72" home grown kitty
 

Hi just thought i'd share a new build of mine, it's a 1800mm x 560mm x 200mm deep offshore cat, at the moment just working on the plug, but hoping to create a mold then fitout with some RCMK 520's, made the dimensions so you can either put a twin in the middle twins in the sponsons or single cylinders.
will get some photo's of the underside once the putty sets on the deck.
This will be a long build but hey it's worth it.
Yes i will be selling these once i have proven it all, and looking about the $450 AUD mark ???
Comments are always welcome
Mick

RE: 72
 

Great looking cat,will be following progress and look forward to maiden runhttp://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...wink_smile.gif

RE: 72
 

cool looking hul will be watching the progress on this one love the price point wish shipping was a little less $$$ to get it to this side of the pond

RE: 72
 

at that price im very interested keep up the good work

RE: 72
 

Thats looking like a big Kitty Kat for sure Mickie ....... hehe, I found you.

Keep those picture's coming and hurry up and finish that sucker! ....... please.
Very attractive price too, I'm sure that will interest a few people.

Cheers
You know who!!!

RE: 72
 

Patience is something you have to have when building a Plug-Mold, it is so easy to get too keen and mess a step up.
Gee Roddo what took you so long???? i've been here for a whole day!

I am anticipating to have the plug ready for molding within the next couple of weeks, this cold weather has not been helping with the curing of the epoxy.

I was going to put about a 30mm wide ride pad on the bottom, what is everyone's thoughts on this ??? should i go a little wider or narrower ??? I know the RCMK Hydrolift is about the 30mm mark, but it is also 50mm shallower in total height, and 25mm shallower in the tunnel. Anyone got an input.

Thanks for adding in.
Mick

RE: 72
 

Hi Mick.

No that's a <font size="2">CAT! That hull must be for big oval racing...?  We race short sprint racing "M", but wish we had big water to run those big scale off-shore set-ups!!

If i may ask, what is the core/base, and what is the putty to smooth things off?

Iv'e always wanted to build my own hull......

George</font>

RE: 72
 

Hi George, yeah i know it's a cat, i use a variety of mediums to build up a plug, anything from plywood ( this is cheap) MDF ( really dense manufactured wood) and surfboard foam, it is really up to your imagination what you use, it is easier to use plywood to get the main shape then fill in the blanks with the rest.
For filling you may use a epoxy filler, or car body filler, plasterboard filler, basically anything but you have to be careful here so it doesn't react with the fiberglass.
If you were going to build just one i would just use plywood and use that for a hull,
Making a mold i would have to say isn't the cheapest way to go, i just really enjoy the build and the satisfaction of constructing something myself.


Have done a little more , got the bottom trued up so now will start on the ride pads and lifting strakes, i have so much dust from sanding on the shed floor it looks like i have had a snow storm in there.

Mick

RE: 72
 

Looking real nice Mick .

Dana

RE: 72
 

Thanks Dana, I appreciate it especially from a boat builder such as you. We will see how the rest goes hey, this by far the biggest project i have taken on yet.
Mick

RE: 72
 

The boat is looking great so far. Doug

RE: 72
 

Hi just thought i'd update some progress, lifting strakes are on aswell as the ride pad, got some more sanding and filling to go but getting there. Hoping to get back to the top within the next week or so then get onto the molding stuff,
Mick

RE: 72
 

Hey Mick, looks great. I could just imagine all the sanding that goes into making a plug, oh and time. And $450 for 1800mm boat, cheap as chips.
As for hard ware like drives, are you going to make your own or would could you use for example mhz drives etc?.
Ill be watching this one very closely.

RE: 72
 

Hi Mate, i was thinking on using the RCMK Drives, but was also playing with the prospect of making my own, just not sure i'm that good enough on the mill / lathe.
Still trying to figure out how i'm going to create the flange for the upper / lower halves of the mold??? i'm thinking on using Alluminium and plasticine ??
Thanks for the coments
Mick

RE: 72
 

Contact DreaminHemi he did a whole thread about molding a cat and how the best way is to do it. Was very clever.

Cobus

RE: 72
 

Hi Dont suppose you have a link to his thread do you? Think i may have it figured out but we will see when it comes to practice.

