resurrection of a toy store boat - Nikko Jet Tornado

[RaGiN Z]

So this thing is about 20 some odd years old, I believe I vaguely remember it running once at a camp site where the family took refuge once a year. About 10 years ago my grandfather gave it to me, not really into it, I stashed it away.

This year I pulled it out. Found that my Uncle had re-wired it some years ago to take battery packs with Tamiya hookups. I took it to a pond and checked it out. Only went in reverse and forward turned on the bilge pump, left was right, and right was left.

I hard wired the bilge pump on, and got it to run so that forward worked and the steering was correct. Not the fastest thing I had ever seen and the lack of reverse and finicky steering landed me in some weeds that I couldn't get out of. After I dredged thru the pond to get it I figured I would pull it apart and upgrade a few things.

Mind you, anything I messed up on is because prior to this, all I have ever known are cars so I just did it based off that knowledge. Everything installed are from cars. Any criticism is appreciated. Obviously I cannot change the rudder and prop setup unless someone has some ideas.

[RaGiN Z]

So of course the first order of business was to gut it of all the stock electronics.




I ordered a waterproof team losi 14T brushed motor (budget minded and who knows what I'm actually doing so why dump a ton of cash into it) and waterproof team losi ESC with reverse and LiPO detection. Also got a traxxas waterproof servo and have on order a traxxas link 2.4GHz receiver.



the Losi motor fit like a glove with little hassle.



plenty of room on the platform for the ESC and a receiver, this is just an old unit I had from an old truck, its not staying. I also ordered a waterproof receiver box from a traxxas Summit for it, should work well on that platform.



the stock servo has more of a circumference (180*), is a bit wider and a lot taller than today's standard. So I had to get a lil creative. So I had to add a bit of plastic to one end of a 4 point horn, added shims to either side of the servo bracket, then used a long screw to reach up to the rudder link. Not to forget that I had to put it in backwards. And then make the notch in the rudder link longer so I could get as much control as possible.

So now I am just waiting on the new receiver and waterproof box, oh and more deans connectors to come in.

Today I took a long shot and typed in Jet Tornado and actually came up with a lot of hits on Google, including a replacement parts list with IN STOCK PARTS!

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/Nikko-Parts/Toy-Parts/Model-19120/0760/1407100/00032416/00001

Any thoughts or suggestions?

[Boaterguy]

if you are planning to go the FE route, that drive will have to go, a flex cable, and a nice rudder will be the best option
of course with that major repairs are in order
if this is just for fun, what you have is sufficient

[RaGiN Z]

I wouldn't even know where FE would be around here, if they do at all. Not really interested in racing, just messing around a couple ponds.

I couldn't imagine what I would need to do to make it FE regulation. Totally not worth it.

At this point, I could actually put all the stock equipment back in it. I like that idea. New projects appear all the time tho!

thanks for the response!

[Boaterguy]

I don't mean racing, do you want it to go really fast in a straight line or just drive around for fun?

[RaGiN Z]

see, just goes to show what the hell I know. I'd like both but then again I am running a brushed motor with an ESC that can only take a 3S battery. Tho anything higher would probably destroy the motor anyway, I would imagine.

[RaGiN Z]

having the prop and rudder on the very back of the boat helps with straight line speed?

[Boaterguy]

we are talking if you are going fast, but the angle of the prop isn't great for performance, at speed. if you are cruising, it's not worth the effort.

[Ty@Tekin]

Not every boat build has to be FE, I'm not building my Super Hawaii to be fast, just reliable to bash around with.

Looks good so far! Should be amusing to mess with when you're done.

[Boaterguy]

I'm not saying it has to be, I was asking if he wants to build an FE or bash around boat.

[Ty@Tekin]

I just realized that hull looks awefully similar to a ZZR or Reef Racer.

[RaGiN Z]

definitely just a basher.

I have been looking around at a lot of the posts. Huge batteries and crazy brushless motors. Makes me think...

Something makes me wonder about the durability of my plastic prop tho...

The angle of my prop, its good for just cruising around, kind of like all season tires vs pure summer tires?

Sorry, need new tires for the truck so the analogy came natural. lol

[Boaterguy]

yea, it's not the most efficient setup, do you have water cooling? the temps shouldn't get too bad, but if you are running for too long you might want to consider it. If it's a cruiser, a nice 2P setup for batts will keep it stable and give really long runtimes

[RaGiN Z]

yea, no. I don't have any sort of water cooling. I guess I will look into it when I cross that bridge.

ok, the whole 1p or 2 p thing, I don't really get. Can someone explain this to me?

[RaGiN Z]

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=11614