Posts: 14
Joined: 6/4/2006 From: Louisville, TN, USA Status: offline
Jerry/Ron, Thanks for the info! I just ordered 2 sharpened/balanced y535's and one M435/3 (to test) Hopefully this will improve my pitfalls. Now to the next issue I could use some help on. If sharpened would you stick with the factory rudder? and also any input on setting up the side blade (do not know what this is called) as I am going to sharpen it to a razors edge, but am not sure if this would be better served tilted more towards the hull or parallel as possible? When all add ons are recieved I will add a video of this boat tearing up the Tennessee River!!
I am new to Nitro boats (if you cant tell by now) and the MissVegas came with very few flaws that I could spot out of the box. The front of the radio box where the screw goes in was busted so I only use the back and some absorbant paper towels inside, the starbord side rear lockdown would not latch as the glass was too thick to secure, but I sanded it down and it is working fine, and lastly the radio box power switch had been overtightened with the two small screws which has caused the plastic casing to crack, but I think I can purchase and replace with a like switch. My question is, what is the ETA on replacement parts for this boat? I would love to replace the entire control box and switch ASAP. Thanks for your help.
Posts: 1155
Joined: 5/9/2006 From: Lakewood, WA, USA Status: online
If you call Tower Hobbies they can probably tell you when replacement parts will be available.
The side blade is called a turn fin. A good upgrade would be to order the Grim Racer fin for the boat. Check the accessories on the AquaCraft website. With the turn fin supplied with the boat, be sure it is perpendicular with the back of the sponson or even slightly tilted towards the back of the boat. You will want to angle the fin slightly towards the hull.
Posts: 13316
Joined: 5/10/2002 From: Kalamazoo, MI, USA Status: offline
Tower Hobbies does have a few replacement parts in stock according to their site. The switch should be a standard Futaba part. Sharpening is one of the things that Russ talks about but you don't want to change the angle as on hydro's, it can make a big difference in handling. On the larger ones like Sport 40 and 1/8 scale boats, the rudder's bottom is flat which acts like another running surface. Rounding it off takes away the lifting can you can get from it.
< Message edited by Ron Olson -- 6/12/2006 5:53:20 AM >
Posts: 14
Joined: 6/4/2006 From: Louisville, TN, USA Status: offline
Thanks very much!! Will give my run report hopefully with video attached in the next couple of days... One last thing, how do you explain the sunburn after calling out of work sick?? Thanks for all your help guys.
Posts: 114
Joined: 6/15/2006 From: Indianapolis,
IN, USA Status: offline
Russ / anyone First of all, GO ILLINI!!
I just purchased the Miss Vegas because a friend bought one and I liked it very much. He had a problem I wanted to know if this is something I should be proactive about. He had his motor mounts came loose from the boat which disabled the boat. Is this something that you have heard happens with several boats or was this a fluke? He epoxied the mounts back down which seemed to work well and I wondered if I should epoxy mine before I even start it up. Do you have any other recommendations I should do to get the most out of my boat out of the box? I want reliability and a bunch of speed. Thanks Bruce
Posts: 7896
Joined: 6/13/2004 From: Pittsboro, NC, USA Status: offline
FYI, Tower's Scratch and dent list shows 2 Miss Vegas boats. They're listed as "box damage only" and are priced at $238. When you factor in the current discount, that's only $213! I keep thinking of buying one, but I'm building 3 boats, have several others that require regular maintenance and storage space, and nobody in my club races sport 20. Someone buy these boats before my willpower runs out!
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AMA 87959, IMPBA 19650 CD, IBDBG #2, local 12 There's A Reason I'm Behind You. You're About To Be Lapped!!!
Posts: 152
Joined: 6/21/2006 From: Andover, KS, USA Status: offline
Hello Miss Vegas Fans!!!
My name is James Barringer from Twisted Liquid Racing of Wichita, Kansas. I seen alot of post about my favorite boat the Miss Vegas, so I thought I would pass out my experiences with the Vegas. We took on the Miss Vegas as a recommendation from store owner of Finley's Hobbies in Wichita. Plus I liked the look of the Miss Vegas, as our newest Hydro race boat. We took our first boat home, after some sponsorship talk with the store owner... So I head home with our first Finely's Hobbies sponsored Miss Vegas. Immediately after opening the Miss Vegas. I notice a big difference in quality from our Miss Bud's and Miss LLamar's. Racing Hydro's for many years, I see many issues with the quality and engineering of the Miss Vegas, that I am sure AquaCraft will correct in the future. Please note the Miss Vegas is our first boat from !QUOT!AquaCraft!QUOT!. Below I list these issues, but please read more to hear the super out come of this boat. Miss Vegas Rocks!!!
