Model Boat Mayhem
Mess Deck: General Section => Model Boating => Topic started by: Bob K on September 26, 2018, 04:53:55 pm
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I have a silly request. Can anyone recommend a small two channel model boat, capable of being protectively boxed inside a suitcase otherwise filled with other stuff like clothes. Weird? Yes. But there is a reason.
My wife and I will be going somewhere mega exotic in a few weeks, meaning I will miss four sailing sessions.
To prevent withdrawal symptoms this must be very small (especially the transmitter - preferably micro-copter size). Must be suitable for salt water use near fine coral sand and 32'C operation.
No, my Agincourt would be well beyond the baggage allowance.
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Check for frequency allocations
in the Exotic Area.
They do tend to differ in some places.
Ned
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Your radio equipment will be your problem, even batteries will raise eyebrows at some security desks. Where are you bound in the world , if I may ask ? Are you flying ? Mega probs at certain/most airports. :police: Red Oktober travelled "bare" i.e. none of the afore- mentioned bits and had livery that was not popular in some countries. Cabin luggage better as easier to play the village idiot :o with toy boat to sour faced numpty at border control, even UK border coming back ! <*< Red O flew in rucksack in carry-on passenger cabin status when not posted or freighted.
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How about this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Speed-Ship-Volvo-Rowing-Model-4CH-2-4G-2-4V-High-Powered-RC-Boat-PVC3XJ/183453676559?hash=item2ab6b0f40f:g:OjkAAOSwIDJbqmgv
Barrie
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Is the destination remote, as well as exotic? Just wondering whether you could buy out there, or visit a model boat club if one existed?
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I have a silly request. Can anyone recommend a small two channel model boat, capable of being protectively boxed inside a suitcase otherwise filled with other stuff like clothes. Weird? Yes. But there is a reason.
My wife and I will be going somewhere mega exotic in a few weeks, meaning I will miss four sailing sessions.
To prevent withdrawal symptoms this must be very small (especially the transmitter - preferably micro-copter size). Must be suitable for salt water use near fine coral sand and 32'C operation.
No, my Agincourt would be well beyond the baggage allowance.
how about a nice little aerokits Sea Nymph.....easy to build http://lesromodels.co.uk/product/aerokits-sea-nymph/ (http://lesromodels.co.uk/product/aerokits-sea-nymph/) think they are about 18" long maximum.
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Barrie: Now that is neat. Very tiny, it works, and at just over a Tenner no problem if Customs throw it out.
A tiny atoll in the Indian Ocean, many miles from anywhere, so limited transmitter range an advantage.
Yes, we will be flying, including a 40 minute seaplane leg. Think Robinson Crusoe, but on Champagne.
I've seen plenty of videos taken by people with drones there, so such things can be done.
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Took my Springer tug as carry on, 9" x 12.75" x 20.75" (229mm w x 324mm h x 527mm L)
The 6v gel cells were in the box under the stern, wrapped in zip lock bags.
The transmitter was also in the box with no batteries.
The funny thing is, the boat passed Xray, but my bottle of water, and bottle of cola were confiscated.
The transmitter was a compact heli 2.4ghz, and had limited range.
:o
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i would worry about anything RTR working effectively for very long in salt water. why not just enjoy the scenery, instead of trying to change the scenery to what you want to see?
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What would make life easier is a boat you can control from your phone, that way you don't need to take a separate transmitter.
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What would make life easier is a boat you can control from your phone, that way you don't need to take a separate transmitter.
That sounds interesting. Can this be done, and if so how?
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That sounds interesting. Can this be done, and if so how?
I've seen App controlled RC cars and Drones so boats must be possible. I think you replace the receiver with a Wi-Fi circuit.
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What would make life easier is a boat you can control from your phone, that way you don't need to take a separate transmitter.
hobbyking used to sell a 4 channel receiver that showed up as a wifi hotspot for an android or ios device. you could then download "car" or "plane" apps to run the servos connected to the receiver...
I bought one and tested it in a boat. very first time out on the lake, halfway across the lake, it lost connection... only had about 150 foot range. that is when i found out the receiver did not offer any type of failsafe.
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Well this sounds possible, although a technical challenge.
I love challenges. It would be nice to achieve within the available timespan
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one thing that might have escaped you all...
...are sealed batteries allowed on airplanes...
.long time since I flew on one...
.1984 to be exact %% {:-{
could do with a nice long haul flight to some sun...
