posted there  She's scratch built
Freebooter
Jimmy