785boats

I started this build over on R/C Groups, but I thought there might be a few people over here that might be interested in building something like this, so I'll put it here too.

I bought this kit from Mike at ML Boatworks to slowly build up for our EB (6s) Sports Hydro class. But because the weather has been holding up the painting of the U-95 1/8th Scale Hydro, & my Whiplash, I started on this one.

[link]http://www.ml-boatworks.com/Page.asp?n=62521&snid=dOJ%40Z0K4V&org=ml-boatworks.com[/link]

As you can see the same basic hull comes in different sizes. GP265, GP310, GP330, GP400 & he's working on a GP480.

Comes with all frames, stringers , skins, & fibre glass cowling. (2 types to choose from.)

The laser cutting is excellent & the whole thing just falls together if you follow the manual. I won't post many photos, because the manual is full of them with the instructions. I'll just highlight where I changed or added something to suit my building style.

This is the manual.

[link]http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/showthread.php?32580-ML-Boatworks-Sport-12-20-20L-and-40-Hydroplane-Online-Instruction-manual[/link]

The two sponsons were put together on the coffee table in one evening while watching the TV. See photo 1.

The main tub was assembled the next day in about 4 hours. Photos 2, 3, & 4.

I did add a bit of extra 1/4" stock around all the joins of the air break and around all the joins around the curved trailing section of the sponson. Photos 5, 6, & 7.
In photo #7, you will also see that I extended the stringer on the outside edge of the air break section, forward one more bulkhead than shown in the manual. Just for a bit of strength in that area as I'm not going to add any glass or carbon fibre to the inside of the sponsons.

I also added a 1/4" stringer, half way between the air break, & the non trip chine, from the transom to the second bulkhead. Unfortunately I didn't take a photo of that.

Installing the non trip skins was quite simple, following the manual.
The ride pads, however were a bit more difficult.

I used Jans' suggestion of heating up the skin with a heat gun & forming a bend in it while the glue in the ply cooled & reset. It was then an easy task of gluing on the section over the transom & the first two bulkheads. Once that was dry, I applied CA to the rest of the stringers & bulkheads & held the ply in place with tape and a couple of clamps. Photos 8, & 9.

After adding a piece of 1/4" ply to the inside of the heel of the right hand sponson, I coated the whole of the inside of both sponsons & the tub with epoxy resin.
Then I just filled the sponsons with two part Eco Foam. Also the two front sections of the hull. It only added 5 oz but it adds a lot of strength to the skins. Especially the top one when it goes on. Photo #11 shows one sponson with the foam sanded to shape (also the front sections of the tub) & the other one as the foam had grown out of it ready for cutting & sanding.

That's where she sits at the moment. Top skins go on next, & then glue the sponsons on to the tub.

For anyone who likes building hulls Mike has a huge range to choose from.

Cheers.
Paul.

785boats

Well I've added some coolite foam to the sections down the sides of the tub & added the top skin. Also the skins of the sponsons were epoxied on last night.

The way I do the top skins is to coat the underside of the skin with epoxy resin. Add 24 hr Araldite to the frames & stringers etc, & then tape, clamp & weight down the skin onto the sponson or hull. That way the resin bonds to the foam as it cures. Will hopefully stick the sponsons onto the tub tonight.

Cheers.
Paul.

martno1fan

Very nice Paul,those kits look very good too.
Mart

785boats

Thanks Mart.
Great kits. A huge list of scale hydros on his site too. I'm also building the U-95 1/8 scale hydro at the moment.
[link]http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1689968[/link]

Cheers.
Paul.

785boats

Here's some pics with the sponsons glued on to the tub.

785boats

Well I've managed to get a bit more done on this baby. It's the ANZAC day holiday & I have tomorrow off too. Should get a bit more done.
I've added the motor mount & strengthened it up with some 1/4"carbon fibre rod. The motor mount & motor are solid. No flex in the floor pan now.
The ESC tray was epoxied to the rods, & the battery trays were epoxied into the front of the tub.
The strut & rudder were drilled onto the transom with a piece of reinforcing aluminium epoxied to the inside of the transom.
Then the stuffing tube was bent & cut and epoxied into place. I'm not running a liner in this one. I added two pieces of carbon rod across the tub so the stuffing tube would not move around as the floor was very flexible where the tube entered the boat. Rock solid now.
The water outlet pipe of 4.5mm tube was then drilled through the side of the hull & epoxied into place.
I had bought a Tia-pan fin & wasn't happy with the foot print of the bracket. It was too narrow & only had two bolts. So I made a larger bracket with 4 bolts to bolt it to the heel of the sponson. Still not sure if the actual fin is big enough really.
It hangs down 2" below the ride plate of the sponson. Is that enough?
All I have to do now is drill the holes for the safety loop. Strip it down & prep it for paint.
Still trying to decide on a paint scheme. Something that will use up the paint that I have lying around.
Here's a few pics.

Joshsubmec

My Feedback: (2)

That's a good lookin boat you've built there. Might have to pick me up one of them later on down the road. How well are these kits made, I was looking at the tunnel hull nx300 I think it is

785boats

Thanks Josh.
This is the second kit I've built up from ML Boatworks. The other one is the 1/8 scale U-95.
Both kits had excellent wood & perfect laser cutting. The 1/8 scale was a framing kit only with no skins or stringers or cowl. Here's a bit of a read on that one if you're interested.

[link]http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1689968[/link]

Another guy at our club is building up the GP310 & he also likes the way these hits go together.

