Kev's ML Boatworks GSX380 build

[785boats]

Your right Paul...I love watching these boats take form. My passion is the shaping and sanding to get everything uniform.

BTW....You built one of Mikes 8255's did you? Was it an 1/8 or 1/10 scale? That's my next personal project....:)

I built two of them for two different club members. They were both 1/8th scale. A nice hull to build. You will enjoy it.

[longballlumber]

Hi Mike....Do you have some estimates on dry/cure time for the clear coat before sanding...etc? Looking at the specs it was talking 72 hours or better to full cure?

Thanks

Yes, this is still an over night cure similar to West Systems. I like the Systems 3 a little better than the West because it's a little more viscous (for sealing). Because of my shop environment (basement) tends to be a little too cold for ANY epoxy to cure quickly; I have a large box lined with board foam insulation with a 60watt lite to generate the heat making a "oven" of sorts. Add in the Systems 3 stuff is a little thinner also helps with penetration into the wood.

With regards, to curing time and epoxy... I guess it's a compromise... Personally, I would rather the cure time take longer allowing the epoxy to better penetrate the wood. It's also my understanding the longer cure time epoxies tend to be stronger than the shorter cure time.

You have great modeling skills by the way!

[macomb]

OK....finished up the top skins on the sponsons and gave it an initial rough sanding. Next will be fairing in all the inside edge seams and the sponson tips.

Then its off to a final sanding and 1st sealing coat. Still toying with the idea of sealing this boat with the 3 Systems Rot Fix that I found about earlier this week. So far thru research I have been finding that this product really works well, a lot lighter than epoxy and sands down so much easier. It is quite a bit thinner than epoxy so it really soaks into the wood pores a lot better. But since this is a customers boat will need to get their take on it....don't want to be experimenting on their boat....LOL

Should be finished up by next weekend.

Looks Great Mike.....
Experiment away.......

THANKS
Kevin

[pescador]

I finally have my nitro version ready to test, have you had yours running? I'm wondering if it's going to need weight in the front with the big air trap.


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[Speed810]

I finally have my nitro version ready to test, have you had yours running? I'm wondering if it's going to need weight in the front with the big air trap.


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I'm really not sure if the nitro versions will have to be balanced the same point as the electric, but I would think you would. I have mine balanced between 1"1/8 and 1"1/4 behind the sponson heel. At that CG the boat has never come close to blowing over. The boat runs like it's on rails. If anything I'm trying to losses the boat up a bit. It really holds tight in the corners to the point it will grab and flip the boat. But slowly but surely I've been working the kinks out.

Good luck on your first couple runs. Let's us know how it goes.

Mike

[pescador]

Testing went great, a bit of fiddling with the needle and pipe length but like you say I was really surprised how planted it was. I might try a bit of strut adjustment to loosen it up but I'm pretty happy with it. I think another test session and it will replace my AC boat.


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