APAM Paddler!

[thewharfonline]

To commemorate APAM I began contruction on a 'newspaper hull' boat tonight!

So far I am working on the base part of the frame with Balsa wood...and yes I'm following Mick's handy guide to building newspaper boats!

Upon completion the boat will be driven by remote control! Yes I plan on putting an old remote control car inside her, nd the remote control car has independent wheel drive...so s such no other steering will be needed!

Hopefully all works out!

Of course how does this fit in with APAM?
Well I plan on making the boat look like an Australian paddler!
And this got me thinking...
How about an APAM Model Competition!
I don't know if it would work exactly or if it would have enough support but entrants could create an aussie paddler, it can be static or radio controlled and could either be a model of a real Aussie paddler or a made up aussie paddler!

What do you think?
Could we get a series of Aussie models together, I know that Mick was making his Newspaper boat to look like an Aussie boat...he could enter that one! I know there are also some Pevensey models around...I think Peter Webster!
As Eddy once pointed out our paddlers are 'Boxes on hulls' so I don't know how hard it would be to quickly whip one up! I have my A.A model which I could finish off if my APAM boat does not work... let's hope it does though!

So post some feedback if you think this is a good idea!

[mjt60a]

,,,How about an APAM Model Competition....entrants could create an aussie paddler....I know that Mick was making his Newspaper boat to look like an Aussie boat...he could enter that one!

Yes, count me in  

That was paperboat/test hull no 1 (no 2 is a fictional tug and no 3 is closely based on 'alumchine') It's virtually complete but I didn't have any R/C to put in it - I tried with some old stuff I already had but the items (especially the speed control) were too big.
As I now have a job again, at least for three months, I'll be getting some R/C stuff just as soon as I clear my credit card debt!

[Bill Hudson]

So what is a newspaper boat?  Is it made of paper?

[thewharfonline]

You'll find whole articles on newspaper boats somewhere on the construction board! Mick has made instructions on how to make them!

So far my frame is coming along ok, I'll add some pictures for you to see here! I have alot less balsa than I thought...so it's become very basic and I think I'm going to be finishing the top of the frame with rulers...yes wooden rulers!

Anyway construction has begun and as Mick is in I say the competition is on to then!

Who will win the very first APAM Contruction Trophy(image!) A very prestigious award of course for all serious modellers and aussie paddler enthusiasts! lol

I'll whip up an image soon!

I hope the rc part fits in my boat...I have to trim off some excess plastic and remove the rear wheels that aren't needed anymore! However hopefully this old rc car will work!

So everyone start contruction on an aussie paddler of any size, scale or material! For instance I created a card model of the Pevensey using actual images I took! It looked great too! I also make lots of lego steamers infact I've just made another one...even extending the hull prebuilt hull! It has engine, deck house the lot really! I'll post an image!

Get modelling!
Happy APAM
Sean

[mjt60a]

So what is a newspaper boat?  Is it made of paper?

Well, yes it is!
I made these as an inexpensive method of producing a hull in which to try 'other stuff' such as waterproofing, propulsion systems etc. and also to see if it was possible to make a boat from recycled material...the whole article is here - http://www.btinternet.com/~mjt60a/models/paperboat01.html

I discovered at the model engineer exhibition that I was not alone in building this way.....

 
This coaster is built in a slightly different way to mine (for example, he makes a 'plug' from styrofoam which is removed when the hull is set, and builds a separate frame which is glued into the hull after it has set...) but you can clearly see the newspaper strip inside the blank hull behind the completed model  

[thewharfonline]

Well I glued on two rulers to the blocks on the side of the hull which means I really only need to add the stern section to the frame and then I can start wrapping paper around it and start the 'newspaper' part of the boat!

I also removed the rear axle from the r/c car as it was being very annoying and I had to it the hard way...the screw hada  demented head and I hd to get out the plastic clippers to 'demolish' the box that held the axle in place! It would be too big for the hull otherwise!

My next problem is wheels! I suppose I'll have to make my own...which could be very interesting! I think I'll have to try the basic spiderweb wheel plans!

Otherwise the going is good! Hooray for the APAM Newspaper, Balsa wood, Ruler R/C Paddler!

[thewharfonline]

Just a quick question! Now that my hull frame is done do I PVA both sides of the newspaper or only one side?

Here are some pics of what she looks like currently!

Note: The motors are mounted on a piece of scrap timber I haven't made it's little mount yet!

As the r/c gear doesn't fit nicely in the centre of the boat (due to the supports) I had to move it forward (or backward, because I'm not sure which end is front yet!) as such I assume I'll have to add an equal weight to the other side to balance the boat so that it doesn't tip in water or sink like the Titanic...correct? Any other hints because I've never made an R/C boat to go on actual water before!

[thewharfonline]

Well time to add some more photos and give you all (another) update!

So far now I've created the mount for the motors to go on top of the hull and turn the paddle shafts and I just glued those bits together!