From what I've heard that tunnel hull is a real performer. I've often thought of giving that one a go, but I've got too many projects on the bench as it is right now

Cheers.
Paul.

Joshsubmec

My Feedback: (2)

Hi thanks for the link I'll read up on that boat. My projects are starting to pile up to but I might be able to squeeze one of these boats in.

785boats

Finally hit the water with this hydro. It's not finished. Still needs some decals, windscreen, air intake, etc. Then a final clearcoat.
Without any setup tuning or practice, its first run was its first race today. And she won. Last man standing in windy choppy conditions. But I'll take that. Prop was a CNC 448
Flipped it in the second race, but won the third. Good speed & great cornering for the conditions. Prop for those races was an ABC H-7
Man I love this boat. Still more speed in it yet.
Here's a couple of pics taken moments before the first race.
Cheers.
Paul.

Joshsubmec

My Feedback: (2)

Good to hear you got her out! Congrats on the wins..these boats look great too!

785boats

Thanks Josh.
Yep! they look great, build great, & go great.
So, I've just ordered the GP310 kit to run in our EA Restricted Sports Hydro class.

[link]http://www.ml-boatworks.com/Page.asp?n=62519&org=ml-boatworks.com[/link]

Should be fun.

Cheers.
Paul.

electric45

Hi, thought I would share my GP400 video.   I am racing up in a Dallas,Texas race in this video in the Orange and Purple boat.  The red/white/blue is also a GP400.    It was a very windy day so you had to be somewhat cautious on the back stretch.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EGGY5vu77Q


I am also racing a GP335 as well and can't say enough good things about the boats.   Handle really well.

785boats

Now that's what I like to see.
What's the set up in the boat.
I'm still trying to figure out what prop to try next, because the next time it hits the water it will be in the first race in the Queensland State Titles next weekend (3 days of it) & there will be no chance of testing before then. Bearing in mind that we are only allowed 1P batteries so I can't get too aggressive.

Cheers.
Paul.

srt10

My Feedback: (20)

Is this setup for Q
And what motor size and kv are you running
Looks good by the way!

785boats

srt10
Not sure if you were asking me or electric45. But I would like to know your set up too, electric45.

Well, mine is running in our EB Sports Hydro class here in Oz. That's 6s 1p.
Motor is a TP Power 4092 1350kv The last prop I tried was an ABC H-7.
Cheers.
Paul.

srt10

My Feedback: (20)

Paul I was asking you and I thank you for the info!
I have a TP 4092 2100kv motor in my PMono and love that motor

785boats

In my opinion they are a much stronger & more efficient motor than the equivalent Leopards. They run a lot cooler too with the same setup, so that allows a slightly larger prop to be run.
I also run a couple of the 4082 2180kv motors, one in a cat & one in a hydro. The packs come in with more capacity left in them than with the same size leopard & prop, & the boats go faster.

Just a note to all.
Fighter Cat is having a bit of a sale on the TP Power motors $85.00. Bargain!

[link]http://fightercatracing.com/index.php?product_id=198&page=shop.product_details&category_id=11&flypage=flypage.tpl&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1&vmcchk=1&Itemid=1[/link]

Well. The Queensland State Titles start today. Three days of Gas, Nitro, & FE.
This GP400 in running today. Five heats, & I still haven't had a chance to do any testing, apart from the three races last weekend in some really savage chop & wind.
I hope Lady Luck is with me today.

I also added the windscreen, Air intake & a few decals to tart it up a bit.
Cheers.
Paul.

cybercrxt

My Feedback: (3)

I am glad to hear everyone is enjoying their hulls and the builds. The reviews I am hearing from guys like you are coming in from around the world and I could not be happier! Keep up the great work and keep me posted on your success! I will be building a px300 and nx 300, and the new 33.5" px335 and 39.5" qx400 o/b tunnels very soon. The 300's are doing well and I hope the tests on the bigger tunnels will go well too. I also have the first kneeler o/b hydroplane built and ready for rigging and testing! Lots of fun stuff going on and more new designs coming soon! If anyone has any questions please feel free to call or email! I am always willing to help. Thanks, Mike, www.ml-boatworks.com

785boats

Thanks Mike.
At the Queensland titles yesterday, I ended up with a 4th in the first race, three 3rds, and a 1st in the last race.
I propped conservatively at first with an H-7 & worked my way up to an X646/3 blade for the last race. Still had 33% left in the pack ( only allowed 1P here in Oz for racing) So she will still take a bigger prop yet.
But as this was only the second time on the water & with no testing time at all, I'm pretty happy.
Here's a few pics. The big petrol cats were impressive to watch racing.
Cheers.
Paul.

785boats

Well unfortunately the last day was rained out so our EA Sports Hydro & the EB mono classes missed out.
Ended up with a 2d place overall for this GP400 in EB Sports Hydro & 3rd place overall for EA mono.
Cheers.
Paul.

785boats

A club member took a video a few weeks ago when I was testing the ABC H-13 prop. We dialed out the hopping in the corners with some strut adjustments.

Since then I've moved the rudder back in line with the prop as it was too far forward.
I've also replaced the 1350Kv motor with a 1600Kv motor & am using an X646/3 blade prop. Goes a bit faster now.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3G3OhMDoOk

785boats

Here's a video taken on Sunday with the TP Power 4092 1600kv motor & X646/3 blade. Thanks Emma.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA4ctaVZCVA