"Searcher" was a Graham Goodchild design offered as a free plan in "Model Boats" in December 1981. Here is my version , many years in the building and finally nearing completion. Access to the hull on the original design was via a hatch above the cockpit - I had no faith in my ability to make it water tight so went for removable grp. hatches. The model is activated by a reed switch just in front of the rear hatch, which saves me the hassle of doing/undoing all the nuts (this had not been fitted when I took the first picture). The rear hatch gives me easier access to the drive coupling. The name "Nimbus2" is in honour of one of Dan Dare's spaceships in the Eagle comic. The third picture shows the ship in its final state with added 'enhancements' and working lights.
Boat is Scratch built 36" British Power Boat 64ft High Speed ASR Launch which belonged to the RNZAF. The launch was one of the 22 built and was shipped to NZ in 1940. it was the only one of its type in the Southern Hemisphere. Model has twin motors, ESCs, sound units etc. Has remotely switched water pump for water cooled brushless 2000kv in runner motors and remotely switched lighting. Uses 2x 2200mah 2s LiPos for drive and 1 1800mah LiPo for the pump (also a separate battery for the LED lights. Boat is built with strip planked balsa on ply frame and fiber glassed. Deck is ply, wheelhouse is varnished balsa. The colour is as it was for most of its time in the RNZAF . Took about 5 years on and off to build and finished it last year. (please ignore the time date - can't get rid of it .
This is my scratch built 36" RNZAF British Power Boat 64' HSL (arrived in NZ 1940). I actually went on board this vessel in 1968 when it was still in original form (the RNZAF having disposed of it in the 50s) This vessel is still around and has been recently re modelled (2nd time since early 70s) and I was lucky last year to have met the present owner and go on board (2nd time in 49yrs!)and take a few photos. The vessel was modified a number of times by the RNZAF over the years (air intakes, removal of the fore deck machine guns, wheelhouse turret etc so I sort of went in the middle. I found a few drawings of the type in an old mag which had side and top views plus the bulkheads and their positions, so I took them along to a copying shop and kept enlarging them until I had the desired proportions. This worked out quite well and using a few methods from other models I had built, managed to frame (ply) the hull and then fully strip plank it in balsa. it was then fiber glassed. The deck is ply, lined and varnish stained. The wheelhouse is varnished balsa with the top removable for access. The wheelhouse interior has detail such as controls, instrument panels, skipper, steps to wardroom etc but is not too detailed as it is not seen. The boat has full lighting by remote switch, lights are all LED.
The propulsion side has dual everything (motors, ESCs, sound units), would have had 3x but ran out of space! Motors are 28mm 2200Kv water jacketed in-runners (cooled by remotely switched pump) using 30A Chinese ESCs (have 5A BEC, Fwd and Rev). Twin sound units are 'GT Power' car units which have around 40 different sound selections, from Cosworths to diesels and are computer programmable (as well as manually on the unit ) for various functions. I am using one of the v8 sounds (8 cyls short in my application) which I think is as near as you are going to get to 3 Napier Sea Lions (for which there is obviously no sound available) They 'start' 'Idle' and are fully proportional in fwd and rev and can sound quite realistic (will attempt to put up a vid later).
Batteries are 2x 2200mah 2s 20c LiPos which will last around 2hrs at least of sailing (they also run the sound units) Still have a few small things left to do (have just made wheelhouse air intakes) but don't want to get too fiddly. Just want to keep it a practical model.
Thanks for the kind comments. Planking did take a couple of days but was not done all that neatly (just clamp and cyno) as I was glassing it later - it was all thin resin coated inside to seal it). Planking was just a hint at the original so you could just make out the planks through the glass. Have included a few more pics of the motors and interior which is not that flash but is unseen, (more for the fact that I had seen the original and was sort of putting down what I remembered from when I was 15) There is a small picture at the top left of the stairs which on the original, was a Photo from an HSL looking off the Stbd rear 1/4, to 2 64ft HSLs side by side climbing over its wake at speed
The stair set is the original from the wheelhouse to wardroom, which has been kept and used again by the present owner (down to utility room in front of engine room) and still has the original 'POWER BOAT' rubber treads (not bad nick for 79yrs old!)
A short video of the first trial of my Genesis 9000 Offshore Power Boat. This is a boat to use whilst I build others.
