Converting Plywood to an RC SDM tug

Umi_Ryuzuki · Aug 03, 2006, 03:19 AM

I will probably regret that thread title when I want to find this thread later.

Everyone has their preferences I guess my building preferances seem to lead to a lack of plans, Lack of images, and serious lack of available kits.
There just aren't any.

At least not for what I always seem to get it in my head that I need to build.

With all those factors available, I start drawing, No not with a computer, that would be too easy... I pick up tracing paper an H lead, lead sharpener, straight edge, french curves and my favorite 0.25 technical pen.
All this leads to scanning, enlargement and tiled printing,... trimming and taping, and finally to,... Hmmm, Maybe I should build a smaller mock up first.

Perhaps this thread should be converting plywood and foam to RC. Day One.

Boatfox · Aug 03, 2006, 09:36 AM

I guess this thing....but I don't think I see enough Depth...Hmmmm

Kmot · Aug 03, 2006, 11:33 AM

Quote:

I start drawing, No not with a computer, that would be too easy...

Says you!

I couldn't draw with a computer if I had one! Oh wait, I do! But I do not know how to draw on a computer. I wish I did. I do it the old fashioned way too. Paper and pencil and circular items for my "french curve".

keith S · Aug 03, 2006, 12:04 PM

Theese boats are not all that deep for their width on the hull. The twin skegs ( one for & aft) are what accounts for most of the draft. Saw the test model for the "frisbee" tugs as it was called then.

Umi_Ryuzuki · Aug 03, 2006, 12:41 PM

Boatfox, you are way too quick, I was hoping to get them fiberglassed before anyone figured out what it was.

The SDM only have a 16 foot draught. And most of that is the skegs and the Zdrives. I was surprised that the design of the hull is so simple.
The SDM-II had the pilot house and winch moved forward. This improved the steerage while pulling a tow.

Since the project has been identified, here is a look at the plans I drew up (I still cheated...) and the larger hull that was also done yesterday.

MILLERTIME · Aug 03, 2006, 05:18 PM

OH, the big boat had a babby boat.

HA HA

Umi_Ryuzuki · Aug 03, 2006, 11:17 PM

First coat of resin and fiberglass done this morning, and ready for a second run.

Boatfox · Aug 04, 2006, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Umi_Ryuzuki

Boatfox, you are way too quick, I was hoping to get them fiberglassed before anyone figured out what it was.

Hope I didn't spoil the surprise.....It should come as a compliment that I was able to determine the vessel by your skilled foam carving.

Umi_Ryuzuki · Aug 05, 2006, 12:09 AM

Boatfox, Someone would have guessed. You were just sooner than later.

I managed two layers of glass and a third coat of resin yesterday.

Today I sanded the hulls and stood up the 1/96 deckhouse.

Umi_Ryuzuki · Aug 06, 2006, 02:16 AM

I spent some time hunting steering gears today, the largest 32 pitch gear the local hobby shop has is 76 teeth. A bigger one will cost mucho dinero. So that is on the back burner and won't be installed till later.

A lot of sanding done today, the hulls are hopefully on their finish coat of resin.

Worked on the superstuctures a little.

Treetop · Aug 06, 2006, 05:39 AM

Quote:

The large peices are stapled together so thay they match. I always regret that later.

An alternative would be double stick heavy duty carpet tape. What they use to stick carpet down, (I guess).

LtDoc · Aug 06, 2006, 11:16 AM

Umi,
For gears try here;

www.hpcgears.com

Not saying it's the cheapest place by any means (shipping mostly), but if they don't have it, or can't make it, it can't be done. Then again, 'dumpster-diving' is almost always a practical option... Hows that for extremes?
- 'Doc

Umi_Ryuzuki · Aug 06, 2006, 01:11 PM

LTdoc,

I had a quick look, HPC is twice the price of SPD/SI and there, the gear I want is $48 bucks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treetop

An alternative would be double stick heavy duty carpet tape. What they use to stick carpet down, (I guess).

