RC Sailing No.118 - Out of Lockdown ! . 4th April 2021
RC Sailing No.118 - Out of Lockdown ! . 4th April 2021
Forgot my gloves ! - Forgot to charge the boat ! - Forgot how to set Gopro ! - at least we got a few clips of video - out of lockdown al last !.
Nice to see Bill & Ben back sculling on the Pavilion Gardens in Buxton !.
We've all done that sort of thing, Ian, 😁, I've got to the flying field or pond on numerous occasions, only to find I've brought the wrong battery, (or forgotten it) wrong TX (have 2 almost identical HK TXs) forgotten spanners, screw drivers, -you name it.
Well, it's been 6 months since the last video at SMBC... but we're back at the lake tomorrow with Scale & Sail (if it's windy) and socially distanced on the lakeside... so hopefully we will have some footage to share of the boats, maybe even some new boats? in the meantime here's a link to the last video I did. Enjoy
This is the four foot Sterling model of the Chris Craft Corvette with sound module installed. I was able to reupload the video after using "Handbrake" software. Appears youtube doesnt like lower resolution videos.
The balsa is quite thick but good idea to line the inside with polyester resin either with standard glass cloth or I find it easier to mix talcum powder with the resin to a thick paste then paint on. The outside coated only with the liquid resin without glass as with the glass theres lots of very messy sanding and re finishing.
First time in the water for my 1/48 scratch built model of MV Overchurch Mersey Ferry. No extra ballast required and she responded well to the transmitter.
Hi David,
Nice model, good that she doesn't need any ballast, presumably it's because she is relatively beamy. You are lucky to have somewhere to sail her, there's nowhere open around me.
Finally got a good day to try the new brushless motor. Boat goes 100% better now (if a bit noisier) 3s 25c 2200mAh liPo got a bit too hot, so probably need to up the C rate to 40 to keep it cooler (maybe install a fan as it's closed under the seat) It's pushing a 6lb boat with a 26mm jet with a 3000kV brushless so it has an excuse to get hot, (only got down to 3.7V/cell after that run, so not too bad). Runs with a more scale look now which is what I wanted. Took a bit of experimenting, but got there in the end. Thermostatic cooling fans for the motor worked well, and within 10 mins the motor was cool. Only used around 2/3 throttle so as not to stress the coupling too much (you can hear it protest a few times, - silicone tube slips slightly making it squeal)- automatic rev limiter😁
Sorry, vid is blurry again ☹️ (original's fine -HD) but something happens when it goes through my movie editor then to YT. Keep procrastinating about getting a better camera (or maybe it's just the editor. - More experimenting, this is getting tedious😐
Hi Ron, haven't spent a huge amount due to the fact that all the electrical bits are very cheap ($1 ea for a voltage reg, $8-12 for a pump, $30 ea for a motor (bought 2 as the first was not fast enough) and jet unit, $15 for the ESC, a few JST plugs and wire, $3 smoke pen, few lengths of silicone tube etc, plus balsa and f/glass, -probably not a lot more than NZ $200. A lot of things you buy of course like resin and paint, usually have to be bought in bigger quantities than you would use on one model, and may be used on other projects, so it's hard to work out an exact cost. I think the hull was the most expensive part, due to the cost of balsa and resin.
Mostly a lot of time, (hate to work out the labour cost on any model at going rates,- probably in the thousands)!
Fitted a new bottom skin fitting for the water pump pickup(air/water/exhaust smoke system) - removing the pickup from the jet, as flow stopped when the jet stopped. Fitted a new transom skin fitting (RH side transom) for the ESC cooler exit, and took the water from the jet pickup for the ESC cooler. Everything seems to work well now, with the ESC water flow increasing with throttle. Now for a test on a decent day, (has to start with the rain and wind now, doesn't it?☹️)
Set the new Surpass 3000KV 36 diam finned in-runner up in the boat, and did a tank test. Lots more power than the HV brushed 1200kv 550, but with higher idle. Re-did the reinforced silicone coupling and fitted a small collar to the inner end of the motor shaft to hold the tube from moving forward against the motor, as with the extra torque of the in-runner, it was trying to twist the tube off the shafts. Seems to be hanging in there static which is a promising sign. Once running, the load will come off which should help.
Runs full at around 4A and the battery holds at around 3.8v/ cell )alarm is set at 3.6 for safety, (as a sort of rev limiter) performance should improve a bit now. Have to wait till tomorrow as the restrictions end at 6am Sunday, (then have to hope for good weather for the test) The prop in the jet is a 28mm 3 blade racing prop which I modified to fit. Don't think I'm going to get much more out of the jet unit without it exploding😁, (it's only plastic I think, not GRP), - might have to buy a back-up and fit it with better quality bearings etc. If the jet was in the usual 'plastic' 24" toys it would be a rocket, but it's pushing 6lbs which is a challenge😀
Note the police chase outside in the background😁- always action around here, lots of hoons in cars😁
I trial fitted a thermal switch to the fans in the dummy motor, which is mounted on the 540 motor. It starts the dual fans at 30deg C and switches off at around 20deg C. Bit hard to hear in the vid (plus the YT transfer removed the middle of the vid, -there was a gap before I put the soldering iron on again,- and at the end don't know why it does this, - doesn't like the format I think😠) Anyhoo, not doing it 3 times! (clipped the end 10 secs off the previous try as well😠)
Fan switch is powered at 8v via a small voltage reg from the main battery (3s 2200 20c) and works pretty well. All fully hortomatic like😊
Then you can mix and match to your hearts content,😊
as long as you don't forget to take the adaptors with you! 😭
😎
JB