RCU 8th Scale Brushless Hydroplane Build

[kcpasco]

Hey guys,
So got all my paint colors I need, got the rear wings and canard painted. Happy with the colors, I will probably get pictures with paint by next week sometime.

Got the new cowling and salt water scoop from Phil Thomas, the cowling looks quite a bit more scale and seems to fit the boat pretty good. Built a new cockpit to mesh the new cowling from Phil Thomas with the boat from RC boat company. Still a little tweeking to do on it to get it perfect but it is getting close. Got the cowling magnets... they are super strong not sure if I will need 1 or 2 sets on the cowl to hold it down. I am thinking it will be hard to get it off the boat with more than one set.

Since last time I took pictures I ended up moving one of the rear upright wings out about half an inch as they are offset when the boat comes for some reason, looks much better now. Readjusted the placement of the canard as it was off a little bit, about a 16th of an inch but I would have noticed it ha.

So here are a few updated pictures, next ones will probably have some paint on the boat and trailer hopefully.

[kcpasco]

Ok guys a quick update... As you can see paint started going on the boat the last couple days.... The body of the hull is all that is left to paint.... Then I have a debate going and I would love to hear what everyone has to say about it. Option 1 would be finish painting, add decals, and clear over decals. Advantage cleaning would be easier without the decals over the clear, however I would be stuck with the same decals forever and they could pose a problem with repairs later on if damage is near the decals.
Option 2 is finish painting, clear the boat, then add decals over clear.... Advantage would be I can always change them with the boat as they change decals here and there, also I can have a thinner coat of clear as I dont have to worry about covering multiple layers of vinyl graphics, and I can block the clear down and polish it before laying graphics so I will have a better looking finish as well.. Only disadvantage I see is cleaning the boat after runs will be a little more challanging as I have to work around the graphics a little. I dont mind that all that much though. Hey the real boats have the graphics over the clear so why not.

Ha other problem I had as you can see I got the trailer painted, after first coat I noticed the top of the trailer had lots of low and high spots as I didnt do as much body work as I would have liked on it. So I may end up adding some bondo and sanding it again then painting again but I havent decided yet.

Also got the cowling magnets installed... went with a pair on each side of the cowling and wow I am thinking I could have got away with one set. Each set has a pull force of over 30lbs and its a task to get the cowling off ha. However I think I came up with a good system to get it off without straining too hard haha. They work great though easy and quick to put it on and take it off... Keeps the boat looking clean on the outside with no cowl attachments.

[TotalPackage]

That joints gonna look good man. Oh yeah Oh yeah! I can see it coming together right now. that boats gonna be agg! duke

[TotalPackage]

Looks like a light built hull . Nice ride pads too. How much does it weigh?

[kcpasco]

Hey there, I actually didn't weigh the boat stock so am not exactly sure. But it is not light, it is actually a fairly heavy fiberglass layup, but I actually prefer it this way. I have had boats that were very light layups and flipped them and all the seams cracked. This one has very strong seams and I am sure will hold up to a lot of abuse, he puts a lot of reinforcement in the boat. I am shooting for 16lbs ready to run with an electric setup

Looks like a light built hull . Nice ride pads too. How much does it weigh?

[TotalPackage]

Understood. Nice build cant wait to see it.

[kcpasco]

Ok guys pretty much got my trailer ready to go... Still gotta add some tail lights and a license plate ha but other than that I am happy. Oh also need to get my hands on some tires for it. Right now I borrowed some from a buddy just to check fit, but I need to get some for it. I also will be adding wheels to the back under the trailer and a handle on the front of the trailer. This way I can tip it up with the boat and everything on it and roll it instead of carrying it everywhere. With the boat and all the batteries and everything in the drawers and the weight of the trailer itself it would be a task to carry it everywhere.

As far as this trailer goes it tilts like the real ones, I am even thinking about making it tilt with a button later on. I made it to look similar to the real oberto trailer right down to the diamond plate on the deck, and the reflective red and chrome tape around the base of the trailer. I even put real nonslip tape on the steps like the real trailer. I think it is a fun addition and a nice touch for the club.

[TotalPackage]

Man thats nice .It gonna really have a scale appearance on there.

[kcpasco]

thanks man yeah I am excited to have the whole boat painted and polished and on the trailer.... Its fairy warm today I may get the first parts cleared tonight...

[kcpasco]

Gonna have to wait on clearing the first parts.... Bought some 1/32 pinstripe tape from the local paint store and that is the thinnest they had and could not even order any thinner. I need black pinstripe tape for putting in between the colors as the real boat has a thin black line in between all the colors. Anyways I put the 1/32 on and it looked a little too thick, so took it back off and found some 1/64 online and ordered that. Should be here by saturday so maybe ill have some stuff cleared by Sunday.

[kcpasco]

ok the new pin stripe tape got here today I think the 1/64 was perfect. Got the cowling, wings, turbine tube and tray, and canard all clear coated. Like I said I am clearing everything and polishing before decals, but I went ahead and put the shark gills on the cowling before clear because it was a printed decal that I made so decided to put it under the clear, it turned out great. So got the parts in the box with a heater drying overnight, hope they turn out good. Body work is almost done on the hull, last bit of bondo went on today and will sand that tomorrow and get the last primer coat on tomorrow if everything goes well. Then start on paint on the hull hopefully.

[TotalPackage]

Cant wait to see it.

[kcpasco]

Ok guys, got some new pictures of the progress.... oh I have tail lights and even a Indiana license plate on the trailer haha. I have pretty much been working non stop on the decals. They have been the toughest decals I have ever done. Each color had to be cut out individually and pieced together like a little tiny puzzle. It was horrrrrible and time consuming. I just have a few decals left that go on the hull as the hull is still just white. Only problem I have had with paint so far is I had a little of the silver peel up off the cockpit, but I had to calm down and remembered that the cockpit glass will probably go there anyways so no worries. So painting I went ahead and cleared before the decals went on as they are vinyl so the water wont hurt them. I then wet sanded the clear with 2000 then polished the clear with two different grit polishes. It looks good I am a little worried about the decals peeling but I have the files saved now so can always redo peices. I dont want to clear over them because it will add another half pound to a pound to the boat and I already am over the weight I want to be at. So I will try it out and see how it goes.
Also I included a picture of the wing decals, one is just after cutting the black which then had to be taken apart and a green red and white cut the same and all the pieces put together... the other is the finished product. I am pretty happy with them.

Hopefully I will get some color on the hull today.

[kcpasco]

A few more

[TotalPackage]

Looking sweet