| Floating trim with 6v batt and motor-servo-esc etc. The cockpit would need some alteration to accomodate the battery. |
| 6v Lead Acid battery and micro servo test fitted. |
| I decided to go with the ski boat idea and I've started building the appropriate deck for it. |
| I did some more on the deck today. I've also made a spoiler for the driver like a lot of 70s ski boats had instead of a windscreen. |
| I've finished shaping the decks and put some mahogomy stain on them, the a coat of resin. I'll sand that back and add a coat of clear flowcoat to allow me to make her really smooth. She's starting to look more like a skiboat now. |
| I did some airbrush work today. A Magpie Yachts logo on the fore-deck and some flames (sort of) on the front sides. |
| I've started on the cockpit now. The seats and floor are just sitting in for test fitting etc. |
| She's getting there. I'll start on the cockpit now. |
| Lots more to come |
| I did some more work on the cockpit and driver today. |
| I did some more work on the cockpit and started making the rear hatch and deck. |
| I made a guard for the prop and rudder as they hang low and well below the keel. |
| I made this figure from plasticine and resin coated it. Looks better than a person driving a magpie boat! |
| She now has a ski pole. |
| I fitted the 12 volt nicad today and a 4.8v receiver battery pack. It's a bit lighter but still sits low enough to look racie. I tried her out in the dog bath like before and she's not trying to get out now- she's jumping at it! I think it'll go very well like this and I ran it dor about 15 minutes in the tub, so that'll be enough for a bit of fun at the lake before I launch the sub. |
| I finished the basic paint job today. I may do some more custom work later, but it's done for now as I have another boat to start on. I'll test it and the skier out next Sunday at the club and post the results here. Jason |
| I tested her at a pond near Cherry Lake today. It was too rough on the main lake. She pulls the skier well and I found the skier stands up and rides at the right height if you don't drive her too fast. It leans over on it's side over that speed. The boat isn't fast without the skier, due to it having the original cruiser prop. I could put a big pitch 2 blader on her, but then she'd have trouble pulling the skier and would use much more power so run for less time. She currently runs for 1/4 Hr or so. I'm taking her to the club tomorrow and hope to get better video there. The one linked below is a bit brief as I had little room for her in the pond and mucked up most of what I took. |
| 12 may Changed my mind and fitted a surplus 4 blader after altering the pitch on it. Still to try. I found the problem with the motor surging, to be a broken solder joint on the power wire to it. Purrs like a kitten now. Testing tomorrow as the Surrey P test was off due to storms. |
| Billings White Star Cruiser Reno &/or Custom Re-build (I'll decide as I go!)-(I decided-Ski-boat) |
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| This little Billings kit cruiser was given to me by a friend to show his appreciation for some help I gave him a while back. Thanks heaps Geoff!! I've started by removing everything from the hull and retro-fitting a bigger motor and battery setup to give it some oomph. (my word-get your own!) I haven't yet decided what the end result will be. It's a good job to fill in when I'm between jobs on other things. I may even convert it to a 60s style speed boat that tows a water shier. Just a thought for now. To see how it ends up, you'll need to follow the progress here. Jason |
| I wasn't happy with the finish and strength of the deck so I filled the depressions and gave her a layer of glass woven cloth and re- Flowcoated her until smooth. It'll be a painted finish now. Should look good though. I've converted an action figure to make a water skier and I'm making a device with a lead bulb at the bottom of a brass strip keel that supports a CA glue 2.5 bottle which is an adjustable weight ballast tank!! Subs rock! That's attached to a wooden plank type Aquplane ski with the (pictured right) skier on his skis on top of that with a small gap. The tow rope is divided and goes to both the skier's hands and the neck of the bottle underneath. It floats with just the head and tip of the skis out, like a real skier and comes up out of the water as you increase speed. I've only tested it in short bursts in the tub, but I'm enthusiastic as to it's success. I think it'll work. |
| Test keel for the skier. It seems to work. The glue bottle is adjustable ballast/floatation. |
| The rear deck will be painted white with some airbrush work like the bow. |
| It looks crooked but it's just not properly shut. |