Staples aren't the problem, When I double cut finish and sub deck like that, After I get through fiberglassing, the finish deck is too small by almost a 1/16" all the way around.

The thing is, I have done that on at least three builds now...

Umi_Ryuzuki · Aug 07, 2006, 01:23 PM

Okay, day 4.
It feels a little bogged down, I had to do one more glass coat to the small SDM hull.
But that one won't be running right away.

The large SDM hull got its final sanding yesterday, and I chipped and melted most of the foam out of the center. I then rough sanded the interior, and epoxied a piece of plywood into the bottom. This will support the motor and drive mounts and the rest of the equipment. While everything was curing I worked on the skegs and superstructure.

Who has a big single spool 1/48 winch for this thing?

ropanach · Aug 07, 2006, 06:13 PM

she is looking good Umi, have you realy got the time for this with all your other projects? Or is this a short brake? So you can do something for your self?

Aug 03, 2006, 03:19 AM	#1
Umi_Ryuzuki Sea Dragon-Lover Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 5,884	Converting Plywood to an RC SDM tug I will probably regret that thread title when I want to find this thread later. Everyone has their preferences I guess my building preferances seem to lead to a lack of plans, Lack of images, and serious lack of available kits. There just aren't any. At least not for what I always seem to get it in my head that I need to build. With all those factors available, I start drawing, No not with a computer, that would be too easy... I pick up tracing paper an H lead, lead sharpener, straight edge, french curves and my favorite 0.25 technical pen. All this leads to scanning, enlargement and tiled printing,... trimming and taping, and finally to,... Hmmm, Maybe I should build a smaller mock up first. Perhaps this thread should be converting plywood and foam to RC. Day One. Attached Thumbnails Basic plan shape. The large peices are stapled together so thay they match. I always regret that later. 43.7 KB · Views: 315 Matched pieces separated. Flip them over against each other and discrpancies can be sanded out. . .OK, if I fiberglass the hull, the second Matched finish deck is going to come out small. 40.7 KB · Views: 182 Center cut out of sub Deck. You now see finish deck sub deck and bottom plate. 45.7 KB · Views: 195 Bottom plate and sub deck are coated with epoxy and stapled in place over guidelines marked on to pink foam. Then allowed to cure. Batteries are good for more than ballast. 50.6 KB · Views: 220 Epoxy is cured, now to carve the foam. I am working to a plan here. I just haven't shown it yet. :P 45.6 KB · Views: 185 Okay, good thing this is a small scale "mock up". The bottom plate could have been sized better. But it was a guess and some new data came in. New tumble home line marked. 41.1 KB · Views: 244 After some more sanding, the final shape came out pretty well. If you look off to the left you can see, well no you can't, That comes later. . . =^o^= 41.2 KB · Views: 267 Last edited by Umi_Ryuzuki; Apr 07, 2007 at 01:04 PM.

Aug 03, 2006, 09:36 AM	#2
Boatfox Give the dog a bone Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: former Bay Area, California Now the Vegas desert Posts: 673	I guess this thing....but I don't think I see enough Depth...Hmmmm Attached Thumbnails 38.7 KB · Views: 453

Aug 03, 2006, 12:41 PM	#5
Umi_Ryuzuki Sea Dragon-Lover Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 5,884	Boatfox, you are way too quick, I was hoping to get them fiberglassed before anyone figured out what it was. The SDM only have a 16 foot draught. And most of that is the skegs and the Zdrives. I was surprised that the design of the hull is so simple. The SDM-II had the pilot house and winch moved forward. This improved the steerage while pulling a tow. Since the project has been identified, here is a look at the plans I drew up (I still cheated...) and the larger hull that was also done yesterday. Attached Thumbnails A little draught adjustment for the hull depth for equipment. 25.8 KB · Views: 713 Same process as the small mock up. With a few steps learned. 39.9 KB · Views: 599 47.0 KB · Views: 298 57.3 KB · Views: 307 58.0 KB · Views: 332

