updated pics new paint and gutted hull

[brad65]

Ok guys it was a 5 min paint job so dont shot me LOL. I just wanted something quick and not white. I also gutted the hull and added some fiberglass with some cloth. Also I needed to find a new spot for the battery, so I sodder a parallel connect so I can split them on each side of the hull 2 (3s) 2200mah batterys on each side so . I'm now need to experiment with cg and turn fins. More time.

Oh and yes I lost my canopy caps, they blow off LOL>

[SweetZ28]

It looks good ...looks different that's for sure!

[brad65]

Thanks, how you making out with yours?

[SweetZ28]

I am going to leave it with a brushed motor for now I held the original rudder straight and put new proboat steering rudder on the back ...I still have to test it out.

[FE Wannabe]

Gut that Cat!

Brad65,
Looks good. Much better than factory.
That makes me want to gut my cat too! I hope PETA isn't listening!

I hate the fact that the factory battery location is so high, making the boat so top heavy. Gutting it also makes it so much easier to install flotation as well. I almost sunk mine once. Did gutting it make the hull a lot weaker side to side? Was the tub that you cut out glued to the bottom hull?
Inquiring minds want to know????????

Brad

[brad65]

Brad65,
Looks good. Much better than factory.
That makes me want to gut my cat too! I hope PETA isn't listening!

I hate the fact that the factory battery location is so high, making the boat so top heavy. Gutting it also makes it so much easier to install flotation as well. I almost sunk mine once. Did gutting it make the hull a lot weaker side to side? Was the tub that you cut out glued to the bottom hull?
Inquiring minds want to know????????

Brad

I didnt' do anything to the stuffing tube, all I did was cut under the lip of the hatch and I left a little plastic and a piece of wood with blind nuts for the motor mount. I then fiberglassed with cloth the lower hull and added some support to the servo, and also added some velcro to the back and middle of the rear sides for battery placement.

-the way she drives-
I've never been happy with the way she drive! Reason being I can't get this apache setup right. Once it goes full speed it wants to kick right or left volently and flip at full speed, and sucks *** to turn. I need more time to ajust prop/strut angle and battery location. I'm about to rip out the stock stuffing box/rear rudder hinged shaft setup and put in my ul-1 hardware since I have no running gear in her anymore. I believe its the same hull as the BJ26 but scaled down 2". I read tons for threads on the blackjack and I'm not the only one having handling problems. I think I need turn fins and need to get rid of the u-joint rudder shaft setup. Just not sure what to do to help make her handle better. I wish I could get here to run good with the stock drive setup first. More time..

[SweetZ28]

-the way she drives-
I've never been happy with the way she drive! Reason being I can't get this apache setup right. Once it goes full speed it wants to kick right or left volently and flip at full speed, and sucks *** to turn. I need more time to ajust prop/strut angle and battery location. I'm about to rip out the stock stuffing box/rear rudder hinged shaft setup and put in my ul-1 hardware since I have no running gear in her anymore. I believe its the same hull as the BJ26 but scaled down 2". I read tons for threads on the blackjack and I'm not the only one having handling problems. I think I need turn fins and need to get rid of the u-joint rudder shaft setup. Just not sure what to do to help make her handle better. I wish I could get here to run good with the stock drive setup first. More time..:cursing


Do what i did to mine but leave the stock set up with the U joints being that it won't be twisting the U joint to turn anymore it should run faster...

Lock the stock turn fin in the straight position.. and use the $18.00 proboat steering rudder and put it on your boat like i did see photos this may make it run better... I have not run mine yet but most all guy's told me this way it will run faster and handel better also.

