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[Aubie]

Hello,

  It has been about 20 years since I have been into rc boats and I am in the process of getting back into the hobby.  My first build will be of the Orca boat from the movie Jaws.  I found the plans on the radio control boat modler website http://www.rcboatmodeler.com/plans/orca2.asp.  The kicker to the build will come in here as i want to enlarge the plans 400% which will take it to a 140 inch length and a 40 inch beam.  Are there any tips or tricks building a boat of this size.  Any help greatly appreciated.

[John W E]

Andy M is your man for this size build - At first I thought you had your sizes mixed up.  Andy M builds the large stuff on this Forum and I am sure he will give you all the useful info.   If you click on his name and have a look at some of the stuff Andy M has built - very good = I hope you have the space to build it - as its twice the length of my workshop 

aye
john e
bluebird

[PSSHIPS]

That is big, its even bigger than our 1/96th USS Abraham Lincoln in length by a couple of inches or so, but, building it from scratch should,nt be too hard if you have plenty of space to put the plans up, so you can measure or trace stuff onto your timbers etc. You will probably need a shed load of clamps. Can you get the plans blown up that big, ie in height aswell as length?
 Just a thought, that boat had a high mast if I remember.
 Paul...

[John W E]

aye, and dont forget the sharks - plentY on this forum to model from 

aye
John E
BLUEBIRD

[Aubie]

Thanks for the replys .  Paul I can get sections of the plans blown up.  I havent found a local company here in the states that can do an enlargement of the whole plans.  Even doing partial sections the companies that can make an enlargement of that size want $2.00 per sq foot.  The plans will be ordered first of the week and will hopefully be in by the end of the week.  I can measure and enlarge the formers myself hopefully just a few sections of the prints will have to be taken for enlargement. 
  Built to this size there should be great opportunity for interior as well as exterior detail.  Ive been scouring the web for pics and also going through the movie and noting all the details that could be added such as the emblem and foot plate on the fighting chair, the location of lights, seating and such.  If i watch the movie too many more time I will probably end up having nightmares about sharks but everytime I watch it i usually find a small detail that could be added to the model.
   Also open for propulsion suggestions.  I have had in mind a modified trolling motor but as usual open for suggestions.  As far far as room for the build John there is a 1200 sq ft workshop that is doing nothing but acting as a hangar for the airplanes.  About time it was put back to use . 

[BarryM]

Aubie,

Just a thought, but watch out for dimensional errors. A very small error on the original may be of no importance when building at the original scale but when enlarged 'X' times it may be magnified into a problem. Take all your dimensions off the enlarged plans and you should be alright but don't go back to the original for details and then mathematically enlarge them or discrepancies will creep in.

Good Luck - do you intend this beast to be man-carrying?

BarryM

[Aubie]

Thanks barry.  It will not be man carrying.  Full rc .

[White Ensign]

Aubie, enlarging plans at about 400% could lead to some problems. I.e. the lines on the ribs will become inaccurate and bleary. Although they are enlarged by 400% as well. A line with 1mm has then 4.....
Though you have to be very carefull if the ribs will exactly match to the line. Have had this problem all before and it took me lots of sanding and filling to catch up the line....  ::)

Jörg