colinhilton: Aquaplane

Anyone having reviewed the album at colinhilton will probably be aware that I've had more practise than most at building hydro-skis. Trying to adapt the outlines appearing there to aero-engines or outboard motors proved to be beyond me, however. Aero-engines and boats have rarely enjoyed a happy marriage, while outboards are better suited to more substantial frames than these. Nonetheless it has been said that successful inventions are often those to which we return after a prolonged break, and in the interim I noticed the increasing success of what are termed jet-ski extensions. These are generally watercraft that feature a cul-de-sac into which PWCs are shunted in order to provide motive power. It occurred to me that the same notion addresses the problems I have had in integrating the motor basic requirements such as seating, steering and storage. As ever there's a twist, however, and from a structural point of view I prefer a chassis that's four-square. Accordingly this 1/18th draft features an aperture into which PWCs can be driven for rapid attachment, enabled by the fact that the hydroplane is neutrally buoyant and coincident with the water-surface. Franky Zappata has done great things by adapting the outlet of water-pumps to various devices, but as yet nobody has done the same for the intake. The model here will still service the existing intake ~ you have start somewhere ~ but plans are afoot to modify this device so as to enable the PWC to ride clear of the surface. I've half a lifetime's experience flying airliners, and most pilots will be aware that every tri-jet featured at least one engine with an offset intake. I'll call it an AQUAPLANE instead of a PANELPLANE as previous, it being a marriage of the aquabike and hydroplane. And a happier one altogether, one hopes?

Posted by: colinhilton - website: https://www.teledrone.com