Paddleducks
General => Introduce Yourself => Topic started by: Ernie Lazenby on August 14, 2008, 06:01:43 AM
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Some of you may know me from Marine Modelling Magazine where for 12 years I reviewed fast electric boats and wrote features about world water speed record craft. My main interest is model of high speed boats; I raced them nationally winning many national titles but I have also run submarines and a number of scale boats. My most recent model is a gas turbine powered model of Doanld Campbells K7 Bluebird and theres a video clip on you tube.
Okay ego trip over, so what is a speed freak doing on Paddleducks you may ask; well I am making a paddle driven multi stepped hydroplane!! yep its true. In 1908 Henry Faber submitted some line drawings and text to the American patent office for his idea of a paddle wheel driven hydroplane. A full size boat was never built nor to my knowledge has a model ever been made.
The paddle wheel/drum sits in the middle of the boat. Its a complex system of curved blades designed to force the water towards the centre line of the boat thus creating lift. I have started the build and the wheel/drum has been turned out for me by a club member who has the facilities to turn out a 72mm diameter drum.
Some club members; Eddy and Walter who you may have heard of(moderate sort of folk!) reckon it wont work but we will see.
I will post pictures soon.
So thats why you have got a speed freak as a member of the group!
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Welcome to Paddleducks Ernie, good to have you with us....
Although I've never made any secret of the fact I don't think the model will work - I'll certainly be eagerly watching developments, and I'll be the first to pat you on the back and say "Well done" if you prove me wrong! :hehe
For the info of other members, Ernie and I have worked on a number of projects in the past, as we both have an interest in world water speed record boats - The two most noticeable being John Cobbs "Crusader", and Ken Warby's "Spirit of Australia".
Henry Faubers paddle hydroplane was never built in real life, so it's a total unknown, and it will certainly present a whole host of problems. But having said that, I sincerely hope it does work as it would be a real show stopper, both as a water speed record boat, and a paddler!
Regards
Eddy
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Welcome Ernie,
I'm curious about the estimated RPM that that paddlewheel will be doing.
Randy
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Hi Randy thats a very question. As I am working in the dark havng nothing to refer to I have consulted a chap who plays league chess with me in the local league, hes a scientist who crunches numbers and he reckons around 2000rpm should get it moving along but as he said, numbers mean zip if it dont work!
I will probably end up experimenting with different motor/gear ratios/cell count/
If it does not work i can always fill the hole up in the bottom and make it into a fast electric!
The project has certainly ended up as a talking point in the club.
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It sounds interesting, Please keep up updated with lots of photos and videos. the only thing I ever tried was with one of the Cox 0.49 glow engines mounted on a flat boat(board) sidewise with a home made six blade paddle. It didn't go that fast, but it sure made things wet.
Regards,
Gerald