Thread: Starting boatbuilding with an 1m/40" RC boat

any model R/C shop should have all the wood you need right down to 1/64 plywood and may even have some plans for you to choose from.

Didn't realise that an RC shop would have plans to build one, i'll have to check out the local.

I found this site, looks pretty good:
http://powerpete.20megsfree.com/photo3.html
I might use his plans, for a 50" boat. Unless anyones got a better idea?

Hi chubs, Lotta plans all over the web.
Will confuse you with choices.
On the pictured boat in my post 'epoxy over stain' I cheated.
This is in fact a 48" kit frame boat.
All pieces are laser pre cut ... but still a challenge.
These, and similar, are quicker than fibre glass boats of same size due to the lighter timber construction.
Just don't get carried away with the epoxy coating or you'll end up as heavy as glass.
Few pics below, all wood (except f/glass cowlings), even wooden mock engines, all will attain a speed of at least 100kh with Zenoah marine 26cc. engines... wood is good.
PS. just brought three sheets of 8'x4' marine ply from Mr ply-and-wood for three future scratch built 56" boats for $235.00
1 x 6mm. 1 x 3mm. 1 x 1.5 mm. Buying wood in quantity from Hobby shops will give you major coronary problems.

Originally Posted by chubs

I'm intrigued by the post by 'Fletchtoo' about his RC boat, and i'm also thinking that building an RC boat may be a good way to 'skill up' before tackling a full sized boat.

Building models is fun and don't let me discourage you from doing so, but they won't do much to help you 'skill up' unfortunately. Model boats (as in boats designed to be models) aren't built like big ones and if you try to build a model of big boat plans, you'll find that the scaling down of everything changes what you can and can't do.

Mate. Just build your models for fun and to build enthusiasm for the big boat - they'll do that

Richard

Originally Posted by Daddles

Mate. Just build your models for fun and to build enthusiasm for the big boat - they'll do that

Sounds like a plan

And Fletch, those boats look sweet! Not the style i'm after however, i want more of a crackerbox style, like this:

Cracker Box boats are a fun boat ..... in R/c they are an ideal boat to start with.
Cheap to build and maintain, and a totally 'hands on' boat. No sitting back and relaxing with these.
Usually flat bottom, very little "dead rise', if any.
Must be fitted with a skeg to enable any sort of control ... that's the fun bit.
Its absolutely hilarious to see a couple of 'new chums' trying to race each other.
Sorta not too bad till they have to turn around the buoys together ... just as well their a solid boat and usually bounce off each other quite well.
Never built a full size timber boat so I cannot give comparisons to skill level required
Same as any project though I suppose, after mistakes made on the first build become apparent, the learning curve improves on subsequent boats.
I know it can take me anywhere between three and four months to build and fit out one of these 'toy boats'. Dunno if I'd live long enough to finish a full size one.
Just as well I'm retired ... couldn't find time enough to work as well

Started reading this thread and was impressed with the models. I was wondering if any builders used paulownia or western red cedar to help keep their craft light weight. It seemed to me that these timbers, especially paulownia, would provide a good ratio of strengths to weight. I have produced 'planks' of paulownia 1 mm thick (very carefully) so it is possible to frame and then 'plank' these small craft using this timber.

john

You can use any plans, just do the math to get the scale you want.

Here is a site with a bunch of boats like you are looking for.



http://www.svensons.com/boat/

I did this one about twenty years ago, 1/5th Ensenada 25.

62" length
68lbs
9' tall

Ply and carbon fiber.

Nice looking model sailboat there! Very impressive.

Hi Chubs,

I'd say go for it with the models...as has been said, they don't go together exactly like a real one (even with all the details and plank on frame) but what they do is give you a sense for how the parts relate, look, and go together.

I built wooden model ships for years, and when I 'graduated' to wood kayaks (as a stepping stone to bigger dreams ) I had to learn a whole lot of new skills. But I knew what the parts were called, what bulkheads did, how to judge things by eye, etc. So you'll learn something and have fun on the way.

Have a look at the following site:

http://www.classicwoodenboatplans.com/scaled_plans.htm

This guy offers full-sized and model plans of various classic powerboats, and whilst I've heard mixed reviews of his plans (and seen a couple of beautiful boats built from them) his model ones are good for their purpose, and he has a couple of nice inboards.

Never hurts to get the 'study plans' or actual plans of your dream boat and scale them down (or build off the scaled plans) to give yourself an appreciation/test run of the real build.

I'd recommend looking at 1:48 scale (also called 1/4 scale) or even 1:24 as you can use model car parts for engines, steering wheels, etc and a lot of parts and plans are produced in these scales.

Do a Google search for model wooden boat plans. And places like Modeller's Shipyard in the Blue Mountains have plans, wood, kits, accessories, etc.

Don't forget to post pics of your creations!

Regards,
Darren

Originally Posted by TK1

Don't forget to post pics of your creations!
Darren

Ok i've now started:

https://www.woodworkforums.com/showth...86#post1004086