.Bondi beach at new year, perhaps
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could do with a nice long haul flight to some sun...
.Bondi beach at new year, perhaps
Go for it Neil. It has been almost ten years since my wife and I have had a holiday.
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Well this sounds possible, although a technical challenge.
I love challenges. It would be nice to achieve within the available timespan
modern electronics like an esp32 would be able to appear to your phone as a hotspot, and decode the info to run a few servos... but you would need to be able to write your own app for the android or ios device to feed the right data to the esp32
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How about a folding drone fitted with inflatable floats? no need for rc if they run on gps mode, very compact and a nice new toy for when you get back :-)
Of course you might be taken for a spy and shot :(( [size=78%] [/size]
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Why not just leave the boats at home and spend some valuable time with the better half? Or am I just being an old romantic %%
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My lovely Commander in Chief Home Forces has become used to my sailing boats on Thursdays and Sundays, so why disturb the equilibrium of her expectations? I am going to sail something, even if it is just an Origami paper boat with a plastic straw filled with Bicarb tablets for propulsion. Solar cells could replace batteries (there is a LOT of sun there.) Would NASA have gone all the way to the Moon without planning an EVA? No.
I am now thinking a lightweight pre-fab balsa Springer of about 200 mm. Glue together on site. Micro 1.5V motor, solar cells. Just need to figure out steering. Perhaps a vane system like early yachts. Before return dump balsa bits and just bring home the electrics. The Indian Ocean looks an idyllic boating lake.
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%)
152mm, AA battery x4, micro servo, 10a Esc
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I'm amazed! If I took my Wife on holiday to the Indian Ocean and insistd on taking a radio controlled toy along it would be legitimate grounds for divorce!
My Wife is very tolerant of my hobby but, not unreasonably, expects me to practise it in moderation which I think is only fair. On holiday means on holiday!
Colin
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Why not a small vane yacht Bob and forget the propulsion bit.Years ago there was a freeby plan in MB for one about 12" long which sailed beautifully with the gear essentially being just 2 cogs as the pic.
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Have been toying with a 3d printed mircospringer project as any conventional model-building is taking fifth place to work, travelling for work, DIY, gardening,.....
Still in the design stage - but hopefully the prototype is ready for next year. (hull / superstructure needs to go on a diet at the moment)
Just watch customs, security and any airline you are travelling on if you do take a RC boat with you. (Even in the UK I have had a 1 day work trip on a plane extended to five days by roads and ferries because the airline refused to carry some equipment).
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I'd go for a tear into or Graupner jet sprint, tiny and bags of fun!
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Thanks all for ideas so far, but I need something which will not get chucked out by Customs, hence going for solar cells rather than a battery. I have been trawling the 'Net looking for a micro sized TX and controls.
No luck so far. If push comes to shove it may have to be a solar straight-runner, with an on/off switch rather than ESC & Rx.
I will pop into Mantua Models tomorrow for some ideas. Vert small and simple is the key,
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Why not just enjoy the holiday Bob?
Surely you can manage without a model boating fix for a week or so. And no issues with security screening finding unusual electronics in your baggage with all the grief that might bring.
Colin
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Colin,
With respect, you are missing the point. Since I retired I have less reason for leaving the house. I took up building boats as a means to employ my creativity and to occupy much of my new-found free time. My wife still works full time, thus sailing boats has became a key motivation for getting me out into the fresh air and making new friends.
Not having been able to have a holiday in almost ten years, it has been that apart from things like shopping and social events the only times I actually get out of the house is for my twice weekly sailing sessions. Venturing out has thus become synonymous with sunshine, water and small ships. Thinking of a holiday with sunshine and a vast expanse of calm blue water the only missing ingredient appears to be a tall ship and a star to sail her by.
Therefore a simple ship, capable of air transport, would assist an even deeper feeling of relaxation and contentment.
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My big solar panel arrived today, but unfortunately did not have enough power to turn a tiny 3V motor.
I am running out of options, and time. Any traditional Tx with electronics and a load of batteries will not get past Customs / security.
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Correct me if I am wrong but only cabin luggage gets checked/X rayed/scanned. If you can put batteries in your main suitcase which goes straight onto the plane.
Saying that, when I go abroad my hand luggage is my camera case, 2 x SLR's, 6 lenses, several batteries and several chargers along with an assortment of AA, AAA, C and D cell batteries, never been stopped or asked questions once.
Worth a phone call to either the airport your flying from or the airline you are flying with.
It's not as though you are the 'stereotypical terrorist' ?
