sp400 sized plans/sites/what prop? etc etc

[MrBungle]

Hi guys.

Just wondering if you could all post some sites for speed400 sized boats. Sites with plans would be nice too.
I would like to construct with balsa or thin ply if possible, trying to stay clear of glass. Buying a hull doesn't interest me, I love to build stuff.
Im chasing something that LOOKS like a boat, nothing competetive, just something to hack with and have some fun, but something with a bit of zing. The outriggers(is that what they're called?) just look like a couple of planks of wood stuck together to me ... sorry.

I have looked at the sites listed below, but am looking for more:

http://www.microhydros.com/ -- great site
http://www.drcwebservices.com/lasaw/default3.htm -- not really what im looking for.
http://www.rc-hydros.com/
http://www.rumrunnerracing.com/

Any pointers to other sites would be great, I'm interested in individual's sites, please no commercial sites unless they are geared toward the sp400 sized stuff.

Also, what diameter/pitch props suit the graupner sp400's for a current draw around 8-10 Amps? I realise this is probably affected by hull style, drag and weight etc, but there must be some starting points/guidelines. Code numbers(like x432) mean nothing to me yet, but measurements in mm or inches work in my head equally well.

I used to have a boat years ago, made by Academy IIRC, that had a 540/550 sized motor and ran on 6 cell buggy packs(which I had plenty of 'coz I was racing onroad/offroad cars in those days), it was great fun and I'm interested in trying again.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[rc.hackmaster]

hey if you like to build boats check out this site
http//jeffkesdesigns.com/newtonmarine/
this is a site with every hydroplane, well almost everyone in the book. the plans are for 1/8 scale but you can size them down for any size. excellent plans. i just finished a 1/10 scale miss burien. all 1/32 ply. check it out

[Seattle Jim]

Finally! Someone is using this forum! I've been waiting for someone to post something - anything. I love e-planes, but I have as many e-boats as planes. Mostly ABS arfs, which I modify with bigger motors, props, batteries, etc. And I use mostly SP 600 size motors. Sp 400 stuff might be too small to run on an average lake - but probably great for small ponds. If you want to try a swamp buggy, check out the Dumas line -- their small .049 version should adapt nicely to SP 400 stuff. I have their "Windy" airboat, and it is a BLAST! Faster than the IC version for sure! With a Mag. Mayhem, 3.5 to 1 MAS gearbox and 10x8 prop on 10 -12 cells. This thing runs out of control! Yaahhooo! I like outboards too. Can't wait for summer to run my Great Pains "Top Speed" tunnel hull with a Kyosho outboard fitted with a SP 700 motor on twelve cells. It's at full speed at 2/3 throttle. My old "Bud Light" outboard is a kick too. "Eat My Wake" and have fun .......... Jim

[MrBungle]

rc.hackmaster, thanks for the link.

Seattle Jim, It kinda looks like I'm the first one to start a topic here, but there have been a couple of threads to date.
To see them you have to click on the drop down box that says 'last 30 days' and select 'the beginning'



Keep those links coming guys

[rc.hackmaster]

check this site out! this is the club i'll be racing with.
classic thunder.org mostly old school hydros! mine is the miss burien in the projects sec. and the dummy engine.

[Andrew Gilchrist]

MB

the micro-hydros.com site is the best I am aware of as a vendor and boater

The guys there are some of the best in the business - Trent Hare Doug Forrester Miha Holc Joerg M. etc Walter Geens

They get on and provide a wealth of constructive information from both sides of the pond.on boat setups within different rule sets eg Europe has spec batteries - USA has a limit on cell pack mass.

For this class of boat - the best hull lenghts seem to be 15-18".

Motors - because of the high torque and constant current demand of boats the 480's have a significant advantage over the 400's - However the 400's can put up some very good performances.

[MrBungle]

Hi Andrew, thanks for the reply.

15-18" is about the size I was hoping a 400 boat would be, anything bigger just doesn't interest me, thanks for the guide on approx size.

Got any idea's the diameter prop I would need for a 15" hydro, approx 400grams running with a 6V sp 400 on 7x600ae's? Or is it near impossible to guesstimate? I'm not looking for competition quality here, just something to have some fun with.

The reasoning behind my decision on a 400 sized boat, was that all my aircraft are 400 sized, and I can try out a boat with some of the gear I have laying around the workshop and the batpacks I already have for the aircraft.

