ELAM 1/12 Scale Racer (INPUT APPRECIATED)

[monojeff]

Got a ELAM hull from a friend which was has some battle scars but should still make a great race boat!

I will be using an aquacraft 60amp ESC & testing the proboat 1500 motor and a UL-1 motor to see which one will give me best speeds and handling.
Going to be using the stock proboat rudder and a UL-1 strut which I will either use stock brass bushing or something recommended??
Ordered a .150 flex shaft and liner from OSE & a Graupner K Series 42mm prop for testing seams people are having good success with x642 prop and not sure what others might work???

I will post up some pictures of it later when I have a chance to take some.

Not sure if using 2 part pour in foam is the way to go or possibly just use some GREAT STUFF anyone had success with using it in this boat??
Figured it might work out ok and add some weight and stiffen things up......

Any advice or help with this will be greatly appreciated!
I have read threw Darrin's race prep and he has some good stuff in there but I am also interested to see what other have done to the boat and had good success with.

[dana]

Def use a 642 with proboat motor then maybe a x4 prop with ul1 motor. Or a grim 40/57/3. My biggest issue with my Elam was then front never had enough weight. I would say s high lift prop would be good, but I sold mine before I ever got to testing props

[monojeff]

Seams to be one of the main issues with the hull that I have read about.
Having the UL-1 strut gives it the adjust-ability it needs so you can raise the strut unlike the stock proboat strut.
Did you make any mods to the hull before you sold it??

Here are the local clubs rules that I will be racing this hull with.

Motors:
ProBoat A3630-1500 (P/N PRB3310)
Aquacraft 36-56-2030 (P/N AQUG7001)

Speed Control:
ProBoat 45amp ESC (P/N PRB3309)
Aquacraft 60amp ESC (P/N AQUG7011)

Hardware:
1. Stock hardware components may be exchanged between hulls. Essentially, if a part comes stock on one boat, it may be used on the other.
Examples: Motors, esc's, rudders, turnfins, struts may be exchanged between hulls.
2. Stock radio may be replaced.
3. Allowable aftermarket replacement items:
a. The stock flex cable may be replaced with a similar design .150 cable (Octura, Hughey, etc.
b. The stock cable collet may be replaced with Octura (P/N ocfhe5mm15 ) 5mm-.150 flexhex.
c. The strut bushing may be replaced with Speedmaster (P/N spds-014-bsf).
d. Electrical connectors between motor/ESC/Battery may be replaced.
e. Teflon stuffing tube liner may be replaced.
f. Motor cooling jacket and water lines may be replaced.
g. No other non-stock items are allowed.

Hull:
1. Sponson bottoms and edges may be trued/sharpened to remove production flaws. No material may be added to alter the shape of the ride surface.
2. Wings and fins may be removed.
3. Air dams may be added to the tunnel roof.
4. Boats may be painted.
5. No other hull modifications are allowed.

[dana]

IMO 1500 is too low kv and is better suited to 6s, And if I remember correctly there isn't room for it. So maybe just go for ul1 motor

[dana]

I never did anything with it. It was my first boat.... Looking back, had I known what I know now about FE boats, I prolly woulda tried more. I would try running 4s pack in the cockpit in front of motor, and put the high lifter prop.

[dana]

Oh yeah, and I would have made the turnfin better. Stupid thing had 1 bolt so it always moved

[monojeff]

Was debating trying the 4s pack at moment all I have is 2s packs so might pic one up and try it out in the nose.
Was hoping someone else who has tried it could chime in and say if it helped or not.
Seams most people add weight in the sponsons I was also thinking about dropping some lead into them and then putting the foam in after to hold it in place..

[dana]

Yeah some weight in those sponsons would be a big help. It's a great looking scale boat, unfortunately it didn't perform as well as my ul1 right outta the box. But I'm sure with some work this can be a great boat -) I've always wanted to pick up another one of these hulls and make it awesome, so I'll be watching you -D

[properchopper]

Jeff, I got your PM. Thing is, my hydro was an AQ Vegas, a different boat altogether. IIRC Darin did a very thorough thread about race prepping the Elam ( I hope I'm remembering this correctly) . Do a search or maybe Darin can chime in.

Tony

[monojeff]

Hey Tony I have read through Darins thread and there is some good stuff in there.
I know your hull was different but they are still similar so I figured I'd ask some of the stuff you did to it.

Did you add flotation into the sponsons if so what kind?

These Elams have just about no flotation in them.
A little piece of foam in the sponson but it's not much.

What do you think would be best to repair the cracks on the ride pads?

I took some pictures today but have not had a chance to upload them to computer.

[properchopper]

Jeff,

My Vegas had styrofoam in the hull sides; I stuffed pool noodle where I could. I CA cracks and then either a thin coating of Bondo or West Marine Formula 27; sand down smooth & red primer & lightly sand to smooth. If cracks are really minor use CA, then Glazing putty (Bondo brand from auto parts store), sand, prime & re-sand with 1000 grit.

[Make-a-Wake]

I run my Elam on 8s with a Neu 1515 1100kv motor. Two 2s batts in the cockpit, and one each in the sponsons. Running an x642 now and it tops out at 53 mph.

[monojeff]

What did you do cut out the supports on the sides to get the batteries in the sponsons??
I'll be running this on 4s club rules.

[Make-a-Wake]

Probably should have mentioned that i bought the gas version hull......here's how i did it.

[monojeff]

Darn Teflon liner is stuck in the stuffing tube any tricks to getting it out?
I need to put a longer one in so it will work with the ul-1 strut.