Topic: PCF (Patrol Craft Fast) Vietnam Swift boat build (Read 63178 times)

red181 · « **Reply #175 on:** September 14, 2015, 10:57:36 pm »

8.00am, before work, whilst others are having the Sunday morning sleep in, I'm moving the spray rails up, with a temporary fix just to see what the results are. It was hard breaking them off and spoiling the paintwork, but it has to be right when in the water.

Back to the lake after work, and its way better. The higher sides didn't do much, I wish I had someone with me to video, then I could see the stills and work out exactly what is going on, but with raised spray rails the boat sits better on the water, handles better, and there is much less water going on deck. After 20 mins or so, minimal water in the hull, I can now raise the rails just a tad more, and fit/paint again.

Very relieved!

red181 · « **Reply #176 on:** September 15, 2015, 11:29:19 pm »

someone has finally sneaked in to the turret and mounted the twin 50 cal brownings

Crew............ now there is something, I think they have to look real good, or not at all, that's my opinion. I got some figures ages ago, remodelled this one to look like it fits. Jury is out at the moment

Wrong uniform, but hey, that can be overcome with some imagination, Marines are on a special ops...

I don't want to repaint them as I think I will lose the detail, especially skin tones etc. This guys right hand just would not fit, so I gave him the Marlboro, and the box under the helmet strap!

red181 · « **Reply #177 on:** September 21, 2015, 11:38:56 pm »

water trials again today, the spray rails now permanently fixed again. It was a choppy windy day, so not the best of conditions, but I'm happy to say very little water ingress, and given the conditions, it has passed the test

Running with two 4 cell 2150 mah lipos, it ran for at least half hour with 3.8v per cell remaining, cold motors, so that was pleasing.

I tried more props, the 45mm "X" plastic props, these look horrible, but do give the best speed, a pair of brass counter rotating and a pair of brass 3 blade counter rotating, all form a spares box, so size and pitch is unknown. I tried them both turning outwards, and then inwards, the latter appeared to be best.

The "X" props do perform the best, so maybe the brass ones just for show!

red181 · « **Reply #178 on:** September 21, 2015, 11:43:09 pm »

Back to the workshop, and some painting to the lower hull is needed, and some minor cosmetic finishing, all set for its maiden public outing on the venetian night this Friday, I thought lets give the lights a go again, and wouldn't you just know there is a problem

The rear deck light is inop (I think I have fitted the wrong resistor and its blown) but worse is the turnigy light sequencer is playing up. Its fine until another channel, such as the rudder, is used, and all the lights go off, the sequencer resets itself. I have tried different channels, different supply packs, allsorts, but cannot fathom it. Now I will have to contact Hobbyking, lets see how quick they can help me

Some pictures of todays testing

Rear gunner is awol (paint still drying!)

Capt Podge · « **Reply #179 on:** September 21, 2015, 11:49:39 pm »

Well, she certainly looks good on the water - find someone you can trust to operate the boat and see if you can get some shots of her at speed - we would love to see her in action, so to speak.

Regards,

Ray.

red181 · « **Reply #180 on:** September 21, 2015, 11:53:52 pm »

yes I really need to do that, will try to enlist a camera man, (family!) so I can pilot, I have to have expo into the rudder channel at speed so it doesn't get too twitchy and roll, as this looks unrealistic, then at slow speed, I turn the expo off, so the turns are tighter. Even after only a few trials, its funny how you sort of know your own boat, and can feel it, making it look more realistic on the water

Capt Podge · « **Reply #181 on:** September 21, 2015, 11:59:03 pm »

That's an excellent idea Red, I hadn't thought of the intricacies of her handling

Looking forward to it anyway....

Regards,

Ray.

derekwarner · « **Reply #182 on:** September 22, 2015, 02:06:37 am »

red...irrespective of the performance

..... the inboard turning 4 blade brass props look immeasurably better than the plastic ones ... and considering the superb detail you have created with the build in general you owe it to yourself to keep the brass props in view

I suggest that prototypical looking props would have a far greater score than a model that was just slightly faster....after all, it is a [fast] patrol craft

......not a speed boat

...............Derek

red181 · « **Reply #183 on:** September 22, 2015, 11:42:44 pm »

your right Derek, its going to be brass counter rotating, the plastic ones do look awful, and the brass ones where given to me ages ago by a departed friend and mentor, so its got a nice feel about using them, but the 3 bladers, they go better!

I Have to say Hobbyking have really come through. I contacted them tonight regarding the possibility the set up was wrong on the light unit, bearing in mind the boat is going to a venetian evening, the thought of the lights going off, and the boat disappearing into the darkness wasn't nice!

