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Author Topic: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD  (Read 20492 times)

FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« on: February 14, 2013, 09:48:20 pm »


The Paliform Griffon 600 hovercraft kit has been well documented in the modelling press, and its been around a while but I thought it would be worth my take on the build.

This was bought for me as a Christmas present, and I have longed to build a hovercraft, since building a kit in the 60's which was produced by Yeoman and powered by a ED Racer (2.5cc diesel engine)...This was highly entertaining, but did not last long as it was free flight/sailing, and suffered a collision with a tree, and the engine mounting came lose and the propeller turned most of the model into match wood.
So I had a big smile on my face when I removed the wrapping paper on christmas day.... :} :}

Well what do you get in the kit, everything needed to complete it apart from motor, radio gear, battery, etc., The hovercraft is constructed from Depron, (material used by the R/C flyers) the skirt is already made, and as the kit is die-cut it should be a straight forward to build. The kit came with glue which is a contact type but having used it before in making a few park flyers, found it hard to use you have to be really accurate in lining up everything. So I'll be using cyano which is foam safe.
WELL ITS ON WITH THE BUILD....

NOT MUCH TO SEE WHEN YOU OPEN THE BOX
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #1 on: February 15, 2013, 08:49:43 pm »

Having read the instructions, which are good and clear, I made a start...the first item is the motor mount which I skipped and went straight to making up the duct which is made up from a balsa/depron/balsa sandwich. Details are given for making a "duct former" this I made and was well worth the effort, and did make the job very easy. This was left for several days to make sure the glue had completely dried..I had used waterproof PVA....also the balsa skins were soaked in warm water before attaching to the depron inner. Only thing left to do is trim the duct to the right width (80mm) this also supports the rudders. The top rudder support is made from depron (item 18) in the kit but I have decided to make this from 3mm liteply.



THE DUCT AND THE DUCT FORMER
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pettyofficernick

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #2 on: February 15, 2013, 10:16:30 pm »

Looks interesting, what size motor will be required to run it? I have a brushless outrunner looking for work, so I might just build one. I shall follow your thread with interest.Looking good so far.
Nick :-)) :-)) :-))
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #3 on: February 15, 2013, 10:41:42 pm »

Hi Nick
Brushless motor listed in the instructions is a "400 size brushless motor (1800rpm/v or above) the one I have is a 2000kv I think but will sort this out later. The kit comes with a motor mount, and the holes will suit most motors.
Have started on the hull and will post tomorrow were I'm up to tomorrow

Mike
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pettyofficernick

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2013, 10:46:40 pm »

Mine is a 1000kV outrunner, so may not be powerful enough, on 11.1V Lipo would only give 1100rpm.....
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richald

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #5 on: February 15, 2013, 11:30:44 pm »

pettyofficernick

Your 1000kV motor should give 1000 rpm per volt so on a 11.1V LiPo it will run at 11,100rpm


Richard
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pettyofficernick

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #6 on: February 15, 2013, 11:45:13 pm »

pettyofficernick

Your 1000kV motor should give 1000 rpm per volt so on a 11.1V LiPo it will run at 11,100rpm


Richard

Ah, missed a '0', had a typo moment....
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #7 on: February 16, 2013, 06:47:57 pm »

Attention is now turn to making up the hull, this is again made from 3mm depron....I did read somewhere that is worth doing the following modification, this involves glueing ply to the side that has contact with the ground, and it also adds stiffness to the whole structure.
I have used 2mm liteply, and in the picture you will see the ply, in the aperture  which will have to be removed, this allows the air under the hull.
Since this picture was taken I have cut out the aperture, and coated the ply with marine varnish.
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TheLongBuild

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #8 on: February 16, 2013, 07:22:16 pm »

Having read the instructions,
You Read the Instructions !! I thought instructions were a last resort.. :}

FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #9 on: February 16, 2013, 08:02:31 pm »

Not normally !!....but thought it might help this time.... %%
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triumphjon

