ML Boatworks Rescue Project

[nocebo]

Ok, I did a bunch of searching last night and I see what you are talking about and understand what needs to be done on the rear portion!

I have a nice chunk of Balsa arriving tomorrow that should be enough to make both of the rear pieces and the nose.

Awesome, look forward to seeing the outcome

[Ayles]

I have been plugging away! Borrowed a scroll saw (never used one before) and attempted to cut my first piece of sponson sheeting. What a disaster!! :)

I headed back down to my workshop made a better template and took another shot at it. Much much better and I am very happy with how it turned out. After some sanding to shape it fits damn near perfect. Now to glue it on...

sponson.jpg

sponson_Sheet1.jpg

[nocebo]

I have been plugging away! Borrowed a scroll saw (never used one before) and attempted to cut my first piece of sponson sheeting. What a disaster!! :)

I headed back down to my workshop made a better template and took another shot at it. Much much better and I am very happy with how it turned out. After some sanding to shape it fits damn near perfect. Now to glue it on...

[ATTACH=CONFIG]173066[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]173067[/ATTACH]

looking really good, fits nicely. Are you tacking them down with superglue?

For cutting i honestly found a sharp razor blade the easiest, the wood is so thin its easy to cut in half a dozen passes. I dont have a scrollsaw though so that might be easier.

[Ayles]

The fit was actually really good, kind of proud of how it turned out considering I have zero woodworking experience, zero boat building and zero model building experience :)

I have been using Tightbond wood glue. After combing threads here it seemed like a good solution. It's actually a hard choice (like a lot of this stuff) as everyone has a different POV on what works and multiple things do work well.

thumbnail_IMG_6991.jpg

Next on my list is the final piece of sheeting on the one side. How does the final sheet on a sponson join up with the framing so its in the correct position to meet up with the top sheeting?

[nocebo]

The fit was actually really good, kind of proud of how it turned out considering I have zero woodworking experience, zero boat building and zero model building experience :)

I have been using Tightbond wood glue. After combing threads here it seemed like a good solution. It's actually a hard choice (like a lot of this stuff) as everyone has a different POV on what works and multiple things do work well.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]173077[/ATTACH]

Next on my list is the final piece of sheeting on the one side. How does the final sheet on a sponson join up with the framing so its in the correct position to meet up with the top sheeting?

Great job, looks really really neat and coming together really well. Once you sand it down and use some light filler it will really come together.

I know what you mean about different POV and no hard and fast rules - having exactly the same challenge. Its what you get for getting involved in a niche hobby : ). For the final piece of the sheeting - i spent ages trying to work out the best way of doing this - and i dont know if my idea is the best, but i ended up sanding down the edge of the frame to be in line with the shape of the sponson. I then glued the sheet to this frame. I figured the larger gluing surface would provide a stronger joint. Here are some photos of what i mean:

[Ayles]

Thanks!!

Ok, your second photo shows exactly what I had been thinking in my mind. I think it will work out just find. Unfortunately I am out of town for a few days and won't be able to cut out any more skins until I get back.

[Ayles]

Glued in my second piece and not super exited about how it fits towards the front of the sponson. I may remove it and try again since it doesnt butt up as nicely as the rear portion. If its not a big deal maybe I can just fix that spot with filler.

27EAD472-796D-40C2-94B7-F1ABADEDB503.jpg

[Ayles]

Work continues! So far it seems like it takes a few hours just cut and shape one piece of sponson sheeting. This one turned out just ok. There is a 1mm gap at the front but not going to worry about it as I'll just fill it. Otherwise the rest of it came out beautifully. One more to go, which I will start on tonight.

thumbnail_IMG_7017.jpg

[nocebo]

Work continues! So far it seems like it takes a few hours just cut and shape one piece of sponson sheeting. This one turned out just ok. There is a 1mm gap at the front but not going to worry about it as I'll just fill it. Otherwise the rest of it came out beautifully. One more to go, which I will start on tonight.

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Looks great - it was taking me an hour or so per sheet as well, it does get faster though as you go. I wouldnt worry about the gap at the front, a little bit of filler goes a long way. Just threw up photos of my section of the build up on the other tread - ill put up the final ones this afternoon as well so you have a reference if you like.

[Ayles]

Finished sheeting the sponsons today! Looking pretty good after a little sanding.

A28F2848-7EE1-4986-8FB1-ECDB075F2A24.jpg

As for next moves I am a little unclear what to do. Here is where things are now. I still haven’t figured out the canard or rear wing. Seems like both of those need to be figured out before I start epoxying the inside.

0C0B25D3-FCB2-4C7B-AA39-55C16DB983E7.jpg
Also need to work out the nose and it seems like I need some reinforcements down the center.

[Ayles]

Where do I go next??

I got some Icing delivered to start filling/smoothing some areas on the hull. Hoping to get some advice on what construction needs to happen down the center. Right now it seems a little flimsy and mind is a little boggled when it comes to building the hatches and mounting the fiberglass cowlings and shaping the nose.

I did some emailing and it looks like there aren't any tail wing support kits available and there seems to be long lead times on some of the other fiberglass bits I need (rear wing, canard, turbine tray).

[nocebo]

Looks great!, sponsons came out really good.

Cant help on the center unfortunately, im still waiting on the cowling and other fiberglass parts - like you said, long lead times. Maybe start fitting rudder, struts etc while you are waiting on the parts? Thats what I have been up to.

[Ayles]

Thanks! I do have the hardware but having trouble finding what kind of measurements I need to take for mounting the rudder and strut.

Do you have any threads that you have found helpful in this regard?

I may try and cut out the skins for the sponsons. They all have a nice curve to them, do you know how that radius is set? Or is more of an artistic thing?

[nocebo]

Best thread i have found is this one:

https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2309086-ML-Boatworks-1-8-Scale-171-Extreme-build-Miss-Elam

Doesnt have the specific measurements you are after but is basically the same hull. I have just finished mounting up the rudder and I cut the slot for strut last night - ill post it up so you can compare notes. From memory i mounted the strut 51.5mm from the rear of the transom - this allows enough room for the drive dog and a bit of extension of the cable to ensure the prop extends past the transom.

I ended up mounting my rudder on the left hand side rather than the right, from what I have reading there are pros and cons to mounting on the left or right.

I am guessing the radius is hand cut, following pictures of the original boat as closely as possible. I have not seen any plans or formulas for cutting those curves.

[Ayles]

That is a great thread!!! Give me a little anxiety to see that skill level.

I looks like his rudder is just lined up with the internal framing. Some great pictures and ideas for the hatch overs and cowl mounting. I was curious about his use of carbon veil and found this product locally that is way more cost effective and probably will work just as well: https://www.tapplastics.com/product/...nytex_x_mat/91 the description sure fits the bill.

I think I will do some filling and maybe take a stab at that knytex cloth in the sponsons, mount the rudder and find a home for the servo. I tried a little mothers polish on the rudder and I think I will probably end polishing the visual external hardware.