ELAM 1/12 Scale Racer (INPUT APPRECIATED)

[monojeff]

Here are some pics of the boat.
I removed all the stock decals and there is the classic ghosted image of them which seams to happen with all the stock hulls.

You can see one of the wings is partially broken off.
I am thinking I am going to remove both of them completely and smooth out the rear deck.
The hole in the middle I believe was there so that some T nuts could be installed on the transom to hold the UL-1, it will be filled and smoother out.

Can also see the sponsons have a bunch of cracks in them which need to be smoother/filled.

The stock radio box before I cut out the plastic tray.

Another thing I did was remove the lack of flotation from the front sponsons.
They had very little white foam that was badly glued in and had broken loose so I removed it and will replace with either 2 part or some cut up pool noodles still trying to decide which one to go with.

[Alexgar]

I really enjoyed my Elam cc1512 1800 kv on 2 2s and a x642 it was alot more fun than my ul1

[dana]

Pool noodles. They're removable and easy to shape. Plus really. Good floatation

[monojeff]

Pool noodles. They're removable and easy to shape. Plus really. Good floatation

Funny you say that I got some work done on it past week and stuffed pool noodles in the sponsons.
I used a bunch that were cut down and jammed as many as I could in there.
The framing on the sides was easy to remove since the glue proboat used is not the greatest.
A little heat and an exacto knife made short work of it they snapped right out.
Sponsons are now a lot less flimsy and have nice support plus the added weight up front!

Also removed old stuffing tube and will be glassing in a new 1/4" tube soon.

[monojeff]

Well guys finally got the boat ready for the water.
Ul-1 motor
Ul-1 strut
Ul-1 esc
New stuffing tube and flex shaft
Fightercat Aluminum 443 prop

Boat ran very well first time out plenty more testing and tuning to be had but no doubt I know I will be competitive in local Ul-1 & proboat stock class.
Boat was running very fast and pretty darn stable in some choppy water while testing.
Some time tuning and I think I will have a great runner.

I will post up some pics when I can on the transformation I made with the boat.

[monojeff]

Well guys here is what the boat looks like now.
Been a while since I have updated this thread.
So far first day of racing didn't go so well hit a dead boat and was out for the day due to rudder issues.
2nd day of heat racing (1st place)
3rd day of heat racing (2nd place)

Gpsd the boat today and getting consistent 46.5mph on the 443 prop.
Pretty sure there is a lot more I could get out of this setup but also thinking I am going to switch back to the stock motor and see what I can do with that since I have some other plans for the UL motor.

Boat is very stable I tape off the first break in the tunnel with some hatch tape from the canards back to the tunnel and also tape off the turbine opening.
This really helps keep the boat settled down from any gusts of wind or wanting to lift the nose at speed.
Boat is 5.5 pounds RTR.

New name for the boat is KAMIKAZE.

[Namba328]

totally should get some video of this hydro XD

[monojeff]

totally should get some video of this hydro XD

I will try to get some video of it next time I am doing some testing.

[srislash]

Looks good Jeff.Can't wait to see it moving.

[monojeff]

Was out doing more testing today.
I might have a video to post not the greatest but I will see if its worth while once I get it downloaded.


I hit 50.6mph
Using a 645prop that was cut down to 43mm and cupped by Mark Sholund (props4u.com)
I rounded the tips sorta like a 42x55 prop because last time out I hit something but it seamed to help the prop a bit.
Had to add 6ounces of weight on the very front of the boat to help keep it settled down.

With a ABC 42x55 prop I hit the same speeds I was getting before with the 443 aluminum prop. 46.5mph

Problem is the run after this one I must have pinched a waterline or something because I fried my UL-1 motor!
Oh well I am not totally sure it was operating to its full potential anyways.
I will be trying out the stock proboat motor this coming weekend for heat racing and see what I can do with that.
If the speeds are close then I will continue to run stock motor if not I will get a new UL motor!


I also changed out the stock turn fin for the UL-1 turn fin and it turns much better but does tend to cause a bit of lift oh well I can deal with that.
Stay tuned more to come.....

[monojeff]

New look for the Elam. Custom cowl and wrap.
The boat was so beat up and stressed cracked everywhere that I decided to try and wrap the bottom of the boat to keep the water out and stop it from cracking more.
Should still be a great fun race boat. I sealed all the edges and plan to race it this weekend.
Hopefully the vinyl on the bottom holds up.
I'm pretty sure it should do just fine.
It was a bathtub otherwise and took on so much water by end of the race it's not even funny.

Nice and bright fluorescent orange decals!

[monojeff]

Here is some video of the last time out racing!

Final heat walking away with the win until I flipped going into the last turn, guess that's what I get for not letting off the throttle I was having to much fun holding it wide open whenever possible. It was running nice and smooth up to the flip. I am not sure what happened but I didn't hit anything, it must have been bad luck and some wind it doesn't take much to flip these little guys when your flying around the course close to 50mph.

All the other boats were over the line at the start so mine was in the lead the entire time. Love the boat when it is running well just need to get the water to stop coming in the hull, I found a few places it was still coming in so I am working on making it water tight again and hopefully be able to run an entire heat with no water leaks.

Hope you guys enjoy!

[tlandauer]

Wow, intense! That is pretty windy! Beautiful lake! I love the vid, thanks for posting!

[monojeff]

That's not windy for out here in NW. That's just breezy. It gets a lot worse out here in the NW.
Fun day though for sure. 1/12 racing can get crazy at times.

[Scamp73]

New look for the Elam. Custom cowl and wrap.
The boat was so beat up and stressed cracked everywhere that I decided to try and wrap the bottom of the boat to keep the water out and stop it from cracking more.
Should still be a great fun race boat. I sealed all the edges and plan to race it this weekend.
Hopefully the vinyl on the bottom holds up.
I'm pretty sure it should do just fine.
It was a bathtub otherwise and took on so much water by end of the race it's not even funny.

Nice and bright fluorescent orange decals!

Where did you get that hatch assbly? Or did you modify the origial hatch? I hate trying to tape the rear around the exhaust plume on the stock boat.