Just as a little smile to everyone and to remind you of how easily things can go wrong there is a little story with the attached pictures.
I bought this Joffre off eBay a year or so ago with the intention of tidying it up a bit and using it with my Envoy as she is the same scale and roughly the same period. Anyway the internals were a bit on the loose side and I had trouble getting it to work so it stayed on the shelf until yesterday when I thought I would give it a trial.
I fitted a new reciever, a new speed controller and a new 7.2 Tamiya pack, bought only last weekend at Harrogate. Tried it out and it all worked fine but the motor did seem a bit firece. Stuck it in the bath and she sat a bit low but bang on the water line so took it down to the pond this morning and tried it out. Sure enough the motor was too much and at full throttle she dug in a bit and pushed the bow down more than I would really want, especially with the freeboard not being too great. So a couple of things to do but she looked good and I was pleased that an internal strip out would give me a nice model.
The last five minutes and a couple of kids turn up asking about the boats so I said I would put the tug back in and show then how it worked. I went right across to the other side to the point where I can't see exactly what is happening and started to bring it back when I thought, "She looks a bit low!" A couple of seconds later and she looked even lower!!! A couple of seconds later and up went the stern and down she went!! A hush went over the crowd as everyone looked at the little loose dingy bobbing around in the water, all that was left to show where it had been.
I was more annoyed at the loss of the new speed controller, reciever and battery pack than anything else but the loss of a boat is always dissapointing as well. The lads all suggested I get the club boat out and go for a bit of fishing, which I really thought was a waste of time but I gave in and thought I'd have a go. I paddled around for a half an hour or so fishing with the grappling hook and rope, amid cries and jeers from the bank as to where everyone thought it had gone down. To my amazement I snagged it and brought it up, mostly intact, but with a couple of pieces missing and a few broken bits. Would you believe the propeller was still turning!!
Anyway lessons to be learned:
1) If it looks low in the water, you're probably right, remove some ballast!
2) If the motor is too powerfull, it probably is, slow it down!
3) If the deck coamings look low, they probably are, build them up!
4) If you notice all three at the same time, don't put it in the water!
At least I provided some light relief and entertainment for a half an hour or so and I am now forced to "Tidy Up" the model whether I want to or not. I've given the electrics a wash out with distilled water and they are now drying out so I might be lucky there.
Anyway I'm glad I got a couple of shots of her first, I at least know how to put the mast back together!!
