Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Springer Tugs => Topic started by: Captain fizz on April 09, 2016, 10:26:56 pm
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Today,whilst at the Coalville show, I purchased a Springer set of mouldings from Models by Design and various other components to build my first Springer.
This is likely to be the first in a fleet of five for my grandchildren.
I will write a build blog as I go. :-)
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Hi Simon
Springers are great little boats a lot of fun to sail and a practical use also, mines nearly always with me when sailing, don't forget to make one for yourself, sooner or later you will need her. %% incidentally what is the hull made of it looks like some kind of composite material.
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It's a glassfibre hull with styrene sheets to cut out for wheelhouse etc.
I have one I have built from Andy's kit and it is at the lake every time I go.
It does one or more rescues a week and apart from the paint chips
It's as good as the day I launched it.
Ned
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And they are almost indestructible!
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Yes, materials as Ned said.
The hulls were £20 at Coalville yesterday, just not worth cutting one out yourself at that rate.
All the styrene parts come ready cut as well :-))
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Excellent Captain, may your family be enthusiastic model boaters in years to come.
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That's the plan Ballast.
My father was always encourageing and it did me no harm.
My youngest was mig welding by the age of ten, it is all good experience.
Now it is time o move on to the next generation.
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Prop shaft and Kort installed.
Motor mount and deck support rails epoxied in position.
Now to fabricate a battery box and electronics tray and bracket for the rudder servo.
I am really enjoying the simplicity of this build, it makes a change from my Ayton Cross project.
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Just sorting out the internal layout so that everything is vaguely accessible {:-{
Then I shall glue the deck on.
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Another image.
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Looking good :-))
You will need a lot of ballast in there.
My Models by design has two SLAs and about a pound of ballast
making the ballast 4lb.
Mine weighs 8lb all told.
You need to ballast slightly bows up to help with the inevitable
nose diving characteristic of the hull.
Ned
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Thanks for the info Ned, I am on layout plan 27 at present.
I have moved the battery tray forward and deeper to allow for two battery packs for longer run times.
I will probably go for lead acid in the next version.
Nearly time to pop it in the bath and see where I am.
Simon
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The final layout.......maybe {:-{
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The completed wheelhouse.
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Wheelhouse in the paint shop
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The final layout.......maybe {:-{
Is the battery shelf removable in case you need to get motor or coupling?
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Yes Martin, I will be able to get at both.
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Take both shelf and battery as far aft as you can.
You don't want any weight forrard.
Ned
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Initial sea/bath trials successful with drive train and steering functioning well.
Approximately 3lb of ballast required just aft of midships.
Painting going well.
Now to make a short mast and install navigation lights and fit out the wheelhouse.
I may head for the lake on Sunday for more extensive trials :-))
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Very tidy installation :-))
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Paint work coming on.
Still need to make the mast, install navigation lights and put some internal detail in the wheelhouse.
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nice clean paint lines captain fizz and looking great.
regards
Mick
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Thanks Mick, you can't beat Tamiya masking tape for the fine work!
I need to add about 3lbs of ballast, now I can place it either side of the motor, but I'm using lead flashing and it did occur to me to epoxy bond the 150mm sheet to the outside of the hull.
I thought it would also make a reasonable scratch protection.
What do the panel think?
In the meantime, here is a springer mast.
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Lead sheet outside the hull, IMO not a good idea especially if you intend painting it lead doesn't like paint because lead has a relatively high expansion level, you rarely see lead flashing on buildings painted or stuck.
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Thanks Joe, very good point about the expansion rate.
Inside the hull it is then.
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I used lead flashing on my Springer cut in to 3"x 1" strips in a pile each side, I use a couple of spots of pva glue between the strips this holds them firm but can be removed if needed IE. if you add something to the boat later if you use epoxy your stuck with it excuse the pun. %% :-))
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My brother-in-law thought the lead flashing on his house would look nice
painted black.