[brad65]

-the way she drives-
I've never been happy with the way she drive! Reason being I can't get this apache setup right. Once it goes full speed it wants to kick right or left volently and flip at full speed, and sucks *** to turn. I need more time to ajust prop/strut angle and battery location. I'm about to rip out the stock stuffing box/rear rudder hinged shaft setup and put in my ul-1 hardware since I have no running gear in her anymore. I believe its the same hull as the BJ26 but scaled down 2". I read tons for threads on the blackjack and I'm not the only one having handling problems. I think I need turn fins and need to get rid of the u-joint rudder shaft setup. Just not sure what to do to help make her handle better. I wish I could get here to run good with the stock drive setup first. More time..:cursing


Do what i did to mine but leave the stock set up with the U joints being that it won't be twisting the U joint to turn anymore it should run faster...

Lock the stock turn fin in the straight position.. and use the $18.00 proboat steering rudder and put it on your boat like i did see photos this may make it run better... I have not run mine yet but most all guy's told me this way it will run faster and handel better also.

I was thinking this, it would prove out the slop in the rudder/prop area. I just might thanks bro, and get that thing in the water man!

[brad65]

drove her yesterday and adjusted everything, I finialy can run her full throttle with out spinning and then flipping. But its on the ragged edge , this little puppy move out! I know the problem lies in the rear rudder u-joint setup. Since there is so much play and slop in the rudder area it moves constainly. I don't know how BJ26 owned arent haven't similar problems with the extra slop and play back there. I need to gut her down more and install some type of flex shaft and rudder on the left or right side, hopefully soon. One problem I'm gonna have is I have a 1/4" motor shaft hope I can find something that will work.

[FE Wannabe]

Brad65,
What motor are you running, because the only motors that I know of that have that large of a shaft are much bigger motors like the KB45s. If it is an odd size Jeff Wholt who is a member here can make custom couplers of any size. You could PM him.

[SweetZ28]

drove her yesterday and adjusted everything, I finialy can run her full throttle with out spinning and then flipping. But its on the ragged edge , this little puppy move out! I know the problem lies in the rear rudder u-joint setup. Since there is so much play and slop in the rudder area it moves constainly. I don't know how BJ26 owned arent haven't similar problems with the extra slop and play back there. I need to gut her down more and install some type of flex shaft and rudder on the left or right side, hopefully soon. One problem I'm gonna have is I have a 1/4" motor shaft hope I can find something that will work.

I think you can leave it all stock just glue the turn fin rudder in the straight position...I used goop glue for mine.
and next get the $18.00 proboat aluminum rudder and put it on and see how it works...I think it will work this way you probably won't need aflex cable.

[brad65]

Ok, heres what I'd done that just about made me happy with the boat as a whole. I added the UL-1 rudder setup to the right side rear and locked the orginal rudder/ u-joint with metal strapping and epoxy.

NIGHT AND DAY DIFFERENCE.. I suggest everyone do this when thier apache is moving to fast for the hull like mine was. Wow, I can take turns with speed and not spin out or flip, and she stable at full speed. But I did lose quiet a bit of speed with the extra drag. (Thanks SweetZ28 for mention this, it was worth the time customizing her, not get out there are drive her with that setup you made) I'll take some picture soon and some video soon also.

FE Wannabe, I got it off ebay. I believe the listing was wrong something like 2600kv but i came with a lable 2816kv and 1/4" shaft.

[FE Wannabe]

Brad65,
Glad you finally got it working the way you wanted it. I do want to see some video soon. Do you think the better handling came from just the rudder install, or if it was a combination of the things that you did, like gutting the interior?
Can't wait to see a good handling Apache!

[brad65]

I believe keeping the prop ridged is key IMO. I wish I had the rudder directly behind the prop but this works good. I should be going out this week hopefully I can get some footage. FE, have u posted pics or videos of ur setup here yet? I'd love to see more apache mods.

[FE Wannabe]

My Apache rudder

Brad65,

Here are pictures of my idea for fixing the steering issues. I haven't tried it yet, I just finished the pushrod connection today. The nice thing about it is that it is very light weight and cheap. I used a CEN composite rudder $5 new and some scrap aluminum. We have to see how it works.

Brad