ML Boatworks 1/8th Scale 171 Extreme Build Miss Elam

[cybercrxt]

Great looking build Mike. Keep up the good work! Mike

[Todd Fleury]

Might be a good idea Terry

[Speed810]

Hey Mike...Thanks Its coming along slowly but surely. Just wish I had more time to be out in the shop during the week nights....LOL Been awful cold the past few days even with the heater going...hoping for better conditions tonight.

Mike

[Speed810]

Thanks for the information Doug!

Actually I’m now thinking about going with the Swordfish 240A. They are a little more available out there and it appears they have been working really well.
Any input on that?...:)

Also one thing I am not seeing on a lot of the 1/8 scales are radio antennas or antenna tubes sticking up thru the deck. Are the most guys just installing them inside the hull or canopies? Just wondering?

Mike

[Todd Fleury]

If you are using Futaba, I found that you do not need to have the antenna going through the hull. You can mount it higher up in the hull tub, and you will be fine.

[Speed810]

Thanks Todd.....I have been usually running JR. All my aircraft are JR so was looking at usuing my Spectrum surface gear (trucks). But it does seem that the Futaba surface radios for marine use have really been super dependable. Might be time for a change back to some Futaba gear...LOL

[785boats]

Hi Mike.
She's coming along well.
I don't run an antenna outside any of my boats & never have a problem.
I run the Swordfish 240A ESC with the 1527/1y in the U-95, & she's holding up well. Doesn't break a sweat.
But in the other two 1/8 hydros I'm running a Seaking HV 130A with no problems yet. But they are lower kv motors & should be pulling less amps. Thats all on 8s1p set ups.

Keep up the good work.
Paul.

[Speed810]

Hey Paul...Thanks

Yeah I'm thinking maybe I'll be better off staying with the 220A or 240A on the 10S1P setup. Just really hard to find those ETTI ESC's...almost as hard as finding a NEU 1527 1.5Y...LOL But it looks like Todd is going to part with his 1527 1.5Y, so I'm picking that up from him. Dave at HRC is building the mount and cooling can....so pretty close to being finished with the HIGH priced items except the ESC.

I'll be in the shop tonight!

Mike

[don ferrette]

Looking at Don Ferrette's 171 kit, I guess he started out to make the front conard adjustable, but then switched it out to a permanent system.

Nope, my front canard flaps are adjustable, I tape them in place from the underside.

[Speed810]

Oh ok....Thanks Don...

Thought you made them permanent.....my bad. Did you keep the brass tube for the hinge point?
Also what did you use to figure out the strut depth?

Thanks Mike

[don ferrette]

Oh ok....Thanks Don...

Thought you made them permanent.....my bad. Did you keep the brass tube for the hinge point?
Also what did you use to figure out the strut depth?

Thanks Mike

More pics emailed to you. Run your strut 1/8" deeper than your front sponson depth, keep it flat.

[Speed810]

Thanks Don....Got them.

So your just using the brass tubing as your hinge material and then using tape to keep it in place for the angle you want....?

Also I think I remember you said you used 1/8" ply on the sponson pad area...was that right? I know if you use the 1/16 ply it ends up with a step there between the front sheet and the pad. Using the 1/8" would make that an even surface from the front sheet right to the pad. At least your finished sponson picture you sent seems to show that.

Now if I am getting this right...I would want to set the boat up on a flat surface from under the center and make sure its level and sitting on the front sponson pads.........now measuring from the transom to the flat surface would give me my sponson depth and just add an 1/8". I'm up for any ideas that make it easier...LOL Just want to see if I'm looking at this right.

Thanks again

Mike

[don ferrette]

Thanks Don....Got them.

So your just using the brass tubing as your hinge material and then using tape to keep it in place for the angle you want....?

Also I think I remember you said you used 1/8" ply on the sponson pad area...was that right? I know if you use the 1/16 ply it ends up with a step there between the front sheet and the pad. Using the 1/8" would make that an even surface from the front sheet right to the pad. At least your finished sponson picture you sent seems to show that.

Now if I am getting this right...I would want to set the boat up on a flat surface from under the center and make sure its level and sitting on the front sponson pads.........now measuring from the transom to the flat surface would give me my sponson depth and just add an 1/8". I'm up for any ideas that make it easier...LOL Just want to see if I'm looking at this right.

Thanks again

Mike

If your kit is the same as mine your strut depth should be approx. 1 1/8". I'll try to get mine down this weekend and check that for you.

[Speed810]

Bottom sheeting done on the Starboard Sponson

Well finally completed the bottom sheeting on the Starboard sponson and everything sanded. Pretty pleased on the out come. Will need to fill slightly along the over laps and some corners. Will also have some carbon fiber sheeting or glass cloth sheeting epoxied on the inner hull for added strength.

Already traced the outlines for the sheeting from the heel to the tiplet and the outline for the hardwood shoes.

The port sponson is all framed out and all the glue strips are glued in. Will start the sheeting process later tonight.

Parts are starting to come in...should have the motor by next week (Thanks Todd)....the HRC mount is in process and should be shipped out next week. Steve at OSE did get the ETTI 220A ESC in stock, so that and some other hardware should be in next week, and Dick is in the process of getting a Virginia Craftsman turn fin and bracket completed. The carbon fiber sheeting and veil material came in today along with some West System 105/205 epoxy.

Found some 8000Mah 5S1P 30C packs, but not sure that they are going to fit yet. Need to wait for the canopy/cowling to see how that is going to fit first. May have to revert back to the 5000Mah.

One thing I have seen on other builds is that it appears that where the stuffing tube comes up thru the hull that some are using like an 11/32 brass tube section as maybe a strengthening section and then running the 5/16 stuffing tube thru that. But yet I see some that just run the 5/16 up through the hull. Can anybody shed some light on this or am I just seeing things in the photos....LOL

Any way....more to come tomorrow.......


Mike

[Speed810]

Port side Sponson framing and glue strips all completed....