1981 Pay-N-Pak Build

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  • electric
    Fast Electric Addict!
    • May 2008
    • 1744

    #1

    1981 Pay-N-Pak Build

    I decided I would document this build of an 1/8 Scale Pay-n-Pak hydro. First, a little background. I won this hull in a race Mr. Jim Vaughn put on at least a couple years ago if not more. There is no telling how long the hull sat in his garage before that. I did some research on it when I initially won the boat and it appears it was built by a guy up in the N.E. who has long since passed away. I will try and find the old post that had that information about the boat. So, the boat has never seen the water ever and is at least a couple of decades old. We can say at this point the fiberglass is nice and hard.

    So, the boat is going to be a project to get in working order, but should be fun build. I will be asking a lot of questions this is only my second 1/8 scale to assemble and my first with tail feathers (lots of questions coming about how to anchor all that down).

    She is going to be set up to run 8s with a Neu 1527 1.5y motor. Early this morning I ordered the Motor and all the associated hardware (Thanks OSE), so that should be in later in the week. I did have a Castle 2028 motor I was going to drop in there, but it is really a better 10s motor. As all my projects start, I dug through my parts drawer seeing how I could put this together with out spending much on it. After contemplating it, I decided to get all new hardware for her and do a good job of it.

    Here are some initial pictures. I spent quite a bit of time figuring out the CG and the battery/motor placement. After some thought the only place to really get the batteries up front enough was in the hull. I cut holes up front to slide the batteries in. I hate dealing with difficult to reach batteries, so I built some sliding trays with some pieces of angled aluminium and a bit of fiberglass and wood. The trays will slide out about 2.5 inches and will strap down with a small bit of velcro underneath. That coupled with the tray should keep them in place. When you slide them inward the batteries will be completely in the hull. I am going to wait on epoxying the trays in there until further into the build and re-check the CG.

    I also beefed up and filled in some plywood holes with some 1/8 plywood where the motor will mount. Originally, I was thinking 5" mount with the Castle Motor, but now with the Neu I might just do a floor mount.
    Attached Files
    Last edited by electric; 09-22-2018, 11:21 AM.
  • electric
    Fast Electric Addict!
    • May 2008
    • 1744

    #2
    So this weekend, will be spent doing some sanding and basically filling in areas etc. I have a few items on my list that also need to be taken care of:
    1. I need a set of 1/8 scale decals for the boat.
    2. Kinda pondering putting Carbon fiber in the interior of the boat to give it a nice finished look. I have done this before on several boats, but this one looks challenging because of the arc of the hull and also the many holes on the sidewalls. If you have worked with this stuff it can be a challenge to cut cleanly. It's been awhile since I bought carbon fiber, any suggestions on where to get a roll of it? Still not sure I am going to do it.
    Some more pics to get it all started. I made the exhaust about a year ago and it's just been waiting for the boat to be built. LOL

    More pics, and the othe 8th scale I built that is probably going to be cruising around the course in the Dallas Nats next month. That boat is unique as well. It's a fiberglass Dumas Hull. Has a lot of lift in it so I run it with an air dam underneath. Just ran it last week in heavy chop and it did ok going about 55mph. Not going to win any races, but fun to watch it go!
    Attached Files
    Last edited by electric; 09-22-2018, 11:31 AM.

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    • srislash
      Not there yet
      • Mar 2011
      • 7673

      #3
      Have you weighed the bare hull? And 1/8 so 45”? Ish. I ask as I also have one here and also thought 2028 but then also have the 1527. Going 2028 it was gonna get on the heavy side. I hear under 16lbs is best.

      Shawn

      BTW: good to see another old big hydro going on the bench.

      Comment

      • electric
        Fast Electric Addict!
        • May 2008
        • 1744

        #4
        I have not weighed or measured it, but I will do so and let you know. It "feels" pretty light compared to my shovel nose. I initially ran the shovel nose with a 2028, 10s and it ran great, then I switched over to a lighter motor similar to the Neu (8s) because of the requirements for the Nationals in Dallas next month. Either way it works fine, just changed out the props. The additional weight is actually welcomed as these boats tend to want to take off and fly anyway.

        So, today was a lot of sanding (first round) and also boxing in the front of the boat to strengthen it a bit and also just make it look better.

        I have some issues to resolve. One, the glass is not soaked all the way through with resin in this one spot and also a lot of "nicks" that need to be filled in. This along with the normal pin holes and other issues that need to be smoothed out.
        Attached Files
        Last edited by electric; 09-22-2018, 07:10 PM.

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        • electric
          Fast Electric Addict!
          • May 2008
          • 1744

          #5
          A few more pics...
          Attached Files

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          • srislash
            Not there yet
            • Mar 2011
            • 7673

            #6
            Nice progression.

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            • Tetefroid
              Member
              • Nov 2017
              • 78

              #7
              Oh no! Somebody forgot the spar.

              Comment

              • electric
                Fast Electric Addict!
                • May 2008
                • 1744

                #8
                Originally posted by Tetefroid
                Oh no! Somebody forgot the spar.
                Spar? What's missing?

