Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Pleasure boats, Sports, Race, Power and Leisure Boats: => Topic started by: Andy M on March 22, 2021, 05:03:40 pm
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While waiting for varnish and paint drying on a couple of other projects, I found this plan and article online.
I decided to build it at 20 inches as I figured I could skin it with my recycled balsa removed from a pair of foam wings. I had used some of it on my Starlet yacht but still had a fair bit left.
The design is nearly 47 years old and was in a Czech magazine. I liked the lines of it but didnt have the materials to build it exactly following the plan's. I modified the required parts and started building....
As I looked at the screenshot of the plan page prior to writing this, I noticed the dimensions for the first time, 50cm long, and thats exactly what mine has turned out at, even though I had resized the plan to give me the size I wanted.
I went for 1/16 ply cabin sides for 2 reasons, sharp looking window cutouts that you dont seem to get with balsa, and also the fact I didnt have 2 bits of balsa big enough. By doing it this way, it leaves more of my recycled 1/16 balsa wing skins to (hopefully) do the 2 bits of cabin roof.
I used 1/8 liteply for bulkheads, all from my scraps box, a 1/4 balsa keel made up of 3 smaller pieces to get the shape. 1/16 fairly hard balsa skins and 3/16 x 1/4 balsa chines and inwales. A small selection of balsa scraps completed the hull. And a very nice shape it is too. I have the propshaft but no rudder yet.
The propshaft and rudder holes were filed into the sheeting after one half was glued on, then finished off once the other half of the bottom sheeting was fitted. Gives a very nice finish. I have found several nice plan on the website, all free, but in Czeckeslovakian.... Not a problem, you can always get it translated if you really need to, I didnt bother, I just needed the lines. 😁
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The cabin so far. Still got a lot to do.
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A nice looking vessel there.
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Thanks, it is really starting to take shape now. A few hours more work on the cabin has it looking a bit better, I have used 1/16 ply for the rest of the bits that have windows, its pretty tough to sand, but takes a nice edge. I have still to go round tidying the window edges with a selection of files.
I am very pleased with how the recycled balsa turned out. The inside isnt quite so nice looking though, due to copydex glue and slivers of blue foam. Not really a problem but its a bit untidy looking.
The rear section of roof still has to be finished off, not sure whether I will leave it overhanging at front and sides, or sand it flush. The copydex glue is bobbly on the underside of the roof and hard to get off unless I sand it flush like the front cabin roof.
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Here is the plan if anyone fancies building one
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I have the full pdf file if anyone wants the full article and plan. Just remember its in Czeckeslovakian....
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In my last post about my micro Starlet, I mentioned that I have several other boats I can work on, here they are, in various stages of construction, left to right they are Edita, Suzie Q, another own design hull, (sheeted with my recycled 'wing' balsa) and micro Starlet. They are all sitting on my four ways cargo ship. I like building hulls... what else can I say. 😁
The Suzie Q has sat longest, I have lost the propshaft in my shed somewhere and dont want to cut down a longer shaft until I am sure I cant find the correct one. The own design hull had been sitting for a few years waiting for suitable skinning to come along. The recycled wing balsa has been enough to skin it and the Starlet and Edita, so I did pretty well out of it. I may even manage a ships boat for the cargo ship. There isnt very much of it left though. Might not happen.
Edita will get a session of window filing then I will need to think about what I can use for the 'well'? behind the cabin. I really want to have this feature but I dont have any sheeting left that is big enough to manage this, it may well end up with a frame and small strips of balsa planking.
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After another search of my attic, I found the 1/8 fuselage sides, 1/16 covered ailerons and fixed trailing edge parts of my blue foam flying wing. Of no use now, as I have used the actual wing's skins, a bit more work with my scraper has given me enough 1/16 balsa to do the well bit of my cockpit area. I managed to nick my finger with the scraper but noticed it after I spotted a drop of blood on one bit of balsa, a poor man's plaster from masking tape and kitchen roll kept any more blood off me precious balsa. 😁 I will need to join 2 or 3 bits for the larger pieces but its now possible to complete my cockpit area.
