Stiletto First Run w/New Boat

[GP73]

I doubt you've tried EVERYTHING. What props have you ran. You mention a x440. That is a small prop with minimal pitch.

I was the one that mentioned the X440 and that's the only prop I've tried since that's what I had available, I haven't tried the stock prop and I have ordered a X437/3 but I'm not sure when that will be here.

What do you suggest? X642? Darin mentioned good results with the X440/3...

BTW, I'm ok with the current speed with the X440. I wanted to try the stock prop but it's not sharpened/balanced and I then I had to fix the gelcoat...

[Flying Scotsman]

I suggest you look at the drivetrain and did you check it out prior to running it the first time.

Douggie

[GP73]

Why are you applying gelcoat and how are you doing it?

Douggie

Check post #43 on this thread for the damage on my hull, I've re-uploaded the picture.

How am I doing it? With a lot of sandpaper...

So far: sand (220), clean, apply gelcoat, dry, re-sand (220), re-clean, re-apply.

Tomorrow: final sanding (220,400, wet 600), polishing.

BTW, I've just noticed in the picture: see how the gelcoat on the left side of the chip casts a shadow on the fiberglass? Looks like a pocket of air to me.

[Flying Scotsman]

Check post #43 on this thread for the damage on my hull, I've re-uploaded the picture.

How am I doing it? With a lot of sandpaper...

So far: sand (220), clean, apply gelcoat, dry, re-sand (220), re-clean, re-apply.

Tomorrow: final sanding (220,400, wet 600), polishing.

BTW, I've just noticed in the picture: see how the gelcoat on the left side of the chip casts a shadow on the fiberglass? Looks like a pocket of air to me.

Interesting repair and as previously mentioned what other props do you own. No defects on my hull, apart from my blueprinting.

Douggie

[GP73]

I suggest you look at the drivetrain and did you check it out prior to running it the first time.

Douggie

First thing I did; to grease the flexshaft. No issues there, but still running with the teflon tubing.

Just to be clear, I don't know how fast it goes, I'm sure it would be much better with a X440/3, but I'm not the one complaining about the speed.

It's fast enough for me as it is. At least for now.

I'm more concerned about the gelcoat coming off, it's a of work to fix and I'd rather spend my time doing better things that getting intoxicated by MEKP (yes, I used proper protection ).

[GP73]

Interesting repair and as previously mentioned what other props do you own. No defects on my hull, apart from my blueprinting.

Douggie

I have the stock prop and a X438, I've ordered a X437/3 a few weeks back, hoping it would be here in time for the Stiletto, but it's not ready yet.

[ron1950]

guess i was lucky mine was perfect...does have a few tiny chips in it now but that was all me lol

[GP73]

guess i was lucky mine was perfect...does have a few tiny chips in it now but that was all me lol

Yeah, that might be just my luck, every time I buy a new foam plane I get some warped or scratched piece in the box...

But they are far easier to fix than gelcoat.

[Flying Scotsman]

I have the stock prop and a X438, I've ordered a X437/3 a few weeks back, hoping it would be here in time for the Stiletto, but it's not ready yet.

An X438 and a X437/3.....HMMMMMMM

Douggie

[AndyKunz]

Great looking boat can't get it to go more than 35mph on a single 45c 4s pack,may try 5s but don't want to burn anything out.There is no way to get over 40mph on this boat unless you change out the electronics.I have tried everything!

What prop are you running?

Can you take a side view photograph (close up is great) showing the height of the prop and the angle it's at?

What cells are you using? How new are they?

What part of NJ? I moved from Phillipsburg (I-78/US-22 @ Delaware River) about 2 years ago.

Andy

[GP73]

An X438 and a X437/3.....HMMMMMMM

Douggie

That's very.... HMMMMMM

The X438 and X437/3 were supposed to go on the Surge Flusher, to keep the motor/esc a little cooler. But I guess I can try the X437/3 on the Stiletto before going to bigger props?

[Darin Jordan]

Guys... First... this hull is NOT gel-coated... that's white paint. Very heavily laid on, white paint.

As for speeds... I did some bench testing of the motors this weekend and found some interesting info.

The testing was done with the following setup:

Battery: 4S1P ThunderPower 45C 5000mah pack
ESC: Castle Hydro 240
Timing: 0
Load: 6x3.5" Plastic/Carbon Airplane Prop.


Under this test setup, the motor actually registers 1885KV, and a little over 31,000 RPM unloaded. With the load (airplane prop), the motor dropped to 1703KV, just shy of 27,000RPM, pulled 35.55Amps, and the output was 562 Watts.

For comparison, the Geico motor registers 1460KV and 24,100RPM unloaded, and 1399KV, 22,500RPM, 18.84Amps, and 304Watts with the SAME load.

What this tells us is that the price for the additional KV is torque, so you will NOT be able to turn the same large props. It's more like the UL-1 motor, where it climbs in WATTS quickly as you add load, so you need to turn a smaller prop, with less pitch.

This actually puts the Stiletto setup more inline with the Nitro equivalent, so working with props more similiar in size to what they would use is in order. I tried an X440/3, pitched up slightly, and backcut about .030"... slightly cupped as well. Motor temps were very reasonable (around 108), so it can handle more, but I will increment it up slowly, because my race props for my BJ motor get the motor temps up to dangerous levels and overheat the wire leads. Speeds really aren't appreciably faster either. Just adding load to the motor.

SO, play around with some of the smaller props and see what you come up with. I'm thinking something in the 40-42mm range will be a good place to start, though the 37mm 3-blades might be workable as well.

As for setup. Set the stub shaft centerline about 1/8"-3/16" above the sponson bottoms, neutral or just SLIGHTLY up angle (aft higher than front to lift the nose), and start from there. I prefer it to be dead neutral to start, so as not to have the prop height change as the unit steers. Mine seems to work best with the 4400mah or 5000 mah pack, mounted all the way forward, and I also added 1oz of lead to the nose. That's the setup in the video posted in my Race Prep thread, and the boat is certainly breaking 40mph there (I'm estimating more like 45 or so)

SLOW the steering down, lower the throw as well. You don't need much to get this to turn. Then learn to balance the throttle.

Hopefully this gives you a good place to start from. Let me know how it goes.

[Brushless55]

Thank you for the update Darin!
and I just relized I have a DX2.0 radio for my Losi-8T that should work with this boat
and Darin, will two of these in series fit just fine? I have 6 of them

http://hobbycity.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11614

[Darin Jordan]

and Darin, will two of these in series fit just fine? I have 6 of them
http://hobbycity.com/hobbyking/store...dProduct=11614

I don't see why not... there is a TON of room for cells in this boat. Should be pretty easy to fit dual motors in there as well... There should be a good supply of right-hand turn flex shafts out there!

[Brushless55]

I don't see why not... there is a TON of room for cells in this boat. Should be pretty easy to fit dual motors in there as well... There should be a good supply of right-hand turn flex shafts out there!

Are we talking about the Stiletto?