skoda450

Any one know where I can get 1/6 scale hydro plans or scale drawings for Unlimited Hydroplanes for a scratch build project? There is a club in the Seatle area that is just for these models but the web site is pretty old and it has not been updated in years.

Hydro Junkie

Can I let you in on a little secret, there aren't any. Being involved with the group you are referring to, I can give you the inside scoop on this one. The plans we use to build the boats are actually drawn up by the Czar, AKA Roger Newton. We took the plans to a copy shop, enlarged them to 134%, and went to work. you will have to add an extra frame here and there, as well as extra stringers to improve hull strength, but it's not a big deal. Next, we dropped in B. H. Hanson Indy version G230's with a hard shaft drive. Adding some (usually) custom scale hardware and (AGAIN, hand made)cockpits, cowlings and tail feathers as required, then paint.
If you REALLY WANT ONE OF THESE MONSTERS, start by contacting Roger Newton at www.newtonmarine.com and get your plans ordered. He has plans for almost any boat you could want, though I would recommend getting a boat with a covered engine. Otherwise, you will have to build adummy engine to cover your gasser. I would also recommend sending him the order through snail mail WITH the payment enclosed, rather than through Pay Pal, which he does use.
The other nice part about working from plans is you can scale up or down to suit your needs. Here's a pic with SIX boats being built from TWO sets of Roger's plans. The boats are(L to R) front row; 1/8th 1991 Miss Madison and 1/6th 2003/4 Oh Boy! Oberto. Back row consists of; 36" Sport 40 1973 Pay N' Pak, 1/8th 1989 Miss Budweiser, 1/8th 1999 Miss Madison and 1/6th 1973 Pay N' Pak. Also posted are individual pics of the 1999 Madison and 1/6th 1973 Pak, so you can see some of the construction differences. If you have any other questions, let me know

OLD_SLOW and in the WAY

very kewl.......we race in spring field oregon a namba club, and have a big gas sport hydro class our district (8) id mostly nitro boats but if you guys wanna race we can work something out...... i will be at the northwest hobby expo in puyallup in feb.

Hydro Junkie

Springfield Oregon huh, was there last winter for a Square Dance Festival at the Eugene Fairgrounds(at least I think that's what you call the place. Where do you race in Springfield, as I only saw the river?

skoda450

Oh my, I think I tapped the mother load! I AM interested but the left coast is a little far to go for a race. Is there any interest in the east for the 1/6 scale gas racing? I know the 1/8 scale is popular with the nitro crowd but that's not my thing. Would these monsters fit in the "Sport Hydro" class?

BTW, are the contact names and numbers on the old web site still correct?

I haven't yet picked a boat to model. I am looking for one that I can translate into my stitch-and-glue construction method so I need to "shop" for the right hull configuration.

Frank

skoda450

I sent an email to the contact link on the home page requesting availability so I hope I get a responce quickly. The winter is closing in and I need to get started if I wan to get it done for the spring season.

Hydro Junkie

To be honest , I've actually never seen the website. As for what class these things would run in, you would have to check with the NAMBA, IMPBA or APBA to find out. Last I knew, the APBA didn't hav a class for them to run in, so enthusiasm kinda died off. That was several years ago, so things might have changed, with the new gas riggers and all the new gas boats. I'm sure, there will be some way to race these things, we just have to find it

OLD_SLOW and in the WAY

NAMBA and IMPBA has a gas sport hydro class some guys have used the 1/8 scale but its like truning a rail dragster...these gas engines will torque roll a small hydro very easy...(ask me i been there).
there is lots of racin on the east coast in IMPBA and NAMBA. the west coast is all NAMBA.
for the stich and glue method would still need frames these take a beating, imagine slapping your hydro on the water hard as ya can for like 5 minutes 6 different times each race day...unless you like to build for enjoyment there are a ton of hulls available in glass.....or i have some sets of the roger newton Planset (circus circus ) CANARD....a canard is a strange duck ....goes down the straight with its bow 1 inch off the water and speeds up in the turns...
here is a link to a canard on ebay....dont get all excited the molds are nowhere to be found. its the same hull the planset is for

if you are a motivated builder........i need one too

skoda450

Missed the link.... Guess it didn't make the posting. I don't think I am interested in a Canard. It seems to me that they are prohibited in competition by IMPBA rule anyway. My stitch and glue experiement would basically be two hulls, one for the center section and half a hull for each sponson of a conventional hydro. The super structure will require some creative free form building. I am shopping for a hull that will adapt well to this construction method. The result will not be an exact scale of the original but more like an adaptation of the original. I guess I do enjoy the design and building process. Just to see if my ideas work.

Haoleman

My Feedback: (3)

I've considered building a 1/6 scale hydro. Have a few questions regarding the plans you mentioned. Are they cad drawings? Would be nice so the parts can be laser cut. Also, what size of engine would fit in one of these boats? How much hp/rpm would you need to make the boat perform. I personally wouldn't plan to race it . Just for play.