1.) Paint job on boat...the paint job could be a bit more clean. It carried runs in paint, places were the fiberglass pinholes were not filled in. I also think that AquaCraft should consider using a flex additive in the paint...to reduce the number of stress crack we received from testing this rocket... The paint scheme is very cool, we are fond of the white and orange. Also the engine room should get a extra coat of resin to smooth up the interior for good easy cleaning after running. Lower maintenance is a plus.
2.) Engine....OK it kick's butt!!! We run 65%. Two thumbs up AquaCraft. But we seen issues during testing that can be avoided for only a few dollars. First was the engine bed. At first look I seen what I thought was not enough glass on engine bed blocks. This prove to be true after less then 8 tanks the engine came loose from the boat. I blame this on 3 flaws in design. the engine stand blocks do not have enough fiberglass to hold to boat under extreme conditions. So we added glass to beef up. Second is the driveshaft coupling. Holy Christmas...is it big enough Big and easy to get out of alignment when replacing the drive shaft after maintenance, causing a slight wobble...we believe this is the main cause for the engine coming loose. We order a new smaller coupling like the ones on the Miss Bud...slimmer and stainless... Last but not least...no rubber on engine to take out vibration. So we took the 18 AquaCraft and put her on rubber. Hey it's safe for sex right? Wow what a difference in the boat after this upgrade.
3.) Cockpit Air Flow....First off, the foam in the canopy should be moved to the sides of the canopy, because the way it is installed, it blocks air flow to engine compartment. So we removed. We also cut out the rear of the jet exhaust to open up the boat and we cut out the lower vents in the front off the cockpit to force air to go lower in engine room...helps cool that massive exhaust. We noticed after this the boat ran cooler and did'nt seem to have a air lock in the canopy anymore...caused the boat to cut the air better.
4.) Fuel pick-up and tank....Ok flip top lid...trash it...it leaks and is not really all that convenient. I am thinking it I can't unscrew a cap..boy what am I doing in boats...90% is screwing right...Ok to the gas tank. The pick-up hose was to long and the brass pick-up was flattening out on the bottom of the tank causing the boat to lose fuel...so we fix by making hose 1/4 longer and placing it on it side in the outside corner. Also we went off Flyers comment on the rubber band theory of holding the lid closed...cool it works, but new tank on the way...
5.) Exhaust....nice job AquaCraft!!!! only one issue here...the exhaust resting bracket behind the exhaust. again the vibration issue arised. So we did'nt cut the pipe or move the block...we killed the attacker...VIBRATION from engine. once we re-glued the block and rubbed the engine..she has held...
During test and tune of the Miss Vegas we experienced the above issues, besides the typical tuning you have to do with the boat riding right. We love AquaCraft for giving so many options to change the performance compared to water conditions. like the tail fin and the good hardware by GrimRacer. Hey that rudder took a 40 mph hit by trash in water and didn't break...only cracked the transom...Nice work GrimGacer. For our prop we chose a left hand Octura 535...he he same as our Miss LLamar....shoots a three foot rooster-tail and has excellent hole response. This boat is a head turner for sure...we have clocked her at 47 mph...we are pushing for 50. I have video I am getting produced now to show our testing and racing other hydro's. Below I have enclose some shots of our improvements and of course the finish 2006 Finley's Hobbies Sponsored Miss Vegas, By Aquacraft.
Thanks and nice to meet you all here!!
James, Twisted Liquid Racing Wichita, Kansas
< Message edited by TwistedLiquid -- 6/25/2006 6:13:02 PM >
Posts: 7896
Joined: 6/13/2004 From: Pittsboro, NC, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: Ron Olson
Chuck, there always has to be a first one, why not you?
I'm already blazing too many new trails with this club. Since I joined them I've managed to get add two new classes (Sport 20 tunnel and 40 mono) to the club schedule. A few other guys have added 20 mono and the smaller ones you commented on one time. As it is I'm having to prep a minimum of 3 boats for club races and I usually enter at least 4 classes. I've reached saturation and find myself having to decide which boats have to stay home. For the sake of being able to get in a decent number of rounds, and my sanity of not having yet another boat to maintain, I'm really trying to avoid another class. That's why I'm hoping someone buys them before I give in to temptation.
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AMA 87959, IMPBA 19650 CD, IBDBG #2, local 12 There's A Reason I'm Behind You. You're About To Be Lapped!!!
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All Forums >> RC Boats >> Speed - RC Nitro Boats >> RE: AquaCraft U-18 Miss Vegas Hydro Thread_Make it Fast! 
RE: AquaCraft U-18 Miss Vegas Hydro Thread_Make it Fast! - 
RE: AquaCraft U-18 Miss Vegas Hydro Thread_Make it Fast! - 
