Lulonga

[auld salt]

After a bit of thought - a dangerous habit for me- I've decided to build a model of the quarter wheeler the " Lulonga".  Not only is this a first paddler for me its also a change in direction. ( Usually its plank on frame)

  I'm still at the planing stage., read costing.   While I believe some use ready made paddle wheels other build their own.

What are the pros and cons of each?

 The need for a rudder is removed as the steering will be done using the paddles.All I've needed up till now is a transmitter with 2ch am or fm tx.  
 I feel like widening my choice to a third ch..  

Any comments on these two topics are welcomed,.
rgds.
John

[Eddy Matthews]

Hi John,

After a bit of thought - a dangerous habit for me- I've decided to build a model of the quarter wheeler the " Lulonga".  Not only is this a first paddler for me its also a change in direction. ( Usually its plank on frame)

  I'm still at the planing stage., read costing.   While I believe some use ready made paddle wheels other build their own.

What are the pros and cons of each?

The Lulonga is normally built using the Graupner feathering paddlewheels, but you can certainly build your own. The Graupner wheels are easily obtainable here in Europe, and with a little bit of work they can be made to look surprisingly realistic - Take a look at http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=47 to see what Mick has done with his. The downside of course is cost - the last time I bought any they were £50 per set, and without work they do tend to look like what they are (cheap and plastic) :-)

Making your own wheels is obviously a lot cheaper, but in my experience it's much more difficult than you first think! Getting all the spokes to line up correctly and getting the wheels to run centrally on the shaft is a real pain - get it wrong, even slightly, and they wobble around as they rotate and look aweful! Your also only likely to build none feathering wheels, not a problem on the Lulonga as you don't really need the feathering mechanism anyway.

The need for a rudder is removed as the steering will be done using the paddles.All I've needed up till now is a transmitter with 2ch am or fm tx.  
 I feel like widening my choice to a third ch..  

Any comments on these two topics are welcomed,.
rgds.
John

To operate it properly your going to need a 4 channel Tx, that way you can use the two sticks to give you "Tank" steering - Both sticks forward to go ahead, both back to go astern, and one forward, one back to turn on the spot - the maneouverability is superb using that setup! Of course there's always a downside, and in this case it's cost..... A set of 4 channel RC gear, two motors, and two speed controllers.

You could use a 2 channel setup using a mixer to combine the throttle and steering, but I've never found one that works satisfactorily. But even using this approach you would still require two motors and two speed controllers, so you'd only be saving a bit on the RC gear.

Anyway, I hope that helps to answer some of your questions?

[HH]

Some transmitters already have a mixer built in.
It is possible to turn the rudder stick on some two channel transmitters thro' 90 degrees for tank steering.

[auld salt]

Well , first thanks for your comments and experience, I do appreciate it.  Sometimes knowing you do n't know can save your stern!

  My knowledge of modelling does not extend to paddlers or their construction.  

 However the good fairy gave me a little windfall from the Officer's Pension fund and 50% will go to the Lulonga costs. I was Scoonie Hobbies favourite customer today.  

 However I bought Graupner paddles , and a HiTec 4ch. /6ch TX..
So the paddles the motors and the TX are bought.

 As the order book is full, Push Tug for youngest grandson, to be finished by the 7th. of next month!
A 3 foot dolls house  come narrow boat with rc for granddaughter and I'm supposed to be retired!
rgds.
John

[Walter Snowdon]

Hi John, I have seen several of these paddlers built and in opperation and the best performers all had simple home built wheels!. Remember ships of this type were designed to be easy to maintain in areas without the luxury of a dock and a floating log or a hippo in the feathering gear would put them out of use for a long time.  Also, did you know that Nexus/ Model boats plans service do a vac formed styrene hull for lulonga.  Regards, Walter

[steamboatmodel]

Hi Walter,
Have Nexus changed there policy, they didn't ship the vacuform hulls outside the UK the last time I checked(several yearsago).
Regards,
Gerald