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2013, 08:13:41 pm »

ive just completed my 600 which also came as a crimbo pressy , hope you enjoy your biuld .jon
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #11 on: February 19, 2013, 06:21:25 pm »

Hi Jon
How yours and which motor did you use ?
Mike
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #12 on: February 19, 2013, 06:26:49 pm »

The build continues....have given the 2mm ply several coats of yacht varnish the base has bowed slightly, but this will be removed when the remaining formers are glued to the base.
[/size]Base of the hull with the 2mm ply coated with yacht varnish
[/size][/color][/font]
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triumphjon

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #13 on: February 19, 2013, 09:25:49 pm »

ive only breifly tried it outside , when the evenings get lighter i live opposite an asda store with a big carpark ! im not sure what kv the motor is , its around the 400 size and came from a written off helicopter . ive not got the plywood lower skin to my hull yet though .
jon
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #14 on: February 19, 2013, 09:46:05 pm »

Hi Jon,
I did read about this mod to the hull somewhere, but have failed to find it....it sounds as though you have the right setup
Mike
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #15 on: February 20, 2013, 07:49:48 pm »

The build continues......in the picture is the frame work of the hull, and the heart of the hovercraft. This is 3mm Depron, I have loosely assembled it for the photo, the bulkheads fit in to slots in the base of the hull.
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #16 on: February 20, 2013, 07:57:48 pm »

The build continues......having loosely assembled the bulkheads, next came the best bit and glueing it all together, as mentioned before I'm not using the glue that came with the kit, but I'm using foam safe cyano, with activator. This makes the whole thing quick and very easy.
The base had bowed slightly with the several coats of yacht varnish, but once the glue had taken hold the structure its nice and flat.
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #17 on: March 11, 2013, 09:58:51 pm »

The build continues......have glued the deck on, and have started, the engine area. The instructions call for 3mm Depron to add strength to the mounting, but I have decided to use 3mm lite-ply, also theres a bridging plate under the main motor mount , this is part no. 18 in the instructions, again this is change to 3mm lite-ply.
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Norseman

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #18 on: March 11, 2013, 10:18:49 pm »

Hi Mike

As you are in the early stages of the build I was wondering if you had given any thought as to whether there were any little modifications possible? Little tweaks or corrections I mean.

Dave
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #19 on: March 11, 2013, 10:37:45 pm »

Hi Dave
As far as I can see at the moment, I've only done mods/corrections which I think would help with the overall strength on the hovercraft. If there was a real mod it would be to fit a lift motor.....this may come but with a larger version.

Mike
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triumphjon

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #20 on: March 12, 2013, 12:12:45 pm »

the new sirus , which is the same overall size has the availbility to have a lift fan as well as the main motor , hovertim is currently building one

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Hover Tim

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #21 on: March 12, 2013, 09:36:08 pm »

yes i am i have opted out for the lift motor as i want to let the public use the model too and two motors to control may end badly i hope towork on it tomorrow after illness stopped me i will get a build log going or put a link up
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triumphjon

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #22 on: March 13, 2013, 10:51:37 am »

think a biuld log would be good tim , let more people see how to put one together ! jon
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FLAT-TOP-FLYER

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #23 on: May 21, 2013, 09:38:01 am »

Well its been a while since I last posted anything on the build of the Griffon 600, but a burst of energy yesterday got me working on the project.... :}


As I have mentioned before I was going to change things, and the rudders were one of the "Mods"....the kit rudders are made from Depron, and plastic tube, and to be honest looked a bit on the flimsy side, so I have used 2mm lightply and 16swg brass tube. The 2mm ply has been super glued to the brass tube then glass cloth has been "doped on" the rudders to add strength.
As you can see in the picture the new rudders and the ones supplied in the kit.
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triumphjon

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Re: GRIFFON 600 HOVERCRAFT BUILD
« Reply #24 on: May 21, 2013, 07:28:02 pm »

with hindsight make the pivot rods longer for the rudders , i made mine as per the instructions , only to find they ride upwards as im driving my craft . this results in a loss of steering !
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