RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Nice looking build my friend !!  very clean !

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Here's my big Kami's radio box (sans 1 servo which is in one of my rc trucks). I havent found servo horns that will fit these plastic geared servos I have in there, so I resorted to using an rc car servo saver that was rigged to not "save" anything. Works well, but I need a tad more throw.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0130-1.jpg
And here's the back where the cable comes out. The brass tube is just an extension of the cable since it ended up being too short for the extended rudder (which works way better)
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0131-1.jpg

Got the rake skin and keel skin glued on, and am fitting one of the sides. I am doing the bottom in 4 sections because its WAY easier. If I did it the same way as the big Kami, I'd have to use 4 sheets instead of two. (This plywood is $17 a 1'x4'x1/32" sheet.)

Anyway... Here's the skin progress:
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0132-1.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...R/IMG_0133.jpg

If the 4 pictures show up way huge, sorry. Photobucket's network must be really slow to refresh after editing picture sizes. All 4 pictures should be 640x427px. [:@]

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

She's got skin (on the bottom)! I love how the lines came out. I think this should be a successful build.. As in, it will at least float.

Fresh off the build table..
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0137-1.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0136-2.jpg

Onward to the linkages and fiberglass inside...

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Ha.......... it sure does look good [8D][8D]

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

aLRIGHT Now ya done it... Inspried me to start a new build - going with a cedar strip over foam flatbottom -tractior with twin rudders. nothing to special more of a solid workhorse. being the recycler I am ... and out of 2" foam sheets, I striped all the hpl -engine mounts and everything off my second to last hull - extremely fast and a little to light but a really nice shape. making it about 3" longer overall and maybe an inch wider than previous. and moey more durable. Sorry no pics yet - nothing to show yet- soon...
BTW Tim that is looking good - we may have to go run em again this spring.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Sounds like a good build, Dave. Keep your step (if using one) in the middle of the hull, prop about 1/3 the length of the hull measured from the transom, and hull width to about 1 1/2 times the prop diameter. What engine are you going to use?

This step boat I'm working on is 26"x14"x2.5". This thing might handle my .46 but it's aimed at .30 sized engines.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Tim, I'm going with the OLD RELIABLE Thunder Tiger .40 with a fresh assortment of new props - and once again playing it safe - going traditional flat bottom after my last step boat failure - I may end up doing it all in cedar strips - practicing to build a kayak... someday
shooting for a 3- lb hull - 5 lbs complete. Clean a simple - not traditional - i have a couple new ideas for rudders and possibly a roll cage.
I will try to post my concept picture. In a few minutes.
Dave

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

I think your design looks good, though I would change one thing. Steering servo location. Unless you can ensure it will stay water tight, I'd suggest setting up a radio box to seal the servos and radio from any chance of getting wet. Since you're doing wood over foam, it would be a piece of cake to run control cables through the foam.

Thats just my take though..

p.s. I really like Thunder Tiger engines too. Without the fuel pump and set upright, my TT .46 runs like clockwork - on 5% nitro even.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

I have a waterproof servo and I really like having my motor / servos easy to switch between hulls - I may bury them in the hull on this one... like the idea of keeping the weight low.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

I guess I'm too cheap to buy waterproof servos.. :D Kidding aside, I like having all of the radio components in one spot. Its certainly more convenient having the servos right next to the rudder and/or throttle... I guess I prefer to keep the outside part of the hull "cleaner"... Whatever floats the boat, right?

On my project, I have a few chunks of 3/4oz fibercloth laid down in a dozen spots to tie the skin to the frame better - this is a "just in case" insurance policy to keep the skin from separating from the frame in the event of a flip, object strike, engine vibration, etc. Once this stuff sets I'm going to reinstall the radio gear to finalize the cable locations and get them glued in. I should be able to get some of the top skin down soon!

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

My Wife gave me a new digital radio and a Hub Hobby gift card for x-mas - so I splurged on the servo - may wrap it in a aerodynamic skin and I saw some really cool anodized servo arms at .... guess where. Hub Hobby.
Did I mention how awesome my wife is...

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

You do have an awesome wife! I've been trying to get my wife to buy me car parts and r/c stuff since I met her. I even put "Hub Hobby" and "R/C Car Kings" gift cards on my "wishlist" but to no avail.. oh well. I shop for myself enough to make up for it..:D

I have been buying metal geared Hitec servos (645MG). I have a pair that I swap among the boats, and I have a pair in one of my monster trucks (266oz in combined steering torque is awesome in 1/8th scale MT's), They can turn these big 40 series tires on asphalt lock to lock without effort. Way overkill for a boat, but for the price.... I figure why not?

