Hovercrafts

[experimental_pil]

Hello,
Could anyone tell me where I could get plans and instructions to build an RC hovercraft(electric)? I really need it to be as cheap as possible!

Also could you all tell me what I will need...like what kind and how many motors, servos, materials?

Where could I get all this stuff?
BTW I live in Toronto, Canada




Thank you very much,


EP

[pimp_squeak]

Search google, a great material to make hovercraft(correct spelling for both plural and singular form of hevercraft is...well...hovercraft) is foam. You can use lightweight low density balsa to stiffen the main structure and then garbage bags as the skirt material. The DF units can be made yourself with standard issue RC airplane equipment and slightly cut down props in custom made balsa ducts. You can find all of these items at your LHS or hardware store

[ernest2]

start from here.
http://home.wanadoo.nl/stuipsmulders/Frameset_index1.htm
happy building

[experimental_pil]

I found this plan that I like...
http://model-hovercraft.com/

but it doesn't say what the skirt is made out of?

[pyropunk77]

I have built a radio controlled hovercraft, i bought it from a company named kinetics. I bought it 5 years ago, but it worked great, the skirt was made from ripstop nylon and it had 2 lift fans and 2 drive fans. It ended up costing me around 400 with all the batteries, radio and other parts.

[experimental_pil]

Where can I get ripstop nylon?

[pyropunk77]

you can buy it at a fabric store or a sail store i believe, and to test if it was air tight, take a peice, and put your mouth on it and blow on it....like...hold it up to your mouth and created a seal with your lips and blow, if air goes through, look some more, if not, its good.

[experimental_pil]

Another thing that is not shown is the mounting of the motor, servos, ESC, battery etc... Can plain standard size servos be used? and a speed 400 motors?

http://model-hovercraft.com/

Thanks

[pyropunk77]

my servo was mounted in the back of the hovercraft with the arm on the servo out of the hull through a whole, the arm faces up and has 2 wires attached to it that attactch to the rudders. The motors were mounted on a peices of L shaped metal, the small part screwed into teh deck and then teh motor screwed into the top of that, the lift motors were zip tied to these half circle thingies with arms on each side of them. The other stuff was placed where it balanced the best because the balance is very precise.

[experimental_pil]

I found what I think is a pretty good kit here...
http://www.gohover.com/

It's the GH-C kit. You can customize it a million ways and it's incredibly cheap.
What do you all think about it?

[pyropunk77]

I can't tell, I havn't used it, but it looks ok and it is cheap. They look small, but, I don't know how much power or anythink you are looking for. The one I currently own is about 3 feet long.

[experimental_pil]

Theres a video on that site. They get going pretty quick and I just want to kinda play around on the water and stuff like that.

Anyone else have an opinion on this kit?

Theres some more video's here...
http://hovercraft.com/models/gallery.html

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

We built some small 3"x4" hovercrafts.
Good on smooth surfaces and water.
The skirts were shopping bags. :D
http://www.microrccenter.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=21900

[experimental_pil]

I received and built the hovercraft from http://www.gohover.com today. It is sooo easy to build and alot of fun to drive.

The best thing about the kit is that it is so customizable!!!!
I recommend that you all try this kit out!!!
It's cheap...

[experimental_pil]

Has anyone else here tried any of these kits from gohover?

[BartMan]

Read through the site Umi suggested. I've made a few of the 4"x3" and have a blast with it. Cost is less than 2 happy meals.

[Daddy-O]

Thanks pil, I think I might just try out one of their kits. Looks like a lot of fun!
Daddy-O