Hovercraft
 

Hey guys just wondering if there is anyone out there that have built one of those hovercraft kits. I don't have the info on the kit I have in front of me and I have forgotten who made it, another one of those I will get to it soon projects hehehehe. Anyway was looking for some feedback ie help on building this one. So if you have any info you think might be helpful please give me a yell
Jim

Hovercraft
 

I own the hovercraft on this link:

http://www.quicktechhobby.com/spotli...Hovercraft.htm

Mine is the SK-5 model. I painted mine in Army colors and used the supplied
decals. I love it!!!!!!!!

It is very simple to build, huge (the dimensions don't do it justice until
you actually see it in person), and fast. The kit includes everything
you'll need except for a radio, battery, ESC with reverse and one standard
servo. It even includes LED running lights and all the wiring harnesses and
splices and switches!

You can use the cheapest reversing ESC ( I used the Traxxas XL-1) and it
will work fine. It has to have reverse as reverse on the propulsion motor is
your only brake. It's only running the propulsion motor and it's a 540
Mabuchi with a pusher prop. I would not recommend faster motors for
propulsion until you get VERY good at "flying" it. The propulsion is so
efficient that even sealed inside the hovercraft the ESC never gets hot even
after six or seven packs in a row.

The lift motor has a switch that is either on or off to provide constant
lift should the propulsion motor or electrics give out over water. :eek:
But it does come with floatation foam in case it does have a close encounter
with a big wave.

Mine easily hits the 30mph listed as nominal speed, so it's not a lie. On
hard pack snow or ice I can wind her up to an easy 40mph. For water or
other mildly (cannot be run on tall grass or surfaces that could cause
aloss of air under the seal bag i.e. sand, loose deep snow, gravel, rocks,
rough water) uneven surfaces you can adjust bag pressure by closing and
opening the air intake on the lift motor. I get about 8 minutes run time
off a 2400 NI-CD pack.

So you can have a high performance hovercraft with easily replaceable spares
for only about $250 if you have no electric stuff at all.

I swapped the ESC, and radio from my boat and a 9 dollar Tower Hobbies servo
(faster and stronger servos will not make any difference in how it handles)
so this project cost me about 180 bucks. And anyone with an R/C car could
do the same.

I plan on taking some pics of it in the snow soon and I'll try to remember
to post them.