Delta Force 29 newbie build

[danallen]

Greetings everyone! I thought I would post up my first steps into non-rtr boating. I realize that this is pretty simple stuff for most of you guys, but it was fairly intimidating for me.

Some history:
A couple weeks ago I crashed my Aquacraft Revolt 30 pretty hard into some rocks and severely damaged the hull.
Thread about it here: http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...-advice-please

Anyway, I decided to buy the DF 29 hull, and a few other associated items from our host. (Extremely pleased with OSE's service by the way!)
The idea was a budget build using the hardware and electronics from the Revolt in the new hull.

Equipment specs:
Delta Force 29 hull
Aquacraft Revolt hardware (grimracer?)
Aquacraft 60amp esc
Aquacraft 3656 1800kv 6-pole motor
4s 5100mah lipo
Octura x445 prop
Savox 1258tg servo (I know it's overkill but I had it laying around)
Airtronics 92524 reciever and MT4S transmitter

On to the pictures! ...

First a couple shots comparing the size difference between the two hull. (The DF29 is .5" shorter and about 1" wider than the Revolt.

[danallen]

Having never built a boat before, I wasn't sure where to start. I decided to begin with simply marking a centerline on the transom as a reference point for the hardware.



And drilled my first hole in my virgin hull.



After a couple of hours of carefully measuring everything... and a few wild guesses thrown in for luck, the stern was starting to look near completion.

[danallen]

Well, I had no idea where to mount the electronics so off to google for some info (because the internet is always right. ...right?) I read that most mono hulls seem to like the cg around 28%-30% so thats what I shot for. Pretty much I just set everything in place and slightly adjusted everything around until I was happy with the weight balance. With my 4S battery all the way back the cg is about 25%, but I ordered 350mm battery tray with the hull, so there is plenty of room to move it forward to adjust the cg.

[danallen]

At last I was nearing completion. I finished a few things, slapped some stickers on the hull and took a few completion pictures.

[Luck as a Constant]

looks mint

[danallen]

Unfortunately, I have only been able to run the boat twice since building it. Very busy with work, but such is the life of a military man.
It is fast! quite a bit faster than my friends stock revolt. It accelerates great and turns great, but at high speed I cannot hold full throttle in a straight line for more than a second or two or it wheelies out of the water. I have since adjusted the prop down a few degrees, hopefully that will settle it down some (yet to be tested).

Also, I've made a couple of upgrades/changes since building the boat that I thought I'd share.
I sold the AQ 60a ESC and ordered a seaking 180a v3 from our host to replace it. Also, the Savox servo got removed to serve in my Tekno SCT, and a Hitec HS-5646WP was installed in its place. Lastly I replaced the 92524 receiver with an RX-461 that has telemetry so I can keep better track of motor temps while running. Unfortunately, the Seaking 180's bec only goes to 6.0v and I'd like to run at 7.2v so I may add an external bec in the future. I'm also toying with the idea of buying a receiver box, as opposed to shoe glueing by receiver, cap and maybe ext-bec to the hull like I have now, any recommendations?

One last question; What timing does the AQ 3656 1800kv 6-pole motor like?

Stay tuned for the next update when I get the new ESC installed and get some testing done.
Bye for now!
-Dan

P.S. a pic of the new servo and receiver (the small nylon tie on the motor is holding the telemetry temp sensor) minus ESC:

[785boats]

Nice clean build there Dan.
But one thing worries me. Having the motor mount just glued to the hull on its own can usually result in it tearing away in a good tumble. The battery tray too.
I usually epoxy a piece of 1/4" carbon fiber tube from the transom, against the motor mount, & up to the front of the battery tray. This bonds everything to the hull a lot more strongly. And it also makes the hull & motor mount much more rigid. Sand the areas that epoxy will contact, & wipe it down with Acetone to get rid of the waxy film in the hull. Nothing sticks to that very well. Works in cats & hydros too.
Here's a couple of pics to give you an idea.

[danallen]

Thanks for the tip, Ill look into some CF tubes. Is there a certain brand or strength I should look for? Or just any 1/4 cf tube.

Also, Do you epoxy the whole thing or just every couple inches?

[785boats]

No special brand. A good thick wall or even a rod. I generally salvage my sons broken arrow shafts & use them. If you have a local hobby shop, they usually sell carbon tubes. Especially if they sell kite making stuff. I've even used tubes from Hobbyking. Plenty strong enough.
I Epoxy all the way, with plenty on the engine mounts & battery tray.
Be sure to sand the rods with some 240 grit, or so, paper too.

[danallen]

I bought some 1/4" CF tube at the hobby store and installed it today. The motor mount is much more sturdy now.

[785boats]

There ya go.

[danallen]

Today I got my new ESC installed. I also replaced the esc/motor 4mm bullets with 6.5mm bullets. I honestly never felt any heat after a run with the 4mm ones, but I don't want a problem in the future. Especially since I'm considering upgrading to a bigger motor, but that topic is for another time.
I did some googling and found that the stock AQ 60a esc has its timing set at 11. So I set the timing on the Seaking to 11.25, it was the closest setting available. I suspect AQ knows their motors better than I do, so why change it.
Next, I'm thinking about a new motor. The castle 1515 2200kv is the one in sight right now. We'll see, I would like to run the boat as is a few times and learn a bit more about trim/strut adjustments before I put in a bigger motor.
Thanks for reading.
-Dan
Edit: I forgot, I also read that it was a good idea to pour some epoxy into the tip of the bow. So I did that as well. Not alot just about 3/8".

[cuppa]

Nice build Sir

[785boats]

Dan.
Cuppa is 100% right.
For a first build you did everything pretty much spot on.
Congratulations on a job well done.

Of course you do understand that videos are a compulsory part of the deal, don't you.

[PowerDemon]

That is a fine build! Especially as your first one. Congrats!