Thought it was about time I made use of all those extra functions on my new transmitter. A model based on one of the modern harbour fireboats has been floating around as a possible project for a few years and looked to be ideal for the new model.
It is about 1/32 scale with a length of 25", beam 8" and weight of 11 pounds. Construction is from DIY store lumber and plywood, the bow and stern being build up with scrap balsa and sanded to produce some some curves in an otherwise angular hull shape. The superstructure and bulwarks were made from that wonderfully cheap, if not free, material; cardboard.
Power is two mild 540 motors with transmitter "elevon" mixing to give both propulsion and steering. A car windscreen washer pump provides the water for the three monitors, one being fitted to a platform that can be elevated and rotated. Two other transmitter switches are used for a pair of spotlights and a siren/flashing lights effect. I could add a couple of extra working functions but space is getting tight and the wiring quite messy.
The handling is much better than expected and it can be held on a course with only minor movements of the "rudder" stick. Great fun to spin the model with full rudder (motors working in opposite directions so the model does not go anywhere) whilst spraying everthing around it.
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Topic: Fireboat "Elliot" (Read 3523 times)