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Author Topic: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug  (Read 9795 times)

FastWayne

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Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« on: March 12, 2014, 05:08:48 am »

I completed the maiden voyage for my converted tug today.  I am new to boating and purchased a toy grade 19" plastic tug with a very crude and complicated radio system.  Out of the box, it capsized, ballast tank did not work, it only had full throttle forward and reverse and same for steering.   I thought about tossing this thing out but, thought I would give it a try to convert it to a hobby grade tug.  After giving much thought over how to upgrade the RC systems, I gutted out the stock complicated but very rudimentary radio system and steering.   I found a piece of scrap plastic to mount the steering servo, cut down the stock mounting post for clearance.  I used an old servo saver and turnbuckle to link it to the rudder. I first purchased a cheapo $12 esc from Singapore, but it was for brushless, then I found an Aquacraft brushed esc from the Bristol Bay Fishing Boat.  I installed a left over Futaba 3PJ radio/receiver.  I now had proportional forward, reverse, and steering. I retained the stock brushed 380 motor, drive shaft and propeller.   I cut out the ballast tank and filled the bottom with lead.  In order to lose some of the top heavy weight, gutted out the superstructure, tossed the smoke stack and all the screws.  First water tight test was in the bath tub.  All systems worked and no leaks a good sign; )

My first maiden voyage was today at Eldorado Park in Long Beach, CA.  I shared the RC boating area with a couple of sail boats.  I had great range and reception. steering was good and so was forward and reverse, all proportional! It was still a little tippy in the fast turns. After a 10 minute seaworthiness test, I pulled the tug, no water leakage, all dry; )

I had so much fun converting the tug, I am thinking about purchasing a Dumas tug kit and building it up. 
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essex2visuvesi

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2014, 07:23:22 am »

That's where it starts for most of us




Welcome to you new addiction  :}
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jimmy2310

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2014, 08:00:11 am »

That's it Wayne you're hooked.  :-))

Jimmy
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2014, 03:24:23 pm »

I just ordered an air brush system.   Got to start somewhere; )
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pompebled

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2014, 05:56:03 pm »

Hi Wayne,

Please add some pictures of your upgrades.

Should fit nicely in this section of the forum: Seaport Tugs
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=125.0

Regards, Jan.
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2014, 11:59:01 pm »

I tried to upload pics but they were to large.   I'm not sure how to make them smaller
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warspite

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #6 on: March 13, 2014, 08:24:14 am »

If you have microsoft office picture manager - open the photo with that and crop to suit, or resize to about 50% - as long as the jpeg is less than the size limit, then attach.

( 640 x 480, 150Kb  - Admin )
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malcolmfrary

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2014, 09:10:03 am »

Using Win7, find the picture file, RIGHT click it, halfway down the drop down menu is an option that says "resize pictures".  It is a good idea to create a folder for resizing and to copy the pictures into there first, removes the possibility of losing the original.
Irfanview (a free program) has a lot of picture handling abilities, including cropping to tidy up, rotating to get the horizon level, and resizing.
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #8 on: March 14, 2014, 04:02:30 pm »

Ok I just ruined all my photos; (  I have windows 8 which I seriously hate. 
I resized the photo and saved it. now computer says adobe does not recognize the format.   I lost my original shots of the boat, but I can someday reshoot the updated version showing the build. 
Anyone know how to navigate and save pictures in windows 8; (
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #9 on: March 14, 2014, 04:09:56 pm »

I should be able to save it into a Jpeg format, hope fully that will do it for next time.  My computer somehow did not allow me save all the pics to another folder.  The items in the drop down menu stopped working as soon as I opened the new file.   So annoying; p
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malcolmfrary

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #10 on: March 15, 2014, 11:00:52 am »

Repeating what I said, "It is a good idea to create a folder for resizing and to copy the pictures into there first, removes the possibility of losing the original.Irfanview (a free program) has a lot of picture handling abilities, including cropping to tidy up, rotating to get the horizon level, and resizing."
Irfan has filters that enable it to read almost any picture format, and to save it off as almost any format.
When doing anything at all with photos, it is vital to work in a different folder to where the original is stored to avoid just this sort of thing happening.
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #11 on: March 15, 2014, 02:38:30 pm »

I tried to open a new file, but windows 8 wouldn't allow it.  I will try the irfanview app and go from there.
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hmsantrim

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #12 on: March 15, 2014, 03:03:34 pm »

Hi wayne.
 can also use to store and resize on.
 
http://photobucket.com/   or     https://imageshack.com/
 frank
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redsquirrel

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #14 on: March 19, 2014, 07:52:17 am »

hi wayne,my mrs bought one of these for the looks and we had it sunk within 5 mins, {-)  now in dry dock awaiting inspiration to strip it out and get on,going to do like yourself and make it a proper one
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #15 on: March 19, 2014, 03:28:43 pm »

LOL  yeah man, I know the feeling; )   My issue was balancing the boat. it is very top heavy.   Overall it was a lot of fun refitting the boat and  adjusting the ballast.   It now has a great looking profile without the tower, twin stacks, crane and raft.  Next I'm going to weather the paint, or try to, I'm also a beginner at air brushing.  Good luck with you project. keep us updated :-))
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #16 on: March 20, 2014, 03:23:19 am »

Yay I did it!  Here is a recent pic of the tug and the mods.
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #17 on: March 20, 2014, 04:16:51 am »

Yay I did it!  Here is a recent pic of the tug and the mods.  I didn't realize this section was so active until this thread was relocated here. Yeah man another Sea Port Tug; )
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #18 on: March 21, 2014, 04:42:57 am »

I took out my Revolt 30 today at Balboa Lake and felt very secure because I also brought along my Sea Port Tug.   No problems with my Revolt 30.  between rounds I took out the tug check it out.  The tug was perfect.  quiet, but the ducks were scareder of the tug than the Revolt.  I guess it was too quiet. heheh.  it turns left and right very nicely but does not back up turning right even thought the rudder was pointed right rear.
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malcolmfrary

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #19 on: March 21, 2014, 08:41:49 am »

The lack of steering in reverse is fairly normal with a single screw boat.  Just one of the things that you learn about and make allowances for.  For an enquiring mind, that's one of the things that make boats addictive.
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Netleyned

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #20 on: March 21, 2014, 09:38:51 am »

I have the same trouble with my conversion using the stock prop and nozzle.
Going very slow astern it is possible to steer. Open the throttle and paddle wheel effect
or prop walk takes charge.
Probably due to the prop not fitting the nozzle snugly.
My springer with a steerable kort nozzle and tailor made kort prop steers much better astern.


Ned
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FastWayne

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #21 on: March 28, 2014, 01:14:20 am »

some more pics of the upgrades.  simple but works well and remains water tight; )
scrap plastic to mount servo, airtronics servo and arm from my old TC3 touring car)  my old futaba radio and receiver was top of the line before 2.4 Ghrz became norm,(15 yrs old) I used stock ballast tank with top cut away, for lead ballast and stock batteries.  The brushed esc came from an Aquacraft boat, under $20; )  the most expensive part I used.
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ballastanksian

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Re: Toy Grade to Hobby Grade Tug
« Reply #22 on: November 21, 2014, 12:08:48 pm »

Thankyou for sharing your modifications Wayne! I did manage to sail mine first time without it capsizing, but as my club has over a dozen modified over the years, I was given a few good ideas about priming the tanks before sailing too far even if the water cannon does start spraying water everywhere!

I have a few bits but need an ESC and some power packs and a little skill to match everything together to avoid the magic grey smoke.

Happy sailing, Ian:O)
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