PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
03-16-2004, 12:56 PM
#26
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
I wish this forum would have been around nearly a year ago when I started this project! Might have had it done by now with this much support out there. At the time I searched all over the place getting ideas for my airboat design and I took a little bit from what I saw and the rest I made up. I still haven't quite figured out how I'm going to mount the control surfaces. It will be powered by an O.S. .40 but I have a feeling I've made it too heavy. Well if it works great if not it's just a prototype 
! I will try to get some updated pictures up soon. With these you can see the hull is made from balsa and then I filled it with foam, glassed it and primed... that's where I'm at today. This is my first time building anything RC (unless you count piecing together an ARF plane years ago that I never flew) so be kind but I wouldn't mind any pointers either.
! I will try to get some updated pictures up soon. With these you can see the hull is made from balsa and then I filled it with foam, glassed it and primed... that's where I'm at today. This is my first time building anything RC (unless you count piecing together an ARF plane years ago that I never flew) so be kind but I wouldn't mind any pointers either.
03-16-2004, 01:33 PM
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
Many people don't give balsa much consideration because they thing it won't be strong enough.
I have been building my hulls from balsa for well over ten years now and find it not only durable, but very light weight. Don't sell yourself short on what you think is heavy until it's done and ready to run. You may be surprised!
A properly designed hull and inner balsa structure, with balsa sheeting and a FG covering can be just as strong as a heavier ply constructed hull.
I have been building my hulls from balsa for well over ten years now and find it not only durable, but very light weight. Don't sell yourself short on what you think is heavy until it's done and ready to run. You may be surprised!
A properly designed hull and inner balsa structure, with balsa sheeting and a FG covering can be just as strong as a heavier ply constructed hull.
03-16-2004, 02:56 PM
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
Yes balsa and FG is very strong, as is ply, but you always have the problem of water entering the hull and rotting the wood, treated or not. With ply this is not so much of a problem due to the glue used to hold the ply's together. Balsa wood is like a sponge and can absorb water right out of the air. While i wood hulls are strong, i still think foam/FG hulls are superior due to the fact that they will never rot, they have built in floatation, and they are simply lighter.
03-16-2004, 08:32 PM
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
EXCELLENT boats there folks .[8D] They ALL look GREAT !
Now , a balsa boat , if anything , might be a bit on the light side ? Pending one what engine and of course , the size .
Now , REVELATION ,
sounds like you might have a tad too much weight on the rear since by the looks of the prop , the angle of attack is perfect . Sooooooo , you might want to try and shove a washer under the top two mounting screws/bolts to make at the angle more facing downwards . try and use as thin as possible , washers , since it won;t take much .[8D]
I should have asked , but rather assumed . When you say KEEP THE NOSE DOWN , are you meaning that she is porpoising ? ( kinda doing a bouncy thingy up and down )
If yes , then the washers is your solution . If she just rides high in the front , the washers "might" do the trick , but sounds like your butt is too heavy (
) . Seriously ... the transom area might have too much weight .
If at all possible , try moving your motor further forward .
One more question , when she rides in the water , does the back set in the water and not up on plane ?
Now , a balsa boat , if anything , might be a bit on the light side ? Pending one what engine and of course , the size .
Now , REVELATION ,
sounds like you might have a tad too much weight on the rear since by the looks of the prop , the angle of attack is perfect . Sooooooo , you might want to try and shove a washer under the top two mounting screws/bolts to make at the angle more facing downwards . try and use as thin as possible , washers , since it won;t take much .[8D]
I should have asked , but rather assumed . When you say KEEP THE NOSE DOWN , are you meaning that she is porpoising ? ( kinda doing a bouncy thingy up and down )
If yes , then the washers is your solution . If she just rides high in the front , the washers "might" do the trick , but sounds like your butt is too heavy (
) . Seriously ... the transom area might have too much weight . If at all possible , try moving your motor further forward .
One more question , when she rides in the water , does the back set in the water and not up on plane ?
03-17-2004, 12:13 AM
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
it planes well but anything more than half throttle will make it porpoise alot. The thread i am discussing it in is "almost finished airboat" rather than clogg this thread up with my personal stuff.
07-16-2006, 05:51 PM
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
canadianjosh Date 3/16/2004 7:56:14 PM
Yes balsa and FG is very strong, as is ply, but you always have the problem of water entering the hull and rotting the wood, treated or not. With ply this is not so much of a problem due to the glue used to hold the ply's together. Balsa wood is like a sponge and can absorb water right out of the air. While i wood hulls are strong, i still think foam/FG hulls are superior due to the fact that they will never rot, they have built in floatation, and they are simply lighter.
Yes balsa and FG is very strong, as is ply, but you always have the problem of water entering the hull and rotting the wood, treated or not. With ply this is not so much of a problem due to the glue used to hold the ply's together. Balsa wood is like a sponge and can absorb water right out of the air. While i wood hulls are strong, i still think foam/FG hulls are superior due to the fact that they will never rot, they have built in floatation, and they are simply lighter.
08-15-2006, 07:51 PM
#39
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
ORIGINAL: monstermaker13
looks good, how fast is it
looks good, how fast is it
It ran about 15 MPH & works best with scale model R/C tanks on the center deck.
Lifting motors: 2 X speed 400's
Drive motors: 2 X 550/600's
Steering: Twin rudders
Power source: Electric... 2 X 3300 maH NiMh, 7 sub C cells (2 X 8.4 Volts)
08-17-2006, 03:27 PM
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
I call this one " Lou II" - And for the life of me I can't remember why. This has - had - to be one of the BEST performing boats I have made. It is Coroplast over pink foam -bonded with gorilla glue after perforating the coroplast. It goes good on every surface including asphalt - of course that was it's ultimate demise.
08-17-2006, 08:27 PM
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
dadkins, nice boat! how does cat type run compares to flat bottom? i might build another gasser boat for honda 31cc, and im not decided yet what type to build
thanks!
thanks!
08-18-2006, 08:11 AM
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
This cat was a bomb ! it wasn't quite wide enough and the sponsons were to narrow also, so it would stick to the water and IF you could get it on plane - It would tend to dig in side to side - it was Horrible ! I ended up shaving the sponsons off and laminating a piece of HPL (high pressure laminate) ...Formica .. on to the flat bottom. MUCH better !
and.. very durable and slippery.
and.. very durable and slippery.
04-18-2010, 12:13 PM
#49
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RE: PICS OF YOUR AIRBOATS
Andersean - here's that thread I was telling you. I stand corrected with the lifter motors . They were RS 380's or speed 400's (graupner) I dug this thread up from the abyss ....