Hallo Shipmates,
Mark Steele a Collumnist for Duckworks e-zine and marine model international, has issued a challenge to seek the smallest RC Schooner on the planet. I like schooners and small RC models so i couldn`t pass on to this one
The model of choice for me was teh Schooner Yacht America of 1851. A relatively simpel rig and very very nice lines make this undoubtedly one of the best looking yachts ever to be built in my oppinion!
As the scale i selected 1/85 so she will fit to my small St. Helena packet. That made for a relatively "large" 36cm length on deck but the displacement is only about 250g which is borderline to whats possible, to handle the 7,1dmē of sail area.. at least for me
All sails sheets run of a single servo. There is a 200mAh 2S Lipo for power and a BEC to run the servo and RX. space below decks is at a preminum... The sail servo is a relatively strong HS82MG that i hope will provide sufficient torque to sheet the sails.
Sails are made from ripstop material, a first for me, working with a hot knife and textile glue. The results are pretty satisfactory in my eyes
there is still some detailing to be done tho... the Gaff halyards are bowsie adjustable so i could later one with teh addition of reeflines make fore and mainsail reefable.
With a plexiglas keel of 25cm length and about 100g of ballast i went for the first sea trials :) unfortunately absolutely ZERO wind... it was howling storm the whole day, and wind warnings for the night but exactly at teh hour i have had time to go to teh lake a total calm.
But at least i saw that she has no leaks, the rudder provides sculling power and the trim is correct... i hope to have a proper sail report soon !