Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Working Vessels => Topic started by: GrahamD on September 11, 2015, 10:44:54 am
-
Last time I built a boat was back in the 70's when following several very expensive (due to radio failure) attempts at learning to fly model aircraft, I changed direction from airborne to waterborne {:-{
Then it was a Perkasa (that I never did finish), and they never cost what they do now....and several other refurbs from other people.
Now I hold both my BMFA A & B flying certs and have taught many others to fly, but have always fancied the Clyde Puffer (my late father and I loved the "Maggie"), and thought, why not now ?
I first ordered the kit from a company in the south, and then read on here I'd chosen the wrong supplier (alarms bells were ringing when they would not answer the phone or return my emails >>:-( ), however the credit card company canceled for me, so no harm done. I got my new kit in the end from Clyde Model Boats, who I cannot praise enough, THANK YOU Kim.
So bare with me, I'm not expert on model boats so this should be fun (or boring), and please chip in with any offerings of help and expert advice as mine has been pulled from this great site and others.
Basics = Motor 555, Brass 40mm RH prop, and Shuco flex coupling (going to use supplied prop shaft)
First step was that rudder.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150911_080024_zpsyfvx1w4r.jpg)
Although no mention of it in the destructions, I filed down the rear till the rudder post was a comfy fit (see red)
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150911_080029_zpstwsh5wsl.jpg)
The manual (revamped by Jotika I understand), talks about a bolt going through the post at the bottom, but was not included and there were no holes drilled, and the fit seems fine when the rudder is in place so I've left that off. Prop shaft is also loosely fitted for now.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150911_082914_zpsjioeedut.jpg)
And bingo the rudder is now epoxied in place.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150911_091242_zpscdvdv9n0.jpg)
-
Great start Graham!
Where do you get 555 motors these days?
-
Great start Graham!
Where do you get 555 motors these days?
Got mine from http://www.action-electronics.co.uk/stuff1.php
(http://www.action-electronics.co.uk/images/555.jpg)
-
Welcome to the forum :-) . Looks good, keep it coming.
Mark
-
Great start Graham!
Where do you get 555 motors these days?
Up here in Sunny North Wales
http://www.componentshop.co.uk/motors/dc-brushed-motors/
Dave
-
Despite the manual being updated, there are still some errors, ie the drawing that shows the "revised" locations of the forward and rear bulkheads is rubbish, it states the front bulkhead is 46mm from the front, you need to add a 100 to this, also the rear is stated at 95mm, again try 195mm. Not the end of the World, but you would have thought by now they would have got it right :-))
Bulkheads now installed.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150912_064315_zpsj2nmbr2u.jpg)
-
Got mine here couple of phone calls to chase it up 5th motor down good top revs
http://www.westbourne-model.co.uk/acatalog/Model-Boat-Elecetric-Motors.html (http://www.westbourne-model.co.uk/acatalog/Model-Boat-Elecetric-Motors.html)
-
Hi Graham,
There is no way your build will be boring!
Just a couple of points which have occurred to me:
Hopefully the prop shaft supplied with the current kit is made of stainless steel. Mine wasn't and went rusty after a couple of trips in the bathtub! (and yes, I had greased it!) My kit was purchased in 2000.
I'm not sure about the wisdom of making the rudder post a permanent fixture. It's going to make tightening the prop a bit tricky and you will have to insert (and, at times, withdraw) the shaft from within the vessel.
Having said that, making it removeable (which entails accessing the nut from within the vessel when the deck is in place) is not easy!
I fitted the nut and bolt which is missing from your kit - but it needed some work to make it possible to tighten and also to ensure it didn't foul the rudder casting.
I look forward to the rest of your build. O0
Mike
-
Hi Graham,
There is no way your build will be boring!
Just a couple of points which have occurred to me:
Hopefully the prop shaft supplied with the current kit is made of stainless steel. Mine wasn't and went rusty after a couple of trips in the bathtub! (and yes, I had greased it!) My kit was purchased in 2000.
I'm not sure about the wisdom of making the rudder post a permanent fixture. It's going to make tightening the prop a bit tricky and you will have to insert (and, at times, withdraw) the shaft from within the vessel.
Having said that, making it removeable (which entails accessing the nut from within the vessel when the deck is in place) is not easy!
I fitted the nut and bolt which is missing from your kit - but it needed some work to make it possible to tighten and also to ensure it didn't foul the rudder casting.
I look forward to the rest of your build. O0
Mike
thanks, yea I did give the fitting of the prop some thought, and went with removable motor mount.
