SEGUIN by schooner - FINISHED - BlueJacket Shipcrafters - 1:48 - RADIO - Steam Tug

[schooner]

Thanks for all the likes and compliments! It's a nice kit.

 

Ian, the stack is not connected to the interior but all 20 of the windows and doors in the deckhouse were left unglazed so that the heat from the ESC and motor could vent. I think (hope) I'll be alright.

Edited September 22, 2023 by schooner

[MrBlueJacket]

Congratulations! Your customer file now shows a 10% discount on the next kit you buy from us.

 

Nic

[Ramztug]

Awesome build log of a beautiful model, in every respect. 

    I'm building the same BlueJacket Seguin.

    You gave me so much information I can use. The running gear (especially the motor and rpm's and where to find one, the source of drive shaft components, etc.) answer so much for me.

      All your discovered and suggested solutions along the build path will be of such help as I enjoy building my Seguin. Thank you.

Ramsey 

[schooner]

Glad to be of help Ramsey, it is a great kit. Don't hesitate to PM me if you have questions.

[pwog]

Awesome! Great job on a beautiful boat. 

[MrBlueJacket]

Any maiden voyage yet?

[schooner]

Not yet . I've got to put the ALFRED aside and spend a few hours assembling a carry/launching/recovery cradle from PVC. The lake has warmed up enough that I can go wading. 

Thanks for the reminder - I needed it.

[schooner]

Launch and Recovery Cradle

 

I would like to launch and recover the model off my dock which sits about 3 ft above the lake, I also needed something to safely “grab” the model if I had to take a boat out to recover it.

 

I saw a cradle on the build log for a RC Liberty Ship over on the scratch build part of the site. Although that cradle was made of copper pipe for a much heavier model I thought I could get away with lighter, and easier to work with 1/2 inch PVC piping and fittings.

 

Although it took a few trips to the hardware store to finally get everything I needed it was pretty easy to put together. The bottom is flat but someone with more PVC and design skill than I have could use 45-degree connectors to fashion a “V” bottom which would be best.

 

I originally intended for the high “handle” section to just be straight up from one side but when I tried lifting it before glueing everything together I found that there was no way that would work, even without the weight of the model on it. I was able to use a couple of 45 degree connectors to move the handle over the centerline of the cradle so it lifts level without tilting.

 

 

 

 

A couple of tips for anyone thinking about using PVC for a cradle:

 

• PVC is not buoyant, which is good because it’s easier to add flotation than weight.
• The primer and glue used to bond the PVC pieces sets up VERY quickly (less than 5 seconds) and very strong so you don’t get any do-overs if you don’t get the pieces aligned quickly
• Hardware stores carry 1/2 inch foam pipe insulation that fits perfectly around the PVC without need of glueing or taping unless you put it on a vertical section
• A PVC cutter works great but a saw will also work
• Don't forget to drill plenty of fill and drain holes - even the upper portions that never get wet, you don't want trapped air to mess up your desired floating depth

 

The bathtub test took awhile. After adding enough flotation to get the thing to float it was VERY unstable - wanting to tip over in both directions. Adding a subtracting the foam flotation didn’t make much difference. I finally figured out that the problem was that the high handle section raised the center of gravity above the center of buoyancy - something you don’t want for any floating object. I found that if I shifted all the foam pieces from the bottom horizontal’s the the upper ones, which are only about 3” higher, the problem was solved. I guess it really is better to be lucky than good.

 

 

 

The cradle floats low enough in the water that the model can float free of it for launching and it can be driven back into it for recovery (the cross piece keeps it from driving thru it).

The next step will be to try it on the lake, hopefully this week.

Edited 10 hours ago by schooner