Aug 03, 2006, 11:17 PM	#7
Umi_Ryuzuki Sea Dragon-Lover Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 5,884	First coat of resin and fiberglass done this morning, and ready for a second run. Attached Thumbnails First layer of fiberglass for the mom and baby boat. 75.6 KB · Views: 415 Fire boat Sailing Nike Campus in the afternoon. 64.1 KB · Views: 451 Last edited by Umi_Ryuzuki; Aug 03, 2006 at 11:34 PM.

Aug 05, 2006, 12:09 AM	#9
Umi_Ryuzuki Sea Dragon-Lover Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 5,884	Boatfox, Someone would have guessed. You were just sooner than later. I managed two layers of glass and a third coat of resin yesterday. Today I sanded the hulls and stood up the 1/96 deckhouse. Attached Thumbnails Home made cake pans... 89.0 KB · Views: 328 47.3 KB · Views: 365

Aug 03, 2006, 12:04 PM	#4
keith S r/c ships and workboats Join Date: May 2006 Location: bellingham, wa Posts: 1,847	Theese boats are not all that deep for their width on the hull. The twin skegs ( one for & aft) are what accounts for most of the draft. Saw the test model for the "frisbee" tugs as it was called then.

Aug 03, 2006, 05:18 PM	#6
MILLERTIME DON'S BOAT WORKS Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sunny, CA. Posts: 2,010	OH, the big boat had a babby boat. HA HA

Aug 06, 2006, 02:16 AM	#10
Umi_Ryuzuki Sea Dragon-Lover Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 5,884	I spent some time hunting steering gears today, the largest 32 pitch gear the local hobby shop has is 76 teeth. A bigger one will cost mucho dinero. So that is on the back burner and won't be installed till later. A lot of sanding done today, the hulls are hopefully on their finish coat of resin. Worked on the superstuctures a little. Attached Thumbnails Plywood floor and upper deck plates spaced for height and wrapped in plywood and balsa. The 1/96 pilot house is plywood and styrene. 50.7 KB · Views: 293 Last edited by Umi_Ryuzuki; Aug 06, 2006 at 04:41 AM.

Aug 06, 2006, 11:16 AM	#12
LtDoc Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: McAlester Posts: 1,370	Umi, For gears try here; www.hpcgears.com Not saying it's the cheapest place by any means (shipping mostly), but if they don't have it, or can't make it, it can't be done. Then again, 'dumpster-diving' is almost always a practical option... Hows that for extremes? - 'Doc

Aug 07, 2006, 01:23 PM	#14
Umi_Ryuzuki Sea Dragon-Lover Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: PDX, OR Posts: 5,884	Okay, day 4. It feels a little bogged down, I had to do one more glass coat to the small SDM hull. But that one won't be running right away. The large SDM hull got its final sanding yesterday, and I chipped and melted most of the foam out of the center. I then rough sanded the interior, and epoxied a piece of plywood into the bottom. This will support the motor and drive mounts and the rest of the equipment. While everything was curing I worked on the skegs and superstructure. Who has a big single spool 1/48 winch for this thing? Attached Thumbnails Why I prefer frame construction, what a mess. :D 97.4 KB · Views: 418 Anchoring the plywood mounting plate in the bottom with epoxy. 64.1 KB · Views: 367 Finished interior. 49.8 KB · Views: 329 Yesterdays work. 49.4 KB · Views: 300 Last edited by Umi_Ryuzuki; Mar 22, 2007 at 01:57 AM.

Aug 07, 2006, 06:13 PM	#15
ropanach Dragon Slayer Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Shelton,WA Posts: 1,243	she is looking good Umi, have you realy got the time for this with all your other projects? Or is this a short brake? So you can do something for your self?

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