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Author Topic: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)  (Read 12931 times)

Weeds

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Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« on: August 24, 2008, 02:06:49 am »

Charles River, Massachusetts (Boston, MA) - Dickie Tugboat / Seaport Workboat

 Build Log with Links, Pictures and Video



$17 Motor (runs cool) http://www.vac-u-boat.com/Motor545.htm
$3 Coastal / 14 oz. Premium Marine Grease
$5 Futaba Servo (used/evilbay)
$25 RC Car ESC  (used/evilbay) 
$15 Battery

$10 2ch AM Receiver  (used/evilbay)

$15 2ch AM Transmitter (used/evilbay) 

$30 1-2-4 Amp charger (used/evilbay) 

$6 3 Deans plugs

$4 On/Off (charge) Toggle Switch

Videos & pictures I will post this year:

Silicone deck sealant
Lights
Smoke
Sailboat grabber
Spinning drum
Painting






http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YjiNhsntss

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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #1 on: August 25, 2008, 02:42:42 am »

Im planning to make a a how to youtube video: combine these two to make a motorized winch







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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #2 on: August 25, 2008, 04:20:16 am »

Got a gondola for for the coal barge

it's 1:48 o scale but i am not too picky as anything will look good from a distance.. the rc tugboat will be crossing the charge river Longfellow bridge and back (0.6 miles or 1 km trip)



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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #3 on: August 25, 2008, 07:23:26 am »

Im gonna put an rc tape recorder inside the boat. have it play engine sounds. If it sinks it will play Marine VHF audio Mayday http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlogEPoX12k 
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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #4 on: August 25, 2008, 09:05:41 pm »

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oulmmWns3sc my dickie with vac u tug motor

i plan to go under that bridge and back all without a retrieval boat!!
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Weeds

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If converting a cheap RTR boat like or

Reduce Costs by:

1. Homemade Mechanical Speed Control
2. Use stock servo

Their rudder servo turns like this:

Left: +5 Volts
Forward: Zero Volts (a spring pulls rudder back on power off)
Right: Negative -5 Volts (reversed polarity)

Now all you need is a servo that does above and acts as a mechanical speed control at same time.

This is all you need to convert a boat. No expensive speed control or $10 servo. No fiddling with servo mount or linkage. Using stock is simple and cheap.



Read:

Throttle Forward + Turn Right
Throttle Stop
Throttle Forward + Steer Forward
Throttle Stop
Throttle Forward + Turn Left

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malcolmfrary

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This seems to totally miss the point of converting - that is to get fully proportional control of speed and direction while being able to use it at the same time as somebody else in the same general band.
Mechanical speed controls need a servo to work them, add the cost of that servo and the ESC suddenly becomes an attractive proposition.
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DickyD

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Cant see it.
The boat will go forward one speed, stop, reverse one speed.
Whats been achieved.
Mine running on a 6v battery absolutely flies at full speed.
Who wants a tug that leaves a rooster tail from the word go.
Anyway the rudder mechanism is out of the ark. :-\
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omra85

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Who wants a tug that leaves a rooster tail from the word go.

er ......... me?   :D
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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #9 on: September 25, 2008, 02:04:20 am »

Quote
This seems to totally miss the point of converting

Dear Malcolmfrary,

Point is to take one servo + 100% homemade materials and make into one mechanical unit that 1) controls the stock rudder servo AND 2) switches between Forward/Stop throttle. This means you save money on an ESC and use stock rudder set up. You still need a servo for my mechanical mechanism.

Quote
Cant see it.
The boat will go forward one speed, stop, reverse one speed.

Dear DickyD,

The boat will go Forward one speed, Left and Right while going forward, and Stop. NO reverse.

Quote
Mine running on a 6v battery absolutely flies at full speed.

You put a volume knob resistor in between battery and motor and adjust voltage to scale speed. You just take any volume knob from a cd player, vhs player, stereo, etc and use it. That's something you probably have at home or can find on outside on trash day.







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DickyD

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2008, 09:50:21 am »

Quote
Dear DickyD,

The boat will go Forward one speed, Left and Right while going forward, and Stop. NO reverse.

No reverse either, so where is the improvement ?

Its not April fools day is it. :-\
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malcolmfrary

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #11 on: September 25, 2008, 10:51:10 am »

Sorry Weeds, but you do have quite a bit to learn about electricity, the parts that control it, and what happens when you exceed the power ratings.  A "volume knob resistor" has a totally inappropriate value of resistance for directly controlling a motor, and a totally inadequate power rating.  The model boating description would be "One time smoke generator".
No reverse.  Reverse on a boat is your brakes.  It is also how you back away from trouble.  If all that is wanted is the same, or less, control than that supplied by the original, you have a good plan.  Normally the idea of converting an RTR is to UPgrade the controls to be equivalent to a normal model.

Quote
Its not April fools day is it.

Either very early, or very late.
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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #12 on: September 26, 2008, 12:02:33 am »

Thanks for good replies, fellas! I do have quite a bit to learn on this forum. Back to the build:

Seaport tug now has a convenient Off switch and Charge plug.



This video shows how it works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi50Eca7eAc

COPY:



Part 1: Turn boat on and off.
Part 2: charge battery
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DickyD

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #13 on: September 26, 2008, 10:22:31 am »

Now I know you are taking the p*ss, a bullet type on/off switch ?, I dont think so. ::)
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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #14 on: September 26, 2008, 05:28:35 pm »

The toggle on/off switch broke..bullet type is easy and very reliable.
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TugCowboy

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #15 on: September 26, 2008, 06:46:15 pm »

Don't worry Weeds, modeling is all about individualism! if it works for you and makes your modeling easier AND you can say "I did that" then who's to say its wrong?

As long as its fun down the lake/river!

Alex
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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #16 on: September 27, 2008, 09:15:03 pm »

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TugCowboy

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #18 on: September 30, 2008, 08:50:11 pm »

Whats the clear plastic box on the stern for? is there an access hole underneath?

Alex
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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #19 on: October 01, 2008, 03:50:35 am »

Whats the clear plastic box on the stern for? is there an access hole underneath?

Alex

Thanks, you are correct, there is an access hole underneath the plastic box..the deck is 100% waterproofed with DEP Kitchen and Bath Silicone; waterproof ESC under the deck, receiver in a plastic glove on top of the deck..detachable superstructure..9 volt battery for the stock LED lights..Have you had a problem with an access hole before? I have yet to make a good one. What about you? 



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Weeds

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Re: Seaport Tug Conversion (Boston, MA)
« Reply #20 on: October 13, 2008, 12:56:01 am »

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