Model Boat Mayhem

Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length.
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug  (Read 9213 times)

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« on: December 09, 2017, 04:30:53 am »

First post here, not sure where to start or what thread to post in. (mods feel free to move this if needed.) A long time ago I was into 1/35th scale military and won a few awards at shows and as a member of the IMPS. Then I got into RC cars, then into real cars...and the list goes on an on. Long story short, family member got an RC boat, I just had to match him, and after a couple of days of flipping my high speed boat way out in the lake, I decided to get a recovery tug.



Picked up a lightly damaged Aquacraft Atlantic II tug off ebay. (I could have gone with the Southampton tug, but I got a good deal with the Atlantic instead.) The boat is entirely sufficient to do what I need it to do, but I was never one to leave stuff well alone. I will be modifying it to look more like a sea tug (not trying to keep it true to form of any particular tug) and just have fun building it.


Step 1 is to remove the bridge, scale accessories, and the deck. I initially just sliced the handrail off the lip of the hull with an X-acto, then used a jigsaw on low speed to trim away the deck. Next step will be to use a sanding disc to remove the remaining deck material from the inside edge of the hull.
Logged

unbuiltnautilus

  • Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,154
  • Location: Portsmouth, England, third rock from the Sun....
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2017, 07:39:37 pm »

Ruining a perfectly good model, this looks like my sort of post! I shall be watching the project develop with interest :-))
Logged
Listen politely, nod approvingly, then do what you want, works for me!

Neil

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,334
  • Location: near Fleetwood
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2017, 10:52:38 pm »


Ruining a perfectly good model, this looks like my sort of post! I shall be watching the project develop with interest :-))


 {-) {-) {-) ..........you guys have more imagination than me.........but I like these old yankee harbour tugs..........will watch with glee and enjoyment..........is it all made from ABS plastic.
Logged

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2017, 01:43:26 am »


 {-) {-) {-) .......is it all made from ABS plastic.


The hull and deck is actually nicely made of fiberglass. Looks solid overall. Nothing wrong with it other than I want a different style tugboat.
Logged

Neil

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1,334
  • Location: near Fleetwood
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2017, 02:15:31 pm »



The hull and deck is actually nicely made of fiberglass.


that surprises me.!
Logged

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #5 on: December 28, 2017, 06:09:11 am »

progress. Found a neat looking tug "Ocean Tundra" that I will base my project on. My hull isn't quite the right shape (bow shape being the biggest difference to the real tug) but it gives me something to reference. Since I don't plan on making an exact copy, I have plenty of leeway on design. But I do like blue. So thats a start.

In photoshop I superimposed a picture of the tug over the hull of the Atlantic to get an idea of where to begin, matching the water lines together and merging the scale. Then I erased away to find a common line.


Then I printed the picture out, sprayed a bit of white paint to make it easier to see my line, and marked where to cut.






Used a dremel with a plastic cutting blade the trim off the excess. No turning back now!



Made a template out of poster board and glued some graph paper to it so I can better guesstimate where to put the superstructure. In this picture it looks weird, but the paper cutout IS actually symmetrical. I rounded out the bow shape a little bit to closer mimic the real deal. Tonight I started making a laminate of 3/32" bass wood strips to lay down for decking. Immediately realized that the superglue leaked through the seams and I glued it to my work bench.  :((  So thats where I will start tomorrow. Prying my deck off the workbench.
Logged

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2018, 06:38:57 am »


I've been busy plugging away slowly at this build. Collected several important parts, such as an upgraded prop with 3/16" shaft, u-joint, motor and gearbox, and a 3 ch radio.

Logged

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2018, 06:30:57 am »


Progress report
  • Bulkheads out of 1/4" plywood.
  • Reinforced the hull with fiberglass (the were a few cracks in the hull...I purchased it as a 'damaged item')
  • Got the prop shaft installed, bent up an oil tube to fit through the deck opening (more on that later.)
  • Made a platform to hold the battery and electronics.
  • Liberal doses of 2-part epoxy, and sealed up the wood with polyurethane.
  • Maybe install a sound board
I'm not looking to win any awards, just having fun building up a little recovery boat.




Trial-fit of various components.