[Seattle Jim]

Hi Harry -- I don't think I mentioned SP 600's, but rather SP 700's. They are the best way to go for the money, unless you can afford AstroFlights. I have several SP 700 motors - just need to try them all out separately. My next trial will be with the 12-volt type, but I'm sure the 9.6-volt will give the best performance. Just have to wait for summer to find out. The SP 700's let you run a much bigger prop without heating anything up! The batteries hardly get warm. Love it! Later ....... Jim in Seattle

[JimClark]

Check out this link below for a free set of plans that look easy to build and should be a lot of fun to run.
http://www.rumrunnerracing.com/plans/hydromite.htm

Jim Clark

[Larry Benson]

hi Mr Bungle.you sound a lot like me, I have a lot of sp400 parts from my airplanes and wanted to get into boats using it. go to www.microhydros.com and check out "racer pages with photos" I have a scratch built boat there (my first) built from plans downloaded from the "hull plans" section. plans are Walter Geens Microcat an easy to build cat that accepts the r/c plane equipment easily. It's tough and unsinkable. the prop I use is the 0ctura X431 (plastic) and the 0ctura X427 (metal) I don't know about the X but the rest is a 400 series prop and 27 (31) mm diameter.0ne of your countrymen is one of the best at this stuff. contact Andrew at www.fastelectrics.com not only is he a wealth of knowledge he has some good info on his site, like a complete list and explaination of the 0ctura props. hope this helps...good luck..... Larry

[MrBungle]

Thanks Jim, thats exactly what I was looking for, dunno how I missed that last time I was there, my eyes must be painted on! hehe

Larry,
Thanks for the info, I'm going to try and find those props at my LHS's, one of which stocks a fair amount of boat gear, but the proprieter had no idea what would suit smaller electrics (he's a gasser). If I dont have any luck with them I'll probably get them from Andrew. Thanks again.

[Andrew Gilchrist]

Mr Bungle

RMS has Octura props - you need x427 x430 and P431

I think they also have Octura cables and other parts

However hardware for micros is an art at present people build to about 50% of weight of the smallest 05 based hardware

There are some very exciting prospects abotu at the moment

BTW if you go brushless 400 try the Mega 16/15/3 - these are a hot item and fast and inexpensive - a 25-30A controlelr shoudl see you right

Also there are they new 1700AUP cells - hottest thing since sliced bread - same weight as 800ar and 1500 mah at 15A discharge - very good cells for micros

and setup hassles email me at andrew@fastelectrics.com

also you may be interested in the site www.fastelectrics.com

[Gonflyin01]

go to my thread about wal mart boats. There isnt alot ob "building" but alot of modofying. I love building, but modifying is fun to. Het one of those really little 9" boats, fit it for a speed 400

[MrBungle]

OOPS! I had forgotten about this thread.

Andrew:
RMS is the store I was reffering to in my last post (...."one of which stocks a fair amount of boat gear".....), they are only a few mins drive from me.
I went to buy a prop but he wasn't open on a saturday!! I haven't been back since but I plan to go back soon.

One of my Uncles is hosting this years family Christmas get-together, he lives on a canal system! Nice wide(about 20-30 metres across, but looong) open water that doesnt get affected by wind much, I've never really seen any chop beause its boxed in and protected from the wind by houses.

So my plan is to get a boat ready for this christmas, I now have some old 7cell KR-600AE packs to use, and I have a couple of s400 6v motors with bent shafts. I'm going to try straightening these, I've heard it can be done.

Now for the hull, I'm planing to use an Aeroflyte hydro kit, I'm not sure if your familiar with these, there are two or three hydro's and one mono in the range, they are balsa kits and are around $25 each. (thats approx $13.50 for you U.S. readers). I bought one of these when I was a kid many many years ago and loved it, even though I just pushed it around through the water. Its long gone now tho.
The hydro's are 395mm(15.5") long by 215mm(8.5") wide and the mono is 360mm(14") x 160mm(6.3"), they are simple to build.
I plan to replace some of the front balsa skin with some thin liteply and replace all the formers with thicker balsa sandwiched with liteply, to strengthen things up a bit, then cover with solarfilm/monocote etc.

What do you think?
is 395x215mm too big for a s400? would a s480 be better?


Gonflyin01:
Sorry mate, there aren't many WalMarts in Australia, infact there are none. Interesting idea though.

Thanks,
Simon

OH, brushless is a future option, but not right now, I need to find a job first!
I've been considering a Mega 16/15/4 for my planes, dunno if I can afford another for a boat when they're not my primary interest.

[Trent Hare]

New Plans added from Gregor Vida - Roundnose Hydro
http://www.microhydros.com/hull_plans.htm