Hi Guys,

“Marge”

After making “Flora” and finding that the slightest breeze took over all control despite my efforts to control it.
I tinkered about a bit with it but was unable to add weight as it was already just above the water line and more weight would sink it.
It was a shame as i was looking forward to messing around with it in Big Blue.

My mind started rattling again, and i thought if i made something a bit bigger so that it would take
Proper RC Equipment that would be heaver.

So i started tinkering about with some card and tape and came up with a hull shape that i thought would do the job.

The photo with the brown keel was me tinkering with the idea of having a thruster for and aft.

No plans/drawings so I am not sure what it is going to look like so i will let it do it own thing.

Again i will be using whatever i have lying around including margarine tubs and a few bits of ice-cream tub and a dash of yogurt pot.

This will definitely not going to be a scale model.

I plan on using two small motor pods from a child’s toy submarine as the main drive.

So were we go a quick blog on the building of “Marge”

Transferred the first card template to a scrap piece of plastic sheet from an ice cream tub, cut it out and decided to use the stitch and glue method without the stitch. ( Used tape instead.)

Transferred the second card template to plastic but it is strange how it fitted ok in card but when transferred to the stiffer plastic it was not a good fit.

So after a lot of tinkering i got it to fit.

I have now decided to bin the card templates and just WING IT.

Card mockup and first part of the plastic hill.

Martin555.

Hi Guys,

As mentioned before i am using the little pods from a child’s toy submarine.

I decided that i would try and make them look like Azimuth thrusters.

After numerous attempts and plenty of swearing i eventual made the cone’s using the scrap plastic.

I am starting to get the feeling that this is one of those models that don’t want to get built LOL!

Also made the control horns.

The end result after a bit more swearing.

Martin555.

Hi Guys,

My speed controllers are made by using a couple of servos that had striped gears.

I remover the motors but left the pots attached to the PCB’s as i have no more resistors to replace them with.

Again using scrap plastic from the tubs i made a couple of cases to house the bits and pieces in.

Cut down a couple of wall plugs to use as knobs so that i can zero the motors.

Martin555.

Continuing with the hull.

This thing seems to of taken over and is preventing me from working on U552.

I have to try and get everything to fit inside before i glue the deck on, as it will be very difficult with the deck on.

Glued the two speed controllers to the inside and some tabs to stop things moving about.

Test fitted every thing in place.

It was at this stage that a bit more swearing took place as the one and only small servo i have stoped working.

After stripping the servo down i found a broken wire on the PCB.

So now back on tract with the tests.

Everything worked well and the deck was then glued on.

Quite a bit of tinkering was required to get this looking like a proper hull.
Added stiffeners, slots and fenders.

I temporally slapped a bit of paint on the hull at what i thought would be the waterline, i was not far out.
So at the moment it looks like she will float LOL!!.

Martin555.

Hi Guys,

A good friend sent me some plans for a different Tug so i will be using some ideas from them.

Again using plastic from a Margarine tub.

Just a little word of warning, if you plan on using Margarine and Ice cream Tubs it is best to sand the surfaces as the shine tends to stop the liquid poly glue from doing it job properly.

Marked out the windows and doors and lightly drilled a 3mm hole in the corners of each door and window then cut out the insides with a scalpel.
Filed and sanded to the right shape.

I went together well considering this Margarine tubs plastic is about 0.5 to 0.7mm thick.

Made a fitted the funnel and forward stowage.

Martin555.

Navigation Lights and Mast running light.

To make these LED’s look more like Navigation lights, I file off the domed top than super glue some scrap plastic to the top, this prevents the light shining out through the top.

When the glue has gone off i file around the led to get the required shape.
After painting they look a little better.

Martin555.

Hi Guys,

Made using scrap plastic and sprue from U552 plus a little bit of wire.
Also made a few fitting and attached them to the superstructure.

Martin555.

Hi Guys,

A bit more tinkering to be done but she is taking shape now.

Martin555.

Hi Guys,

The windows are big enough to be able to see in so i had to tinker about a bit and make some sort of interior.
I did not go mad i did just enough to fill the cap.

Martin555.

Hi Guys,

Well here she is finished.

It was at this point that i realised i had forgotten to put a light in the wheelhouse.
Unfortunately now that the wheelhouse is all glued in i cannot change it without damaging it.
As i will not be using this at night i don’t think i will worry about it.

A little more tinkering might be required so next is ballasting, basin trials, that sae trials in Big Blue.

All in all besides a few swear words i have enjoyed making this little Tug.

Now i must get back to working on U552 or HMS Cottesmore. Maybe!

Martin555.