I found some 10mm Cyparis (only coz I had some laying around from my Beaufighter wing I'm building) and will cut/sand down to about 5mm, but any off cut of 5mm ply, beach etc would have done.
using this method I can pack the motor up and down as needed, and can withdraw the shaft once the prop has been removed, which is just possible when the motor is removed.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150912_151122_zps7jtgohu0.jpg)
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150912_160655_zpsn8hosnce.jpg)
I used the string method to find the center line, and tack glued the motor mount and wood bearers into place with CA, once in place I then followed this up with Epoxy. When the Epoxy is dry I will remove the motor & mount from the bearers and flow some P40 around the bearers, grease up the shaft and reassemble.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150912_160641_zpsydrhftnd.jpg)
-
PS yes the prop shaft is a steel jobby.
-
Small progress today, installed the deck supports
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/ATT_1442207547972_20150914_054023_zpshv0nsdaa.jpg)
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/ATT_1442207547895_20150914_060857_zps95mgkdor.jpg)
-
I noticed when I looked at other peoples builds their rudder post was almost proud of the stern post, yet mine was about 5mm under. Today I think I've confirmed the hull is 5mm higher from the bulkhead back, I've had to add a 5mm piece of Cyparis ontop of the bulkhead to fill the gap, its not a major problem, but worth mentioning.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150914_175133_zpscy3iyfo4.jpg)
I also found a couple of parts are missing from my kit, but hats off to Jotika, I sent an email describing the missing parts and had an email back within minutes telling me the parts are in the post :-)) :-))
My smoke unit also arrived today (second hand Flea-Bay), I see it needs 24Volts, so I did some messing and I can build a cheap 12>24v converter so I can save on the extra 12V battery and weight (unless I go Li-po).
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150914_175139_zpsg2of0uhd.jpg)
-
NB 1: Test the Smoker on 24v DC first, a row of AA will do!
NB 2: Some 12v - 24v DC to Dc converters can be a bit noisy, whines, whistles etc!
-
Do Converters have moving parts then or is it something about electrons gadding about between coils {:-{
I am learning lots reading your build log.
-
No moving parts, something to do with high frequencies.
Mind you you, haven't used one in some time, newer ones might be a lot better!
-
Does that affect recievers in any way? It sounds positively problematic.
-
Front deck now fitted in place (black bags are pvc off-cuts sewn into small bags and filled with Lead buckshot from local gun shop, used to hold wing sheeting on wing ribs lol).
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150916_123250_zpsohnmrrqs.jpg)
-
Deck now dry
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150916_141757_zpsjo4p8dij.jpg)
-
Before you go any further, cover that wood with anything that will make it waterproof!
.... too late?! {:-{
-
lol. yea good point, but not too much of a problem, can swill some Poly-c around inside it (got gallons of the stuff).
-
are you Graham D off RCMF ?
KW
-
are you Graham D off RCMF ?
KW
Yup
-
Thought so when I saw Poly C mentioned , you still use it a fair bit then?
KW
-
Thought so when I saw Poly C mentioned , you still use it a fair bit then?
KW
Yea, when I got the sample from Ronseal back in the day, I got a 1 gallon and 5 gallon container sent free %%
-
Managed last night to get the hatch coamings and the hatch built, sounds simple but it was many hours of work.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150918_070643_zpsddtsylmx.jpg)
Gonna nip out today and get some paints so I can finish the hatch off.
-
Another omission from both the plans and kit. On top of the front stem piece goes the stem head plate, but clearly something is missing, never mind, out with the cyparis again
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/20150918_122405_zps8xdtu9ss.jpg)
Problem solved
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/20150918_122446_zpszpi0hdrr.jpg)
-
First coat on
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150919_065316_zpszde5nshm.jpg)
-
OK, now have a hatch, less the tarp (still not sure I want to use the supplied film one).
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150922_103327_zpsdfwgurwi.jpg)
-
Started on the main cabin
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150922_165543_zpssybvxq1p.jpg)
-
How many coats of (and what kind of) paint on the hull?
-
How many coats of (and what kind of) paint on the hull?
Just 2 coats of Halfrauds Red Oxide primer.
Added some hardware
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150922_185703_zpsljx4nd1n.jpg)
Also got some of these from Home & Bargains the other day (50p), Flickering led (imitation candle/oil) Halloween lamps. Tomorrow I will strip them down, they currently run on one 2.2v cell so will need to knock up a voltage regulator from 12V, might just use a zener diode as its low current, will play.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150922_185714_zpsvzscf0om.jpg)
-
Small progress, built the wheelhouse (not an easy task).
