Hello,
i've been coming from an airplane background before finding my interest in sailing models. the last couple of years i built micro planes with a weight of around 10-35g so i`m not easily put off by small
That was the reason why i wanted to try how small one could make a successfully sailing RC square rigger :)
Choosing the subject i found a suitable kit from Constructo, the 1/85 scale St.Helena Schooner Brig of 135tons a EIC packet built in 1814.
The specs:
Length on deck 26cm
narrow beam at only 7,5cm
Displaciement all of 370g with a 120g leadshot in the ballast tube..
Sailarea isn`t all that big at 6,7dmē
RC is 1 Servo fore Square sail braces, 1 Servo mainsail sheet, and rudder. The Fore Trysail, and all the headsails have fixed sheets to reduce complexity.
Sails are made from Tyvek, all sails except main sail, fore trysail and fore staysail are removable. The Topgallant and royal have been permanently mounted together so they basically handle like a single sail.
She sails really well :) fast, manouverable and weatherly, very little wind already makes her move out at a brisk pace! With sails reduced you can sail in surprisingly high winds without getting knocked down,in all i`m very happy :)
a video is here:
www.vimeo.com/10507781The winds were a bit gusty and i was reluctant to sink her on m first outing so i only had the Square topsail set, in hindsight i could have easily set more sail, i was out today in similar conditions with all sail set.