I am now looking at the nice wings and airfames I made years ago but couldnt afford to cover with solarfilm. Being all balsa construction, I dont think they will come apart quite as 'easily'? as the foam wings did.
The obvious option would be to sell them and buy some balsa, but they are pretty big for posting.
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Efficient recycling in progress!
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Definately! It means I can build boats when I didnt think I actually had any materials to use.😁
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That is a good bit of recycling Andy - nice work!
The Edita design is nice. I am restoring another old broken boat (Rapier 2) and in my attempt to make it look a little different to my Rapier1, I have made an extension to the top of the cab back that gives it a very similar profile look to your Edita cab.
The lack of progress on your Suzie Q makes me feel a lot better - mine has been neglected for a few years now......come to think about it - my Remora is not doing too much better either!
If you find your missing prop shaft - why not add your build to the Suzie Q thread that I started some time ago ? It would give something to read about - it could be some time before I have anything interesting to add to it :((
I am looking forward to seeing the progress on your Edita build - there are not too many of them afloat in the UK
Stay safe,
Bob.
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Hi Bob, the Suzie Q isnt that far from being finished, apart from finding the propshaft. And fitting radio gear of course. My other Vic Smeed design, Rorqual, was tried the other night but was underpowered and I also had radio issues. It will get tried again once I sort out the 2 problems.
The balsa recycling has turned out well, the blue foam cored wings were far too heavy compared to my recent Depron planes anyway.
I still have a few balsa airframes that probably wont get used, I really should sell them.
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Here is the remainder of the 1/16 balsa skins I harvested from my foam wings. I have already managed to do the skinning on 3 boats from it, I just wondered if I could manage to get another one out of it? 😁
My wife offered to buy me some balsa, after seeing my blood soaked man plaster, but to be honest, I really like the fact I have made boats from something I was never going to use again.
Pristine balsa would obviously be nice, being able to just cut a part out and glue it on, rather than having to join several bits to make a 6 inch by 4 inch roof. I like the challenge of it though, and it is recycling stuff that normally wouldnt get used.
Some of my best projects started when I was given stuff that was destined for landfill, my Vic Smeed Vivacity build started when I was given a motorised golf trolley by a friend, it had one sheared off bolt in the motor and his Dad was upgrading to something he could ride on instead anyway. I used the motor, speed control and batteries from it and ended up with a very nice boat. I also used a hairdrier motor (also destined for landfill) for cooling the speed controller, but it never actually needed it as the big golf trolley motor was never under any load, it drew 8 amps whether the boat was in the water or not.
I guess its down to personal preference, I built 4 'full size' man carrying boats, all under 8 feet long, and rebuilt 2 outboards from engines that were actually already in the skip. The total cost of 4 boats and the outboard rebuilds, including some new parts I had to buy for them, was around £2000, which is around what a forum member on here is planning on spending on having his (admittedly very nice) 10 grand model boat painted.
Each to his own, but I would rather have the enjoyment of building something myself and be riding about in it at the end for that amount of money.
I had a guy started asking me questions about one of my boats once, he had just got off his 250 hp Kawasaki pwc/ big jetski? He asked loads of questions and I was very proud to answer them. He asked how many gallons an hour it used, I said about 1 gallon an hour, he said he had used twice that amount coming from Balloch, about 7 or 8 miles away.
My boat was nowhere near as fast, but I had built it myself and the feeling that gives is worth much more to me than doing 70mph.
I enjoy building things, if I can do it cheaper, then I can make more 'things', whether it is a boat from a golf trolley, a motorbike from a generator or a lamp base from a piece of oak for the wife.
I have just bought things ready to go in the past, but I seem to get more enjoyment from building things.
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Hi Andy,
I also like to rescue and recycle and get more pleasure from restoring a "skip-find" than I do from making a new build - but your reclaimed ex-model aircraft wing skinning balsa takes reclaiming to another level - well done!
Saving something that was going to be thrown away and turning it into something that can be used and enjoyed every week always gives me the most pleasure.
My last completed rescue was an original LesRo Rapier that has become my "go-to" model boat and is the one that has the current Mayhem thread, and this model is used to test all kinds of things from motors and ESC to propellers - for use in other models that I am working on, so it really does get some good hours of use.....covid restrictions permitting!
