Just a hello!

[ClydeBuilt]

Finally managed to get sorted out with a new log in name after my son had logged in from our home, drama because we share the same name...LOL
So I hope to get involved and perhaps help out where I can?
In the main im a tugboat kinda guy....

[patmat2350]

Welcome!

[WAXER128]

Ahoy!

[smart_racer]

Yes..Welcome Aboard!

[ropanach]

wellcome ClydeBuilt:
So what are you building at this time? remember we like pictures.

[ClydeBuilt]

I tend to be quite an erratic builder, beavering away on a project till I get bored, at which point I move onto either something new or return to an earlier boat. Every now and then something falls off the end of the production line and I get a new toy to play with!

Things were bad enough till I spotted that SDM that Umi's built, so start has been made on a 32nd scale version of that. I have plans on a ship handling tug called 'Dunter' based in the far north of Scotland, but have only got as far as drawing up the hull frames.

My last build will be familiar to those members who visit the Model Boat Mayhem website, My Afon Clwyd is based on a commercially available hull, she was built for entering into tug towing competitions.

I may get around to sorting out all the pics so far and do a walk through of the build for that if anyones interested?

[pkboo]

Clyde welcome and yes you`re in the right place! BTW you´re unto a good start by following Ropanach´s indication. Eugène.

[arrow5]

..and I hope you`ve got time for a Clyde-built Springer :o

[ClydeBuilt]

I think we've met Arrow....didnt you have your springers down at the tug towing meeting at Greenock earlier in the summer?

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

That's a good looking VS drive tug.
And it's all about unique drive systems... ;)

Welcome to RCgroups,
I apologise for inspiring an additional boat for your fleet. :rolleyes:

:cool:

[arrow5]

I think we've met Arrow....didnt you have your springers down at the tug towing meeting at Greenock earlier in the summer?
Yes I was, enjoyed it very much. I was there with the sole intention of infecting the west of Scotland with Springeritus. We may also have met at the Glasgow River Festival a couple of years ago (RO5, the big one.) Welcome to RCGroups. If you are up in Aviemore anytime bring a tug or two, we have acres of fresh water to play on.

[tim slocum]

Welcome Clydebuilt, very nice looking tug. Twin fire monitors and a crane....me likey. I really like the shape of the hull too, very unique with the blunt bow and interesting stern.Ok I see now, I was looking at the picture, not the plan. The bow is not blunt,but looks that way on the picture because of the bow bumper.I like that. My tug building experience is limited to a Vac u tug so far,but I hope to expand my tug fleet. We do like pictures here, that is for sure.

[ropanach]

ClyideBuilt:
those are some nice looking tugs you've got there, nice and clean, great job.


P.S. Umi say's sorry :) But I know she ain't :D

[ClydeBuilt]

'Dunter' is very beamy so plenty of room to make working goodies.
The VS units are binned as an idea as they are not as powerful as schottel drives, although they are about the same size so will fit nicely.
My aim is to convert her to a 'RotorTug' design, more power, more manouverablity, easy to control.

Got my plug for the 32nd scale SDM done this afternoon, covered in tape and we got it glassed this evening down at the boat club. with the open design of this boat, if I need to beef the hull up a little, I can do that from the inside with heavier matting, I can have her finished before I actually have to buy the two schottels....the larger ones! :) Dont need a fancy Tx either,simple twin stick operation.

BTW...have you guys seen any of the footage of the UK guys tug towing?
I dont really see much of that stateside, apart from one or two guys like TowBoat Joe with barges etc.

[tim slocum]

Not much.

[ClydeBuilt]

Oh we can do that....

But I meant towing as a competition, two or three man teams witha large tow around a simulated dock?

Of all the big events that we see in the magazines over here, there are two that I really want to see, these are a 'Foss Cup' event and the big show in Dortmund in Germany.

I visited NYC a couple of years back, but was disapointed in what was available, I kinda had the idea that I could get 'anything' in the USA, especially NYC! Wrong....I had to travel out to Glenhead to visit a 'real' hobbyshop, now that was well worth it, everything I wanted, it was sort of like a belated Christmas holiday with Charles the owner, we even went off to lunch and struggled to get our purchases on the train back to the city.

I look forward to a return trip to the states at some point, but perhaps staying somewhere outside Manhattan next time, Hey!....how about Elizabeth NJ, im a big Sopranos fan....Satriales....The Bing.....waddyagonnado!!

