Hydroplanes

[lgbfan]

Who here has had experience with Hydroplanes? How hard are they to build with the kits? How hard are they to drive? If you have driven a couple of rc boats are you ready to drive a hydroplane or are they for really advanced rcers? Thanks

[420TEE]

Does anyone know what he's talking about? What hydroplane? Inboard, outboard? Model, real? I didn't build them but drove real ones in the 1950's. Hard but fun to drive. :cool:

[AndyKunz]

Personally, I find hydros (both scale/sport and riggers) to be much easier to set up for good speed compared to V-hulls. The only thing you need to remember is that they go faster - usually LOTS faster - than comparably-powered mono hulls. If you're slow on the fingers, yet, they're harder to drive. And at low speeds, they don't offer much in the way of docking ability. But on plane, they're GREAT!

As soon as 5 of my 7 kids were able to grasp the concept of "look ahead of the boat and drive there" they were running riggers.

Andy

[lgbfan]

Alright thanks for the advice Andy.

[Littlescreamers]

Does anyone know what he's talking about? What hydroplane? Inboard, outboard? Model, real? I didn't build them but drove real ones in the 1950's. Hard but fun to drive. :cool:


Ah the good o'l days :D

Pay-N-Pack
U-2
O'boy-O-Berta
Those were the days I used to watch those boats race around Lake Washington when I was a kid, You could here those 16 cycl for miles away,

Thunder boats are the coolest boats.

Scott

[fleetmaster]

I've just completed my first sport hydroplane build from plans over on rumrunner.
Heaps of fun,quite time consuming,though i've made my own hardware which takes a while.
I've done a couple of shakedown runs and WOW! Well worth the effort,the speed is awesome!! Looking forward to tuning it for more speed!

[AndyKunz]

Ah the good o'l days :D

Pay-N-Pack
U-2
O'boy-O-Berta
Those were the days I used to watch those boats race around Lake Washington when I was a kid, You could here those 16 cycl for miles away,

Thunder boats are the coolest boats.

Scott

They only had 12 cylinders.

But there were a few (you can count them on Dave Villwock's right hand and have fingers left over) automotive powered boats with dual V-8's.

Andy

[Jason81]

I would say to go with a RTR kit there affordable easy to drive and fast enough if its your first one. I got the miss vegas and recently bought a hawk 7.5 kit

[Shaun Hendricks]

They only had 12 cylinders.

But there were a few (you can count them on Dave Villwock's right hand and have fingers left over) automotive powered boats with dual V-8's.

Andy

Rolls-Royce Merlins were fairly common engines in some of the old hydro's. I watched the last race of the Miss Madison (Madisonville, IN) pistons churning water, against every other hydro- turbine powered. She didn't stand a chance but I tell you, the roar as she went by versus the whines was incredible...

I haven't watched a hydro race since. It was like the fire just died.

It seems like everything has gone whiney in the world today. Just remember, there was a time when we roared... :D

[AndyKunz]

Madison, IN is one of the prettiest places they race. The U-3 (Coopers) is the only piston boat still going, and I doubt they'll ever change. I certainly hope not. At the same time, a heat of turbine boats is great to watch. Guess you just have to love hydros!

Some sites to enjoy:

http://www.abrahydroplanes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=89

http://www.u3racing.com/

Andy

[Jim10]

I would say to go with a RTR kit there affordable easy to drive and fast enough if its your first one. I got the miss vegas and recently bought a hawk 7.5 kit
I too am building the Dumas 7.5 hawk. Some challange. Cannot locate a source to buy a Miss Vegas. Where did you get yours. I am seeing late Sept from all sites I have been.

[AndyKunz]

Ask if they still have one on the shelf. I think I saw one there last week.

610-253-8850

Andy