It started to flake as soon as we had warm days and cold nights.
Ned
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I think I will laminate the strips of lead using some double sided tape so that I can have an element of adjustment as Joe has suggested.
I shall shape them to fit the curve of the hull and probably hold them in position with Velcro tape.
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The other thing with lead is that being soft, it would scrape and scar very easily also making paint retention impossible.
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If I had decided to put the lead on the outside of the hull, I would have covered it with cloth and epoxy to toughen the surface.
Inside it is!
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Good idea! I hadn't thought of that. This comes from going on forus after ten O'clock %%
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I wanted to include an aft towing bollard on the springer. I have made a unit which will also secure the aft hatch. On this, the Queens birthday, I thought it appropriate to employ two coins of the realm (5p) to form the bollard tops.
I shall probably now be charged with treason. {-) {-)
Simon.
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Well your Springer's worth at least 10p. Simon %% {-) {-) {-)
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Thanks Joe, it's always good to have a little equity to fall back on {-)
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All the wiring sorted with working nav lights.
I have faced the fronts of the pushers with 3mm wetsuit neoprene so they will not scuff other vessels.
Now pretty much ready for a run on the pond.
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Looks a fine example of the pusher breed! :-))
Looking forward to the launch 8)
Ned
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Cheers Ned.
Simon
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I used lead flashing on my Springer cut in to 3"x 1" strips in a pile each side, I use a couple of spots of pva glue between the strips this holds them firm but can be removed if needed ...
That's exactly what I did for #1 Springer, but I was up against a lack of space with #2 on account of a different battery layout.
What I needed was lead ingots. I had the lead flashing offcuts, the camping gas stove and the blowlamp to heat it up in an old pan with, but I couldn't for the life of me think of anything at all to use as a mould.
Then I found an old brick in which the frog was formed in two halves. Couple of hours on top of the woodburner to make sure it was bone dry, and Bob's yer mother's brother. Nice rectangular chunks of lead about 10mm thick, each weighing 400gm :-)
Btw, have you seen how far the price of lead has dropped in the last few years? Definitely not worth climbing about on church roofs now ...
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For my springer I put some clingfilm right in the bottom of the hull and poured plaster of paris in. When it was set took it out and pressed that into a sand mold and cast a lead block from the snips of lead that I used to trim the boat in the test tank with 10% added to account for the dross. It fits perfectly and I trimmed the weight by drilling a few holes to get the right waterline.
Trevor
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Definitely not worth climbing about on church roofs now ...
Now you tell me, Norman! %)
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Now you tell me, Norman! %)
What, you don't collect and accept all offers of lead and other useful stuff like an OCD collectoholic for years? Crikey, that is disciplne :}
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%) No. I defy anyone to move my lead-bin!!! (Unless by removing most of the contents!)
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Good show :-))
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looking good Simon, she should do the job nicely, Now for No 2, WHAT? you haven't started it yet. %% {-)
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It's in the planning stage Joe, a true scratch build this time.
I'm thinking SLA battery, big motor and prop and rudder rather than Kort.
Simon.
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A successful maiden voyage at Wicksteed this morning.
It was a tad breezy and cold though.
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Yes 12volt SLA batteries are great for Springer's they run for hours, I went for two smaller 12 volt batteries wired in parallel they fit nicely each side of the motor against the hull sides makes for low Centre of gravity and very stable, still needed ballast though. Will follow your log Simon. :-)) glad the first wetting went well, what a brave chap you are it was freezing here this morning. %%
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Thanks Joe, I did take Trueblue but the wind was a bit heavy so I didn't bother.
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That's one of the things I liked about that boat she sails well in a light breeze so you can sit there all relaxed on a nice spring day, similar to my Victoria but Trueblue is a bit faster.
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I have fitted a larger main battery and increased voltage to 12volt. This should supply a little more grunt.
I will take some lead with me as I may need a little more in the stern to prevent the nose dive.
Simon