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Author Topic: Ballast  (Read 1912 times)

Michael metcalf

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Ballast
« on: April 24, 2020, 10:02:32 am »

Hi all hope everyone is staying safe.
What are people using as ballast for their models?
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rickles23

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2020, 10:26:13 am »

Hi,


I use lead shot from a gunsmiths and I can get 30 kilos at a time.


Or if it is a small boat I put in battery packs.


Regards
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RST

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2020, 11:02:38 am »

Quote
What are people using as ballast for their models?

...everything from water (free flooding), water in tubs, lead sheet, lead shot, lead balls, steel shot, nuts, bolts, washers, pennies, 2p pieces, spare cents from EU, steel plate, concrete in bags, SLA or AGM batteries, Ni-Mh batteries, my career shortly.
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Taranis

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2020, 11:34:47 am »

I use a combination of lead shot in resin and lead shot in small resealable bags that can be moved or adjusted.
Very important not to overdo it with fixed in resin as extremely hard to remedy if too much


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Re: Ballast
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2020, 12:47:40 pm »

I use left-over roofing lead as either flat sheets in the bottom of the boat secured with a dab of silicone or I melt it into the frog of a brick to make removable ingots for ballasting large models.
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roycv

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2020, 01:18:28 pm »

I go for the old lead sheeting, I also roll up 2p pieces and make and glue a paper tube around them.  The 2p pieces are steel try a magnet on them!
Lead shot on average with the airgaps in between is much the same weight as mild steel bar for the same volume.
 I have heard depleted uranium can be a bit dodgy!

regards
Roy


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Tug Fanatic

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2020, 01:45:27 pm »


I go for the old lead sheeting, I also roll up 2p pieces and make and glue a paper tube around them.  The 2p pieces are steel try a magnet on them!
Lead shot on average with the airgaps in between is much the same weight as mild steel bar for the same volume.
 I have heard depleted uranium can be a bit dodgy!

regards
Roy

What you say about the volume weight of lead shot & steel might be true but it is easy to make lead shot/ epoxy fit an exact 3D shape but not so easy with a roll of 2p coins. In the real world I can get my c of g lower with lead shot than coins.

I also use lead cast in brick frogs.

Roycv & Plastic
How much lead is left on you local church roofs for your next models?
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roycv

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2020, 01:51:56 pm »

My lead is all 'flashy'.  Take your point about coins but in last boat, I made out of the way spaces take a roll of coins (on each side) but I usually make model boats < 3 feet loa now so not so much of a problem.

 I sometimes have steel lengths and these can be buried low and are part of the strength of the boat so doubling up on their jobs.  I normally calculate the expected displacement ahead of the build so can anticipate needs.
regards
Roy
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Buccaneer

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #8 on: April 24, 2020, 02:01:10 pm »

I use lead shot from a local gun shop, comes in a plastic can of about 3 litres so plenty there. Put it in small plastic boxes and glue them down or in plastic bags. Also Lead Flashing from the local builders merchant.
Lead Flashing weighs about 11 gram per cc, Lead Shot is about 8 gram per cc.
John
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Tug Fanatic

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #9 on: April 24, 2020, 02:36:07 pm »

A friend used these 100mm x 30mm x5mm Galvanised straps cut into convenient lengths which seemed to work well & be easily available.


https://www.toolstation.com/heavy-duty-strap-flat/p50096#reviewTab
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Big Ada

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2020, 05:08:46 pm »

I use Water = 4 x 4pint Milk Bottles go in the Bow section of my Big Boat ( now 20 foot long ).
There is a lot to be said for creating a Free Flooding section of the Hull.

Len.
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Tug Fanatic

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2020, 12:58:03 pm »

I use Water = 4 x 4pint Milk Bottles go in the Bow section of my Big Boat ( now 20 foot long ).
There is a lot to be said for creating a Free Flooding section of the Hull.

Len.
This tug tow model uses water in various containers but mostly 5l. See 2nd picture
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ballastanksian

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2020, 01:55:29 pm »


I use scrap lead flashing and new flashing I bought years ago when it was cheaper. I am now looking at what you folks do for when the supply runs out.


I fancy the idea of iron bar for larger models suitably coated for rust protection (though in normal circumstances, it will outlive me before rusting away!)


A word of caution if using bricks or concrete as moulds for Lead weights. Make sure they are really really dry as there is a risk of water trapped in gaps between stones and aggregate 'exploding' and causing lead to splatter about and on you. So do wear eye/ face protection and good clothes to prevent burns. Two blokes in America (Acorn to Arabella) pouring a keel weight for a real yacht found that out a few years back but I cannot find the video showing this which is annoying  >:-o 
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Mike S

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2020, 04:49:27 pm »

I use lead flashing, obtained in roll form from the Roofing section in the local  B&Q shed, (UK DIY chain). One roll does a number of models, and is easy to cut with tin snips, and 'moulds' to the contours of the hull. I use silicon bathroom sealant as 'stickum'.


Mike.
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radiojoe

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2020, 06:47:48 pm »


Another hobby of mine for many years is air gunning so I've built up two buckets of spent lead pellets these recycle nicely as ballast.  :-))




Joe.
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cdnfurball

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #15 on: May 07, 2020, 12:45:08 am »

I bought in bulk, approximately 5 kilo's of of BB's ( bird shot ).   It's small enough to spread out.  I also pour the epoxy over it to seal and keep it in place.   It fits nicely along the keel and the smaller spots up near the pointy end.
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Geoff

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Re: Ballast
« Reply #16 on: May 07, 2020, 04:55:34 pm »

I often use concrete as you can cast it into any shape or just pour it in the model. Paint it when dry to stop any dust. If the model is lined with cling film it won't stick so can be removed. In my opinion concrete works well as it doesn't have too low a center of gravity which can make boats bob around a bit.


Otherwise I go for lead sheet as its easily cut and folded.


Cheers


Geoff
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