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Hold baggage most certainly gets scanned! Plenty of info online. You are recommended to put all your electronics and electrical items into your hand baggage as these can be checked in more detail when you go through security when you are present whereas any suspicious items that cannot be easiy identified in your hold luggage may well result in your case being opened before it is allowed on the plane, forcibly if it is padlocked. If you are flying to the USA you must either leave your case unlocked or use approved locks to which the US authorities have master keys.
Putting any sort of radio or electronic gear in your hold luggage is rather tempting fate! Plus, the way the handlers sling the cases around it could easily be damaged. Also, I believe that the machines which scan the hold luggage are a lot more powerful than those that scan hand luggage so damage can result that way too. You may remember being told years ago not to put undeveloped film into hold luggage as it would most likely be fogged.
As far as looking like a terrorist is concerned, checks are also made on a random basis which is very irritating when, as an obvious pensioner, you are asked to remove your shoes and undergo a full body scan which has happened to me on more than one occasion.
Airports do have different procedures as to when you go through security. At Singapore it is when you go through to the gate. At Cairo last year we were checked three times before boarding the plane which was probably quite reassuring as they did it very thoroughly.
In answer to Bob's query, you may be able to get a TX/RX and batteries through security but be prepared for a lot of intense questioning and at worse for the gear to be confiscated. Definitely worth checking with the airline and airport on that one!
Colin
PS: Google 'radio control toys in luggage' - lots of conflicting advice depending on airline etc. especially regarding batteries so definitely best to check!
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You are of course correct Colin. That is what makes this doubly challenging, and hence solar power was my first option. Both boat and Tx need to be very small. As a back-up I have ordered a micro boat 3 inches long, with an equally tiny TX. 4 x AAA batteries to be stored separately for transit.
If I have time I will try to construct a plank on frame Dhoni boat (typical in the region) into which I can adapt the electrics.
Packed in a wood case, materials neutral to X-rays, apart from tiny motor & propshaft.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/General/i-FvqqSgj/0/67be58f8/M/Dhoni-M.jpg) (https://bobkiralfy.smugmug.com/General/i-FvqqSgj/A)
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That's a nice boat Bob - Maldives is it then?
Colin
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That's a nice boat Bob - Maldives is it then?
Colin
Ooops, that was a give away. Maybe I'll be the first member of the MMBC ?
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Certainly the place to relax by all accounts.
Colin
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Maybe with the location itll be an opportunity to play with real boats for a change....
But I do agree with Colin, stick it in your hand luggage if possible - I wouldnt trust luggage handlers with anything fragile and being able to explain its inclusion is better than it being flagged up later on.
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Well, here is the backup Micro Boat. Less than three inches long. Twin motors / props.
Transmitter also very small. Takes 4 x AAA batteries. Boat charges from Tx.
Batteries and removable aerial to be transported separately.
At less than a Tenner it's not a disaster if airport security confiscates it.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/General/i-XSRPg2G/0/5865dcdc/M/micro-boat-M.jpg) (https://bobkiralfy.smugmug.com/General/i-XSRPg2G/A)
I have really tried to find a hull that I can adapt to be a Dhoni, but searching Mantua & Amati nothing remotely similar. Googled other sources but no luck. With little time remaining I may have to just take the Micro Boat and build the plank on frame Dhoni after I get back. I will have plenty of opportunity to research Dhoni boats whilst out there.
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The tiny RC boat has just returned from its Indian Ocean mini-cruise. Nor quite what I had aimed for, but it performed its task well.
Now I am switching to a new topic thread for my next project, inspired by boats we sailed on whilst there.
A Dhoni. Totally unique in style and character.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/General/i-FvqqSgj/0/67be58f8/M/Dhoni-M.jpg) (https://bobkiralfy.smugmug.com/General/i-FvqqSgj/A)
The hull shape and rudder system is so unusual that this will have to be a scratch build plank on frame. I am searching for plans, but so far no success. Watch for progress on new topic "Dhoni".
The rudder mountings are made from cord lacings, and the tiller bar is foot operated.
I am aiming for a half meter length. approx. 1:33 scale
Wish me luck O0
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Good luck indeed, very interesting, the prow is reminiscent of a Viking ship, the saloon of an Edwardian steam launch and the stern of KonTiki, should be fun :-))
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Yeh, but was it a good hols? :-))
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Brilliant Tony. Thank you. A tiny island called Kanifushi. The only amenity lacking was model boating.