[arrow5]

Clydebuilt: you ask if anyone had seen footage of European towing comps. Whats available and where , Youtube, Putfile ??????

[ClydeBuilt]

There is footage of the Greenock thing on YouTube, but I have some on DVD that was taken at last years championships at Ellesmere Port if anyones interested?

[Umi_Ryuzuki]

Absolutely!
I would love to see how you guys are making use of the dock set up and nav course.
Some insight on how the tow is set up, and judged would be good info also.

:cool:

[ClydeBuilt]

Im happy to send a copy of the accepted rules that we use, there are varying opinions on the best way to set up the tow too though.
Some use a single fixed line fore and aft, switching to a longer line as the course dictates before starting. Others use a remotely controlled winch to vary tow line length 'on the hoof'....this is the most popular. The tow line can connect to the the tow by either a single line, or by a 'bridle'...a 'Y' at the end of the line, with each leg going onto either side of the tow. This helps a lot with wider tows like tankers etc.
A further refinement is to also have a working 'gog' winch, this allows much more manouverability to the tug, but can be worked back to the stern quickly in an emergency.....its no big deal...you use a RC yacht sail winch of course!

Someone send me a mailling address and I'll post a copy of the dvd, no copywright issues, I shot it and edited it on the pc :p

Once over there it would be easier to pass around and save on mailing costs for me.

The working winch tends to be the internals of a defunct cordless screwdriver, cobbled together to fit your boat, a much more powerful bow thruster is made with a short angled prop shaft in a large tube across the bows of the boat.....these things are fiddly to make, but essential if your serious about tug towing....youll see in the dvd. :D

[Boatfox]

I personally would love to see some pics or a (youtube) posted vid of the bowthruster. Mainly construction details :D

[ClydeBuilt]

This is my own bow thruster, as you can see it has very short prop tube/shaft & coupling, it also has a stub of brass tube to feed grease when required, this keeps any water from coming back up a tube thats below the waterline.
The motor was mounted on a hardwood skeg that was cyano'ed onto the thruster tube at the correct angle for smooth running...a solid coupling helped keep noise down too. Everything is tacked in place with cyano, then a little bicarb is piled on, after which you drip on some cyano...sets like concreteand holds things till you give it all the once over.The gooh is epoxy paste put on after everythings checked out as running ok.
Hooked up to an ESc and you have more sideways thrust than some have in their boats at the back! ....Oh the prop!
Thats just a prop cut back to fit inside the tube at an angle, this aint rocket science, its cheap & dirty but works a treat!

[Boatfox]

Ahhh...I see. Would you mind 1 more pic looking at the prop from the tube side?
Very nice and simple design....I can see lots of power there also.

[ClydeBuilt]

I'll get that sorted out, but wont be till sunday maybe, Im off to a big model boat show in the morning, theres not a lot to see other than a grill over the hole to stop leaves etc.
Aim to get you prop blades nice and central in the hole and make the grill removable so you can get inside to remove any debris that manages to get inside.....feathers are the real menace, not leaves!
The design isnt mine, this was developed by the guys frm the north of england who were doing the tug towing long before me, they are very helpful and willing to share info and lessons learned.

So to recap:
Bow thruster: Short shafted prop assembly in a tube.
Working winch: Cordless screwdriver innards with drum on a shaft.
Gog rope: fixed or as the end of a yacht sail winch.

Main drive motors tend to be blower motors from inside a car!
Swiveling kort nozzles are a must, linked or independant control is personal choice.

[ClydeBuilt]

Managed to get the keel, both decks and some frames cut out this afternoon for 'Dunter'.....(have to think of a name soon).
Some manipulation of the frames will be neccessary to get both decks to the right angle, but it doesnt look like a big deal.
Some of the central frames look to be copies a certain two frames, thats good, it means that theres a chance to 'sheet' large flat sections and only plank where it needs it.
The keel board is 35mm broad in 6mm ply, no problems for the forward drives, but some work required to get the aft drive in, im considering placing two struts either side of the keel and removing the keel itself in that area, so that when its glassed I have flat'ish area to mount the aft schottel. The lost strength will be replaced by the hull being fibreglassed and securely connected to the deck.
Must admit....you get a feel for how its going to look.....Nice! :cool:

Also that YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMsVRZCMd-E&mode=related&search=RC%20Tug%20Tugboat%20Model%20Scale%20Electr ic%20Boat%20Ship