Crusader.

[785boats]

Yeah.
I get bits & pieces done now & then. It's all about time.

[785boats]

A report on the last few days/evenings.
Firstly. I added some carbon fiber tubes to the spars & into the main hull, for some added strength.
Then I trimmed the top edges of the sponsons with some 5mm sq balsa & then filled them with 2 part foam.
Next the balsa blocks were cut, epoxied on to the sponsons, & then carved & sanded to shape.

The inlet cowls & headrest were epoxied on to the hull, & then the whole thing was given a coat of finishing resin. That's the second coat for the main hull, but the first for the sponsons. They will need sanding & a second coat applied.
Now the fun begins. I have to strip the EDF out of the Spirit of Australia & set it up in this boat so I can make up the thrust tube.

Carbon tubes added for strength.
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Two part foam added.
002.jpg

Balsa blocks added & shaped.
001.jpg

Inlet cowls & headrest added.
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A closeup view.
006.jpg

[fweasel]

Its really taking shape now. Your build threads make it look so easy.

[785boats]

Thanks.
Some is easy. Some is difficult. Some is just tedious. But it's all fun.
But yes it's starting to look like the real thing.
The last thing to do now for the hull, is the shrouds around the main spars. More balsa blocks methinks.This falls into the tedious category.

[785boats]

The fan & thrust tube have now been set up in this boat.
All I need to do now is fashion up some mounts. That's tomorrow evenings work.

I also made up a platform in the cockpit for the pilot to sit on, while leaving as much open space around it for more air inlet area. I had to cut some off the bottom of the figure to get him low enough.

EDF, thrust tube, ESC & batteries, all fitted.
001.jpg

The batteries slide in under the EDF.
009.jpg

Captain Cobb in the office.
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[Tamelesstgr]

The batteries slide in under the EDF.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]150407[/ATTACH]

This looks so bada$$

[Beaux]

Luv the driver or pilot.

[785boats]

Kenny.
They do look menacing, don't they.

Beaux.
Some amazing detail on those pilots.

[785boats]

I spent most of the weekend watching the coverage of the Formula 1 event here in Australia, but I managed to get a bit more done on the Crusader in between practices, qualifying, support races & the main race.

The first thing was the mounts for the EDF. Just some 1/2" wood for the main bearers, & some ply gussets to spread the load to the stringers, bulkhead, & the side of the hull.

Then it was on to boxing in the spars with some 12mm balsa & epoxy.
I carved & sanded the leading edges to shape & stuck them on first. Then the top & bottom blocks were added. And finally the rear blocks were shaped & epoxied on
There's a few gaps to fill. But hey. There's nothing a pound of putty won't fix.

EDF mounts & ply gussets.
078.jpg

Ply doublers on the front bulkhead.
079.jpg

Boxing in the main spars. Just the trailing edge blocks to epoxy on.
081.jpg

Just some final sanding & filling to do now.
081.jpg

[785boats]

Finally got all the filling & sanding & coats of spray putty & sanding done.
So today (Easter Good Friday holiday) I sprayed a coat of base primer on it & sanded that all back.
Then I gave the cowling a coat of silver to see if it looked about the right shade. It'll do me.
I'll get a coat on the hull tomorrow if the weather stays fine.

[srislash]

Man that is looking good!!

[grsboats]

Great buildings like yours previous ones...Congrats Gill

[785boats]

Thanks guys.
It's coming together nicely now.
I've put a hold on the painting & decided to set up the rudder & servo, so I don't damage the finish paintwork by doing it later.
I had to make up a small stuffing tube, & a bracket & spacer to bolt it on to the heel of the ski. I also butchered an old rudder & added a 4mm shaft into it.
Here's a funny thing that almost caught me out when setting up the servo & linkages.. Because the rudder is at the front of the boat it has to swing the opposite way compared to a rudder on the transom to achieve the same direction direction of turn.
I know it can be changed with the tx but I run about 30 boats off the one TX unit & I like to keep all the functions the same to avoid confusion.

The rudder & 4mm shaft.
001.jpg

Stuffing tube, bracket & spacer.
002.jpg

Inside the boat. Just needs the brackets for the servo, & a brace across the tube to the sides of the boat.
004.jpg

[golfito]

Great!!!

[785boats]

Over the last couple of days I've masked off the red trim colour & sprayed it on.
So here she is Almost ready for a test run.