Hello All!
While not new to RC, I am very much a beginner to the RC boat scene, so please bear with me.
After hearing that I was considering buying a model boat, my brother-in-law kindly gave me one he had knocking about in his shed. He in turn had been given it by a friend, who bought it at a yard sale, so we don't actually know what sort of boat it is or where it came from. The hull shares a lot of styling cues with the Graupner B-24 Nimbus, and shares the same overall dimensions. However the gubbins inside are very much toy grade. My plans at this point involve fitting hobby-grade gear and giving it a decent paintjob, then running it at a nearby RC boat club, either racing it or just running it for fun.
I will no doubt have many questions as the project progresses, but here are a few for starters:
Can anyone recommend me a rudder assembly? The boat has been fitted with two motors and props, but has no visible means of steering. I guess it used to steer tank-style using differential thrust?
I'd also like to find out if this boat fits into any particular racing class, and if so, what would be required to make it race-legal?
I have a Spektrum SR200 receiver and a waterproof high-torque Futaba servo available for the project but I would appreciate some recommendations as to speed controller. At first I am planning to keep the stock pair of 380-size motors which I will run in parallel. However, as I may race it at some point, I'd like an ESC that can handle whatever race-legal powerplants y'all recommend.
I have heard different views as to the need to extend the standard Spektrum RX antenna for marine use. What is the consensus here on the forum?
Finally, are there any general recommendations regarding colour schemes? I know in the RC glider world, it is better to have a light colour on top and a darker one underneath to aid visibility at altitude. Is there any similar convention for boat colour schemes for visibility on water in high-glare conditions?
Thanks!
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