While I'm at it I have put up this video of my tug. I had been having problems with this and I completely replaced everything inside. Turns out the rudder servo was dodgy and the motor, a geared 500 was far too poky. It now performs beautifully and very quietly. Obviously it's an old Graupner Bugsier but refurbished by me to look a bit more like a British tug. The motor is a low noise 500 with direct drive mounted on a rubber sheet - the only noise is a whine from the esc.
My grandson Michael helped me build this kit last winter. We had fun researching existing tug boats of the era, and upgrading some of the details. After the bath tub test, I changed from direct drive to a 3:1 ratio motor to keep it running at a scale speed.
This film was taken on our home lake at Needham Market . Originally an I.C powered boat I have converted to single brushless motor on a direct drive 48mm prop , single rudder . Powered by 2*5000mah 4 cell lipos . As you can see I am very pleased with its performance . 😎
These are originally an I.C kit 1/6 scale , there is a company in Germany still making them believe they are called MHZ. I think I've scene them in 1/8 and 1/35 scale too . Also other builders have used water jet drives on films I've watched . This one is running on brushless motor normal prop and direct drive as all my boats have so far . Keeps the cost of spare parts down %uD83D%uDE0E%uD83D%uDC4D
Fighting Cock was one of the fleet of North West Tugs (Liverpool Screw Towing and Lighterage Company) steam tugs, built by Cammell Laird in 1953. The model is built on a Kingston Mouldings Sun tug hull, the superstructure is scratchbuilt from styrene, with many fittings from Mobile Marine Models. The motor was 'rescued' from a mainframe computer data drive, and is direct drive to the propeller. Power is from 12V gell cell batteries with a speed control by EA Electronics. Both hull and motor were given to my father many many years ago, and the model was completed approx 7 years ago.
Built from a Traplet plan 2012, all wood construction with plank- on-frame hull. 385 direct drive motor with 3 blade prop, Mtronics 10amp speed controller and 8x AA 1600m/a batteries wired in parallel.
Built from a Traplet plan in 2013. All wood construction, JP 400 direct drive motor with 2 blade prop. 2x 3.7amp 7.2 volt NiMhd batteries wire in parallel and a Mtronics marine 15amp speed controller.
Well, it took 24 years of "on again-off again" building but now its finished. I started the model the day we put the CAMPBELL in commission(I'm a plankowner) in 1988.The model measures 6 feet in length and is scaled at 1:48. The entire model is scratchbuilt from wood (hull, superstructure, deck) and few commercial parts were used. it's powered by two Dumas 12 volt motors as a direct drive system. I had hopes of adding working features such as lights, rotating radar antennas, articulating gun, working anchor but I was just happy to get it finished! it will probably make at least one run at the lake come springtime but the models ultimate "homeport" will be a museum, at 6 feet in length(and 40 pounds of ballast) it's a bear to handle just to get it into the car for transport. Still, I'm happy with the results, it was a model of a lifetime(but I'd never build another one like it)! 😉
Time well spent and the end result justifies the time taken. Please let us see some pics or even a video on the water before you berth in the museum 😀
I know the feeling re large heavy models but on the water they look so magnificent. 😀
Looks fantastic and what an achievement. I agree with Dave, it would be great to see some action shots before you 'retire' her to a museum. My heaviest boat is 25lb and I don't like carrying that any distance! She doesn't bounce about though.
ok, my first ever attempt at posting a video on here and youtube..
my Aerokits Sea Commander restored but not finished running a direct drive graupner speed 600 8.4v on 40mm std 2 blade plastic prop. battery is 9.6v 8cell 3300mA nimh. sailing Sunday 15th August 2010 at Taylor park st Helens mbc
many thanks to you both.
At this time I have no idea of the weight except to say that from what I can gather from looking at the rudder that this boat seems to from the sixties/seventies, and is quite a substantial vessel.
She is undergoing a major refit.( spent the day rubbing down the inside of the hull, and removing paint from the toerail to the carlings.
This looks like being a long job.
if its "that old" and is a 60's/70's built model that had an I.C. engine fitted..
I would recommend you "glass-cloth" the outside of the hull..
models built during this period tend to have been built with bio-degradeable glue! (cascemite/ boneglue. etc.) show it water for the first time in 40 years and your boat will revert to kit status and basically become unstuck! if the wonky glue doesn't do it then the diesel/glow fuel used in the 60's will have undone all the joints from the inside-out anyway!
enjoy your restorations and read as much as you can on here
gearbox fitted, tested today with 8.4v graupner, running on 19.2v nimh. GPS Data logger installed, measured at 14.63mph, sound like a jet turbine!!, and this video was the slower of the 2 props tested.
Improvements with gearbox, motor is stone cold (it is water cooled, but was still hot as direct drive) , quieter, longer run time, esc cold, now able to upgrade from 2 blade 40mm prop to 3 blade, and possibly 4 blade, amp draw much less. Video taken at Newsham Park, Liverpool. Handling is now difficult, as its going way too fast, but its great fun! and might go faster, with the motor thats been fited tonight, watch this space!!
well that was the distant memory of brushed motors!, way back when we had gas lanterns instead of LED's 😀
Unfortunately I cant remember the ratio, I think it was 2:1 from memory. it was later converted to brushless. Has not been run for two years since the bigger brother fireboat came along. I keep thinking just put a brushed motor back in it, and have plodding speed, it looks silly doing all that porpoising, and the bigger brother can give me my speed fix 😁
Maybe a little more bow weight would stop the problem , my Spearfish used to do that all I did was put lipo length ways and it stopped , but yeah if your happy with the bigger being the faster then go for it 😊
