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Author Topic: Biggish Aquarama Special build  (Read 50188 times)

papymouzot

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #75 on: September 21, 2018, 05:01:03 pm »

Hi Mike, your work is incredibly good, excellent...  %%  This is going to be a real beauty, your attention to details is really admirable. :-))  I wish I could do a similar build and varnish quality as you do... this is the varnish which stopped me in my first Riva build...


Maybe I should come to England to get some teaching  ok2
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Perkasaman2

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #76 on: September 21, 2018, 06:50:32 pm »

This is first class work Mike. I admire your patience and perseverance.
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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #77 on: September 26, 2018, 03:02:50 pm »


Hello.

Dashboard complete and fitted now, apart from 2 small ignition keys. It is removable at anytime by undoing 1 screw.

Working on the 2 Portlights and the nose, (Musetto), may take quite a while !!

Thanks for you kind replies Charles and Perkasaman2.
Here are a couple of pictures.

Mike.


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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #78 on: October 18, 2018, 03:48:11 pm »

Hi.


A few photos of the Portlights that I am making, one complete apart from buffing and the other just started.
Not super accurate, as this is the first time that I have ever used a lathe but will look better when chromed and glazed.


Mike.



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Hotglove

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #79 on: October 26, 2018, 05:31:39 pm »

Just a thought about covering the steering wheel, how about using some heat shrink about the same diameter as the wheel? cut a short length, just over twice the width of the wheel rim, shrink it in place and, perhaps add “stitching” with a pyrography iron.
I sometimes simulate leather by painting with Matt enamel or acrylic, then polishing with coloured shoe polish, it is surprising how much different the texture is from a gloss or satin finish, especially if the model has a number of different surface textures in a small area.
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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #80 on: January 22, 2019, 04:46:18 pm »

No progress on the hull as it's too cold and damp in my shed, so, it lives in the spare bedroom at the moment awaiting Spring.
Meanwhile, working on the seats and electronics.
The photo is of the Helmsman and the double Passenger seats, just roughed out and ready for a couple of coats of Dope to aid final sanding as I have used Balsa.
Will finish the rear seat and the rest of the items that need upholstering later.
The Photo shows the electronics that will be fitted.
The 2 small Blue PCB's are step up voltage controllers, they increase a small 7.2 volt LiPo battery to 14volts for the 3 cooling fans.
The 2 small Green PCB's are variable voltage controllers which are set to drive the 2 docking lights and dashboard LED's.
The larger Green PCB with the probe attached is a temperature monitor to be fitted in the motor,battery compartment. It has an adjustable alarm point which can trigger a free relay allowing me to fit an audible or visible external device, maybe a very high visibility LED or some sort of sounder, or both.
The other larger Blue PCB just for setup purposes for the other modules, will be mounted in a hand held box to make it portable.
The final photo shows all of the interior upholstered parts which I hope to reproduce, the only difference will be the piping colour, I intend to use Red in place of the Blue.
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SailorGreg

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #81 on: January 22, 2019, 05:06:27 pm »

Nice work Mike.  Roll on spring, I am looking forward to seeing the hull completed.  :-))
Greg

ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #82 on: February 24, 2019, 03:50:01 pm »

Some work on the front seats, just roughed out at the moment.
After several attempts have made the first length of piping, enough for the front seat only but the method works reasonably well, unfortunately I need to make
about 4 meters more to have enough to complete all of the upholstery, it's a right fiddle.
The photos show work so far.
Mike.

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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #83 on: March 29, 2019, 03:03:51 pm »

Have abandoned the seats for the moment,(they were rubbish).Will make a new set later.

Working on the windscreen now, not something that I've been looking forward to.
Have made a former to bend the Perspex screen around, will be using the draping method, hopefully it will be o.k. first attempt but I do have a spare
piece if needed.

A few pictures to show the screen plastic cut to shape and the bending former which is a bit Heath Robinson looking inside, but very strong with absolutely no twisting or bending possible.
The main thing tho' is the bending face which is glass smooth.

Decided to make the frame from Brass and not Aluminium which was my first thought. The Brass will be somewhat more difficult but easy to silver solder.

Mike.
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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #84 on: April 20, 2019, 11:01:59 pm »

Finished windscreen after bending, fortunately all went well.


Windscreen outer frame made from Brass sheet cut into 8mm wide strips then silver soldered together.
Due to the high cost of a sheet of 1.2mm. Brass sheet 1mtr. long, I bought 2 solid Brass door finger plates which are 75mm x 450mm and very reasonable price.
By joining 2 strips they were long enough for the job. There will be a polished Aluminium inner screen added to add rigidity. The Brass outer frame will be Chromed.


Mike.


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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #85 on: June 28, 2019, 10:49:40 pm »

Managed to do a little more work on the boat since last post, it's quite difficult to find any time to build these days due to my wife's ongoing illness.


Here are a couple pictures of some work done showing the upholstery in the Sundeck and Bathing Slide, not fixed of course until the varnishing is complete.
One showing the  Dash top Sunglasses / Marlboro / bits and bobs tidy, don't know it's proper name.
I turned the Plexiglas support posts from Aluminium they are 4mm dia. Cross drilled and tapped M2 to accept 2mm grub screws then slotted using the lathe with chuck locked and my little Proxxon rotary tool mounted in the tool post and fitted with a 60 mm diamond dust disc.


