Zig-Zag Fun

[daveWCO]

Just for fun, I though I see how many of you have played around with the Zig Zag Racer and what you think of the boat.

I picked one up last month and have been having a blast with it at the local pond (~2.0 acres). Its hideous color, puke green (or yellow), allows me to see and manuver the boat from long range. It takes quite a beating when ramming into buoys, docks or traversing through rough water.

The only thing that seems to kill it dead are water weeds or getting trapped in narrow, dead-end spots (no reverse).

The first one I bought had a receiver problem and Horizon Hobby replaced the whole system. My hat's off to them for a quick, no hassle replacement.

Anyhow, if you have any Zig Zag stories, place'em here. I'd love to hear of any modifications tried as well. I would be cool to be able to "roll" the little beast 360deg, or perhaps jump it off an anchored, 45deg, ramp. Why? Why not!

DaveWCO

[Andrew Gilchrist]

wont jumping it off a ramp damge the prop?

[daveWCO]

Andrew:

Perhaps not if it were protected by a cowl or strip of wire. Or perhaps a split launching ramp?

Hmmm.

Dave

[simon_p]

love mine, don't bother with the ramps, we tried everyhting from split ramps, 'brush' ramps like wake boarders use, guarding the rudder and prop, none of these realy worked. The best jumps are the 1 foot choppy waves you get in the marina! :D

[daveWCO]

Lol! I knew someone must have tried it!

No marinas around here. I've got to wait for very windy days, or jump the wakes of the big gas boats. Chasing ducks and geese is fun too!

I heard a rumor that a larger Z-Z is in the works...fun, fun.

Dave

[simon_p]

I've also noticed that mine turns to the right alot better than it turns to the left. Anyone else like this?

[daveWCO]

Yep - Mine does the same thing.

I'm thinking of taking the pliers to the rudder linkage.

Dave

[simon_p]

I almost sunk it :D
even though i tape the canopy on it almost came off when I asked the boat to submarine under the floating jetty :)
Cool trick though :)
Started having head to head races with afew ppl, it's good fun setting differant courses, but we don't use those little bouys, we use our bigger RC sailing ones, you hit em and you know about it!!!!:eek:

Have fun
simon

[daveWCO]

Simon:

Haha! Good stuff. I have not tried the submarine under the floating jetty trick! It did not sink, though...very impressive.

So far, I've nailed a few buoys (2 gallon milk jugs), become completely entrenched with water weeds and hit a concrete dock at full speed, head-on from ~20' out (radio interference). Someone yelled out, "Stop trying to break the da*n dock!"

Speaking of "submarines," the boat needs a bit of a center of gravitity adjustment towards the stern. It catches way too many waves on the bow and becomes somewhat smothered. Hmmm. Gotta work on that.

In the meantime, I'm working on making my ZZ the most hidious boat on the water. I'll add some images when I'm done.

Dave

[simon_p]

we recived the very first ZZ in australia as a prototype about a year ago, when the canopy was this shape: http://www.gospectre.com/zigzag.htm
We promptly blew the speed controler up on this one so I have made up a new one and we are putting a bigger motor and 7 cells in it!! Should be a real rocket!!!!!!
We should soon have a racing fleet(s) up and running, it sohuld be interesting!:D

[daveWCO]

Simon:

That was a much nicer looking canopy.

Well, a bigger motor should solve the submarine issue!

Are you pulling out the stock, integrated system or are you going to try running the new/bigger motor/battery off the stock board?

Fun, fun, fun! Keep "us" posted!

daveWCO

[simon_p]

the guy who imports them that i sail with (and zz) pulled out the prototype, put 7 cells in it and a speed 480, we threw it in, DOH he got the polarity around the wrong way and it ran in reverse. Switched it around but for some reason it sapped all the power, maybe next time.

[daveWCO]

Ah. Finally a ZZ with reverse. How did it run (lol!).


Man, *nothing* is safe from mods or attempted mods. I love it! A speed 480?!

I laugh, but you have me thinking now (a frightening concept). I wonder if Horizon would sell or donate a few of their ZZ's with bad boards, or sell an empty hull? It would be kinda fun to toss one's own gear in the boat without waiting for the original components to give (or remove them). With the proper set up, the little ZZ would probably be a worthy opponent for some of the slimer boats (how embarrassing that would be).

I'm off to check on availabilty.

Dave

[simon_p]

had any luck with the new hull yet?

[daveWCO]

still checking....

[Phillybaby]

Anyone know where to get these things in the UK? from the UK perferred over import.
Theres sommit like it here, but its double the price, lower spec, less goodies and just plain c**p
I've heard the hulls are available as spares...

Thanks, Phil

[daveWCO]

Phil:

Beats me!

Maybe Simon P is still out there. Helllllllllllooooooooo!?

daveWCO