I have seen your large ride-on (ride-in) models - I have never attempted anything like that - but one day I would like to find a Vivacity that needs a good home or rescuing as that is a model that I fancied since the 1960's when I first became aware of it but apprenticeship wages and being away from home conspired to make that a non-event.
Lets hope you find that missing prop shaft and that your Suzie Q makes the Mayhem thread of the same name sometime soon when it is back on the production line :-))
Bob.
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Hi Bob, I eventually found the propshaft for my Suzie Q, its a bit thin for attaching to a brushless motor though, pretty sure these propshafts are for low powered motors. As its a bit late for changing to a thicker propshaft, I will probably have to just accept that it will be a slower boat. I have a few other faster boats anyway, so not really a problem.
Next time I am able to afford more modelling supplies, I will probably invest in a couple of decent propshaft assemblies.
I am not that bothered about some of my boats being more sedate, I usually use them in quite a small river anyway, so faster boats are more likely to get stuck in the opposite bank. I have found this out the hard way, off with the shoes and socks and into the freezing water for a rescue mission before it gets dislodged and floats off downstream.
I am wary now of adding stuff to other peoples threads, to avoid hijacking them. I will post updates on your thread if you are ok with that.
The Suzie Q will definately not be as fast as the one shown on youtube, which I think is a bit fast anyway.
I tested my brushless motors and speed controllers, they work fine.... it turned out I had tested them on the super glitchy radio gear I had in the Rorqual. All sorted. I had originally purchased the pair of motors and esc's to go in my Atlantic yacht, but changed my mind when I had the stuttering motor problem. They might go in it after all.
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Thats a recycled battery pack as well, from an ebike pack that was being dumped because its battery manager had failed and stopped the voltage getting through. The individual cells all seem to be ok though
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Hi Bob, I eventually found the propshaft for my Suzie Q, its a bit thin for attaching to a brushless motor though, pretty sure these propshafts are for low powered motors. As its a bit late for changing to a thicker propshaft, I will probably have to just accept that it will be a slower boat. I have a few other faster boats anyway, so not really a problem.
Next time I am able to afford more modelling supplies, I will probably invest in a couple of decent propshaft assemblies.
I am not that bothered about some of my boats being more sedate, I usually use them in quite a small river anyway, so faster boats are more likely to get stuck in the opposite bank. I have found this out the hard way, off with the shoes and socks and into the freezing water for a rescue mission before it gets dislodged and floats off downstream.
I am wary now of adding stuff to other peoples threads, to avoid hijacking them. I will post updates on your thread if you are ok with that.
The Suzie Q will definately not be as fast as the one shown on youtube, which I think is a bit fast anyway.
I tested my brushless motors and speed controllers, they work fine.... it turned out I had tested them on the super glitchy radio gear I had in the Rorqual. All sorted. I had originally purchased the pair of motors and esc's to go in my Atlantic yacht, but changed my mind when I had the stuttering motor problem. They might go in it after all.
Hi Andy,
You would be more than welcome to add anything Suzie Q related to the thread of the same name.
I would consider it a big favour as my own lamentable lack of progress after starting the thread is frankly getting a little bit embarrassing!
The thread is about Suzie Q, and anything that anyone can contribute to it can only be good and add interest to the thread.
Stay safe,
Bob.
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No problem, I will add to it once I get it back on track.
I built my Giant Starlet right after I built the Vivacity, I had figured that a boat not much bigger than Vivacity would allow me to get in it. The big Starlet is about 2.75 times bigger than Vic's original 34 inch yacht. I just had to draw it out on bigger paper! Then modify the bulkheads so my legs could fit down either side of the keel socket. All built in my attic apart from lead half bulbs which were cast in sand in my friend's garden.
Next up was my Viper speedboat, based on a Lesro Javelin. Seats 2 comfortably at 46 inches wide by 88 inches long, smaller than some of the models I have seen on here.
A man carrying Vivacity would be very nice, you should give it a go. The original model is 54 inches by 17. My Starlet is only twice that width and I fit in that comfortably. A 9ft Vivacity would carry you with no problems, or go up to 13 1/2 feet by 51 inches for a really roomy version?
