Scale Hydroplane

[Rusty Heap]

setting your prop depth on the down slider will be critical, seems pretty high up right now.

[Ayles]

Getting to a spot where I have enought tasks that are ready for gluing to mix up a batch of epoxy.

Today I got about 90% done shaping the nose and fitting the front section of the cowling.

[Jeff Higgins]

Looking good! How much longer do you think it will be before you finish it and get it in the water?

Mine has been "done" enough to run it for a couple of weeks. The weather hasn't been all that inviting, however, keeping in mind I might have to get wet if things go too far awry...

[Ayles]

Thanks! I actually think its going to be a while. Still need to make some big purchases with batteries, charger, radio system, servos and speed controller as well as paint. But I am to the point now where I can skin the sponsons.

Trying to land on a charger that both my son and I can use for his smaller batteries and larger ones I need for the boat.

That's great to hear on your boat looking forward to hearing how it goes!

[Rusty Heap]

I've had very good luck with this charger, that handles anything from 2S to 6S and is custom programmable.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/390673759098?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&itemid=390673759098&targetid=1263104805526&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9033391&poi=&campaignid=14859008593&mkgroupid=130497710760&rlsatarget=pla-1263104805526&abcId=9300678&merchantid=101715947&gclid=Cj0KCQjwz7uRBhDRARIsAFqjulmZKO09Jy39hNTUr1qX JlCCP3yow0azHXNJpUDCZBbTuYFIbbTXHpgaAiYVEALw_wcB

[herr_oberst]

Skin those sponsons!

(Who the heck is that bobblehead? Nick Cave?)

[Ayles]

Thanks for the reco!

I still have a lot to learn about my battery needs here, there seems to be quite a bit to consider especially when it comes to the motor and speed control I choose as well. This is the one my local hydro parts dealer sells, quite a bit more $$ though.

https://www.allrc1.com/product-page/used-duo-charger-hitec-x2-plus

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Ayles

Thanks! I actually think its going to be a while. Still need to make some big purchases with batteries, charger, radio system, servos and speed controller as well as paint. But I am to the point now where I can skin the sponsons.

Trying to land on a charger that both my son and I can use for his smaller batteries and larger ones I need for the boat.

That's great to hear on your boat looking forward to hearing how it goes!

Yeah, I had a really hard time with all of this as well. I'm not all that up to speed on modern brushless/lipo power trains, I'm more of an old school glow engine kind of guy. With my new airplanes, the "foamies" I've been buying from Horizon and Tower Hobbies, I simply buy what they suggest in their completion lists.

So, with that in mind, I kind of "cheated" on my boat. I found a similar size RTR boat, the Proboat hydroplane, and just ordered its running gear, recommended batteries, and charger. As an aside, it might have been cheaper to buy that boat and strip it than to piecemeal like I did...

This way I know I have stuff that will all play nice together. I have no aspirations of ever racing it, so I didn't have to follow any club or class rules. The local guys, the Classic Thunder club, have some weird rules for that stuff anyway. Everything but their "open" class specs a motor that hasn't even been made in over a decade. I'm not sure why they continue to spec that one (probably because they all have boxes of them), but it kind of makes it less than inviting to try to join them.

Which, with this boat, would have been hopeless anyway. They all told me it could never be competitive. Just too old, too heavy, too slow (kinda like its builder...). I'm not sure I'm ready to commit to a race series anyway. Last time I did that, it was R/C cars with my younger son, some 20 years ago. It's a big commitment. Now that I'm retired, it's weird, but I feel less able to make those kinds of commitments than when I was working.

[Ayles]

Oh yeah! I have been reading a lot... the rules are pretty intense especially around the scale boats.

I just don't see myself racing either... I barely have enough time to drive my 911 so layering on something that uses up all the weekends over the summer is non-starter at this point. Hoping this boat looks good and runs well enough to drive it casually.

[Ayles]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Skin those sponsons!

(Who the heck is that bobblehead? Nick Cave?)

The bobble head is one of the Misfits, Jerry Only. My workshop also serves a mini museum of trinkets and mementos.

[Ayles]

Worked out the sponson skins today and was shocked to see it look so much like a real hydro all of a sudden. Definitely a turning point in the build.

[herr_oberst]

Wow, that's coming along! Looks fantastic!

[Jeff Hail]

Nice watching this coming along.

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Ayles

Thanks for the reco!

I still have a lot to learn about my battery needs here, there seems to be quite a bit to consider especially when it comes to the motor and speed control I choose as well. This is the one my local hydro parts dealer sells, quite a bit more $$ though.

https://www.allrc1.com/product-page/used-duo-charger-hitec-x2-plus

I use one similar to what Rustyheap posted. Mine is over 10 years old and I have used it hundreds of times to charge both lipos and Nimh batteries in RC planes, helicopters and race cars. I think I paid about $12.99 for it from Hobbyking.



Hobbyking sometimes has decent pricing on motors, ESC's, servos etc. Just have to research what you need/want.

https://hobbyking.com/en_us/power-systems/electric-motors/boat-motors.html

[Ayles]

Thanks All, its really motivational to see it in the stage.

And thanks for tip on the charger!

Here are the batteries people typically run and you need two of them.
https://www.allrc1.com/product-page/4s-graphene-fantom-racing-pack-1

[Tim Hancock]

Originally Posted by Ayles

Thanks All, its really motivational to see it in the stage.

And thanks for tip on the charger!

Here are the batteries people typically run and you need two of them.
https://www.allrc1.com/product-page/4s-graphene-fantom-racing-pack-1

I could never bring myself to spend that much for those lipo batteries.

A quick Ebay search found these.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/384755004875?epid=14053426903&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item59952f75cb:g:bk4AAOSwgZViGiYG&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAAA4EGsFmdIh%2F%2BaLR1MV%2F7ITkz msb1aT2j%2B2JCfr0CNxdqzqiT7rvj5GFKewjThhZssugyAfmI Hklutg54vzs3N%2FI0m8GaL2J9QniTMm%2BO8g6qib2pjUV6C0 %2FH2ddQ%2Fv9fc3K8qnYZLayYP1yQqgMfuGmJvtywl2NRt1Vg Fw30ScckQ0DyYkzeqIwNxP%2BHZHqSjd%2BcK88luO9GcviJmW %2FCWXtVINQev66zhxKDz7F%2FklFqpuly8KvIQVyzEL6lVgpi YFzUVWd637qCbHhfivjQ8l7OA6bLEnitJqBTNcvdal0DV%7Ctk p%3ABFBMqJy925Vg

Granted I am not too into the RC boat game, but I have a bunch of 2s and 3s lipos for various RC planes and RC race cars. I run mainly 5200 mah 2s 50C "cheap" Goldbat brand batteries in my race trucks that I buy on Ebay. Never had one fail yet after using for three years racing my buddies. Some of my buddies use much more expensive packs yet we all run the same speeds and my six $18 battery packs work as good as the guys running $50 battery packs.

[Ayles]

I am back at it. I gave up on getting the bracket I needed from the main supplier. I reached out to a guy on one of the FB groups and he made me one on his mill. It's rougher than the original I wanted, but I can't wait forever and can do some finishing work to make it look a little better. I've got SS rod and small heim joints for it coming as well.

[herr_oberst]

That is cool. A rough blank, ready to finish. The perfect project for a couple of cruddy PNW evenings.

[Ayles]

Spent a little time with it and got in pretty nice shape. Not looking for perfection, didnt want to get too polished while I will be taking it on and off quite a bit as I build.

[Rusty Heap]

Looking good, I like your custom rear wing strut bracket!