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

[Speed810]

You were right Lucky!! Was just following the data sheet with the paint for the temps I was shooting at.
But for sure next time I'll be shooting at no more than a medium or slow reducer. I know it will make a lot of difference.

For sure there is nothing better than experience to guide ya.

Thanks again

Mike

[Luck as a Constant]

Well thankfully you have solid colors. The wrong reducer on metallic basecoats really look messed up. That dry roughness in a metallic look a disaster. Solid colors don't matter.
But in the end the boat looks ridiculously awesome.
Now, I want to see it on the water lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Speed810]

ME TOO!!!! LOL I'm concerned on the weight...but most of the other guys are saying don't worry about it...even at 20lbs it should run well.

Hope so!

[Speed810]

Finally got the Miss Elam in the water!!

Well guys....finally got out early this morning and got the Miss Elam in the water for the first time.

Found out I have plenty of weight in the nose of the sponson's...LOL She actually sits in the water lower in the front than the back....and here I thought it would definitely be heavy in the back with the wing and all...

Also found that it really didn't have enough of the prop in the water even with the strut set at 1" below the hull. Plus it kept wanting to submarine on me which indicated that I needed to pitch the strut up slightly so I could get it our of the water.

So brought it back on the bench to do some tweaking.
Moved the RX battery from the front and moved it back to the bulkhead where the RX is mounted. That actually opened up some space in back of the power cells so moved them back about 3/4". Then loosened up the strut and moved the strut down about 1/16" and put in about 2 to 3 degrees up.

Well....put her back into the water, one power burst to create a wake wave and hit it again as soon as the nose came up and off she went. It looked beautiful going across the water...very stable and not a notch of trim required.

Now I know its not one of the fastest boats out there, but it will certainly be one of the most race stable boats. Still the Octura X450 seemed to perform pretty well and moved the boat along really well and that was with me being careful on the throttle, 3/4 tops and slowing down slightly in the turns until I see how it reacts in the turns. Even when trying to power up when coming into turns in 2 and 4 it seemed to pick up speed pretty quickly. When I get more confident in it I'll keep trying more power through the turns and see how it reacts. There also didn't appear to be and tendency for a blow over. The sponsons actually may have been still a bit wet, but not trying for an all out speed record....but race stable boat......
Well attached a video... https://youtu.be/vkcAkmsqppc not the best, but with an IPhone I guess it came out ok. Thanks go to my wife for a great job video taping this.

Appreciate any and all comments and ideas...prop selection, weight distribution or strut location changes....etc. Trying to learn as much as I can.

Thanks again for all the help guys!!!....:)

Mike

Maiden 2.JPGMaiden 1.JPGMaiden 3.JPG

[785boats]

That's a gorgeous hydro. Well done.
But you won't know what prop or adjustments it will really need, until you run it at full noise. Or if it will have a tendency to blow over. I applaud your ability to hold back on the throttle & work your way up to it. I've never been able to do that.
You will get many answers on what props to use from many different people. On my 1/8 scales I run a Prather s240 & sometimes an x450/3 blade. I'm not saying they would be perfect for your boat, but the Prather might be something to consider trying.
Again, congratulations on a pristine build.

[Doug Smock]

Congratulations Mike! Well done sir.

[Speed810]

Evening Paul.....
Thanks for all the complements. I am definitely proud of this project.
Thanks for the information too....I know your right......I really need to open her up and see how she performs, especially like to see how it turns when carrying more power through out the turn. Right now it really reacts like its on rails, but I'm thinking its running a bit to wet (to deep). I'm sure most of that is due to the weight.....That's a lot of weight to get out of the water. Its running the X450 right now, but definitely will be trying different props.

Planning on getting with some of our club guys and getting some information on different adjustments and see what we can get out of it. Should be interesting.....:)

Actually had such a great time building this boat, I'm ready to start my next project either a P-Sport or Q-sport boat so I can run in some other classes.
Going to be talking with Mike next week and see what he's got going....

You have any new projects going?

Mike

[Speed810]

Congratulations Mike! Well done sir.

Thanks Doug....

Sorry I missed ya at the Michigan Cup race. This boat just wasn't going to be ready and really didn't want to be there with only my UL-1.....LOL
Next year for sure. Hopefully have at least 3 boats to race.

Hope your summer is going well and the racing going well..

Mike

[nichismo]

my god that is one magnificent piece of work!

amazing to see something like this come to fruition, compared to the first few pictures from the threads first page. well done!

[Speed810]

Thanks Nick.....I'm like a new proud dad....LOL

It will be in its first race this Sunday....Well its really like an exhibition...HAHAHA!! Should be fun...3 boats entered!

So you getting closer to painting yours? I think you should finish it and take it out on the water man!!


Mike

[nichismo]

Lol gosh I know I'm dying to get it out there! ! It's been over 4 months since the hull arrived on my door step! time sure does fly...that and I keep tearing down and building back up.

I'm sealing all the wood right now, I have a heat gun while I'm doing it to try and spread the epoxy out as much as possible, really want the absolute minimum amount needed to save weight.

really should be able to get the first and most important layer of Klass Kote on tonight. wish me luck!

[nichismo]

also, I just had a minor suggestion for your hull that I thought would look a bit better:

perhaps add some sort of black lip or frame around the cockpit windshield? like Dons

[Speed810]

Hey Nick....

Good luck on the Klass Kote primer and all....It is some really nice stuff....just have to make sure and thin it down good or it won't spray well. I have done a couple of aircraft with it and learned real fast that it needed to be thinned really well.

I have seen a couple of boats with the black trim around the windshield. Looks really nice. I have also seen where some guys have pinned in little silver screws around the trim area for windshield screws. I'll probably have to do that....LOL

Let me know on your thread when you finish up with the Klass Kote primer....

Mike

[T.S.Davis]

I always wanted to do the black edge and then use pin heads to simulate the screws.

Looking forward to seeing this turn some laps this Sunday.

Mine isn't as pretty. Battle scars and all. Runs pretty well now though.

IMG_20131010_205851_778.jpg

Todd is bringing out the Peters and May too. That boat is beautiful. New setup completely untested.

These sure will look cool on the water together. We need to get some video of us trying to stay off the shore on our tiny pond.

[Speed810]

Hey Terry!!! Should be a fun time!!!
That boat is looking great Terry!

Yea...only have the one prop for the boat right now...an X450 (3) blade. It's sharpened and balanced, but sure would like to tweak on it a bit...de-tounge etc. Just not sure what it would do to the performance. Not wanting to change anything before Sunday and then can't run at all because I screwed up the prop...LOL

Like to try an X452 cut down etc.
I'll be trying some other tests tomorrow at the lake and see what kind of other strut changes do.

See ya Sunday

Mike