I really enjoyed building my larger boats, and I didnt have to fork out for radio gear! 😁
Give it a go!
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Edita gets a rudder, made from 2 sections of a transmitter aerial, a bit of brass sheet and a wheel collet drilled out to suit. Still to make up a tiller arm and solder it on to the collet. I have been wondering for a while what I was going to use for a rudder but this solves the problem nicely. I will glue the rudder tube into the hull tomorrow once I have given the hull a final sanding ready for painting. I am in 2 minds whether to wait till I get a sturdier propshaft assembly or just go with what I have already. Once I glue it in, there is no going back. The propshaft would probably/possibly? cope with a brushless motor, but if it doesnt.......
I can work away on the cabin while I decide, or test one of my brushless motors in the Rorqual as it has the same propshaft assembly.
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I decided my other brushless motor setup is going in Edita, so that I could set the propshaft up in its final position and glue it in place, this means I can start painting the hull anytime. Just need to decide what colour(s) to paint it. I also fancy sticking spray rails on it too, I wasnt going to bother, but I think it may be fast enough to need them now the brushless is going in it. The motor mount plate I made is 1/8 liteply, plenty strong enough. The motor is still easily accessed for swapping between models. Things are so much easier with electric... no more castor oil to deal with.
It will be a while before I can test it in water, so I may use the motor in another model until then. Looks good so far, need to get more done on the cabin.
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I decided to fit spray rails, 1/8 square spruce for dingability. I glued the front ends of them on first and let them set, then using superglue gel on the rest of one and stuck it down, breaking the other one as I did so! Luckily when it snapped, it popped the front glued bit off as well, without damaging the balsa hull, very lucky, so I made up a new one and repeated the process......
After the front end had set, I applied gel to the rest and started to glue it down, it snapped near the front again, this time the front section wouldnt come off to allow a 3rd try, so I filled the break with superglue, clamped it down then stuck the rest of the spray rail in position.
Once this had set for about an hour, I had a check to make sure it wasnt going to ping apart then sanded the join, not very noticeable considering it was totally snapped off.
Next job was a final sand, then a coat of white paint on the whole hull, leaving the deck bare balsa as I might just varnish the deck, it looks reasonable, not to many glue marks visible, if I dont like it I can always paint over it.
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Looking good Andy! :-))
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Thanks, it is a nicely shaped boat, main reason I picked it, instead of just going for another Vic Smeed design. The spray rails were a bit of a challenge but worked out ok eventually. My bath test of the Rorqual later will tell me if Edita will need to run on 7.4v instead of the 11.1v the Rorqual and Suzie Q are getting.
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Might need to run Edita, Suzie Q and Rorqual on 2s, 3s pack was quite wild.....
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I soldered a brass machine screw into the tx aerial ruddershaft to stop it crushing the tube, the screw head was ground off flush with the end.
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Not a huge amount done today, another coat of white on the hull, it soaks in a lot because it is balsa. Ply soaks it up less.
Also did a bit of filing on the windows, my spiralux saw cuts very accurately, but a little tidying is required due to pilot error😁
I also completed the rear bit of the cabin shown, no idea what it is called, but it stiffens up the cabin a good bit.
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I also completed the rear bit of the cabin shown, no idea what it is called, but it stiffens up the cabin a good bit.
Hmm, how about 'stretcher'?
Ray.
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Hi Ray, it could be, I dont think I have come across any mention of what it is on any plans I have seen. I will check the Edita plan and see if it gives the Czech name of it.
I am happy with how it is coming on, its a nice looking shape, not sure how it will perform as a planing hull, with the brushless motor, the hull curves up significantly at the stern. Will give it a go though, I can always fit a 380 brushed motor or even my geared quadcopter motor that I tried in Rorqual, it would be fine for cruising about, I needed extra speed for Rorqual though.
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I had a look at the plan, the correct name is..... number 32. Lol
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I had a look at the plan, the correct name is..... number 32. Lol
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... love it :}
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This is a boat I would like to build a man sized version of, but it would have to be pretty big, enough to at least allow me to fit in the forward cabin for a cuppa. 😁
That means it would probably need to be about 4 feet from keel to forward cabin roof level. A fair bit bigger than what I have tackled so far, but within most people's ability, if you can build a model, you can build a full size one.