Have scrapped the brass windscreen frame, too flimsy and made a new one from 2mm Copper. Much better.
Next job is the cockpit upholstery as I binned the first attempt as it was rubbish.


Mike.





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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #86 on: August 06, 2019, 07:15:32 pm »

Hi.
Have put this build on hold for a while whilst I help a very good friend out in France with his Amati Aquarama build who is in a bit of a muddle.
Should be done in a month or so then I will resume my build.


Here are a couple of pictures of some more of the upholstery before ceasing work.

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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #87 on: October 03, 2019, 09:40:09 pm »

Rear cockpit and seat upholstery finally complete after several design changes to both.
Front seats next, which will be quite challenging, for me at least

Here are some photos.


Mike.



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Capt Podge

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #88 on: October 03, 2019, 09:58:25 pm »

I've never seen such a beautiful job made, of the cockpit seating, but also so, so clean as well - I doff my cap to you.


Regards,
Ray.
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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #89 on: October 03, 2019, 10:10:32 pm »

Many thanks Ray, praise indeed.


It took many changes and modifications to arrive at the final design.
I fear the two front seats will be even more difficult.


Mike.
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Mikecotton

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #90 on: October 13, 2019, 02:13:40 pm »

Wow ! Just realised I’ve been messing about all these years. Is the upholstery made from foam slices ? What is the final finish ?
Mike C
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ukmike

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #91 on: October 13, 2019, 05:20:28 pm »

Hi Mike.


The foam is in one piece, not slices.
I use Plastazote foam which is unusual, (if not unique), in that it is easily sanded, quite stiff but can be shaped. Also, closed cell, so doesn't soak up water.


I made the cushioning effect by forming shaped and grooved channels to receive the stitching.
This was done using a soldering iron set to 290 deg.C, with appropriately shaped tip. The result can be seen in photos earlier in the blog.


Are you referring the upholstery final finish or the boat it's self ?


Mike. 
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Mikecotton

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Re: Bigish Aquarama Special Build
« Reply #92 on: October 13, 2019, 06:03:54 pm »

The upholstery effect was my primary interest although the ultra high gloss finishes always escape me.
How do you keep the dust off ?? Do you give a final buffing ? I usually feel the final coat has the best gloss but not consistently over the total surface. I found some 6000 grit while on holiday in USA but even that needs further work.
I’ve never used leTonkinois - is it worth the money. As I said in my first post ,comparatively, I’m just messing around !
MikeC
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ukmike

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Transmission completed but Front Seats on hold.
« Reply #93 on: December 06, 2019, 08:09:22 pm »

Hello All.


Have put the front seats on hold for now, as after making 3 sets, all of which didn't turn out very well , I thought that a change might be in order.
I decided to finish off the transmission completely, which is now done.


This included fitting the motors with rubber bobbin mounts which has had the effect of completely isolating the noise of the 2 large outrunners being transmitted to the wooden hull, also the spiral shaft couplings are silent as are the 2 pillow block shaft thrust bearings. The only noise now is from the shaft tubes which only have phosphor bronze bushes at either end. Can't do anything about that but it's not to bad.
I made a couple of PTFE washers that fit between the props and the P brackets which prevents a metal to metal contact without adding to any friction.
The prop shaft fairings were made from 1mm Aluminium sheet.
All this has lead to a very quiet system at 11500 rpm dry. I'm well pleased.


It's back to the front seats now, which I'm not looking forward to at all.


Some photos of the work.


Mike.




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RST

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Re: Transmission completed but Front Seats on hold.
« Reply #94 on: December 06, 2019, 09:57:14 pm »

Think you need to link this with previous build posts?


Looks nice, but not sure what your issues were! LoL
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RST

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Re: Transmission completed but Front Seats on hold.
« Reply #95 on: December 06, 2019, 09:59:15 pm »

PS is that acoustic foam?  Not sure that's a good idea in a wooden hull. It will trap and hold moisture like crazy?
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ukmike

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Re: Transmission completed but Front Seats on hold.
« Reply #96 on: December 06, 2019, 10:18:04 pm »

PS is that acoustic foam?  Not sure that's a good idea in a wooden hull. It will trap and hold moisture like crazy?
The foam is closed cell, tried it before fitting it, doesn't absorb water.
You are right about linking the posts together, unfortunately I don't know how to do it.
Noise was my concern but that's no longer a problem.
Mike.

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RST

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Re: Transmission completed but Front Seats on hold.
« Reply #97 on: December 06, 2019, 10:23:34 pm »

Water will get by every single knook and cranny by capillary action on the surfaces for sure. What has been so bad about the noise so far?
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ukmike

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Re: Transmission completed but Front Seats on hold.
« Reply #98 on: December 06, 2019, 10:39:05 pm »

It will get by every single knook and cranny by capillary action on the surfaces for sure. What has been so bad about the noise so far?
With the hull being 1.25mtrs long and plank on frame Mahogany construction it acted like an accoustic guitar soundbox when the motors were running. Totally unacceptable to me so I have now successfully cured the problem, even to the point where the foam could be removed, although it's not hurting anything being left in place. And yes I do know that it would have been somewhat quieter when in the water but I had to do something about it, which I have.
Mike.
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Martin [Admin]

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Re: Biggish Aquarama Special build
« Reply #99 on: December 07, 2019, 12:33:50 am »


Topics merged!   :-))
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