Darin's Raptor P-Spec Rigger Build

[domwilson]

Looks real good as always. Keep us posted on how it turns out.

[peells]

A box and pan brake is what you need to have but I don't have one either so I use a clamp and blocks too! You know Daren you should consider designing your own it would probably work better anyway. my son has a Renigade Rigger and the turn fin sort of has a curved bend near the tip about 1/2" and toward the inside so get to creating it just helps it stick in the water anyway who knows you might just come up with a winner!

[Darin Jordan]

Uh-Oh... I decided to finally, literally for the first time, pull out my bench mounted buffer and see how it would work out to polish up these things...

Hmmmmmmm.... that was easy! My boats will never be the same!!

Finished up the straight angled fin... Will finish up the bent fin tomorrow....

[peells]

Yea my son bought me a little dremmel tool a couple of years ago for my birthday and I have been polishing my aluminum parts as well check out my build on the "Lynx(bobkat's Evil twin)" in the forum I got polish crazy.

[Darin Jordan]

Wrapped it up tonight!!

Got the second turn fin polished... I'll try the bent one first...

A couple of days ago, I sealed the booms to the hull by using some thin nylon washers from the local hardware store with the correct ID... Clear silicone was applied to the washers and they were pressed up against the tub and left to dry. I then applied some silicone to the inside of the tub around the boom tubes, just to be safe... Turned out nice and clean, but still allows JUST enough movement to allow for modest boom adjustments, if needed...

[Darin Jordan]

Here are some shots of the finished product...

The cells shown are just for mockup, but are two 3300 2S packs, so there is plenty of room for cells... I'm going to add some foam blocks for floatation up between the booms and in the nose... and anywhere else that has extra space.

I anticipate that, at some point, I'll be replacing the ProBoat ESC with something smaller, in which case it will likely go up in the nose somewhere...

Total weight of the hull as shown, with batteries, is 4lbs 3oz. I'm calling that excellent... especially knowing that this ESC weighs about 8oz on it's own, and I won't need 6600 mah worth of cells... I LOVE IT!!

Only thing left to do is get some good cells and get some props prepped...

Thanks for following along with this re-build. Hopefully some of the pictures and info I provided will help others to get inspired and to build up their boats...

[peells]

Nice Work as always!!! now go get a first place somewhere you deserve it!!

[JimClark]

Boy that looks like is going to be difficult to get pictures of great looking boat but it is gonna be fast.
Jim

[Ub Hauled]

Based on the assumption that all the sponsons will be in the same place, where do you think optimal CG is?
BTW, she looks great, as told to you many times b4

[Fluid]

I'm going to add some foam blocks for floatation up between the booms and in the nose... and anywhere else that has extra space.

You will need ~120 cubic inches of floatation to keep the rigger on the surface if the hull breaches - that's equivalent to about 20" of small pool noodle. That volume includes both sponsons - just hope one doesn't break off! Very nice work Darin....maybe Brian will send mine some day.




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[detox]

Great job Darin. I have been following this tread for a while now and it has been very helpful. I am sure I will look back at it again if I ever build a 2nd Raptor.

Seperating and sealing off receiver/servo compartment will add extra flotation.


...

[daggersfl]

Does Brian have a website where you purchase these riggers? How much? Thx

[bonewar]

Nice work Darin,

Always a pleasure to watch your work.
You are a true craftsman sir.
Thanks for sharing your builds with us.

BONEWAR

[Darin Jordan]

Does Brian have a website where you purchase these riggers? How much? Thx

I don't think he does, but you can contact him through PM here on this site: Raptor347 is his UID...

Thanks for the compliments guys... I try!

Oh, and Detox... the radio compartment is sealed off from the rest with a piece of .020" G10 nicely fit...

[Darin Jordan]

FINALLY got a chance to race the Raptor this weekend. Did OK considering it was fresh off the bench. Lost a wiredrive in the first heat, likely do to motor alignment issues. I think I need to fab a more rigid motor mount plate, as the motor flexes it slightly.

Have a few handling issues to tune out of it, which is to be expected, but overall it's going to be a good ride. Looking forward to getting used to driving it and really getting competitive.

Here is an action shot that Jerry Dunlap took this weekend.