I've also now added the first layer of newspaper! What a messy task that was...newspaper and glue everywhere, but she's looking more like a hull now!

No nails or pins have been used yet...all glue, paper, balsa and rulers!

So here are some photos for you all!

[mjt60a]

Just a quick question! Now that my hull frame is done do I PVA both sides of the newspaper or only one side?!

I only pasted the paper on one side - like you were hanging wallpaper or sticking a poster on a wall - the PVA should soak in when you add the next layer. And yes, it is a messy job!!!
I look forward to seeing the finished result.
just one or two things I've learned by trial and error...
...I wouldn't have had the rulers sticking out past the balsa sections, but if they'd been lined up on the outside there wouldn't be much room inside. I would have tried splitting one ruler and using it for both sides or use balsa of the same thickness as the rest...
...I would have had the two 'end' pieces between the top and bottom frames right at the ends so they overlap the frames and sanded them to a point (balsa is easy to sand into shape) that would have supported the paper better and reinforced the edge if it should collide with anything...
That said, it should still float OK as long as the paper is sealed properly and has no gaps anywhere (can be caused by folds or creases in the paper strips)
My first attempt at building a hull this way turned out pretty bad and I scrapped it and started again, but I learned a few things along the way  

*If worst comes to worst, I have a 'spare' hull of the type you're making (pointed at both ends) from an experiment with using card from a cereal box instead of paper, I could stick it in a box and send it over, You'd have to make the deck, cabins and paddleboxes etc. but it's sealed (with fibreglass tissue/resin) it floats OK and would get the tricky bit solved...

[thewharfonline]

*If worst comes to worst, I have a 'spare' hull of the type you're making (pointed at both ends) from an experiment with using card from a cereal box instead of paper, I could stick it in a box and send it over, You'd have to make the deck, cabins and paddleboxes etc. but it's sealed (with fibreglass tissue/resin) it floats OK and would get the tricky bit solved...

Oh that sounds good! But we'll wait just a bit longer first. I'm still adding more layers...but last night I ran out of PVA and my balsa stocks are slowly running out so I will need to purchase more not to mention I hadn't even thought about the water proofing methods yet! ARGH!

Oh well I shall keep working on for a bit...and see then if it floats! If not..your plan B sounds good!

[lner]

Perhaps I'm a bit late starting but I am going to have a go.  That article on the subject was great.  I am going to try and build the Bunyip.  (Finally!!!! :roll: )

All I have to do now is find those damn plans I drew!!!!!

At least with the twin hulls it should be fairly stable in the water!

Martin

[thewharfonline]

Well now the competition is on! So far we have myself, Mick and Martin competing to construct our APAM Paddlers!

The Bunyip too...that should be very interesting! It's never too late to start either!

Good Luck!

[thewharfonline]

Hello again everybody! I've got some more photos and another question to ask!

Is there a formula to work out (at least a rough) draught for a boat. Of course I know the heavier the boat will be the more it will sit in the water but is there a way of working out a base draught with no weight and then adding weight to see how deep she'll sit?

Long question I know...although I suppose it could be summed up quicker. I hope you get what I mean!

Ok what have I been up to?
As you know from above my PVA supply is running out, and I had some air bubbly issues with the news paper...SO...I got out some sticky labels like the ones you stick on envelopes and plastered down all the newspaper so it was nice and smooth. Now the boat is a nice white colour and doesn't camoflague with newspaper anymore so I can't lose the boat late at night! This sticker covered layer I then rolled PVA over- yes the last remaining bits! I'll wait for it to dry compeletly before I tell you any results!

I've also been working on some wheels! They're plastic 'sprue' wheels as I cut the spokes out from plastic miniature soldier sprues!

They also contain (for you Lord Of The Ring Fans) Warrior of Rohan shields as their hub cap to hold the spokes together!

So here are the photos!

[lner]

I wouldnt even bother trying to work it out.  Your waterline is going to depend on everything from hull size and shape to density of the material used.

At least my paddle wheel will be entirely hidden so you dont have to look at the bloody thing!!  I am petrified of trying to make a paddle wheel.

Martin

[thewharfonline]

Yeh...covered paddle wheels...sounds like a blessing! I added a support frame around the spokes like an octagon...they look wonky! lol not half as good as Micks! And then something worse happened! As I contructed them out of rubbish plastic I forgot to remove the little nobbly bits, and I was trying to remove them last night (cutting towards myself) when rthe knife went right through into my finger! Yep!

Here's what follows:
Sean runs to sink finger in mouth, grabs tissues to cover nasty bleeding gash, mum is watching TV.
After a few minutes with bleeding continuing and me establishing that it's probably slightly bigger than I thought I state:
Mum I think I need a Band-aid
Mum: Why? did you cut yourself?
Sean: Yeh
Mum: Is it bad?
Sean: Um (still very calm) yeh it might be!
Mum runs off to get a band-aid and dad!

And then I felt woozy and sick and dizzy and sweaty but not in pain!

And now I have a finger covered in Band-aids!

and hence goes contruction!