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Thread: Zippkits g30 outboard tunnel hull

  1. #1
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    Default Zippkits g30 outboard tunnel hull

    While this is not the fastest electric model boat out there, it certainly intrigues me. Outboard model boats look the most like their full size big brothers, right? Another aspect is the driving characteristics. I might be wrong, but my guess is one has to learn to drive these guys to get the top performance out of them. To me that makes up for it not having flat out blistering fast top end speed. And for my money, you won't go wrong with a Zippkits design. Their kits sets the bar for simple builds that yield world class performing models!

    With that said, I'm well into this build. I've completed the hull construction and the optional fiberglass cowling. I'm starting this thread to post some pics of what I've done to this point. Also to continue with the outboard setup, the electronics install and painting the hull.

    I have a YouTube build series going that is current, and all those videos are in a playlist. Here's the playlist link if you're interested in that... https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL...uzOox5OijadfUW

    I'll start this thread off with hot wire cutting of the foam for the sponsons. I think this is one of the easiest ways to build accurate sponsons fast. Cut the foam using the laser cut sheeting as templates. Genius, yes?

    The first cuts are done with both inside sponson sheets on one foam block, then repeat for the second one.

    Top and bottom profiles are done!

    Then cut a right sponson using both top sheets on one foam block and reverse them on the other foam block to make a left sponson...

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    Last edited by sammyha; 11-17-2022 at 11:40 PM.

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    Once you get that done correctly, a right and a left sponson, the rest of the sponson build is simple.

    Epoxy the inside sheeting on both sponsons and weight them down on a flat building board. They should come out fairly flat.

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  3. #3
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    Epoxy the outside sheeting on... and weight them down again.

    Now they really stiffen up with sheeting on both sides.

    With the sheeting on both sides in place, cut the top and bottom angles...

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  4. #4
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    Epoxy on the top and bottom sheeting on both sponsons, sand the edges flush and you got two accurate, strong and lightweight sponsons! All that's left is epoxying on the nose blocks and sanding them to shape...

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  5. #5
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    The fuselage is straight forward laser cut interlocking plywood construction. For my build I'm going with a pull- pull cable setup with the steering servo up front in the radio box. I think I'll have less issues balancing the model...

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  6. #6
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    I blueprinted the sponsons using a digital pitch gage. For that process I'll just say, watch the videos in the build series playlist I posted above.

    I went deep on that subject, maybe too deep for some, lol...

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  7. #7
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    Two things I did in a different order than in the instruction manual. I fitted and clamped the sponsons to the hull with the dowel pins in place, while blueprinting the sponsons.

    The angles were repeating as I was removing them for sanding and reassembling them. So I epoxied the inside pieces for the stumble blocks in place instead of taping off the slots for them (to keep epoxy out while sealing).

    I also scribed and fit the top sheeting at the same time. Versus gluing them on and sanding flush before gluing on the sponsons.



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  8. #8
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    Then I epoxied the stumble block sheeting on after epoxying on the sponsons. Then the top sheeting, and the sponsons held them in place nicely...


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    Last edited by sammyha; 11-17-2022 at 11:46 PM.

  9. #9
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    For the optional fiberglass cowling, I made a one off fiberglass chin molded on the ABS plastic chin. Simple to do, I waxed the plastic chin, used two layers of 6 ounce cloth and MAS epoxy.

    I then assembled that per the manual for the ABS plastic cowling and chin. And epoxied the center tongue to the chin with everything in place on the fuselage and got a beautiful fit...

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  10. #10
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    I've got the basic paint job done. Still needs a painted black windshield and maybe some graphics. Numbers or something...

    Here's a link to my video on painting the G30.
    https://youtu.be/7xBu3T7Pww4

    These black and white checkerboard stripes are painted, not stickers...

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  11. #11
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    Some more pictures...

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    The balance a windshield adds to a color scheme...

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  13. #13
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    Just a mock-up, the outboard is on a stand, but the graphics are done. Team Zippkits!



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  14. #14
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    Wrapped up the build. It's ready to maiden. Added a bit more F1 flavor to the graphics.


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    This boat has a nice tidy layout for the electronics...


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    I mounted the steering servo up front in the radio box, went with a pull-pull linkage. Really made a difference balancing it, the lipo is all the way back. Unusual for an outboard.

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  17. #17
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    Here's the maiden run on my G30...

    https://youtu.be/yuws0PJmzWg

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  18. #18
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    Went back to test some props today. Lake froze over thru the night. The hot pond does open up later, depends on wind direction pushing the ice around and how much they fire the power plant...

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  19. #19
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    Kind of a bummer, check out the smoke from the stacks. Dead calm!

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    Well, I did get a picture of her on the water this year...



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    Got another run in, made a few adjustments...

    https://youtu.be/ji_vPRXn0wc

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  22. #22
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    Temperature this morning in northern Wisconsin and a hot pond update. A bit nippy here, I need to stoke the wood stove...
    Last edited by sammyha; 12-21-2022 at 09:31 AM.

  23. #23
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    Hi, great job on the build, amazing work.
    Can you tell me what outboard your using?

    Thanks, Jim.

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by jehu View Post
    Hi, great job on the build, amazing work.
    Can you tell me what outboard your using?

    Thanks, Jim.
    Thank you. It's the Scale Seven outboard from OSE with a one-off scratch built balsa and fiberglassed cowling.

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  25. #25
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    Beautiful F1, great job, congratulations.
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    Last edited by Alfa Spirit; 12-31-2022 at 12:32 AM.

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