I started with a Lindberg PT 109 hull and I cut about 5" off the back Here we are at the beginning of March. CHAMP is ready for sea trails. Unfortunately the weather is not cooperating. I hate to go on building until I sort out the drive line and steering. The more I add on, the harder it is to correct errors I might have made. That being said it's killing me not to continue building. It got bad, so I cut the deck in half and glued the rear half of the deck to the hull. I screwed the front half of the deck down. I'm shaping the deck to the hull. I'll make a template of the covering boards in card board and started making them in mahogany. The deck will be wood over the 1/8" Sintra. Wood planks are ice cream sticks from pops. March 15, 2019 Waiting for the weather to break, I am going stir crazy not being able to go for Sea Trails. What if the whole job does not run right? All that work for nothing, anyway the front half of the deck is screwed down. I'll make it permanent once CHAMP passes Sea Trials. I have my fingers crossed it will. I sanded the deck to match the hull. A Cheerio's box was used to make the templet for the Covering Boards. I plan on using left over mahogany from previous Dumas kits. I am also working on the deck, a collection of used ice cream sticks will become my deck planks. The edges will be painted with a black magic marker. it gives the planks that black caulk look. I used the screws to make a temporary connection. The screws will align the deck to its permanent location. It also allows me to shape the deck to the hull, shape the covering board. Most of all, if there is a problem, taking the deck off is important. Once Sea Trails are done, and I'm happy with the boats performance, The deck will be permanently glued down and covered with wood. March 20, 2019 While I'm waiting for the weather to break, I've got to keep busy. Here I am converting ice cream sticks into deck planks . A quick sanding with 220 grit, followed by edge coloring with a black felt tip marker and trim off the round edges. Every day, I do about 4 or 5 sticks. I should have enough by now. The covering boards and king plank will be mahogany, the deck will be light. Should be a nice contrast. Making the covering boards: Now that the deck is trimmed to the hull, I used cardboard to trace a templet for the covering board Here is a piece of left over mahogany from a Dumas kit. There is a lot of trimming and sanding to do. Building Tip: try to work on one job at a time. Building two at once means neither will get done fast. OK- March 24, 2019 CHAMPS first sea trials, slow speed, taking on water, riding bow high/ stern deep. I'll try a different prop, one with a more aggressive pitch. Water is probably getting in thru the steering arm I'll also try moving the battery more forward. I've pulled the prop shaft, forced in more grease, and installed a smaller, more aggressive prop (40mm -35 mm). Moved the speed control so I can put the battery more forward. Ready for Sea Trials #2 Hopefully this will solve the water in the boat, make the boat faster, and keep the bow down and the stern up While I sort out the hull and it's problems,
I made some air vents for the deck. I trip to Baskin Robbins yielded some spoons and some calories. The large vent is a spoon from Wendy's. I like their chilly. I'm still dressing ice cream sticks for the deck. maybe I should rename the boat "IceCream"
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Report by John & Doug
Our members of Empire State Model Mariners had a great time at the AMA show. We were able to see our friends from South Orange and run boats with them in the middle of the winter. The SSMA and the Subcommittee also had booths. There was a lot of activity around the pool. Kids and adults were able to run a variety of boats from a little 3d printed push tug to a fish that shoots water, an r/c goose decoy to a cabin cruiser and tugboats. The kids were respectful of our boats this year. Last year they took out 3 or 4 of our boats. South Orange did lose their noodle boat when the boat was thrown into reverse and water swamped the boat and fried the electronics. Hopefully they were able to dry it out and get it working again. Attendance was poor this year by vendors and show goers alike but while talking to various people there are reasons. This was the 50th year of "the show" (WRAM then AMA) and for any show to run that long is an achievement and noteworthy for sure! Vendors unfortunately no longer want to make a 3 day commitment wanting just Friday and Saturday, as such there were quite a bit of the expected stuff not available. Don from Loyalhannah was there and gracious as ever and Tom and Rob with Hobby King knocked it out of the park as usual. Recognition and appreciation of what we do with our hobby is always nice to hear from the general public that stop by. A grand time was had sailing for 3 days as a midwinter break with friends. See photos here. |