Hi all, just wanted to introduce myself, I'm a newbie to Mayhem but not to model boat making. I am based near Southampton in the UK
My pride and joy is a 4 foot tug named SUN XXVIII. I have used a bit of 'Builders Licence' because there never was a SUN XXVIII (they stopped at SUN XXVII) but she is my idea of what 28 could have looked like. She is over 30 years old and scratch built. She had been in my loft for about 20 years until recently when I rekindled my love of the hobby, took her down and gave her a spruce up. (Also I have more time now that I am semi retired) I recently acquired a couple of old barges off eBay and have refurbished them to give her something to tow.
I use a Futaba 6J 2.4 ghz 6 channel set to control the tug and have a number of features that work from it, Namely
Propulsion
Steering
Bow Thruster
Navigation lights
Towing Lights (Main Mast and Stern)
Working lights (Stern Deck and Search Light)
Deck Lights
Horn
Fire monitors (3)
Dropping Tow Hook (so I can let the tow go if there are any problems)
Lowering Lifeboat
Lowering Anchor
By use of modern electronic switches and an old ‘bobs board’ for a switchboard, all of the above are independently controlled using just the 6 channels. With the addition that the Fire Monitors can be independently controlled (turned on or off) by valves on the side of the superstructure.
The prime mover is a 6 volt Hectoperm (through a gearbox) driving a 90mm four bladed brass propeller, controlled by an Electronize ESC. I have both 6 and 12 volts on-board (the monitor pump and bow thruster are 12 volt) from two 6 volt lead acid batteries.
Hoping to become an active member of your community and to learn lots from all the expertise your members have.
