Another vintage classic here, originally kitted by Duplex Craft Co. then later by Lesro - this one belonging to Buxton Model Boat Club member Bob Armstrong.
(The others were mine from 50 years + - Happy Days !!!)⛵
Hello my one is still in the white I have not found a colour scheme and deck detail I would like to use. They do sail very well I remember talking to the designer before he re-kitted them for RC.
Which reminds me I have the Trimarran somewhere in the garage.
regards
Roy
I finally got round to trying the Rapier with the lipos I bought recently. My good friend 'Kalamunda' was on hand to drive whilst I took the video. We noticed a marked Improvement in performance- a much greater 'urgency' with the lipos delivering what the motors asked. Short of going up a prop size I think this will be about it with this boat. Thanks to the chaps on here who have encouraged me into Lipos and given help with various matters- not sure what all the worry was now- famous last words!
This will be one of our last days at Crealy in Exeter as the management have decided to terminate our use of the water- so we will be looking for alternatives from January.
I use a little "plug in" voltage alarm on my lipo's. it simply plugs in to the balance charge plug connector. so give you an initial volt test,usually with a few bleeps and a set of green lights, then as the batteries drain, the led's turn red and an alert buzzer goes of as they approach low volt limit, which is set on these alarms at 3.2v, so no damage done to the batteries.
Its a quick search on ebay, loads of sellers, cost around £2.50 each.
very useful bit of kit poolside as you can check all your lipo batteries, even after being used and left to stand, the batteries do recover a bit and possibly ready again for a further shortened run time too.
Those are the alarms I intend to use but they seem to be taking a while to come. They are so cheap I intend to install them in the boat with velcro and extension leads on the balance connectors. The lipos certainly give a weight saving too.
Second decent run with this boat- rather sedate I think. At the moment it's drawing 33amps (stationary, 16.5 amps each motor) with both motors running from a 12v Nimh pack. I want to get each motor running off a separate LiPo and then I could probably increase the prop size- still well within the esc rating and the motors are very cool after a run at the moment. it seems a bit back heavy and I'd like to get it running flatter- so will try moving the batteries more amidships.
HI Ian
See you are making good use of the wattmeter 😀
Like the video and agree the balance could benefit with a bit more weight amidships.
Listening to the video sound suggests your motors are not developing full power so I suspect the NiMh's are not capable of delivering the amps required.
You could try smaller props with the NiMh's to see if the performance Improves, could be your motors are working just below the optimum.
Dave, I found that the Nimh batteries were dropping off to around 9v at full power when measured with the wattmeter and this is why I want to go for Lipos, one on each motor. At the moment I'm taking everything from one pack and I think this is the limiting factor.
When I get my Lipos I will stick them in the middle and try larger props, probably 40mmS types to begin with, having measured what's going on with the wattmeter first. it may be that the existing props will do better if the batteries are delivering up what the motors want. You're right, there is still plenty of headroom with this setup.
Just got to rake up the cash for two largish capacity Lipos!
The wattmeter is a splendid purchase- I'd say essential for this type of thing.
Anyway, glad you liked the video- she still looks quite good toodling around at that speed.
A Lesro Rapier built from a new kit undertaking its maiden voyage. Two 700 9.6v motors with two Mtroniks 40 amp esc's run on 12v with two 37.5mm props. The performance was somewhat disappointing. When the photo was taken I had a 14.4v pack in, forgetting the 12v limit on the esc's -but I got away with it!
I would try and leave the cooling slots fully open, to allow air to circulate through the motor internals. Same goes for any air slots in the front face of the motor, always try and make a hole on the motor mount [if none in], to aid airflow through the motor.
if you cover the slots up, you are only adding to the internal temperature of the motor you are trying to cool.
Hi" All . Thought I would put some photos of my last winter project for all to see ! This model took approx 3 month to rebuild from an ebay wreck . A 1980s lesro Stiletto speed boat kit.A total rebuild was needed . Siletto running set up is a Johnston air cooled speed 600 electric motor. 50 amp speed contoller 7.2 volt at4600mh power pack which will lift her out of the water at very good speed. Siletto is finished of in dark mahogany stripwood vinneer & Ivery white / post box red .I do think the older colours look better on the older models . I sail my boats at Sheringham Norfolk
enjoy the photos . From A prestney
Hi" thank you for your kind comments on my rebuild stiletto speed boat.I have a passion for the older classic boats. it did have a older smaller 500 motor unknown make when bought.But I upgraded to a johnston 600 which are used in diy power drills and are very fast but don't over heat with a built in coolant fan .A Prestney 😉
I believe this was the smaller version of the Lesro Rapier. I think they are fine looking boats - future classics. Your restoration looks fantastic and it seems to be going well too. My Rapier had it's maiden voyage recently. When I bought the kit from Lesro they told me it was the last one they had!
I too like the older style wooden boats.
Ian
based on a Lesro kit of the MK21 Sun tug. This slightly later version was fitted with fire monitors for handling tankers in the thames esturary as well as normal docking duites of liners and freighters.
Fitted with a decaperm 3:2 geared motor and twin 12v 7amphr batteries, it can run for several hours, even when towing other boats around the pool.. Fog horn installed, lighting system, working decca radar, Illuminated map desk and decca unit on the bridge.
My Sun Tug MK25 version, originally adapted from a Lesro Sun Tug Kit, actually still being built [not quite yet complete] but seaworthy enough to get some testing time in the water. it has more than enough power to haul my dusseldorf along when the batteries are flat after some time sailing, so rather than pull the fireboat out, decided to let the tug do some work.
Powered by a hectoperm motor with 3:1 gearbox,twin 6v gel batteries,water pump to operate the fire monitors,engine sound, nav lights, interior lights [cabins] rotating radar scanner,
These two boats were refurbished by Kalamunda. The first is a Lesro Sportsman and the second a NorStar Wave Rider. The Sportsman has a Graupner 700 on 8.6v and the WaveRider a brushless motor. The on board camera was arranged by Kalamunda and other video shot by Ianed57. The water is at Crealy, Exeter, the home of Exeter and District Model Boat Club.
It is indeed sad and these videos remind us of happy times spent there. We srtuggle to find a suitable alternative. As the old song says-'You don't know what you've got 'til it's gone!'.
Lesro Sportsman kit, wood sports fishing boat 33'' in length, weight about 8lb. MFA 850 on 12v (10 NiMHcells 3.5ah) MTroniks 40amp esc, X50 prop. Built by Ian Gardner.
March 2010. I am now using 12 cells and a Graupner speed controller. I added watercooling too and the boat goes noticeably faster- but melted a fuse holder on first outing so I need to upgrade some of the wiring. There was also a bit of prop aerating on turns so might reduce the prop size.
The last photo is with increased voltage.
Which reminds me I have the Trimarran somewhere in the garage.
regards
Roy