Fabers Paddler Hydroplane

[mjt60a]

....see if you can get it too hydroplane using steam! ....

As I remember, there was an article in one of the mags (either Model Boats or Radio Control Boat Modeller) way back in the '80s, of a similar boat to Fabers but it had a stern mounted wheel (of the same design) chain (?) driven from a triple expansion engine just in front of it. The rest of the hull was taken up by a flash boiler and its burner/fuel. There were photographs of the engine, wheel and boiler - so it certainly got beyond the planning stage! I don't know if it worked though, probably didn't get the next months edition 

[mjt60a]

Re. the 'goes faster in reverse' effect...
I'm probably on the wrong track here but a thought occured to me...
I noticed looking at some bits and pieces from my younger days (I was temporarily lured away into model cars) that some of the performance motors have + and - terminals and a direction of rotation arrow, and the commutator brushes are angled to give higher speeds in that direction, they will reverse as you sometimes need it but not very fast. I also remember that the MFA motors I got for the tug also have this which is why I went to such lengths to ensure they run the right way when going forward.
 Just wondering what type of motor you have...

[Ernie Lazenby]

An update.   More trials and testing!   I have got this model moving much quicker now. Dropped the gear ratio to 4:1. Small problem the one motor on a Hughey precision gearbox burnt out!!  Smoked quite a bit. I am now fitting 2 motors to the gearbox (its a twin motor version) to help take the load. To help balance the boat i have moved the drive unit to the rear of the paddlewheel.

  I am doing a lot of scale work on this model and today painted it (photo soon)

  The editor of Marine Modelling Magazine (the mag I wrote for 12 years) wants an in depth article about this boat so some time next year an article will appear. Hes talked me into churning out a couple of more 1. An article on the 1/6th scale gas turbine Bluebird I built (The one on youtube)  2. A general article on uptodate technology.

   As soon as this model is finished I will be making a model of Albert Santos Dumonts Bias 18 Hydroglider powered by a twin blade air prop.  I have started to draw up the sections and its going to be big at 5ft long.


   Back to Faubers hydroplane (correct spelling has a u in his name)  Fauber submitted a lot of designs in the USA for hydroplanes but could not get anyone interested so he moved to France where he is more well known.

   The bottom line is that although I have not got this model fully planing it is moving along at a pace and I will get it onto the plane. The wheel and drive train are holding up fine at 4000revs PM plus.

   One point- the editor of the magazine and I talked about the possibilty of me drawing up a set of plans fo Faubers boat.  Just to test the water does anyone think such a plan would hold any attraction?

[steamboatmodel]

An update.  ....................
   The bottom line is that although I have not got this model fully planing it is moving along at a pace and I will get it onto the plane. The wheel and drive train are holding up fine at 4000revs PM plus.

   One point- the editor of the magazine and I talked about the possibility of me drawing up a set of plans of Faubers boat.  Just to test the water does anyone think such a plan would hold any attraction?

Only if you can post  the plans and the Article here at the same time .
Seriously I think the Article and Plans would be a great Idea, If you do them please let us know which issue they will be in so we can hunt them down (none of my local Hobby shops Carrie the British Magazines).
I think your work on this subject has been fantastic.
Regards,
Gerald

[Harold H. Duncan]

Hi Ernie,
Definitely go with the article and plans
way to go
kiwi

[Ernie Lazenby]

Here are some more photographs.  I have turned the paddle around but because of a frozen lake have not been able to test it .  I have been working on some scale detail.

[Ernie Lazenby]

another one. Gravity fed fuel tank.  Two water tanks for altering the trim. Hand crank operated water pump.

[Ernie Lazenby]

The workings

[Ernie Lazenby]

The back end. The tiller arm moves with the drivers arm(or is that the other way round!)

[Eddy Matthews]

Having seen Ernies model many times in the flesh, I can honestly say that it's looking very nice. I still feel he has a way to go to get the maximum performance from it, but give him his due, it does get better with each outing!

It will be interesting to see if the change to the paddlewheel will make a significant difference - We need some soft water for him to do more tests, and for me to get my cigar ship wet for the first time!!

Regards
Eddy

[granath]

awsome i like the hydroplane, but the one i have is a racing-racing one, never seen a paddle version, really cool how is the speed?