Logged

Captain fizz

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 275
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: Oakham Rutland
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2018, 01:20:01 pm »

That's coming along rather well, loved the photoshop idea of the superimposed image.
Logged

ballastanksian

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6,447
  • Model Boat Mayhem inspires me!
  • Location: Crewkerne
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2018, 10:24:22 pm »

If you like the look of it then that is the most important thing. After all, it is you who have put all the hours of work in and have taken the enjoyment and warm fuzzy feeling of acheivement out  :-))

Logged
Pond weed is your enemy

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2018, 05:50:27 am »


Fun part was being 95% sure the below-deck area was complete and time to attach the deck and splash guard around the main compartment. Plenty of wood glue and 2-part epoxy to seal it up. The splash guard looks really weird in this picture, its just an optical illusion.
The hole over the rudder gear will be sealed with a bolt-on hatch.

Logged

unbuiltnautilus

  • Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,154
  • Location: Portsmouth, England, third rock from the Sun....
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #11 on: February 16, 2018, 08:13:18 pm »

This is promising to be interesting. Tidy work so far.
Logged
Listen politely, nod approvingly, then do what you want, works for me!

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #12 on: March 29, 2018, 06:28:46 am »

Working slowly on the deck. Sealed it all up with sanding sealer and filled a few seams with automotive body filler. For the gunwale I'm using aluminum that's about 1.8mm thick. Makes it easy to form the curves and stays in shape once bent. The port side pieces are already cut and just need to be bent. Once its all epoxied on, I'll sand around the edges to blend the lower edges into the deck and top it with some body filler.
Not a true replica of the Ocean Tundra but having fun regardless





Logged

ironman123

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: Central Texas
Re: Introduction with new build
« Reply #13 on: March 29, 2018, 07:16:49 pm »

Looking great.  Very nice transformation of the aqua craft tug.
Logged

tigertiger

  • Global Moderator
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 7,748
  • Location: Kunming, city of eternal springtime, SW China.
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #14 on: March 30, 2018, 01:04:21 am »

***Topic moved and title modified***
Logged
The only stupid question is the one I didn't ask

hama

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 717
  • Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #15 on: March 30, 2018, 10:03:49 am »

This looks great! What a transformation 
, looking forward to updates.
Hama
Logged

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #16 on: October 02, 2018, 01:26:30 am »

a few months later...used a 1/4" thick length of copper tube as a skeg. Cut up a paint pen for the gunwale. Plenty of automotive body filler, sand, more filler, sand...repeat. Got sick of it being so ugly and finally sprayed some primer to get a better sense of where I am now. Bought a neat little 3D printed rudder off ebay. Still need a little more work around the edges, then I can finally get on with the other fun things, such as....anything other than applying body filler and sanding.
















Logged

unbuiltnautilus

  • Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,154
  • Location: Portsmouth, England, third rock from the Sun....
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #17 on: October 04, 2018, 11:15:46 pm »

Looking much better than the original donor vessel. Only worry being with the reduced draught, will you have to be careful not to add too much weight during the build? Still, it looks great :-))
Logged
Listen politely, nod approvingly, then do what you want, works for me!

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #18 on: October 05, 2018, 12:59:41 am »

thanks for feedback. I'm not too concerned with weight, in fact if it sits a little lower than the original waterline, I would be happy. This is about the look I am going for

Logged

unbuiltnautilus

  • Portsmouth Model Boat Display Team
  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 3,154
  • Location: Portsmouth, England, third rock from the Sun....
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #19 on: October 05, 2018, 07:17:40 pm »

That looks just superb, good luck as construction moves on :-))

Logged
Listen politely, nod approvingly, then do what you want, works for me!

mark w

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 272
  • "I stick my neck out for nobody"
  • Location: Whittier, CA.
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #20 on: October 17, 2018, 06:46:12 am »

Very interesting, and well done conversion  :-)) .


Mark
Logged
"If she can stand it, I can too, play it"

jeff351

  • Shipmate
  • *
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 16
  • Model Boat Mayhem is Great!
  • Location: South Carolina USA
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #21 on: May 09, 2019, 04:40:36 am »




Slowly making progress.
Logged

mark w

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 272
  • "I stick my neck out for nobody"
  • Location: Whittier, CA.
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #22 on: May 19, 2019, 04:47:32 pm »

Lookin' good.


Mark
Logged
"If she can stand it, I can too, play it"

hama

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 717
  • Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #23 on: May 19, 2019, 06:56:16 pm »

Amazing what you've done to that boat! Looking forward to the next update .
Hama
Logged

chum444

  • Full Mayhemer
  • *****
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 239
  • Location: Cape Cod Massachusetts
Re: Introduction with new build-Aquacraft Atlantic II tug
« Reply #24 on: May 19, 2019, 11:13:46 pm »

I love it!, Buy a boat that you want only for the hull & use it to build something pleasing to your eye. Obviously you could see how the hull form would work for you. Progress photos please.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
 

Page created in 0.09 seconds with 22 queries.