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[LarryW]

HI ALL ,this topic is about my lads fire boat , its first model i .think he as made pretty goodjob of it......
    BUT, what a lot  of cost to build it,  led by info from the model shop who bought the model from but would listen to me NO  .
 it looks nice and sits nice in the water but performance is poor   ,i don't no why the wiring in side is complected he had done by a model shop person at a cost and only
 flys model planes so i think my lad as been riped off , but still he wont listen,  so i am trying to get some info on the beast. ....LARRY

[Roadrunner]

Very nice model Larry well built i would say going by the images, you say its underpowered, could it possible be that the builder of the electronics did it as a scale speed?, or it is a total 'bodge' job with motors too small for the boat combined with possible prop size?

Understandably that if the guy who installed the electronics is an Aircraft modeller he may be assuming that his normal activity's with electronics will be good enough for boats, that would come down to a bit of inexperience (with boats) on his part rather then his technical knowledge.

I can't imaging that it would to too difficult to incress boat performance with a simple motor change, possible esc as well should the currents not be appropriate with larger or more powerful motors, What motors are installed in the boat and what size are the prop?
Its a fair size i would like to imagine it has at least 555/600size motors in, im not sure if its single or twin screw ( can't tell by the photos)

However,.. if your 'lad's' happy with it and it runs then it may be worth leaving it as is and just enjoy the model for what it is as a nice example of a model fire boat 

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

That's a nice size boat Larry. Could you post some pictures of the internals and it might give us an idea what powers her.

Mind you, if the guy was into planes, I'm surprised he never fitted twin brushless motors and made it fly across the lake.   

Ken

 

[gregk9]

I have a dusseldorf, running the robbe motors [as recommended] with 3:1 gearboxes on, with brass 3 blade 50mm props and it runs circles round Pt boats, so you must have a power plant combination problem somewhere.

yes, please, kindly list what bits are in the hull, including batteries, so we can see whats wrong.

[LarryW]

HI, PICTURES ON THE WAY WHEN I GET ACCSESS TO MODEL........ LARRY...

[poll]

Hi Larry,  Same as Gregg say's   Robbi 3.1

John

[LarryW]

HI ALL , i am back with pictures , and info on set up in fire boat.......
      motors   ..robebi  3.1 x 2
    battery's ......2x 6vlt 4.5ah wired 1 to each motor. x 2 .....1 to each motor   
     ESC...electronize   f21 5hvr   5amp .1 to each motor..
    PROPS ..50 mm nylon....
    RC . 6 Chanel  SPECTRAM ...
  HOPES THIS HELPS LARRY.......

[gregk9]

These motors will run a higher voltage. Running them at 6v may be your problem, as they are not spinning fast enough.
The robbe motors are  in the 7 - 9v range
try wiring the batteries in series and producing 12v.

then report back.
Mine runs 12v and has done so for 3 years in my care and for several more in the hands of previous owner and has had no problems coping with the voltage.
If the robbe motors do fail at some stage in their life , you can replace them at a mere £11 and thats direct from robbe in leic's so genuine motors


Like I said earlier, I run a 12v 10 amp/hr gel  battery, the boat needs no ballast , other than the battery, handles superb and runs a treat.

[LarryW]

thanks greg any chance of a wiring drawing      LARRY  .....

[mike_victoriabc]

Thanks for posting these photos and running info - have one of these that I never completed but pulled it out again to try and get it running. I have "xxxxx" up the windows though - left a brush on masking solution so long that I can't get it off without serious damage to the windows. I guess the answer is to cut these out, add a frame and new window material. Any ideas on that as well?
With the newer speed controls 12v seems a better option - that one looks like runs well. Might as well ask what pump works well for the monotors. Thanks again, mike

[gregk9]

To run your 2 6 volt batteries in "series",

1/ take 1 lead from teh first battery marked "-"  to negative on  the speed controller [esc].

2/make up a link lead to go between the "+" terminal on first battery and the "-" terminal on second battery. make sure to fully insulate these connections.

3/ take lead from the second batteries "+" terminal to the positive connection on the speed controller [esc].

if you are using seperate speed controllers, simply link the two "end wires" to both controllers. 

You are now running 12 volt instead of 6.


The water pump I use in mine, to answer another question is a standard 12v car windscreen washer pump. cheap, reliable and dont cost the earth as a specialist graupner version does!
But remember to NOT alter the diameter of the nozzles on the fire monitors, if you leave as original size, the standard car pump works fine and sprays water at least 3 ft [1 mtr] from the hull.