                Are you talking about the pole that goes from the hull to the sponsons? This is interesting. There are two different pictures of the 81 Pay-n-pak. One with the pole and another with a wing. Perhaps some modifications was made to the boat in 81? All the pics come from the Hydroplane museum website. All three below are labeled 81 pay-n-pak.
                Attached Files
                Last edited by electric; 09-27-2018, 07:30 AM.

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                • Tetefroid
                  Member
                  • Nov 2017
                  • 78

                  #9
                  In every one of those pictures there is a spar, just two of those pictures the spar is covered by the airfoil.

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                  • electric
                    Fast Electric Addict!
                    • May 2008
                    • 1744

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Tetefroid
                    In every one of those pictures there is a spar, just two of those pictures the spar is covered by the airfoil.
                    Agree, I was just confirming that "spar" was the pole in the picture. I am going to get an aluminum tube put in for sure. Thanks for the call out.

                    The progress continues. It may not look like it, but there has been a LOT of epoxy, fiberglass, bondo, and beefing up going on. Sand, apply, Sand Apply..etc. I am ready to put on the first coat of primer to figure out what little things I have missed. Hopefully, with good weather and time I will do that tomorrow.

                    Nothing beats a box of stuff from OSE! Shout out to the maker of this motor mount. This quick release mount is nice. One Bolt at the top and then unclamp and pull out. Will put on the water jacket later.

                    I am going to start roughing in the drive line, rudder, turn fin etc. to get all my holes drilled before I paint the boat. The stickers have all been ordered as well.
                    Attached Files

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                    • electric
                      Fast Electric Addict!
                      • May 2008
                      • 1744

                      #11
                      hmmm.. Looks like I got too big of a strut. I could cut it down, but might just buy another..
                      Attached Files

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                      • leonard feeback
                        Senior Member
                        • Mar 2011
                        • 130

                        #12
                        If your building it as a scale boat, the strut will be going down thru the bottom inside the transom anyway. Cut the top off the strut and if for some reason such as broken or bent strut. You can loosen the brackets and let the strut slide down and out thru the bottom of the hull.

                        Comment

                        • electric
                          Fast Electric Addict!
                          • May 2008
                          • 1744

                          #13
                          Originally posted by leonard feeback
                          If your building it as a scale boat, the strut will be going down thru the bottom inside the transom anyway. Cut the top off the strut and if for some reason such as broken or bent strut. You can loosen the brackets and let the strut slide down and out thru the bottom of the hull.
                          Yes sir, I just had it on the outside to gauge the depth it would be at when set up. I pondered it a bit yesterday evening and while I could cut it to size, I think I am going to put it in the parts drawer for the next project and I ordered another one that is a better fit.

                          So, getting staged up for the 1st round of Primer. Respirator, Acetone, Primer, filters, mixing cups, etc. You want to ensure you have everything you will need right in front of you once you get rolling. I have pole in my backyard that years ago was for the kids. It makes a perfect platform to hang a boat off and paint. Just some coat hanger wire and a few cuts and the pieces will be hanging.

                          Luckily, my wife's father was a master woodworker and she grew up around never ending projects and a couple of homes built from scratch. So, she is used to the noise and mess and really does not complain much. I used to primer inside my workshop in the garage with a pretty elaborate homemade filtration and painting booth. The primer has a stink to it that is pretty intolerable compared to the other paints, so I prefer to do this part outside. Going to be a two step process meaning I will prime it, fill in some more holes and things I missed, sand it and primer it one last time.

                          Waiting for mid-day for some lower humidity and warmer temps. There is some rain in the forecast so I will hope for the best. Texas weather.
                          Attached Files
                          Last edited by electric; 09-28-2018, 09:07 AM.

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                          • electric
                            Fast Electric Addict!
                            • May 2008
                            • 1744

                            #14
                            All right! Got the first coat of primer on. As expected I found quite a few areas of pinholes that need some work, but all part of the process. Painting for me can sometimes go smoothly and sometimes it is a battle. Today was very smooth with the exception of I went to plug in the air hose to the gun and discovered I must have taken the quick release piece off the gun some time ago. Quick rush back into the garage to find one to screw on to the gun so I could get started. Luckily, I actually have a drawer of these brass attachments so it was not too bad.

                            I think I am going to fill in those wood inserts I put in the hull on the sides where I was going to mount the motor at first. Make it look a bit nicer. I am still pondering putting in some black carbon fiber at least on the floor of the hull and maybe up a 1/2" inch on the side. Really no reason to, but it would look pretty nice.

                            So, that is it for today. I have a busy weekend planned so not much will happen unless I get some time on Sunday afternoon.
                            Attached Files

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                            • eric113
                              Senior Member
                              • Sep 2011
                              • 323

                              #15
                              Looking good Jim!

                              I do have question and favor. I’m needing get a motor mount for my new 8th scale. I was going to ask if you could see if that HET motor you have would fit in this motor mount?

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