Fighter Cat Riversport Catamaran

[keithbradley]

Just got my new Fighter Cat ARTR kit. First thing I have to say is I REALLY LIKE THIS HATCH! I've gotten so sick of warped hatches that peel off hatch tape when running. I've had so many boats with crappy hatches and I am completely relieved to know that this one wont be a problem at all.

The tunnel has a bit of "oil can" to it. By that I mean its warped a bit and you can pop it in and out. I will be doing a carbon fiber/kevlar inlay on this boat, so when I do it I will brace the tunnel from the bottom so its flat when the carbon fiber sets up. It may not end up perfectly flat, but it should get me pretty close.

Power will be a T-600 outrunner (1400kv), paired up with suppo 200A esc. This is one of the power combos available with the Fighter cat ARTR kit and is intended for 6s use.

While the kit came with almost everything needed, some of it will not get used, like the wood servo mount (it may get used on something else, just not on this boat). I am using a blue/black carbon fiber/kevlar cloth on the hull and I plan on making either some custom machined aluminum or carbon fiber servo/motor mounts. The kit also included a 4mm flex/drive dog/stuffing tube with liner. I have not decided whether or not I will run the included flex or a .187" flex.

Any comments/suggestions welcome and encouraged.
This wont be a fast build be any means...I have all winter to do it. Thanks in advance to those who contribute and follow along.

Here are a few pics:

[LarrysDrifter]

The pearl white sure is pretty.I couldnt make my mind up whether I wanted the white or silver,but ended up getting silver.Ill be watching this build(all winter).
The floor on mine was warped too,but I just glassed over it and called it good.With that motor your running on 6s,Id mod the stinger for a 3/16 stub shaft and use the .187 flex.

[carlcisneros]

IF I run mine with either single or twin set up, it will be 3/16 flex shafts only.

[Brushless55]

looks good budy!

[LarrysDrifter]

looks good budy!

I like your Transmaro in your avatar.

[Brushless55]

I like your Transmaro in your avatar.

I hope they build them or its a 2011 Mustang for me

[RIPFENCE]

paint looks really nice in the pics white and black always looks clean and sporty...like it!!!

[LarrysDrifter]

Heres a word of advise-dont use blue painters masking tape to mask off your hull.It takes the clear with it when you remove the tape.I also re-inforced my hatch.So,like anyone else,I masked off the hatch.I used rc car magazine paper with the blue masking tape.Once it was cured,I could damn near read a Traxxas Summit ad right on top of the cock pit roof.So,use the real masking paper from an auto body paint supply store.And I figured the blue masking tape was the most innocent tape made,but,it ended up being a pain in my a@#.

[FighterCat57]

Cool! Nice Looking Hull! =)

You can go .078 wire if there's any doubt about the 4mm cable holding up. Although the 4mm is a bit bigger than the .150 cables and doesn't have the torque twist since it's 2 pieces so might be able to handle a good bit of load.

BTW- I have the 6mm couplers now if you need them. 6mm - 4mm or 6mm - 078.

[keithbradley]

Thanks for the input guys!
Ben- I will need to get a coupler for her. Im not too experienced with wire drives though...do they have to be close to straight? The stuffing tube is going to have a little bit of bend in it no matter what I do.

[FighterCat57]

Thanks for the input guys!
Ben- I will need to get a coupler for her. Im not too experienced with wire drives though...do they have to be close to straight? The stuffing tube is going to have a little bit of bend in it no matter what I do.

Some would argue, but I've had some pretty good luck running wire drives on the Genesis and Apparition single motor setups. I've only broken 1, but found that the motor angle was misaligned and pinching the wire.

PS- I also have the horizontal aluminum servo mount.

[keithbradley]

Ok, the holidays are over...I guess I will get SOMETHING done. I did my second and last layer of carbon fiber/kevlar today. It was still wet when I took the pictures so it has a glazed look to it. Its actually a blue/black weave, but the blue doesnt show up that well in the pics.

[LarrysDrifter]

Nice.Get her going.But dont hurry too much since the water is frozen.

[FighterCat57]

Wow, that looks nice!

[keithbradley]

Some more progress...
Going with a Leopard 3674-1300kv motor and scorpion 120A esc with water cooling added. The scorpion escs are really nice, loaded with features (like over current shutoff, ect) and they are programmed with a card via infared signal. The suppo escs are a great deal, but since this is going to be my main "sportboat", I decided to go with something a little more fun.

Ive got the rudder/strut mounted. I drilled the bushing in the strut for .187" flex and used a proboat flex from OSE.
Stuffing tube (1/4") and motor mount are also mounted.
Here are some pics: