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OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

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OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

Old 05-17-2008, 12:04 AM
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korkka
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Default OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

Well, I have just ordered and paid for a T-bolt from Carl , Plumkrazyboats.
4-5 weeks of waiting game, he´s got a couple of other boats to build before mine gets ready and shipped to Finland.
Might be the first one in Finnish waters?

He is going to build the boat without the engine, pipe and radio gear.
I´m on a budget now so I will be dropping my old engine and zero band steel pipe in it to start with and probably later uppgrade to QD with Hotpipe.
Gonna blow my tax rebates on that one in december!

What I would like to know is, wich header to use in this hull to make the pipe fit?

I was looking at BH Hanson #11 and #13 headers, #11 is a 45/90 1" out 1" drop and the #13 is 25/90 1" drop 3" out...

I know there is forward turn deep v-hull headers too, wich would work too with some bending,I have seen a drop down header somewhere, but hows the performance in these headers?
Edit: found this already...

But the header q needs some help still..

Cheers!
Old 05-17-2008, 09:34 AM
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Paul M
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

I used the 90 deg with the 3 in offset and the 2 in band in mine. the stinger just peaked out the transom and was covered with an exhaust tip.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_66...tm.htm#6678447

go to post number 3
Old 05-17-2008, 10:12 AM
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korkka
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

Well, so the 2 in band might be of better length then, giving some more torq too...?

The header had no clearance issues, fitted in the hull nicely?

Nice boat you have there!

edit: You have the pipe down low in the aft, shorter distance, mine will have exhaust tips on the lip of the deck. How much further that lip comes from actual transom.
Old 05-17-2008, 10:33 AM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

I hope that you got a real Expresscraft boat as Plum Crazy was selling knock-offs at one time from Vern Kilmer a.k.a Forabuck.
Old 05-17-2008, 10:51 AM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

Really now. [:@] No offence to Forabuck. Each to his own. But I want the one and original.

Well, the deal is for a Expresscraft Thunderbolt specifically, as said in email discussions repeatedly.
Never was there any implication of anything else.

Maybe I should ask Carl about this in future discussions.
Thanks for the heads up!

Jyri
Old 05-17-2008, 11:07 AM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

OK, just watching out for you.
Old 05-17-2008, 12:08 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

I believe Plumcrazy is no longer dealing in the Vern/forabuck hulls and Plumcrazy is (last I heard) an Expresscraft dealer - also I dont believe Vern has made any copies of anything other than the Thunder Cat from Expresscraft (so far).

You should be safe that it will be an expresscraft cat you are going to see.
Old 05-17-2008, 12:21 PM
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korkka
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

That´s nice to hear, JAW.

Well, I shot an email @ Carl already, asked him about the hull. I´m sure things will be fine.
He´s been very helpful and polite. Even with many questions and chit chat from a new customer, me.
Good service atleast to this point.

Is there a way to identify a original hull from Expresscraft,btw?
Old 05-17-2008, 03:02 PM
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Paul M
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

There's another guy on here that bought a T-bolt from them. I didn't know they sold knock offs. Mine's gone. I stuffed it at 50 and it folded like an accordion. I would highly recommend adding a bulkhead and maybe a little CF cloth. It's a very light weight hull and if you stuff it with any speed, there is going to be significant damage unless they changed the layup.

Here's a pic of the inside.
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Old 05-17-2008, 03:41 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

I´m sorry about your loss, may her hull rest in peace. She was a beauty.

Another thing to talk about with Carl, maybe he has some ideas about strenghtening the hull a little, before he mounts all the guts to it.
Unless they have already done it from the Expresscraft. I´m not sure but I´ve been reading so many posts and topics about this boat already that I´m getting confused.
Or that might be a nice chance for me to learn something about working with epoxy and cf.

Oh, Thank you for the pic! Nice. 3" 90* header seems to be a great choice, just have to add a 1" drop to it to avoid cutting the hull.

BH Hanson #13 it will be then. Thanks Paul!
Old 05-17-2008, 04:02 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

Actually a guy in Canada bought the hull and plans on repairing it.

I really wouldn't worry about the 1 inch drop. You just have to cut a small notch in the hatch lip to clear the header.
Old 05-17-2008, 04:16 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

Well, I guess your right, but then the spray water would run in to the hull.
I´m planning on setting some b-formed window sealing rubber string around the hull hatch groove and thus sealing the edge when installing the hatch.
Only points of entry for the spray water would be air vent holes then.

Or would it be somewhat over the top?
Old 05-17-2008, 08:56 PM
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mike the snake
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

I got my Thunderbolt from PlumbKrazy boats.

My experience was great. Carl was nice and gave good service. My boat went together smoothly.

Mine has the Quickdraw engine. I've had it to 62mph with a 470 2 blade prop.

The QD Hot pipe for deep vee's works perfectly, and I think with an adaptor it can be used on a regular G-26 until you get your QD engine.
Old 05-17-2008, 09:47 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

I had problems with mine cutting out when making right hand turns and i'm pretty sure it was a water spray issue. The problem got better when I added weather strip on the carb side but still was soemwhat an issue. I know it wasn;t the engine becasue when I put the same engine in my drag cat I didn't have any problem with cut offs in right or left turns.
Old 05-17-2008, 10:49 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

I've only seen one forabuck hull and it was one of his early ones. What stood out to me more than anything was the poor quality wood that he used for the stringers. It seems like it was chopped 'glas also but it's been a while.
Old 05-18-2008, 01:00 AM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

ORIGINAL: mike the snake

I got my Thunderbolt from PlumbKrazy boats.

My experience was great. Carl was nice and gave good service.

The QD Hot pipe for deep vee's works perfectly, and I think with an adaptor it can be used on a regular G-26 until you get your QD engine.
Yes, He´s been great.

That´s exactly what Carl proposed for me too when I mentioned about the possible QD upgrade later on. He has the needed parts for adapter. Would be the best solution me thinks.

But as said, I´m on a kinda budget on this one. I wish I had planned a little longer ahead, could have had more playroom with things...

Well, tax rebates come in december!

edit: ps: Carl clearified to me, no knock off hulls.
Old 07-07-2008, 01:53 AM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

Well, I received the boat on 3rd of july, just as Carl promised, before my vacation.

I have to say, the boat is absolutely beautiful.
I just wish that Expresscraft would join the hull wet in wet.
Or atleast make the seams better.

Mine had some serious gaps and holes...

Otherwise, all the assembly was done great! Thank you Carl at PKRCB!

The QD 25 HT engine is a real champ to start and runs so smooth and nice, and with the QD pipe and silencer it is sooo quiet too!

I didn´t run her WOT yet! Still had great power and speed though at 3/4 throttle.
And I had a very rich mixture and lots of oil for break in.

Some video from first run and start... almost slipped and fell on the tx at the beginning...

http://www.rcuvideos.com/item/J80B3QVH7TQT0DMZ

Now I need a paint job next!
Old 07-07-2008, 11:39 AM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

You'll need alot bigger pond to open it up. There is alot more left in that engine. What prop are you running?

Makes me want another one
Old 07-07-2008, 12:42 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!


ORIGINAL: Paul M

You'll need alot bigger pond to open it up. There is alot more left in that engine. What prop are you running?

Makes me want another one

Well, I think too, we need a bigger pond! Thats exactly what my wife says in the video...

The prop I have in her is the included x472 B/S/P by PKRCB. Rather good sharpness and balance.

Today we were out again and took some footage too,... http://www.rcuvideos.com/item/HJ16F0BRWGHPK11C

Shes more willing and responsive, I think...

Yes, there is lot more left in her, just waiting to fold out.

Cheers!
Old 07-07-2008, 01:04 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

Shes more willing and responsive, I think...

Yes, there is lot more left in her, just waiting to fold out.
...The Thunderbolt that is? LOL





Great looking boat! I'll see you in Masku wednesday...Gonna be fun to see it run.
Got a paint scheme figured out yet?

Old 07-07-2008, 01:23 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

ORIGINAL: Test005

Shes more willing and responsive, I think...

Yes, there is lot more left in her, just waiting to fold out.
...The Thunderbolt that is? LOL





Great looking boat! I'll see you in Masku wednesday...Gonna be fun to see it run.
Got a paint scheme figured out yet?


Aye! You got me there! I was talking about the boat!

All due respect to wifey!

Here´s another peace of action... http://www.rcuvideos.com/item/KWK1W15KFCL8C44R ... wife is talking to our doughter, she´s playing in the backgrounds...

That pond is actually full sized race course, both M format and oval.

Yes I have a paint scheme thought out... remember these guys...









Well, I have to see if this will be possible, but I hope...

Cheers!
Old 07-07-2008, 03:23 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

That would look killer on your cat, classic!

If you paint the base pearl white and then try to order custom vinyl stickers, then finish it off with a layer or three of clearcoat?
Old 07-08-2008, 02:59 AM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

Well, I thought at first to do it all in paint.

But the more I think about it, it starts to make more sense to do it with pearl white base and decals! Good thinking Linus!

It will be a lot easyer to repair all scratches and dents that are inevitable...

You know any good printing shops around here?
Old 07-08-2008, 12:51 PM
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

I'd go for a random onlineshop like http://www.javasigns.com/ or similair. Check google for "custom vinyl" or something and take your pick...

I figure a good quality sticker under a few layers of clear cote will look very realistic, and so much easier than finding an expert to do the paintjob right.
Old 07-08-2008, 06:08 PM
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Paul M
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Default RE: OMG!Just bought a Expresscraft Thunderbolt!

I would definitely agree on the vinyl. All my boats have been a 1 color paint job with vinyl and clear coat. Looks great and alot cheaper

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