Simon's New Balsa rigger.

[Simon.O.]

This one is to replace the existing mid size rigger.
The replacement is dues as the sponsons have been robbed to refit the Canard and the existing tub is not only tired but out of date as far as battery placement goes.

I already have new sponsons and they have had a few quick runs on the old tub and show real promise. With no turn fin on there is NO wake off them so that tells me they are packing air nicely. They will need a bit less Aoa in the new build as there will be more power and thus more speed. More about that later.

Here are some shots of the design phase and the first step of the build. I have the tub sides underway.

[Simon.O.]

A bit of work done this week between school trips and lawns to mow, at least I am on leave from the fire station for a couple of weeks.
The sides are now sorted and the main frames are in place. I can start on sheeting the bottom and then begin the fit out.
The rear boom placement is yet to be decided to get my Cg so there is a lot more work to do yet.

The important part is the centre section where the motor will live between these two main bulkheads / frames. This area will be isolated from the rest of the tub so hat the front and rear sections are independantly water tight. There is a cunning reason for this and Ben (Meniscus) may know the answer but will stay quiet for a bit!

I'll try to get more done this weekend.

[Ub Hauled]

Simon, this little fella is looking great mate!
What motor will you be using? An outrunner?
If so, are you going to air cool it somehow?

[Simon.O.]

Some more work done on the hull today.
I have the bottom skinned and all the structure in place. Now it is time to sheet up the deck, fit the rear boom mount and start getting it ready for the water.

Jan (Ub Hauled) has some cool ideas as top how it should be powered

This one will be different. !!

Some pics from today as the tub and sheet to make the hatches dry in the sun.

[Meniscus]

Simon, it's looking good. Consider putting in your motor connections before you skin and seal. Are you going to run tubing in the tub for the booms? It will allow you to adjust the offset of the sponsons from side to side and help with walking.

Also, are all electronics to include receiver going forward, leaving only the driveline and servo behind the motor? Otherwise, you may have to put some sort of conduit to keep water out around the motor if you air cool as Jan suggested.

[ray schrauwen]

There is a cunning reason for this and Ben (Meniscus) may know the answer but will stay quiet for a bit!
.

Is this to allow you to let water into the motor area to cool an outrunner?

[Simon.O.]

Simon, it's looking good. Consider putting in your motor connections before you skin and seal. Are you going to run tubing in the tub for the booms? It will allow you to adjust the offset of the sponsons from side to side and help with walking.

Also, are all electronics to include receiver going forward, leaving only the driveline and servo behind the motor? Otherwise, you may have to put some sort of conduit to keep water out around the motor if you air cool as Jan suggested.

This is a given. It will be setup similar to my big rigger which allows me to adjust AoA independantly. I will allow from 3 to 6 degrees
There will be motor connections sealed into the fwd bulkhead too.
At this stage the Rx will be going in the rear, there will be a tube between the front and rear to feed servo & esc control cables through.

Is this to allow you to let water into the motor area to cool an outrunner?

The plan at the moment is just to run the motor with no hatch top and see how air cooling alone works. The motor is well over rated for the application so may not get too hot.
I have a few ideas for additional cooling, ram air feed, water ingestion, water injection.

[Simon.O.]

Some more work done today. It is nearly ready to skin and hatch the top side.

All the service tubes are ready to epoxy in and then it is a general sand and varnish job, !!

[Simon.O.]

It is getting closer to being wet !!
Decks are on and hatches are made and fitted.
The rear tubes for water in and rudder drive are sealed and the rear boom tube is in and ready to seal.
The centre section is getting a new thin coat of sealer each time the brush is wet !

To do, includes fitting new boom receivers to the sponsons that are currently living on the old tub, fit the servo and steering linkage, fit stuff tube ...........get it ready to run !!!

What I have so far.

[Simon.O.]

Who wants to see this !!

Had time and some card so made a mock up
It is a possible setup for air in and out, yes I know I am having to deal with a dodgy air situation as the impellor /exhaust is fwd of the intake vents but I am sure with some imagination and experimentation this is a viable option. I have attached a possible airflow diagram.

If air is not my friend then in goes the water, and I have a few ideas on how that will pan out.

Put your hand on you heart and tell me you have never wanted to do something like this.

[ray schrauwen]

I'm thinking that the optional exhaust ducts would be a good idea and they look nice. Maybe make two and see what is best.
Any airflow is going to keep it cool enough and if you put a water drain hole in the motor bay if water comes in t he top, it goes out the bottom.

[Simon.O.]

As some of you will know I have had a bit of feedback via PM
The game is on now as I got home from yet another school trip today and found a card in my mailbox form the man in the yellow van.
FFS could he not just leave the box at my door probably not as it contains over a hundy worth of bits.

The motor will be in the tub and this hull should hit the water at the weekend, especially if my new prop arrives before then. I ordered one tonight.

For the first shake down runs I'll go air-cool only with no fancy ideas, of which I have a lot of !!
More to follow

[Ub Hauled]

Sweeeeeet!!!!

[Rumdog]

Beautiful job Simon!
I've always liked your riggers.

[Simon.O.]

A few pics from todays work.
It is now sealed, varnished and dang near ready to go. Cooling lines for the esc are sorted, it shares an esc with the big cat so it must be easy in/out setup.
Power connectors from the front to the motor section are in and sealed.
The steering servo is in and it will be a little bit of work to set up the linkage.

Sponsons and tubes are fitted and the epoxy will take a while to cure.

I hope to pick up a box from the post office tomorrow that has the motor among other bits. Also waiting on a locally sourced 4xx prop.

The plan is to wet it on Saturday !!