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I have been wondering why Edita is called a motor yacht, when it doesnt have any sails?
I did sit my tiny Starlet mast and sail above the front cabin to see how it looked, rather nice actually, but not having a weighted keel, it would just keel over in a wind.
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Hi Andy, the "gentlemans yacht" would have had sails 100 years back but gradually the move was made to just an engine (or two) as they needed less crew to operate them.
Gentlemen then wore the peaked caps and crew wore the "Rupert the Bear" ones. And Hey, having an engine was just like driving his car so he could dress up in Blazer and flannels and emulate the upper classes with no sign of sweaty armpits from pulling up sails.
As an aside have you ever wondered why there used to be so many model yachting ponds? At the turn of the 1900's with the king interested in sailing and his German cousin very much in competition with him, the middle classes tried to copy and so the various classes of model yachts was started. This was so they could have races with the afore mentioned "gentleman" dressed as desribed.
They would have a Commodore of the club and various Officers etc. These chaps would each have a "little man" who was paid to make the model yacht and sail her gaining a financial bonus for winning but the "Cup" going to the owner.
If you carefully peruse the old photos you will see what I mean, however after the depression of 1926 29 the money vanished from the sport but the little men continued proving that a public school education in the Classics does not equate to a meal ticket. WW2 brought much more equality and so the many skills learned before and after the conflict gave rise to much of the modelling we see today.
It is a shame these skills are now dwindling so more power to the elbow Andy!
best regards
Roy
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Hi ignore Rupert the bear, should have been Christopher Robin.
Roy
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Rupert Bear wore a more colourful jacket and trousers outfit (if I remember correctly) O0
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Hi Zooma I learned to read with Rupert T B in the Daily Express. Then Beano and Dandy. We as an age group were largely ignored until the Puffin books came along I used to get a new one every week from my dad.
Roy
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Those were the days Roy!
I used to get a Rupert T B Annual every Christmas when I was younger and I had a Beano comic every week for more years than I feel comfortable admitting to......but it all came to an end sometime in my junior school days.....sadly Biffo and Rupert had to carry on without my support sometime in the late 50's........
Stay safe,
Bob.
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After flipping my Rorqual, I have realised these motors are too much for the size range of boats I have, I have still to try them on 7.4v instead of 11.1v but they may still be too much. Edita may get a 380 brushed motor. I dont think it was intended for high speed planing anyway. It should still be fairly brisk on a 380 and 7.4v lipo, its a very light boat.
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Two coats of matt white, ready for a sand and a couple of gloss white topcoat. I have the radio all fitted. Hitec Hs80 mini servo, wltoys v262 motor and gearbox. I tried it in the Rorqual, not enough for Rorqual (speedy looking boat) , but it might be ok for sedate cruising with Edita
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Edita has been launched. I am quite happy with how fast it goes,not tearing about, but not slow. The quadcopter's tiny motor and gearbox are a bit loud though. I could add a brushless but I wouldnt be wanting it much faster, just quieter.
Its a nice looking little boat, steers very well. Cabin is matt white just now, I was going to paint it gloss white to match the hull.
I used 27mhz radio, it is still terrible, getting my 2.4ghz in it for next outing.
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Short video here
https://youtu.be/k7ysXvy8HhY
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Looks great and speed looks realistic not excessive. Like the lines of this one. See what you mean about the sound level!
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Edita has been launched. I am quite happy with how fast it goes,not tearing about, but not slow. The quadcopter's tiny motor and gearbox are a bit loud though. I could add a brushless but I wouldnt be wanting it much faster, just quieter.
Its a nice looking little boat, steers very well. Cabin is matt white just now, I was going to paint it gloss white to match the hull.
I used 27mhz radio, it is still terrible, getting my 2.4ghz in it for next outing.
That is just the right size of boat for that lovely little stretch of water - perfect!
The quadcopter motor is a bit noisy though - maybe something like an inexpensive 380 turning a bigger prop more slowly would work as well but make no noise?
