Another Venom 55" FE conversion. KOS this time!

[WhatRLaws4]

Heres my crack at doing a FE version of this model. Hasnt seen the water yet as a FE, please let me know of any changes that should be made prior to the maiden voyage.
First, it got gutted. Then I drilled holes for the rear motor mount, sealed up the hull with some plastic, epoxy and a lot of silicone. Then I added some custom through hull water lines. Also made a nice thick windshield out of lexan sheet thats bolted in and silicone sealed. Also repainted the interior.

[WhatRLaws4]

Heres the new power. Leopard 5698 910 KV, Castle Hydra Ice 2 200HV, FDM 5" rail mounts with ESC mount plate, Octura X452, and several 5.5mm bullet connectors.

[WhatRLaws4]

Made a new radiobox tray with an inline steering servo and throttle servo delete. Radio is a Futaba 2.4ghz FASST with high torque steering servo using dubro push/pull rods.

[WhatRLaws4]

Since I had already upgraded my drive system with 1/4" hardware from Warehouse Hobbies when it was gas, I had Tony @ WHH make me a new propshaft stub that fits his 1/4" strut, but has the tip milled down to 3/16th for the prop.

[WhatRLaws4]

And here it is 95% complete. Originally, I was planning on having the lipo packs in the sponsons, then I was told by a few people that I should run the lipos on the center tunnel in front of the motor. So I got some indsutrial strength Velcro to go on there and some straps I will fab in. Still waiting on lipos.

[Make-a-Wake]

Nice..............you gonna run 8s?

[Jersey Crewmax]

Looks good, how long did you work on it for?

[BILL OXIDEAN]

This is a nice project Chief..

[WhatRLaws4]

Thanks for the kinds words. I will be running 8s until the end of boating season(mid to late oct here in MN) just so I can fine tune and make sure everything is working as it should. Then I will invest in some good 5s packs and a few more props for next year...it should really cook on 10s. Does anyone have anything to comment on in relation to lipo placement in the hull?? I read a segad build on here last night that had them in the sponsons. This was my original plan, until a few RCU members told me to mount them in the center, but couldnt really explain the pro/cons of either. Anyone have some solid advice on that??

[WhatRLaws4]

Thanks for the kinds words. I will be running 8s until the end of boating season(mid to late oct here in MN) just so I can fine tune and make sure everything is working as it should. Then I will invest in some good 5s packs and a few more props for next year. Does anyone have anything to comment on in relation to lipo placement in the hull. I read a segad build on here last night that had them in the sponsons. This was my original plan, until a few RCU members told me to mount them in the center, but couldnt really explain the pro/cons of either. Anyone have some solid advice on that??

[Make-a-Wake]

I believe you're only going single motor right? If so, i dont see why you couldnt mount them there, it'll get your center of gravity down vertically.

[WhatRLaws4]

Thats exactly what I was thinking...low is best. But Chris at FDM and 2 RCU members said to mount them in the middle. Placement in this hull may just be trial and error.

[Make-a-Wake]

It could have something to do with cornering.............lets let a Cat pro chime in here.............I know Mono's mainly, and the only Cat i ever had was a Mystic that bounced like a Kangaroo til the day i sold it LOL.

I'll get Bill over here.........

[bill34207]

It could have something to do with cornering.............lets let a Cat pro chime in here.............I know Mono's mainly, and the only Cat i ever had was a Mystic that bounced like a Kangaroo til the day i sold it LOL.

I'll get Bill over here.........

Got your PM on RCG scorp. Looks like WhatRLaws4 pretty much under control to me though.

Battery placement should be wherever you get the best cg and balance at. Until you run it, you won't really know if center of the tunnel or in the sponsons will work better. With my old Expresscraft Thunderbolt I had the motors in the sponsons and ran the packs on the tunnel. With the Falcon cat I have a single 2028 in the center and running the packs in the sponsons. Even though the Falcon has the packs in the sponsons mine don't do a lot for lowering the CG since mine are wedged in with foam (level with the tunnel floor) to make life easier when changing them.

I do think you might be able to spin a little more prop on this one, especially while running 8s. The 2028 in mine is only a 780 kv motor but it runs really well on 9s 2p with an Octura X460/3. In a 2 blade I'd go for at least a 457 or for 3 blade a 455. (3 bladers work well on cats) The trick is to raise your strut so that you have about 3/8" of clearance between the bottom of it and the bottom of the sponsons. I put mine on a flat table and slip a 3/8" drill bit under the bottom of the strut as a gauge when setting it up.
Do I have a clue as to what I'm talking about? Danged if I know.
This is how mine runs though.

http://youtu.be/OQ3j-C6LiBw

I kind of miss this one sometimes too.

http://youtu.be/-NJumIsc3Jg

[Make-a-Wake]

I miss ol' Goldie too..................what a nice running boat!! Hope that guy is giving her some TLC.