Who wants to build a semi-scale all-wood micro hydro?

[Dr. Jet]

More Photos

Here are some more:

[Dr. Jet]

Even more. This is not the motor I will eventually use.

[Dr. Jet]

Yet more. That's a coupler from an Aquacraft GP-1, reamed to 1/16"

[Dr. Jet]

I'm at a bit of an impasse now. I traced Garry Finlay's plans for the sponson bottom, but it came out a bit undersized. I ordered some more 1/32" ply and modified the AutoCAD drawings accordingly. As soon as the sheet arrives, I can re-cut the sponson bottoms and get on with the build.

Stay tuned.....

[Dr. Jet]

Photos. Aft non-trips installed, cowl refined.

[Dr. Jet]

Remember when I said there was a bust in the sump dimensions? Well, that bust carried through to other items. I originally had the stuffing tube exit hole laser cut, but because of the dimension bust, I had to move the hole. It's no big deal, but it just goes to show how one little glitch can cascade down the pipeline. I'm going to omit this hole in future kits and let the installed motor/coupler determine the exact location of the exit hole.

So I pulled a motor similar to the one that will eventually go in here from another hull and used it to establish the stuffing tube location. Some cutting and filling on the bottom and everything is cool.

Here's more photos.

[Dr. Jet]

Parts Layout

I did a parts layout, then did a bit of Dremel Tool action on the project, then revised the AutoCAD drawings again. I've revised the plans so many times, I think I'll need to build another prototype, just to make certain it finally meets my standards.

[Dr. Jet]

1/32" Wire Drive

Here are photos of the drive:

[Dr. Jet]

Some Random Thoughts........

So I've closed up the shop for the evening and opened a bottle of wine. As I'm sippin', I got to thinkin'..... (uh oh..... ) This boat is going to be 17.4" or 442mm long. Some time ago, that was considered a micro. In the past decade that I was doing other things, several manufacturers came out with similar-sized and even smaller models. Smaller motors are available now as are smaller servos, ESCs, Rxs. and what-not. A few scratch builders have made outriggers that were considerably smaller than 400mm. Some clown on this site is actually trying to build a 7-1/2" semi-scale hydro! Now that's micro! I have my doubts as to whether or not it will work.

I think I mis-named this thread. It really should read "Who wants to build a semi-scale all-wood MINI hydro?" For the sake of argument, I'd call 1/20 scale (18" or 460) a mini and anything smaller than 1/24 scale (15" or 380mm) a micro.

From here on, I will refer to this as a MINI and not a MICRO.

Your thoughts are welcome.....

[NativePaul]

For what it is worth the Naviga Mini Mono and Mini Hydro classes are for hulls under 450mm long, which is about 17.5".

I love small boats, I have built 5x cats, 3x riggers, and one Eco that are 450mm for the mini racing or SAWs classes. My only scale boat is an 11" MTB, and I am just about to start building a 7" Hydro for ships and giggles.

[Dr. Jet]

...... I am just about to start building a 7" Hydro for ships and giggles.

Chris Casper still has a few of those little hulls available. They're small enough and light enough to fit into a padded envelope so shipping to the UK would be reasonable enough. He's a great guy and really helpful. chriscasper@earthlink.net

[NativePaul]

Nah, I saw Jim's gift before you claimed it, but didn't jump on it for a reason. The bottom looks bad enough that I think it would be quicker to scratch build one than to mod it to my specs. I would have felt bad taking Jim's just for the deck, and am glad you got it as your build has given me the kick I needed to go for it. Pickleforks are more to my tastes than shovels as I only got into boats in the '90s, so making my own deck too seems like an easy choice for the savings, I think I have all the materials to make one on hand, so it shouldnt cost me anything apart from the gear inside. While I have the foam out for the bottom I may as well make a deck, I cant see the hull build taking more than a day. We are going for slightly different angles, I am hoping for about half the weight of yours and with similarly less power.

Your rudder rocks, I doubt I will do anything nearly that good.

[Dr. Jet]

Depending on how the Casper project goes, I may do a 1/32 scale (10-7/8") version of the Atlas hull that is the subject of this thread, just for "ships and giggles". That's a long ways away though. I have this project to complete, the little Casper to complete, and a paint job on the MHZ Miss Madison to complete. Then there's a couple of half-finished projects in my inventory as well.

[Dr. Jet]

I haven't posted much here lately for a number of reasons. I discovered a bust in the 1/32 ply, so I had to order more material and get it cut. As of this writing, that has been accomplished and the bottom of the hull is now complete, and I have added a layer of epoxy to the inside. I need to get more expanding foam (mine has all petrified) to fill the sponsons and I can add the deck.

Once this hull is complete structurally, I plan to donate it to a building-challenged friend to finish and I will build prototype #2 from my revised drawings. I easily have 5 times the amount of hours invested in the drawings than I do in building the hull, but I am a stickler for details and want it perfect. Building a first prototype allows me to say: "Jeeze, I should have done it THAT way..." Building the second will confirm all the changes are correct and work as planned.

Stay tuned for photos and discussion.

[Dr. Jet]

The Doctor is IN!

Yes boys and girls, the good doctor has been busy and has not neglected this project. It is now sheeted, painted with a light coat of sanding sealer (not enough to completely fill the grain), and shot with a light coat of primer to look for imperfections and gaps. I'll give it a day or two to completely cure and start sanding and filling.