Hi everyone
This is my first post on this forum. I looked at the beginners section and that isn't quite me. I have been an active model boater since the mid-80's but stopped for one reason or another in around 2005 and I haven't touched a model boat since. So why am I back you might ask?
Despite the fact that I've not really touched a boat since 2005 I maintained my membership of Potteries Model Boat Club - even though I have not been to a single meeting - on the basis that 'you never know'. So I doubt that many of the current membership will know me and its the club AGM tomorrow night and so I just might turn up!
So, why now? Well I would describe myself as an all round modeller, something I started as a child. So for the last 15 years I have got back into my real passion which is plastic model aircraft. I'm a member of the IPMS and I have an unbuilt stash of around 1,500 kits - these things happen! I'm a member of Britmodeller and the Large Scale Planes forums. In January this year I developed an interest in 1/16 r/c tanks so you'll find me on the rctankwarfare site as well. I currently have 8 'improved' tanks and I have 'several more' to tackle.
So why boats? A mate on Britmodeller and I were chatting via Personal Message and the subject of Clyde Puffers came up and I mentioned Caldercraft. Then it was a case of 'How much does a Puffer cost?' and so I looked on that 'money sink' known as eBay for a Caldercraft Puffer. Nothing much of interest there except how much the things cost now (!) But what caught my eye was a built example of Imara, on sale for renovation. Now a friend in PMBC built an Imara 17 or 18 years ago with two Cheddar V4's (or were they V-twin's?) and a big boiler and it was (is?) one hell of a boat. Now I know how much the kit costs new and I'm not that proud when it comes to completing part built models or doing renovations so I decided to have a punt and I won the auction. I'm making a 300 mile round trip tomorrow to pick it up and then I'll know just how good or bad it is but the photos show it has a pair of motors - but I don't know if they're 900's. There's a gel cell battery, a rudder servo and an rx battery pack but no speed controllers. Now, as luck would have it I have a Spectrum T5 combo - I need to find a switch harness and rx battery pack and I need a charger for the Tx (it only runs on 4.8v which is a new one for me!) I also have a Robbe Futaba F14 but I don't know where the Tx pack is - I can see that I cut the molex plug off the dry cell battery holder so I must have a rechargeable pack somewhere! Likewise I should have a pair of Rx's but I can only find one. But I do have the multi switch module and the left and right fore and aft sticks are both rigged as throttle levers (Not a Navy twin stick). I also have an Action Motor/rudder mixer module. So, my plan is to get hold of two 30 amp ESC's to plug into the mixer and to use the T5 system, at least at first. I think the boat deserves a smoke unit - but which one? - and internal, nav and towing lights and I don't necessarily need these to be controlled by the Tx. It would also be good to have a couple of sound modules but can you get a module for a 3 cylinder steam Plant? Anyway, I find myself back into the r/c model boat saddle and, after 15 years, some things have changed so I definitely have a few questions that need answers! Huzzah!!