We entered an on line chat, and after brief conversation I was put through to a product specialist, we chatted about the set up, I provided a brief video, the operator stayed online for an hour with me, end result a new unit is being dispatched in the morning from uk warehouse, I hope to have it by Friday, I would like to thank Hobbyking, their postage will probably be the same as the value of the item, I cant fault their service, its always been good since the uk warehouse opened

red181 · « **Reply #184 on:** September 22, 2015, 11:46:09 pm »

now all the music lovers....

I need some music tracks, Vietnam era, I need to create a soundtrack for the boat. I have the album for "Good Morning Vietnam", but need more songs, from films, radio etc, anything the crew would have listened to, please find some!

Capt Podge · « **Reply #185 on:** September 22, 2015, 11:48:54 pm »

Glad to see you're going with the brass props Red.

Hope you get your lighting sorted in time for the venetian evening.

Regards,

Ray.

red181 · « **Reply #186 on:** September 22, 2015, 11:55:52 pm »

I just needed a slap from Derek

essex2visuvesi · « **Reply #187 on:** September 23, 2015, 12:34:21 am »

Quote from: red181 on September 22, 2015, 11:46:09 pm

now all the music lovers....

I need some music tracks, Vietnam era, I need to create a soundtrack for the boat. I have the album for "Good Morning Vietnam", but need more songs, from films, radio etc, anything the crew would have listened to, please find some!

Obvious ones:-
"Rolling stones - Paint it Black" Theme tune to "Tour of Duty"

Anything from Apocalypse now
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078788/soundtrack

Especially Ride of the Valkyries

Capt Podge · « **Reply #188 on:** September 23, 2015, 01:01:26 am »

You could also throw in Little Richard's "Long Tall Sally" (from Predator)

Regards,

Ray.

RAAArtyGunner · « **Reply #189 on:** September 23, 2015, 02:44:20 am »

Quote from: essex2visuvesi on September 23, 2015, 12:34:21 am

Obvious ones:-
"Rolling stones - Paint it Black" Theme tune to "Tour of Duty"

Anything from Apocalypse now
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078788/soundtrack

Especially Ride of the Valkyries

Definitely as the tune is played by the Cavalry, in Helicopters, as they come in to land with a couple of boats slung under the choppers.

Very appropriate tune.

red181 · « **Reply #190 on:** September 23, 2015, 07:10:45 am »

keep em coming guys

red181 · « **Reply #191 on:** September 25, 2015, 10:59:24 pm »

I have a play list, using a bluetooth speaker it was good, but too fussy and the range was a bit short, so I'm just going to use an sd card in the speaker.

Tonight I attended the St Helens Model Boat Club venetian evening. All went pretty well, the light unit was replaced by hobbyking, but I'm still having problems, so could not have them turning on and off on the water, had to wire them so just on, next weekend is Wallasey and Hoylake venetian nights, they are both very close so would like to attend, with a working light switch, so some work to do to figure out the problems.
I ran the lights on a 3s lipo, from now on I will use a 2s as they where too bright

Boat ran well, and virtually no water ingress! we are nearly there, I will try and get some video soon

red181 · « **Reply #192 on:** October 10, 2015, 11:03:35 pm »

busy day today, making

a box

Capt Podge · « **Reply #193 on:** October 10, 2015, 11:08:15 pm »

Well, at least you have made something. Any progress is exactly that....progress.

Regards,

Ray.

red181 · « **Reply #194 on:** October 10, 2015, 11:09:46 pm »

need a lot of green paint

red181 · « **Reply #195 on:** November 26, 2015, 10:12:01 pm »

well its pretty much a finished model now, not settled with the props, with 4 cells per motor, it should perform better, but will be ok for now. I have even finished the box!, weights a ton, and took longer than the boat, but you got to love a good storage box!

Got some nice pictures on the Da Nang Delta river, Vietnam (Crosby, Liverpool) with a sort of realistic background, and a video, Ill post that up later. Now its finished, its another to my collection or what to do with it now!

red181 · « **Reply #196 on:** November 26, 2015, 10:14:15 pm »

mrzippy · « **Reply #197 on:** November 27, 2015, 09:14:25 am »

Well done Mr D great build and interesting thread, your sound track has to be 'Ride of the Valkyries',
the atmosphere it creates in Apocalypse when the helicopters are attacking - is priceless. zippy

red181 · « **Reply #198 on:** November 27, 2015, 11:53:03 pm »

Hi Mr Z, long time no speak, glad to see you lurking back there!

I have a selection of music for the boat, yes it starts with the march of the valkries,couldnt leave that one out!

But... I have something ready for the video soundtrack, just got to figure out how to edit the video,

So now its finished the intereting part is over, it owes me too much in money and time to just be an ornament, so have to think about what to do with it now, or it will end up in the collection of unused boats.

Paul

Perkasaman2 · « **Reply #199 on:** November 28, 2015, 03:10:33 pm »

You have made an excellent job of the Swift and the backdrops of your pics are very realistic and impressive.

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Author Topic: PCF (Patrol Craft Fast) Vietnam Swift boat build (Read 63178 times)