Volcanic winter …

[Talisman]

Hi All,
Well the current weather (temperature) here has brought play to a stop…
So what to do… shut shop and move back indoors…  Much to the annoyance of Susan,  my wife.
So games a bogie what next ….
Well I mentioned Mark of Mark’s Model Bits has a good value hull … well why not …

I remember going to the NMM with my Dad and seeing the Reliant… Long story short, Dad bought the plans and proceeded to build a plug … then realised the wheels would be small & stability may be an issue …. I was gutted…
30’ish years later … Volcano!

Story to date...
I have purchased a hull from Mark… Looked at the Plan… Moved operations indoors … much to the annoyance of Susan.
So from now until the weather improves I will be working on making a Volcano!

Volcanic winter ahead… hmm ... 21st december 2012 ... end of the world or spiritual transformation.... either way there will be a new boat or nothing ..by spring next year.


Regards,
Kim

[TailUK]

Best of luck with Volcano.  I've got that hull too and as soon as I figure out how to do the wheels I'll be making a start.

[Talisman]

Made a start on this project a few weeks ago so should trundle through the first part of the build at a reasonable pace.
First job was the plan, the hull is superb but the plan dimensions don’t tie in with the hull.
Not to worry, I was going to have to re draw most of the ship on the computer so a set of working drawings with slight adaption to allow the boat to be RC were made.
(I should probably say that most of what I produce for this little tug will become commercially available early next year..)
Hull & Plan available direct from Mark - MMB
Fittings direct from Mark – MMB
Anything else I will let you know.

So on we go… with a new set of drawings I could start making a set of scale wheels for her…
First assemble the floats, pretty straight forward, cut the tagged floats out their fret and glue front face and rear face together. I used super glue as in the past I have found epoxy can warp the wood overtime. The floats will be painted so the superglue will be sealed in.
Fold up the brackets one axle & one control bracket is needed per float. Again fairly straight forward as the pilot holes are engraved on the float faces.. Just double check they are square before finally nipping the nuts up.
A break from wheels … on with the hull.
I then went back to the computer and marked in all the positions of the deck fitting foot prints, added engraved planking details etc. I then had to jump ahead and work out how to make the drive system.
Those of you who have the hull or have built a scale paddle tug will know the shaft passes under the deck pretty tightly; it can be difficult to allow for gears / pulleys etc. So a slight adaption to the plan and the engine room skylights were centred over where drive system connects to the shaft…
I make that sound pretty easy, the truth is half the Rainforest ended up in the scrap box … sometimes I can be cut twice measure more accurately each time kind of builder 

So I have made a start on the build but there are still many challenges ahead.  I have to say I’m excited about this build.  I have always fancied a small tug for sailing at small pools at shows and this is ideal and much easier to transport.

More soon,
Kim

[Talisman]

HI All,
Well I’m not spiritually any wiser nor did the world end, I didn’t even get one number on the lottery … so I have no excuses and have to get on I suppose …

So here we are most bits are pretty straight forward, click together check all is square then bleed in some low viscosity superglue and viola it’s done  … I like this type of building!

Everything you see is dry fit only at the moment so if bits don’t look squared don’t worry I will square everything up on the final fit. I have set myself a personal challenge to make the wiring as neat as possible and not my usual birds nest. I have gone as far as producing a wiring diagram… In the loosest possible definition of wiring diagram … my dad would not have been impressed, but I understand it  
So here are the pics of build so far –
1.   Assembly of drive system, to be set up for independent drive. Batteries are also contained within the system.
2. Speed controller tray
3. Servo tray
4. Paddle wheels with diagonal bracing.
I used a simplified square lashing where the bracing passes over each other. To do this I split some light cable and used one strand it the wire and a little blob of solder to keep it all in place. This has added significantly to the wheels strength.
5. Deck loosely in place, funnel bases & engine room skylight in place, Sponsons & drum faces.

There you go that’s it for just now.
Regards
Kim

[Talisman]

I should probably say that the drive system doesn't have to be set up as independant just install one motor... but you figured that out allready i'm sure.

Regards
Kim

[pete]

Kim, - that looks great! Very impressed!
Compliments of the season,
Pete.

[djcf]

very nice, and neat, Kim.
I look forward to seeing her go together. Good to see the innards too.
all the best
Clark

[Mercury]

Kim, this is seriously impressive stuff. I take it your using auto ad with a laser cutting. Great design work as well and I love the cross bracing on the wheels.

Clearly once you buIld the skills up it's possible to take things to a different level and it looks much quicker than manual work.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the progress. Are you going to use 3D printing for the fittings?

Richard

[Talisman]

Hi All,
Richard, Clark & Pete Many thanks for your kind words.
Richard, your right the parts are drawn on cad.
Depends what I’m drawing what package I use. I did invest in Autodesk Inventor for the 3d work and although I have loads to learn about the programme’s capabilities it is a fantastic tool.

I won’t be doing any fittings for Volcano as Mark provides them. Perhaps Mark will tell us about them or I’m sure he’d be happy to answer direct enquiries.
 If you’re interested, yes I will be producing 3d printed masters for my own work. If you have seen the artwork on my web site then here are the results from the printer.
Regards,
Kim

[Talisman]

Oops, i will attach the art work here as i have stripped the Website pics off ... another job to be done over the Holidays.
Pic attached..

[djcf]

Kim,
Bit of a silly question I suppose, (as you have fitted them!) but you would recomend electronize speed control?
I don't know much about whats good for paddlers in that department.
cheers
Clark

[Talisman]

Hi Clark,
I’m not an electronic whizz kid but yes I do like Electronize controls.
If you go for the 15 or above then you can ‘tune’ them to get the best set up for your boat.
You have plenty of room in your boat so yes I would recommend them to you.
Hope that helps,
Regards
Kim

[djcf]

Thanks Kim, that helps a lot. Best wishes of the season to yourself and Susan.

Clark

[Talisman]

Welll Christmas has passed & new year on the Horizon...
Truth be told i'm enjoying doing nothing .. Zip ... Zilch ...
Problem is my brain it is on overdrive ...
So next little design project .. born of frustration .. tipping the hull this way and that ...is to design a stand in Acrylic ... sounds easy ... well first up is to design & build a bending machine.
Susan is going to love me as the machine is going to have to have the same max dimension as the laser cutter ... Another space in the house is commited to model boat building ... makes sense to me..
Honestly i don't know how she puts up with my carismatic, athletic, young self. 

Regards &  update in the New Year.
All the best to all of you in 2013
Kim

[neil howard-pritchard]

all the best to you too Kim......... and your family.

by Blackpool next year I might have something other than lifeboats to think about,( running out of prototypes to build frankly, lol) and was wondering if you might be interested in what I am considering.
neil.

Could you pm me with your email adress and I'll tell you what I fancy.........a million miles away from the RNLI and lifeboats.
neil.