Rio ep scratch build

[Killah2469]

Stuffing tube broke on Rio ep so I decided to gut the boat and start from scratch.
Here is the boat before I started.
Also I forgot to mention this is my first build.

IMG_20130330_223915.jpg

[Killah2469]

I've started by gutting the hull.

IMG_20130618_135131.jpg

Now I've laid fiberglass in the back part of the boat. I'm gonna glass the whole inside of the hull and and reinforce the transom
with a piece of aluminum.

IMG_20130621_170024.jpg

[tlandauer]

I've started by gutting the hull.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]101207[/ATTACH]

Now I've laid fiberglass in the back part of the boat. I'm gonna glass the whole inside of the hull and and reinforce the transom
with a piece of aluminum.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]101208[/ATTACH]

Looks good, what did you use to adhere the FG to the ABS hull? I thought epoxy doesn't really work with ABS, read somewhere that Randy at BBY use CA to glass down the cloth. Not trying to distract you, I admire what you are doing, and I will be the first to say that I will be glad that I am wrong on this.

[lenny]

Ah, I see you have your thinking cap on grass hopper.

You just need sand the abs good and than clean it with soap and water and dry it good,
Than apply a layer of methylene chloride acrylic cement to the ABS and fiberglass and quickly stick the two together.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_7537189_glue...#ixzz2XHP8uJBz

Looks good, what did you use to adhere the FG to the ABS hull? I thought epoxy doesn't really work with ABS, read somewhere that Randy at BBY use CA to glass down the cloth. Not trying to distract you, I admire what you are doing, and I will be the first to say that I will be glad that I am wrong on this.

[tlandauer]

Lenny,
Thanks, I am sorry to the OP for yanking this thread a bit, but I guess it's a good thing to keep in mind.
That Rio is going to be really good after the rebuild!

[lenny]

Hey,
I am sure he is cool with any input.
You have a modded Rio and help him when he was just brushed,
And I gave him a monster to learn how to drive and setup.

[Killah2469]

I got the stuff from my LHS i'll take a pic of it so you can see what I'm using.

[egneg]

Ah, I see you have your thinking cap on grass hopper.

You just need sand the abs good and than clean it with soup and water and dry it good,
Than apply a layer of methylene chloride acrylic cement to the ABS and fiberglass and quickly stick the two together.

Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how_7537189_glue...#ixzz2XHP8uJBz

Chicken noodle or tomato?

[Killah2469]

This is the epoxy I am using.

IMG_20130626_113849.jpg

[Killah2469]

Well I got to work on the Rio today and I got the whole boat glassed and I also reinforced thr transom with aluminum.
Here are some pics inside the boat.

1st layer of glass (2).jpg1st layer of glass.jpg

This is the transom plate

IMG_20130626_151721.jpgIMG_20130626_162823.jpg

[Killah2469]

I also have the rudder, trim tabs and my new stuffing tube with Teflon liner. I still need to figure out turn fins but I think Ill make them from some aluminum
I have left.

IMG_20130626_163037.jpgIMG_20130626_163116.jpg

[lenny]

Tomato with the acids.

Chicken noodle or tomato?

[tlandauer]

The 30 min. Epoxy is a good choice, the longer the cure time the stronger the bond usually. Perhaps my concern for the epoxy-ABS bond was unnecessary.
Cheers!

[Killah2469]

ya I just sanded the hull and laid the glass it bonded great.
I find that it doesn't last 30 min it only stays workable for about 15 min
so if you can find something that is longer cure time I would get that.

[J.W. Pepper]

Here's Mine

Here's how I did mine...

PB 1800Kv motor from IM-31(v1) with SK-90A speedo, modded Octura coupler - went from 5mm motor ->.150" Flex to 5mm motor ->.130" flex (didn't want to spend $5 shipping for just a coupler), running on 3S LiPo, Tactic TTX-240 Tx with TR-624 Rx for improved reception. I shortened the servo tray couple years ago, so there's plenty of room for just about any Rx on the market.

Kintec x442 aluminum prop prepped & sharpened by me - don't have pix.

Rudders cut down to 2.5" OAL (see attached comparison pic), took out that God aweful twichyness these boats are famous for & reduced drag at same time. With D/R set to full, the boat handled beautifully - on 8.4v humps, I started with them to break in the new motor & test the new setup.

After the break in, I pulled 'er in & programmed the ESC for LiPo's, installed the 3S pack and sent 'er back out, went slow at first to see how she would do. After diddle daddling around for a few minutes I decided to see what see could do.

Got 'er going up to bout 1/2 throttle, then pegged it... that boat took off like a rocket ship on meth, Jezus I didn't a Rio could go that fast - I just wish somebody would have been there with a camcorder to film it, A to B like a lighting bolt. If that was any kind of preview of what IM-31's can do normally, then I can't wait to mine finished up & in the water.

I had my hands full of steering wheel & throttle just trying to keep her upright Unfortunately I got too brave & she flipped after bout 5-mins & drifted out to the middle of the lake. Once again the R/C boat gods were looking after me because some people rescued her for me.

Once I got 'er back, I replaced the Kintec prop with a Venom x436/3 per Lenny's suggestion. Definitely solved the torque roll issue, but also killed top end speed. It's like.. the boat would get going, then blaaa.. ever see how a gas powered engine acts when the governor kicks in?? That's precisely how my Rio was acting.

Couple days later I removed the PB motor & SK speedo and went back to last years motor/ESC setup with upgraded motor cooling - hopefully that will keep it running cool, it's been an issue ever since I went to BL.

Enjoy the pix.