Nice work - well done - Edita is a nice little model.
Enjoy your weekend Andy.
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Thanks guys, I think I should keep the quadcopter motors for the quadcopters. I like the speed, I think that suits it perfectly. I know I could make it ballistic with the brushless, but I intended it to be a cruiser, not a speedboat.
Still have windows to fit etc, but really dont forsee any water getting in the windows unless its raining.
I quite like the kind of creamy look of the matt white cabin, the hull is whiter than white.
Takes me ages to think of good colour scheme I am happy with.
Glad I have had a sail with it, I will use 2.4ghz next time so I can venture a bit further away without glitches. I will leave the quad motor unit in there just now, I can put up with a bit of noise, I used to use a Merco 61 for my boats.... With a straight through pipe. That was real noise! I will change to a quieter motor setup soon.
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She looks good on the water Andy and the speed suits it too.
The only thing that you could rectify at some point is the noise, otherwise, very nice.
Will
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Easiest fix would be earplugs. Lol.
I had it out again earlier, this time with 2.4ghz radio. Much better, I was able to motor about without any glitches.
It was starting to get dark and I thought that
I should fit some cabin lighting and maybe a spotlight
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Not paid this little model much attention recently, still a fair bit to do, if I want to, no rush, just plodding away at it when I get the urge.
I did 3d print a nice little outboard for it, I will need to make up a bracket to attach it to the transom.
Would the outboard be fitted on the centreline if it was a spare/emergency engine.?
The prop is mounted loose enough to hopefully spin in the water it as it goes along
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Most aux outboards I've seen
are on the Starboard side of the
Transom. Never behind the main
drive.
Ned
An afterthought, it's easier if it's to Starboard
if you are right handed.
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I did think that, although I am sure I have seen some on the port side of yachts? Might just be my imagination.
The reason I was thinking of the centreline was mainly for symmetry, and to put the freewheeling outboard prop right in the actual propwash. In reality it would be lifted out of the water anyway unless it was being used?
It could, of course, be an outboard powered cruiser, that would be a good reason for sitting it on the centreline. If it looked too little for a boat that size.... Just print another one, or two?
No rush to decide on anything finally. Thats what I love about my projects, I have a few on the go at once and can pick which one I want to work on depending on how I feel or material availability.
I will print another outboard and see how Edita looks with one on it, then with a pair fitted.
If I end up going for just one, the other one can always be used on something else, maybe on a tender for my Sea Rover. I might just print a batch of them. 😁
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After trying this little boat with a very small but very noisy quadcopter motor and gearbox, I set it aside till I found a good motor for it in my collection. The boat performed quite well with that setup, but the motor wasnt up to the job. I had also broken the prop during storage. These only come with a propshaft so I have taken one off another propshaft. I could 3d print one, but these have a smoother surface. And quite thin blades.
Anyway, I have now made up a simple stand to stop this happening again.
I found a 380 size motor and fitted it using home made coupling. It works well and was free, love it😁
I also made up a cover for the open well area to prevent any splashes reaching the radio. As I havent fitted the windows yet, the cover wasnt really essential but painted matt black it looks better than seeing the wiring etc.
I also added a few cleats and a towing loop, to tow my new 3d printed tender, a nicely shaped little craft that turns out to be very good under tow, not a drop of water on board after looking like it was sure to be swamped in the wake.
Oars are kebab stick and 1/64 ply.
Edita is an enjoyable little boat, bearing in mind that all the wood was recycled (peeled off carefully) from an aircraft wing, so very cheap build. The motor was from my collection of dead power tool motors. People give me stuff when the batteries die. 😁
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The tender and oars
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Not been on here in a while, thought I would post progress on some of my projects, and some new ones.
I did a bit more on Edita, fitted windows and added some colour to my plain white vessel. A few 3d printed cleats too.
Had a nice cruise on the river during the hot weather.
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Hi Andy
Very nice model and looks great on the water.
Harry
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Thanks, I like this little model, it fits in my rucksack for transport on my bike.
Considering it started out as a recycled wing skin, it turned out nicely. I am tempted to do a slightly larger version, I will add it to my projects list......