Just completed sailing trials of latest model. It is based on a small vehicle ferry that used to ply the St Lawrence Seaway. Built mainly in balsa, liteply, card to a scale of 1/43 which allowed me to make use of diecast model cars and OO railroad figures. It is a modest 24 inches (60 cm) long but weighs in at some 8 pounds (3.6 kg).
It is powered by a 540 motor (which some might consider excessive) and direct drive to a 2 inch (50 mm) diameter four blade brass propeller (which some would think to be suicidal). In fact it is quite safe and relaxing to sail with no suggestion of spontaneous combustion!
The trick was to power it with a 2 Volt cell, which is only used occasionally to fire up glo-motors. This does however mean that a commercial electronic speed controller could not be used and a servo mounted resistive type had to be used. In keeping with this "retro modelling" approach, I also used an old 27 MHz RC outfit.
Plans now drawn up, writing to complete before sending it off to the Editor of "Model Boats"
Glynn Guest