My wife went to stay with her parents for the weekend so I should have some "me" time to work on the boat. I'm getting antsy to see the thing float in my bathtub fully dressed.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Never mind the bath tub, I'm getting antsy to see the thing screaming across the pond ! :)

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Lol! Me too, but I got about 4 months to wait. The lakes and ponds have 8" of ice on them, or more. To pass the time, I go ice fishing once a week.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Progress has been slow... I've been sick, and work has been crazy busy lately.. BUT.... I am moving forward. Last week I made the radio box lid. Its American Black Cherry with the grain [mostly] vertical. Its a little more stable this way.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0139-3.jpg

I am going to put a layer of fiberglass on the inside of the lid, and make a removable cradle that will hold my GPS. I figured I'd use small brass screws from the bottom of the lid into the cradle. When the GPS isnt in use, I'll simply take the cradle off and put the screws in the holes to act as plugs.

Working on the top skin now. I'll do the top in 3 sections. Port side is epoxied, waiting for it to set a few hours. I dont have a lot of clamps or lead weights, so I use whatever I have on hand thats heavy... Paint, glow fuel, castor oil, brazilian walnut hardwood, etc. There's probably 50 pounds sitting on it in this picture.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0138-1.jpg
You can't really see in the picture, but I have two micro clamps and 3 bigger clamps up front to hold the compound bends where I want them. Sometimes the grain of the wood works with you when bending it around a curve. In this case, instead of having two bends meeting at the same vertex, I have one bend just slightly in front of the other right at a bend in the hull itself. If there ends up being a buckle in this spot, it will hang over enough so when I do the final trim/sanding, it will actually look like its supposed to be there. Hard to explain, easier to see. When the resin sets, I'll post a picture of the front.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

She's getting there.. Put some cherry trim around the perimeter of the hull to cover the plywood edges. I glued it on oversize with the intent of sanding it to match the contour of the hull. Some parts of the skin came together a little funky, so I'm trying to cover up my screw-ups more or less.. [:@][&:] I think it still looks sweet as honey though..

As pictured (with servo tray) weight is 2lbs 4oz.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0147-1.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0146-1.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0145-1.jpg

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Looks very Nice ! and 2 lb 4 oz - light.
I wish I had an accurate small scale - wait... I do at work. I may have to drag er in and see what she weighs before I start mounting everything - guessing, I think I am closer to three pounds on mine.
We will see tomorrow.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

I thought about piling the engine and mount, and the other stuff on the scale, but I am going to wait until its all done and assembled before I do the final weigh-in. I dont want my hopes to be too high, and end up being heavier...

I also have three possible power plants for this boat. Super Tigre .29, Enya .30 and if it doesnt sink the boat, my TT .46 Pro. Its built around 9" props, but I might let the smaller engines turn up a bit more with a 8x8 or 8x9.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Hey Tim,
What type of rudder are you going to run on this ?

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Its designed around a wet rudder, though I might make a set of air rudders for it just to mess around but I'm not in a hurry on that though.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

I wasn't going to, and now I am.. LoL.. Spoiler alert...

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0149-2.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0148-2.jpg

The front is sticking up a little, havent glued it down yet. Still deciding on my "pinstriping". I've got a beer drinkin' grin on my face... :D

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Hey Tim, I have that same issue with the seams up front - still havn't decided on how i can hide/stripe it - you may not have to worry about that. Boat looks Nice Tim! Amazingly similar shape as mine.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Thanks Dave! I am using cherry to cover the seams, but only because I wanted to add some color.

I took my flatty (that I ran last summer w/ you) and scaled it down to roughly 30% smaller. The step happened mid build to up the speed potential. I should have the skin finished over the weekend.

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Alright.... here she is. All the skin is done, now I just have to fiberglass it.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0153-1.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...IMG_0154-1.jpg

RE: 4th boat build. Mini-Kaze Stepboat
 

Engine mount and radio box lid are finished.
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...R/IMG_0157.jpg
http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...R/IMG_0156.jpg

Radio lid is vertical grain Cherry, and the engine mount is Baltic Birch plywood and Carmelized Maple plywood. 8 coats of clear natural finish.

Just a little more hull work and its ready for fiberglass. After I get the engine mount installed, and radio lid stand-offs, I'll bolt the engine down and add the rest of the electronics and I'll get a base weight RTR minus 'glass and finish. Its super light still.