Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Seaport Tugs => Topic started by: spiderman on December 16, 2011, 12:31:55 pm
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Hi everyone ,
I require some advice please.
I could do with your opinions on if I should keep the water ballast tank in the boat or remove it ?
Also how the performance differs on each option?
I have just started to strip the boat down ready to convert and paint so any help on this matter would be very welcome.
Many Thanks
John.
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I think the majority have sealed the bottom slots and breather pipes.
A 6V 4AH SLA sits quite nicely in the tank space and with an extra
bit of ballast forward of it the boat sits in the water nicely.
The ballast then is as low as possible.
With the original motor and 6V power it all looks pretty scale.
If you want to use the original battery pack and fire monitor the you would need the
water ballast.
Ned
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Ned has just said word for word what I was typing, so here goes.
I think the majority have sealed the bottom slots and breather pipes.
A 6V 4AH SLA sits quite nicely in the tank space and with an extra
bit of ballast forward of it the boat sits in the water nicely.
The ballast then is as low as possible.
With the original motor and 6V power it all looks pretty scale.
If you want to use the original battery pack and fire monitor the you would need the
water ballast.
My build if it helps http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8411.0
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p8/DickyD_photos/Dickie%20Tug%20Wellsford/DSCF1386Small.jpg)
(http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p8/DickyD_photos/Dickie%20Tug%20Wellsford/DSCF0169Small.jpg)
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Thanks you Netleyned and DickyD,
The ballast tank is now no more, its left a nice deep box for the battery as you both said it makes sense to keep the weight as low as possible.
I've just epoxyed plasticard over the vents and waiting for it to dry before painting the hull.
Is the perpainted waterline about right as I could use it as masking point?
Thank Again,
John.
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The factory waterline is ok John
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One of my favourite Seaport conversions! :-))
My build if it helps http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8411.0 (http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=8411.0)
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Thanks Netelyned,
I was hoping you might say that as I had masked it up ready for someone to confirm it,
Just been outside and sprayed the bottom half Red Oxide and the deck Medium Grey Primer.
What a transformation.
I intend to use Satin Black for the upper hull and bulwarks. I hope to spray tomorrow weather permitting,
Then on to the superstructure.
I might upload some photos if I can work out how to!
John
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This is mine
Ned
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Looks Great Ned,
Hope mine turns out as good?
Im not sure what colour to do the superstructure yet.
I keep seeing photos of others and I keep changing my mind.
I was thinking of medium sea grey like navy tugs (I think) but not sure yet.
John
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Costa Coffee Decking and a camera on the forrard screen
for embarrassing some of our club members {-) {-)
Ned
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Hi Ned
Just opened you photo and blew it up I can now make out the camera, great idea.
Have you kept the original motor and drive? I'm going to give mine a try I can always change it at a later date,
I have used heat shrink on the dogs of the drive as others say that they can be quite noisy.
Johyn
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Mine sounded quiet until I put the camera on
The drive was all greased with vaseline and it seemed
to be very quiet
I have now mounted the camera with a anti vibration plate
but it might be tested tomorrow if the weather is OK
Ned
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Doe's the propshaft come out easy?
I never thought to try to pull it out when the motor and propeller were off for painting? if its easy I will grease it.
I'm glads someone else use's Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly
I don't think you can beat it!!
John
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Just removed all the masking etc and it look like the propshaft won't slide out very easy.
Doe's anyone know if the plastic dog drive on the inboard end of the propshaft is a push on like the end on the motor
or is it threaded.
Anyone drilled out a hole for an oiler without taking the propshaft out , then conecting the joint with loads of epoxy resin?
Thanks Again
John
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http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=6588.0
Have a look at this and the rest of the thread
You should find most of the answers
Ned
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Nice one Ned,
Just found the photo of the inner end of the propshaft, it apears that they are pushed on to spline which means that it can
be pulled off ( with luck ).
If thats the case I will grease it before it hits the water.
How do I upload photos onto the site? sometimes its better to ask than spend all night trying to find out by reading, as time reading is time spent not building!
Thanks again Ned,
John.
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Hi again,
Great link you gave me.
