Looking nice. 

Hi,
       I add one more detail.
        Many greetings at the beginning of this 2014 year
                                                                                          Tom

Hi gents,
               I put here maybe some of the last photos of my model before launching.

   Wiring seems to be ok, lights lighting,steam sound module puffing,wheel drive is working... I am afraid only that  home made original paddlewheels are  too heavy. I am ready, in the extreme case, replace them by  recommended light plastic   model paddlewheels from  fy Graupner, which I got from a  very good friend.
(sorely.the main  deck is not yet fixed in place here )
greetings  Tom

Hi PDs'....& yes Tomas.....looking very smart  .......please keep us posted on the launch sailing with photos .....Derek 

last fotos in the bath .. wet test RTR before launching.
So here's my model fully dressed up for the first time in the bath .. By that I gave the speaker under the rear superstructure/ engine room/ so tahat  model sits literally at her   "ass"
Maybe in  the future, I will  have to replace my home-made wheel (they are rather heavy) for  light weighing Graupner wheels 
Model needs some reworking   (repair lights on the mast .. maybe some stupid contact ).,.
Maybe  I might say  now .. the worst is over   So .. basically I'm ready to  go  to a large water ....
Power - one battery 12V / 4,5 Ah
  Drive .. 2 independent motors to transfer up to 150 rev / min
   control over the 2 ESC  units -  Dsys 28 DCRS and a  V tail mixer
separate BEC direct from battery
  lighting    LED´s
sound module - steam engine
                          - Fog horn
                          piezzosirene
(last foto.. improved switch for foghorn an siren.. via old servo and microswitches (rods to the switches are missing yet )

Greetings   Tom

Hi,
    Here are the first photos of the model Lulonga on her maiden voyage on the River Becva.

Almost debacle, nothing worked way it was supposed.

Only then at  home, I found that when transferring  transmitter  in the backpack , the channel trims were perhaps shifted on all channels.
It is a fact, and perhaps me a bit apologizes that  I have a new apparatus, and it was her first real deployment.
I'm gonna have to improve longitudinal trim  of the model,(the model is very short AND  rudder absolutely ineffective),during  the test  the Pb batteries  and counterweights  has moved   .. and a  model sailed  tilted to the port side  then .. and looked almost as injured duck

But ..  I say to myself .. it was still her first voyage ..
And  the most important thing .... Lulonga in the end did not sink.
So ..further testing will be  as soon as possible
greetings Tom

  patience Tom....it will improve on next sailing

She looks good on the water..... even down a bit by the stern...   Derek

Hi,
she is s really very short, it would need to add at least 10 cm in length. Additionally ..homemade wheels  are extremely heavy for this model,I did not expect it . Needed by the reconstruction of the wheel from Graupner, but there is a problem with the bearings. Classic wheel mounting is between two bearings, wheel model fy Graupner  require a fixed bearing on the inside.'s There for but I have no place.
I think that at least now is  a little help to  locate another counterweight on the bow of the model and fixing lead battery against shifting.
Tom

Nice! Is there a video of it on the water?

Looks like you will have to 'linger longer' on this project?!?

Hi,
    I am still not completely resolved. After measuring ESC, it seems that one of the controllers has a faulty output on BEC, and thus probably more internal issues. This can explain the problems with motor control. Overall, it looks like the larger reconstruction, but can not estimate the time it is ready .. as I have another project (Thames sailing barge .... see  model pages   >  http://barge.homeunix.org/index.php/home ).
First,  I will of course have to resolve the issue of faulty ESC. I need two identical ESC for control via Mixer, or resign from the simultaneous operation of motors and use one ESC for both motors .. which will result in worsened control model.
There is the question of paddle wheels from Graupner, which I got from a friend  Charles. Wheel are assembled with the help of plastic rivets that falls out. Have anyone of you an idea how to fix these rivets ??  It  would be very helpful to me, even if it meant reconstruction drive.
Tom

Hullo Tom.....those plastic rivets  ...I remember another builder complaining of the same issue many years ago

I suspect they are manufactured from a grade of synthetic material that is literally impossible to glue

If the have rotational clearance requirement...you could consider replacing them with metric nylon or stainless steel hex head bolts & nuts.... Derek

This is what I've done with mine.

My reasoning was that they could adjusted for a finer tolerance than you could with a rivet.

Cheers

Ken

this is one esc that runs two motors independently
maybe this is what you need
gr from The Bombus

Hi gents,

              thanks for the advices.

   Sabertooth Dual 12A Motor Driver for R/C is really  a very interesting product.

   Video on the water  ..   sorely several seconds only ,some more from the cam on the board  ..  I missed a good      cameraman.

greetings  Tom