Darin's TFL HOBBY 34" Carbon Cheetah Build

[Darin Jordan]

OK, I FINALLY Ran my Cheetah yesterday at our PSFEMBC Club Race during practice time.

Didn't get any video. Evidence of the first runs never need to be retained, just in case!

The "factory" props that came with the boat are too small, so the speed wasn't impressive at all. Lots of RPMs... Lots of prop noise... not much "push"...

At the speeds I was going, the handling was "interesting"... As some have suggested, the hull was running pretty wet. When you turn into a corner, it somewhat drives the nose down.

HOWEVER, with the water a tad choppy, I could see glimpses of the boat freeing up quite a bit.

My preference for running a Cat would be for it to run more like an OPC Tunnel in regards to how it turns... Set the nose down and CARVE through the turn... NOT fly the nose and skid.

I think that, if I get the right props on this hull and get it up to the speeds I think it needs to be, the setup will actually work quite well and it'll handle great.

SO, I'm going to do some research and see if I can get myself a pair of correct props to try.

I think I may have a set of 45mm Graupner Carbon/Plastic props that I've been keeping around for doing a twin that may work for testing.

Next time out, I'll try to get some video.

[kfxguy]

Darin, I've been doing a lot of testing with the abc props and because of the bow lift the 17 degree rake props have they are a perfect match for a cheetah. They make these props in 38mm and up in left and right rotation. With any other props I couldn't get the nose out the water enough. When we switched to abc the boat was a totally different animal. And I mean animal. I've got video of it turning at 70mph like it's on rails.

[Darin Jordan]

Darin, I've been doing a lot of testing with the abc props and because of the bow lift the 17 degree rake props have they are a perfect match for a cheetah. They make these props in 38mm and up in left and right rotation. With any other props I couldn't get the nose out the water enough. When we switched to abc the boat was a totally different animal. And I mean animal. I've got video of it turning at 70mph like it's on rails.

Are you rotating them in or out??

[kfxguy]

Are you rotating them in or out??

This is a single I'm referring to. But lift is lift. There's another well known guy on here that's having good luck with these props too on twins.

[T.S.Davis]

I ran a new ABC 3 blade on my Q sport yesterday. Yikes!

Darin, a pain to get but you can get a nice variety of counter rotating from Propshop out of the UK too.

[ray schrauwen]

On my first run with a single 1521 1.5d Neu 4s2p and an m447 it ran OK but, hooked a bit in corners. After that I tried a x 450 or 452, I forget but, once it got faster it handled better. Glad I could get the hull fixed up, really like this cat a lot!

[ray schrauwen]

I ran a new ABC 3 blade on my Q sport yesterday. Yikes!

Darin, a pain to get but you can get a nice variety of counter rotating from Propshop out of the UK too.

Do tell, what prop? My TP in the Q sport might be out, gots a Typhoon to shoe in to use the ABC prop I have and other props.

[Darin Jordan]

On my first run with a single 1521 1.5d Neu 4s2p and an m447 it ran OK but, hooked a bit in corners. After that I tried a x 450 or 452, I forget but, once it got faster it handled better. Glad I could get the hull fixed up, really like this cat a lot!

Ray... did you mod the pads, or is it straight up. I'm not convinced that, once this hull is up to speed, it's going to need the pads modified. It "feels" like it's going to fly down the straights, and carve HARD corners... Much like Doug Twaits Jrs. big Aeromarine T-Cat does... (most amazing Offshore boat I've ever watched being driven!)

[Doby]

Both mine and Robert's (LiPo Power) run well with no pad modifications.

[Darin Jordan]

Both mine and Robert's (LiPo Power) run well with no pad modifications.

Do your rear pads have more AoA, or about the same, as the forward pads??

[ray schrauwen]

Ray... did you mod the pads, or is it straight up. I'm not convinced that, once this hull is up to speed, it's going to need the pads modified. It "feels" like it's going to fly down the straights, and carve HARD corners... Much like Doug Twaits Jrs. big Aeromarine T-Cat does... (most amazing Offshore boat I've ever watched being driven!)

No mods.

Rear sponsons have a higher attack angle. It reminds me of an older H&M Maritimo hull I had that you setup like a 3 point hydro so it rides on the front sponson edges and the prop. The nice part is that it's really wide compared to the Euro cat and turns well. I used an Octura skeg strut.

[Darin Jordan]

I ordered a pair of CNC 45/2 and a pair of CNC 46/3. From OSE, of course.

Those will give me a good idea on where I need to be on props.

[modvp55]

Darin,
Are you at 31 percent of the total length or running surface. I have an Enzo version of the same boat, it however has the rear ride pads running parallel to the forward ones, mine runs at 33 percent of the running surface. Motors and batteries are further forward than yours. It runs best spinning out and is nice and free with the stingers 2 degrees negative. Running 40x82 motors 2000KV on 4s with 5014 props, after 5 laps nothing over 110 degrees using a dual pick up rudder, so going to try larger props.

[kfxguy]

Here's what it can do with no ride pad mods. Not sure why that needs to be done anyway. Guess a crutch for an incorrect setup.

[f.a.r.m.e.r]

Darin, I've been doing a lot of testing with the abc props and because of the bow lift the 17 degree rake props have they are a perfect match for a cheetah. They make these props in 38mm and up in left and right rotation. With any other props I couldn't get the nose out the water enough. When we switched to abc the boat was a totally different animal. And I mean animal. I've got video of it turning at 70mph like it's on rails.

Kfxguy do you have a link to the ABC prop you are using? Is it the 3 blade with 15 rake?

Thanks