Just pulled the prop ends off ( like the photo the ends are splined and easy to pull off )
Filled tube with Vaseline and fitted a brass washer to the inner end.
Now going to fit rudder ass and leave in the bath over night.
No electrics in it at this moment.
Decided to paint the superstructure etc Ford Serria Beige from Halfords with blue funnels and a modified mast.
I can only thank you again
John.
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http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2277.msg108900#msg108900
Have a look at this John
Ned
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Hi Ned,
Happy Christmas.
Hope this works if it does I will upload more as they come.
John
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Photo 2
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Well those two worked so photo 3 next
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And now number four,
I have done a lot more work since these were taken and will post them soon.
John
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Number 5
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No 6
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No7
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No8
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No9
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No10
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Well that how it looks today Boxing Day,
Telly rubbish as usual so I spent most of the day upstairs in my model room.
Nearly ready for sea trials at Cowes Model Engineering Club on Wednesday.
More photos to come later.
John.
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NICE paint job! :-))
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To echo Martin's remarks, A really nice paint job.
Hope the trials went ok yesterday.
It was too windy here in North East Lincs for boating.
Ned
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Hi again,
Well it was touch and go yesterday as the weather was not good at all, but I thought I would give it a try even if only to see if it floats!
The night before I used Vaseline to seal the gasket on the underside of the deck and also charged the new 6volt 5mah Gel Battery.
I managed to get it onto the water about 1.30, waiting 2 hours plus for the rain to stop.
I was very pleased with the way it sailed only needing a small amount of extra weight on the forward port side to counter balance the prop rotation.
It was not as noisy as I expected althought I did use heat shrink on the UJ coupling.
I used the rudder left to right in quick succession to make it dance about and get wet, just to see if it remains dry inside.
No problem there, dry as a bone.
Due to the fact that I was one of only four people there (Others Train People) I had to take the photos myself, so I've only included one of it on the wateras the rest are not very good,
but I will be sailing it on the large canoe lake in Ryde when it finished
Today I've resprayed the superstructure etc with Humbrol satin coat as it was in gloss before. Looks much better now.
More Photos to come
Thanks again Everyone
John
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Well I've Finally Finished It!!
So here are the latest photos before it go's into service.
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Photo2
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Photo3
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Photo4
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Photo5
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Photo 6
I will post a couple more photos of it on the water at a later date.
I took it out last saturday but it was blowing a gale and it kept getting knocked flat in the bad gusts, I thought it might go down at first but it kept righting itself
to my relief, and no water got inside!!
John
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I took it out last Saturday but it was blowing a gale and it kept getting knocked flat in the bad gusts
John
Hi John,
That's the reason I removed all the 'clutter' high up on my Dickie, with the ballast as low as possible I can run her in a gale without braking a sweat, only a few drops after a two hour run, mainly due to the waves breaking over the bow and hitting the windows, which are not entirely watertight...
Regards, Jan.
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Hi Jan,
Yes you are right but at least it comes back up as soon as the gusts gone through! ( Luckly) and it appears water tight.
I must say like a lot of people that the basic hull and deck are really very good and it lends itself to so many different conversions, and at £45 its a bargin.
It would be even better if it was half as big again, althought I do have a New Slipways Loyal Mediator to build when I get time.
I bought the Seaport for a quick conversion over Christmas to give me a break from SS Sudbury, and the final coat of paint on the hull of a Clyde Puffer which I have built from scratch, Started in 2001!!!!
I keep getting distracted as the Puffer takes so long.
I'm sure you know what I mean.
I also sail Model Yachts.
John
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Hi Everyone,
Not much progress since the last posting, Got the ok to emigrate to NZ so the model room has had to be put back to a third bedroom and the house is up for sale!
I now have to decide which out of all my models to take with me?
So it may be on hold for quite a while, but I will stay with this Great Web Site and post when I can.
Cheers for now,
John (Spiderman)
PS: All my Tarantulas have had to go as well as they don't allow them in NZ!!
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Hi John,
Have a safe journey and let us know when you're up and running in NZ.
Fortunately they do allow Seaport tugs down under...
Regards, Jan.