Mini air boat

[Basstronics]

Is there any balance rule I need to be mindful of? Every airboat Ive seen is the engine way in the back...

Does the design of the uprights that hold the motor up make any difference? I can make them about 2" apart and straight up off the hull- or I could angle them so they are about 2" at the top and 4" at the bottom. Or will this factor in with 1 rudder vs 2 and the placement of those rudders?

[monojeff]

Not sure if you have ever seen this forum before but a lot of great info on here you can look through http://www.rcairboats.net/phpBB/index.php

Boat is looking

[Chop]

You've got a real nice start there!

I have 2 airboats, one with 1 rudder, and the other with 2. The profile of the single rudder is much bigger than the profile of the dual rudder boat.

I believe that the single (larger) rudder is less stable and more prone to influence from cross winds (tipping, blowing off course, plus a higher center of gravity). My personal opinion is to go with 2 smaller rudders.

Keep up the good work.

[Basstronics]

Ok Im gonna go with two rudders then. Gonna work on it tonight some more.

[Basstronics]

What a wicked fail today.

I decided to just see what this thing could do. So I mount the motor, put the spinner and the prop on. Go at it with 2S (this is a 3000kv motor).

And I fire it up. Got it going right. Get on it a little, man that thing was pulling some air... Then...





The mount was epoxied onto the uprights only. I have two layers of real light fiberglass down to the hull. One layer of glass over the hull deck/front lip. The uprights are 1/16" birch ply. Should I remove the mounts and do something different??? Or just reattach and add more wood behind it?


The motor is a total loss- good thing I have another.

[bwells]

The uprights are 1/16th or 1/8th? It looks to be 3 ply. Get an EDF and ditch that flyboy crap!

[Basstronics]

The uprights are 1/16" with two layers of super light glass cloth.

[bwells]

Can you still clean up the uprights and do the same thing and add 2 pieces of ply to the uprights, above and below the motor fastened front to back? That should hold it. Just a thought.

[Basstronics]

Well I need to go back to the drawing board on this.

Here is a list of props I bought- would like to use the larger props:
7x4.5E
6x5E
6x4E
8x5E
8x4E

I need to figure what the optimum RPM for these props are and get a motor/spinner setup to accommodate that. Im sure my boat size plays into all of this but getting info on something like this is much like pulling hens teeth.

Im probably going to have to cut my uprights off and start over on those. Thats OK to me. After seeing the output on this setup and I was quite shocked. After seeing the power after it ripped itself apart Im now scared.

I dont really want to do an EDF. I kinda wanted the prop look.

[bwells]

Can you chop off the uprights below the original mount and add to them and beef up the mount area? It looks as though the hull to upright connection was good and took the pressure.

[Chop]

Any progress on this lately??

It's been a fun build to watch.

[Basstronics]

Well I bought a new motor and some wood.

Just havent had the time or felt up to messing with it lately.

Heres the motor:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120449687355

Upringhys are going to made from 1/8" ply, with the motor mount forward keyed into the other wood so it cants just fly apart. Going to give it two layers of super light glass on both sides of both uprights. Somewhat considering a single upright also...

Gotta figure out a rudder scheme.

Lots of thinking to do.

[Basstronics]

Success finally!

My new motor mount structure has held up to a 6" and now a 7" prop. Not trying an 8" until on the water.

I bought the flex cable styled push rod. I have 1/2A mini horns. I had to special over some .032" micro clevis and ball links. not sure which I will end up using.

Today I fired it up. The 6" prop wouldnt pull it. The 7" would move it along the floor but not much. The battery isnt fully charged either...

Heres some pics. Not how I did the rudders. The piano wire on the actual rudder is like .015" undersized so it floats real good

[bwells]

Your vane hinges are top of the line, good job!

[SweetAccord]

HK has one now:

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...dProduct=17899