RC Model Boat Design & Build - Any Advice?

[blackice]

Hi,

I've had a brief look around the forum and hopefully I'm okay to ask for some advice on here.

I'm looking to build a remote control model boat for my nephew and don't really know where to start with regard to design ideas and construction.

I'm looking to build an electric powered, sports type of boat and have a reasonable amount of knowledge when it comes to model making and the electrics side of things having previously raced both electric and nitro buggy models competitvely.

I'm looking to get some ideas and design the boat before building as I don't really want to make it up as I go along.

Any advice or links to useful sites would be very much appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Mckruger]

Hi, I am also in the RC boat game, but it seems to me that some guys on this web site are a bit snobbish. If you are interested send me an e-mail on the following addresss mcronje@legacyhotels.co.za

[pistnbroke]

only a bit ???

[Frosty]

As far as I know there is no one here that does little teeny weeny little model boats . I don't want to seem biased but this is a grown up forum for big boats.

I certernly have no idea, but I do know that there are forums catering for knowledge of this ilk.

I think models are great and I like to look at then, but......

[pistnbroke]

there you go pig ignorant

[Frosty]

Do you know about models boats? I don't. Snort--

Admission of ignorance,--and wrong forum if I may say so.

[messabout]

A boat is a boat and just because it is small does not disqualify it from being boaty. I am a sometimes RC boater so I know a little about the subject.

There are several websites and forums that are devoted to model boating. You seem to be talking about electric power boats so try www.Fastelectrics.com
for starters. Google fast electric and find all sorts of sites that may be helpful.

You did not mention the size that you want to build. Some RC boats are 6 feet in length or more. What kind of boat are you contemplating? Fast boat, character boat, replica boat, or whatever.

Best plan is to buy the hull which which will already be proven. You can buy the bare hull and install the gear or for very little money you can buy a small boat, ready for the water. Try Tower Hobbies.com for parts, materials, or whole ready to float boats in either gas or electric power.

Matter of fact I have a snazzy nitro powered speedster gathering dust on a garage shelf. I have never had it in the water. I'm going to have to find a home for it. Actually I am an RC sailor not a power guy.

And for all you guys who believe that RC boats are mere toys, you are sadly, and egregiously, mistaken.

[aranda1984]

Go to any RC model boat boat and airplane store.

Many of them have some sort of clubs in the backroom for people like you.
They will give you all the help, the advice and the necessary small machinery to do a decent job.

By the way, I used to make some model boats and planes in the late 50's and 60's, but as I have gotten older, now I want the real thingy!

Good luck.

[Plodunkgeo]

Originally Posted by messabout

And for all you guys who believe that RC boats are mere toys, you are sadly, and egregiously, mistaken.

Can you support this comment with some proofs? I would love to see how RC models are something more than toys, but so far, it has not been shown as anything more than comfortable indicators of potential in full-sized craft. The extremely high-tech world of America's Cup boats have a serious doubt component when it comes to the testing of scale models, the numbers they reveal and the comparison of those numbers when it comes to boats that might be entered in a big event.

Share with us as to how relative fluid density, wind speed differences and wave height functions can be successfully calculated so that models can yield test values that are relevant to the human scale.

[Submarine Tom]

What a pleasant, nurturing, constructive, helpful, open-minded direction this thread has taken... not.

Blackice, all the best to you in your efforts. R/C modeling can be a very rewarding, life long hobby.

As I'm sure you've already found, there are lots of helpful R/C sites out there.

Sorry you didn't find that (for the most part) here.

-Tom

[daiquiri]

Originally Posted by Plodunkgeo

Share with us as to how relative fluid density, wind speed differences and wave height functions can be successfully calculated so that models can yield test values that are relevant to the human scale.

I don't think Messabout was talking about scale-model testing for full-scale applications. I understand he was talking about the complexity certain models can reach. I might be wrong here but I believe that any person capable of doing a job like one these (for example):
http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/gal...m272/album275/
http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/gal...bum89/album90/
http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/gal...harleswmorgan/
http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/gal...bum14/album15/
would have no big technical difficulties (economical ones would be far bigger) to construct a full-size boat (not a ship), with the advantage of great culture gained through studying both the history and construction methods of real historical and existing boats and ships.

And, Blackice, I believe that these links could also be an answer to your questions. The people from that forum: http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/portal.php will surely be able to give you all the advices and hints you need.

Cheers

[Nurb]

Nothing wrong with toys - sometimes the most fun in life comes from "playing" with models and small boats where you can afford to make mistakes and if it doesn't work, try something different.

As the others have said, 99.9% of the discussion here is about full size boats. You'd be best off finding some good dedicated model communities for what you're after. One thing that's the same with full-size boats and models: start with a list of requirements.

Define your constraints (scale, budget, timeframe) and what are the goals (uniqueness, recreating a classic, performance, racing with others in a class)?

When deciding whether to design a unique model or start with a shell kit and build from there, figure out if your goal is to have a boat now or to enjoy developing your ideas for this boat. The two probably won't be the same initially, but with a model you can afford to enjoy doing either. And if you stick with it long enough, they will converge

[Doug Lord]

Originally Posted by Plodunkgeo

Can you support this comment with some proofs? I would love to see how RC models are something more than toys, but so far, it has not been shown as anything more than comfortable indicators of potential in full-sized craft. The extremely high-tech world of America's Cup boats have a serious doubt component when it comes to the testing of scale models, the numbers they reveal and the comparison of those numbers when it comes to boats that might be entered in a big event.

Share with us as to how relative fluid density, wind speed differences and wave height functions can be successfully calculated so that models can yield test values that are relevant to the human scale.

===================
ostlind, radio control sailing model testing has been used for a long time by some of the brightest designers and innovators around including Greg Ketterman, Dr. Sam Bradfield, Yves Parlier, Jon Howes, Bill Burns and Team CBTF among many others.
But the secret is that you have to know what you can test and what you cannot test-there is no question that major elements of a design can be trialed in radio control very successfully.

Parliers rc test model, left and Dr. Bradfields test model ,right:

-click on image-

[Jim_Hbar]

blackice:

In case you haven't found it yet, perhaps the largest on-line R/C community is at rcuniverse.com. You will get plenty of help over there..

Hope that helps!

[rhtmarine]

I can help you... I have built 50 or more racing models. mostly hydoplanes. I frequently stop at Jim's rc boat dock and international waters. the dock is primarily gas models while intlwaters is mostly nitro and FE. (fast electric) There are people in both communities that sell boats in kit form as well as plans. I'm not currently building models, choosing to play with the big boats. NO ego here, feel free to PM me or email me at RHTmarine21@yahoo.com hope this helps...
Bob
I will add pics of some of my stuff later when I get on my home pc.