Hi ya. Thought you experts might like to help decide the classification ("super", "mega" etc) of my tug, and doubtless make some thoroughly embarrassing comments!
I scaled up the bog standard springer plan to give a 24" hull (my available scrap wood wouldn't quite allow 1.5x). She is fitted with twin car heater blower motors (free!) driving handed 3 blade brass 65mm props and powered by two 6v 12AH SLA batteries (in series to give 12v). A static pull at the pond edge registers about 20A total current consumption. The motors are controlled by two ESCs via a rudder mixer - all of my own design. Manoeuvrability is of course excellent thanks to the rudder mixer, spinning on the spot in either direction with ease. I implemented a variable gain on the amount of rudder mixed in with the throttles so (at the expense of razor sharp responsiveness) I can set it to avoid her speeding up during the turns.
Also she has been trialled with my own engine sound simulator, but that is yet to be properly fitted - so not seen in photos. I'm planning to upgrade to one sound unit per ESC so you get those lovely 'beating' surges at tickover. The speaker is mounted beneath the open windowed cabin, using the deck as a baffle and the hull makes a wonderful boom box. Finally I plan to use a modified mp3 player to play (real) recorded horn sounds, which I can mix into the same speaker. This has been bench tested but not tried out in the boat yet.
As the pictures will show and you are doubtless guessing, I'm more interested in the electronics than the modelling aspects. The superstructure was donated by a friend after gathering dust in his loft for the last 30yrs and so far only the cut-out at the front has been filled. Pusher knees are yet to be made and fitted, for I hope to use it as a rescue craft - so far I have only succedeed is rescuing huge amounts of water from the centre of the pond and pushing it to the shore!
Best wishes to all,
Alan Bond