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20150925_090307_zpsr1hoxlqg.jpg)
-
I was messing about with my smoke generator today, and my Grandson loved it..lol
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/12038062_10153575241085336_8439861287255560041_n_zpswv9ocvxc.jpg)
In the end I got my 24Volt DC-DC upconverter from Fleabay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221864498473?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221864498473?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT) - £10.68 inc postage, works great, no noise and doesn't even get warm, so might trim some of the cooling fins off to make it smaller.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/QYwAAOSwAHZUN5xQ/$_57.JPG)
-
In the end I got my 24Volt upconverter from Fleabay £1068 inc postage, works great, no noise and doesnt even get warm, so might trim some of the cooling fins off to make it smaller
Seems a little pricy for a modest change in voltage - or did the postage include a complementary Caribbean cruise?
{-) {-) {-)
-
Seems a little pricy for a modest change in voltage - or did the postage include a complementary Caribbean cruise?
{-) {-) {-)
Oops, me bad, missed the . lol
-
Quick update (naff picture, and yes I know its facing the wrong way {-) ), and all lights working
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20151001_095537_zpsj7ycdcou.jpg)
-
Tother side view
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20151001_171106_zpsxbd1ca1k.jpg)
-
She is coming along fine.
-
Hi Graham, I noticed a couple of references to model aircraft building :} and saving the weight of another battery. Don't make the same mistake I made trying to save loads of weight as I then had to add 2.5 kilos of lead. If I had the space for a second battery I would have fitted that instead. Good luck with your build its coming on great. U2
-
Just a quicky, fitted rear deck and railings
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20151003_084817_zps2v2fsxgc.jpg)
-
Following your build with interest, think I might have to build one. I like your documentation on problems as this will be a big help to any other builders ( me ) :-)
It looks good, keep it coming :-))
Alan
-
Some small progress (its amazing how something described in two lines in the manual takes hours/days)
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20151008_052804_zpspzu0lq7n.jpg)
-
SMOKE, SMOKE We have smoke....
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20151009_143208_zpsdktkn0pl.jpg)
On another Issue, the supplied steering chain is stated as "550mm", in fact it was only 450mm, leaving me 100mm's short. I've emailed Caldercraft again, but so far no reply, anyone know what size or where I can get some that matches as I've already glued the chain to the top steering rod.
-
Got the masthead light fitted (again flickering LEDs), and hid the wires.
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20151013_164653_zpsi3mdryag.jpg)
-
Quick couple of pics
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20151016_172525_zpsqxaod647.jpg)
(http://i314.photobucket.com/albums/ll431/grahamdrry/Caldercraft/20151016_172735_zpsblfdaaik.jpg)
-
Lookin' good :-))
Mark
-
Vary nice O0 , congratulations
-
I noticed when I looked at other peoples builds their rudder post was almost proud of the stern post, yet mine was about 5mm under. Today I think I've confirmed the hull is 5mm higher from the bulkhead back, I've had to add a 5mm piece of Cyparis ontop of the bulkhead to fill the gap, its not a major problem, but worth mentioning.
I also found a couple of parts are missing from my kit, but hats off to Jotika, I sent an email describing the missing parts and had an email back within minutes telling me the parts are in the post :-)) :-))
My smoke unit also arrived today (second hand Flea-Bay), I see it needs 24Volts, so I did some messing and I can build a cheap 12>24v converter so I can save on the extra 12V battery and weight (unless I go Li-po).
I noticed this too; I think the hull is left slightly oversize when provided in the kit, I cut my sides down to the level of where the rivets end, this seems to tally with plans and photos of other models. Not helpful that the instructions don't mention it
-
Looks stunning so far! I myself am restoring the exact same model from the hull and a pile of parts I found at the tip!
I may have some questions for you as time rolls on :-))
-
All the pictures have disappeared. Any chance of link to where they are?
-
Sorry... looks like the Photobucket curse strikes again!
( https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,58456.msg609995.html#msg609995 )
-
Also, have a look at:
https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,56943.msg592306.html#msg592306
https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,52126.0.html
https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,9767.0.html
-
Looking at my Northlight build log (abandoned November 2016 because of Photobucket's action), the pictures which they decided to re-instate (but with a translucent Photobucket overprint) are still there. The overprint, however, is now much more obtrusive ("host,store,share").
Another thing that has changed is the video links - none of which worked after the re-instatement but those from 5/4/13 onwards now work!
It may well be that Graham D removed all his pictures from the Photobucket website at the time they announced their $400 annual charge demand. Nemo, Cragrat and Barrie W obviously did not use Photobucket to host their pictures (or decided to pay!).
It would have been nice to have finished my build log but I lost heart. Very disappointed not to get to Wicksteed this year and sail her!
Mike