Thanks,
Terry

OLD_SLOW and in the WAY

Roger Newton plans are Line Drawn so there is no direct DXF drawing or cad coordinates. they can be expanded at a Kinko's or similar outfit to any size up to 3 ft by 13 ft plans set. then they could be optically traced and burnt that way. a managable hydro size is about 50" length or you'll start to need two people to launch it......
engines can be 25 up to 50cc's in displacement , since you are after a sport boat, speeds up to 50mph will look scale and be quite fast enough

Hydro Junkie

Only 50"? My boats are 57 and 62.75. Are they large? OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Are they fun? OH YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!! Do they need to do 50+ to look scale? NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Was out with a friend with his 60" Wildroot Charlie a year or two ago. We were only hitting 35 to 40, but it looked more like 100.

OLD_SLOW and in the WAY

I had a 72" atlas van lines pickle fork that ran in the high 40's and it was a handful to launch, pack around , store , etc, etc. a 50" hydro can hold a bunch of water when swamped makin retrieval a real pain.....50 is an easy speed to get top with a 27 or 29cc sikk engine. all of our eye's are larger than our stomachs, and what at first seems like a kewl project soon becomes a white elephant cuz its just too darn large. but hey for me there is no other kind of boat but hydros for the kewl factor, i love wtachin em, runnin them, we should take a bunch on tour to the big hydro races and run scale races at 1/2 time......

Haoleman

My Feedback: (3)

OK, so I decide to build a 1/6 scale hydro. Where do you get the proper running gear.? Or do you have to fabricate all of it. Can't see trying to do it with a file and Dremel tool. Pix say many words. I would love to see more of the large scale boats and some detail photos. And as to glassing the hull of a 1/6 scale boat. What weight glass?

Thanks
Terry

OLD_SLOW and in the WAY

Even on the 72" hydro i used standard running gear Aeromarine rudder and strut the AM rudder is a large straight blade with lots of authority the Speed master gear will work also.
now for the bling bling factor sitck one of these in ............ [link=http://www.hookupzracing.com/product_info.php?cPath=2_82&products_id=731&osCsid=bc706f2746dd6850d76fc9f384fd0a63]it[/link] .........





this Miss Gale V was at at the northwest hobby expo? i believe i swa the Wildroot charlie there too

I will be there this year corner table at the swap meet by the car track.......

Hydro Junkie

Pretty much all the 1/6th scale boats used stock hardware, though the Charlie was all hand crafted. The guy is a real "scale freak". you would have to see this boat to believe the detail he put into it, AND HE STILL ISN'T SATISFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haoleman

My Feedback: (3)

One more question. So you build this 1/6 scale boat. Now you want to make it look like a boat with all the stickers of the sponsers, numbers etc. Where do you get these decals or how do you make them? ....Or, are you so incredably talented that you can hand paint them[:-]

OLD_SLOW and in the WAY

Do a GOOGLE search for "Pacific graphics" they do custom stuff for the 1/8th scale hydro crowd......prepare your self for sticker shock though their stuff is first class but very spendy

Hydro Junkie

If I remember right, there is a link in R/C Unlimiteds website. The address is www.rcunlimiteds.org

wimmerma

I just started building a 1/6 '89 Ms Circus Circus from the Newton plans.
Engine is a modified G260 PUM. (5.5HP/22.000 rpm)

Is anything special to keep attention to for the '89 Ms Circus Circus?
Can anyone of you send me some detailed pictures of the internals of your boat?
What AM hardware are you using?
What do you recommend for a prop? I'd like to use a 3 bladed one

A lot of questions I know but this is the first Hydroplane for me.
And it seems that germany is more in Monos or Cats...

OLD_SLOW and in the WAY

running gear should be no problem just get a large rudder as in the depth of it everything else can be standard size. the Aeromarine rudder is a good example its a big straight blade, but the rudder needs a good turn fin to pivot around , if this skids the boat wont turn. i use a turn fin that is hooked at the bottom and is raked back a bit. my shovel is set up to run in lane one flat out. it picks up the inside sponson and dirt tracks...or drifts around the turn

dang................... hydro's are fun

tt-r

i have the plans for the -94 smokin joe's from Newton.Is this 1/8 or 1/6.Was thinking of putting in a Zen G231.what speeds would it be reaching with that engine?
I want to get more into hydros but theres no one here in Norway that drives them...

wimmerma

The newton plans are all 1/8.
Putting a G231 into it is a bit tricky...
and doesn't look very nice[:'(]

tt-r

i just visited the Newton site to check, and you are right.
So then its copying the plans to 134% thats the solution.I dont want no nitro engine in it.
But as a 1/6 the g231 would have a better fit right?

wimmerma

1/6 is just the right size for a G231.
My G260PUM fits right under the cowl(I hope). 5mm space to the top