The trial was seriously hampered by a faulty main switch. The insides must have fallen apart during transportation. I did manage to get an electrical contact to get around five minutes of the trial. The boat ran well but I will have to adjust the rudder to give more movement. Just after the video ended, the boat hit a ripple whilst turning and flipped over. No water entered the hull so all was good, except the switch now refused to work at all. The trial was ended and unfortunately will now have to wait until I return to my river in August.😤
I agree with the weight being shifted forward a iittle bit.Bow high in a catamaran will catch too much air causing the boat to flip.All it takes is a good gust of wind.Good speed on the boat.After trials you'll have a good fast boat.
I have brought the wiring home we with me. I will change the switch and take it back with me in August.
I must admit that I thought the stern was a bit low in the water. To evenly distribute the weight, I put in two batteries as suggested. I will try to move the batteries forward to change the centre of gravity.😊
SPECIFICATION:RG65
Total lenght:650mm
Beam:150mm
Mast height :915mm
Overal height: 1338mm
RTR total weigh:1290g (without 4pcs AA batteries)
Hull material Plastic
Sail material : Mylar
INCLUDED:
*Completed hull with pre applied graphics.
*Two milar film sail sets
*Carbon fiber masts and booms ]2Rigs]
*Zinc alloy ballast and aluminium alloy fin
*Powerful sail winch
*Metal gear rudder servo
*Battery box an On/Off switch for receiver
*AA Nimh batteries 2200mAh for transmitter and
*rc/radio FrskyTaranis 2.4Ghz
Building a German Police launch right now and thought that the radar scanner components were a bit 'heath robinsonish', so decided to see if I could make an alternative unit.
Photo 1 shows the Radar scanner parts obtained from MMB (ebay) for the princely sum of ONE POUND !!!!! plus 28p postage, and construction is of a medium soft resin that isn't prone to breaking or splitting when shaped or drilled, and a short length of 2mm brass rod becomes the drive shaft. This particular unit has a 44mm sweep bar but there are many other sizes available
Photo 2 shows the drive motor which operates on voltages between 1.5 and 6v, ideal for the control driver which is the next item. Available from saih.tan on Ebay for under 7 pounds, and if the motor is mounted on a removable bracket as I have done, this unit can be used in several models without the need for major 'surgery', the motor and radar shaft being connected with a short piece of rubber tubing
Photo 3 shows the receiver driven radar motor speed control which operates from an auxiliary receiver channel and takes the motor voltage from the main receiver supply, thus obviating the need for a separate supply and switch.
This unit is available from www.mr-rcworld.co.uk and costs a staggering 14.50 post free sheesh !
I must add here that I am in NO way connected to any of the suppliers mentioned here, but just though some other modellers may be interested in 'home brew' accessories and suchlike.
Nice sunny Sunday Sail at Boundary Park so took the Crash Tender for a spin
28XX brushless 11.1v 2200 Lipo 35mm three blade brass prop.
Uses 30 amp cars ESC with small fan.
Tx set to 55% on throttle otherwise it takes off. Rudder throw at 50% for same reason. Switchable to 100% for slow speed manouvers.
Great fun.
Dave
Scratch built 2016 no plans built from ships drawings and paintings.Twin props Maiden at Llandrindod Wells lake 20/8/2016.Ps nearly lost it bilge pump accidentally switched on drained battery thankfully got it back just. 😯 😰
HMT Confident built by my late father, Scratch built over two and half years. Twin 65mm props driven via a scratch built gearbox by one 800 size motor. Original 2 channel Sanwa radio fitted and working fine. Lights, working radar, water canon, winch, horn and bow thruster all of the 2 channel by using the trims and micro switches.
Here's a few more pics showing my home made winch from a Lego 9volt motor unit which is controlled by a servo and two micro switches. There's a ring on the deck line that all the sail lines are tied onto. Cheers Lubber. PS. The large mainsail is counter ballanced by the deep hull shape right aft. Regards.
A scratch built model of a Gloucester USA fishing schooner 1900 era. Pine plank on frame, 2 channel radio with a Lego 9volt drive unit as sail winch controlled each way by servo and micro switches, the deck is planked on a thin ply sub-deck and deck openings are sealed with Vaseline. The deep keel slides up into a box through the keel and secured with a bolt.
HI Lubberland,
A boat after my own heart! Looks really good. Like the level of detail, even if you can't see it on the water. Which sails are controlled by the winch?
How successful is the sailing peformance with all that sail area aft?
HI there Cap'n Jim, Glad you like it. The sails are all controlled by the winch line round the after deck. I'll try to post some pics soon, Cheers, Lubber.