Regards Mick

RE: 72
 

Been looking for it for you but can not seem to find it I'll pm Dreamin

RE: 72
 

Thanks Hesco, very much appreciated.

More sanding today, will have some updates pictures soon.
Mick

RE: 72
 

Cool can not wait to see this monster done.

RE: 72
 

Hi, just a few quick pictures, managed to do a whole lot of sanding today, just need to fill in a couple of imperfections then the bottoms done.
Cheers all

RE: 72
 

great project!
I have been following your posts. I noticed on the last set of photos you have cut out the pieces of wood that follow down from the end of the sponsons to the rear. Giving you grief sanding?
Keep the good build up.

adam.

RE: 72
 

Mickie found the thread through Dreamin at last hope this helps. Very informative.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_87..._1/key_/tm.htm

Enjoy

Cobus

RE: 72
 

Thanks heaps Cobus, lots of really good info there, certainly made me rethink how i am going to mold this one.Mick

RE: 72
 

Hi, bottom is done! man i hate sanding, will have some pictures up within the next day or so, now it is back onto the top and cowl.
Sorry for the long waits but this is a little bigger project than i'm used to.
Mick

RE: 72
 

HI Micki,
Finally found it. Now I can keep up with the build. What is the deepest part of the sponson in relation to the inside floor (1,2,3,4")?
What is the cowling size? Will a S520 fit down in it without cutting on the hull sides?

Thanks,
Pat

RE: 72
 

Hi Pat, welcome , Deepest part of the sponsons is 220mm x 150mm wide (to the edge of the tunnel ) , the depth between the tunnel top and the top of the cowl is 265mm , the cowl is 650mm long x 330mm wide.
Got some more putty on the top now, hoping to spray some fiberglass on the plug this weekend ( weather prevailing)
Mick

RE: 72
 

Stop sanding and show us some pictures. Why are you spraying fiberglass on it?

Cobus

RE: 72
 

Well it isn't actual fiberglass but a 2 pak primer, this has a polyester resin base.
Here are some pictures then, may not look an awful lot different than before but here goes anyway, this was after sanding for about another couple of hours, now have put a fine putty on to finish it off.
Cheers Mick

RE: 72
 

looks good Mick, cant wait to see the finished product. The sanding is a real nightmare. Im rebuilding my cto3 and filling in some air vents that I dont want on the hull anymore and one of them is driving me nuts. Just cant seem to get the finish I want.
Oh well keep up the good work.
Peter

RE: 72
 

That boys going to need some major grunt to get him to go. Very narrow running surface for such a big boat. Looks good non the less.

Now get working and finish it:)

Cobus

RE: 72
 

Hi Corbus, the ride pads are the same width as the Hydrolift 1900 , they are 28mm wide, but if this proves to be too small then may have to change it.
I am starting to see the end, but it also seems a way off too.
Thanks for the coments.
Mick

RE: 72
 

Hi there Mick,
Nice looking plug your working on there. Can you run boats on the lake up at falls creek(when its not frozen over) ?
Cheers,
Dion.

RE: 72
 

Hi Mate, i live up in NSW south coast, dot much hope of it freezing over ,
Should be sprayinh the first coat of primer down tomorrow, will get some pic's following as the colour may show it all up better.
Cheers all
Mick

RE: 72
 

Ah, different Fall Creek, I was thinking the one you can ski at in winter in Vic.

RE: 72
 

Well got the plug painted today, looks abit different now , just got to block it back , fill in a few imperfections, recoat then polish.
Mick

RE: 72
 

Now that's starting too look like a racer. Remember to wait a descent time between spaying and resin to make sure all the vapors have escaped. You don't want fish-eyes now. It looks too good.

Cobus

RE: 72
 

Hi All, sorry it's been a while since last post but here is the progress. Starting on the flange, got the hull blocked back and is ready for another coat of epoxy primer, the pictures tell the rest.
Feel free to add what you think.
Mick

RE: 72
 

Bit more progress, flange is constructed, got to rub it back, then start spraying epoxy primer on it.
Cheers

RE: 72
 

Nice progress! Hope my Nemesis thread was a little help. Thanks for sharing your efforts.

RE: 72
 

Well looking at the way he is approaching the job it seems that a few tips was pick up.

Looking good. NOW WORK FASTER (He says while cracking a whip)

Cobus