Fantail Launch II by shawn32671 - FINISHED - Midwest Products - SMALL

[shawn32671]

My girlfriend ordered the Fantail Launch II for me for Christmas and it's supposed to come via UPS tomorrow. Awesome, now I can build that and install my steam engine I built from a Midwest kit and add radio gear and run it at a pond this coming spring. I will post build updates as I go....wayyyy too many projects at once here but I sure love this hobby lol.

[pete48]

Right on Shawn , Thats Awesome

[shawn32671]

Thanks Pete, I can't seem to locate a picture of the steam engine I built and sadly it didn't turn out as pretty as the one pictured above but works great. Can't wait to build the boat and install it and give it a try.

[themadchemist]

WOW, I didn't even know Midwest had a steam engine kit. This is going to be a super cool project to see come together.

[shawn32671]

Believe me Keith, I can't wait.

[shawn32671]

The kit arrived today and my check of content inventory shows everything was there. I have had issues as of late with Midwest kits missing a part or two but they send free replacements without question. Removed parts from balsa/basswood wood sheets and sanded everything so far and printed copies of areas of the plans sheet for templates. No pictures to post since I didn't get around to actual assembly yet.

[shawn32671]

Ugh I hate sanding so much....Well I got a bit more done tonight as you can see by my pictures below. I've also included links to a couple Youtube videos showing the steam engine and a finished Fantail Launch running on the water. Note, these are not my videos but examples of what my boat will be like and of what the finished engine looks like and how it runs. Enjoy...More updates to follow as I get more done.

 

Edited December 7, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

 

Videos:

[themadchemist]

Very Interesting Shawn.

She moves faster in the water then I expected. Did the R/C come with the Fantail or was that separate also?

[shawn32671]

Thanks Keith...The radio gear you need to purchase separately but a set can be found for less than $50.00 at most hobby stores and Amazon.com...The running gear such as prop, prop shaft and servo rudder arm and other minor R/C hardware do come with the kit however. I've seen YouTube videos of this boat where it runs even faster so pretty cool indeed. Not bad for steam powered. The actual finished boat is bigger than it looks in the video too...Almost 2 feet long and I'm guessing about 8 inches wide or so. I plan to add a lil sailor "doll"/action figure  to ride along if I can find one of similar scale.

Edited December 7, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

I got a little more done this afternoon. Rather than post pictures of my progress up until now, I thought I'd post a YouTube picture show video I just made instead. I hope you guys like it.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZlRu6OOt8U

Edited December 7, 2013 by shawn

[pete48]

Looks Good Shawn, I have to point out that Sanding is part of the game

[shawn32671]

Just a quick progress update of pictures to share. The last two pictures show glue build up in a couple spots where I head to break some bones and reset to fix some straightness issues but all is straight and true now. Next is my most hated but necessary step, fairing to get ready for the planks. As Pete stated above "sanding is part of the game" More to follow as I get more done this afternoon.

Edited December 8, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

Not much for an update. I didn't feel like doing fairing work on the hull tonight so I made the rudder and tiller instead. Not much else done I'm afraid but every little part counts.

Edited December 9, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

Not much to report as far as updates tonight. I did however make the bow and stern flags, the stern American flag was from the kit and had adhesive backing folded over string. The white bow flag I made from a piece of scrap sail material folded over a piece of string like the stern flag and glued with contact cement. Later tonight, even though I hate this part, I plan to tackle fairing the hull.

Edited December 10, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

I got the dreaded fairing sanding done last night. Next step, before I glue the hull planking, is to figure out where to put the radio control gear. This could likely still be done once planked but this way I have easy access to see what I'm doing better. All I need is the rudder "steering" servo mounted in the rear somewhere then the receiver and battery can go pretty much anywhere up front. The instructions booklet and plans are pretty vague about this step.

[themadchemist]

So how long does the steam engine run on a load of fuel/water? Just curious as it would really not be fun if it ran out of steam (PUN, literally) in the middle of the lake.

 

Keep up the good work, although you still have a bit before the ice melts and you can take her for a test run.

[shawn32671]

I haven't run my steam engine long enough yet while testing it to see how long it runs but from what I've read online, 30 minutes sounds like the average run time. There is a page about the Midwest Elliot Bay Steam Launch boat and it says ""The Model VII steam engine provides ample power and a 30 minute run time."" The Elliot Bay is a bit larger than the Fantail so one would assume the same or similar run times. I plan to run mine at a local small pond and bring my fishing gear along with large treble hooks to cast out and snag the boat if it gets stranded. :-)

Edited December 10, 2013 by shawn

[pete48]

Hey Shawn, Will the R.C unit fit in your Lobster Smack, I am thinking about an R.C. version

Edited December 11, 2013 by pete48

[shawn32671]

Sure it would fit, you may need to just go with micro servos but they can be had for less than $10.00 each at any hobby store...An R/C version of the Lobster Smack would be very cool.

[pete48]

Thanks Shawn, I am thinking  the same thing it would be very cool

Edited December 11, 2013 by pete48

[themadchemist]

HA HA here goes Pete on version infinity and beyond smack  Your really making me want to break out my MBLS kit, but at the same time I'm waiting to see you work out the centerboard.

 

I think I could get into RC boats. since my disability the swimming pool has kinda become...well not kept up. I told Tammy I was going to sink a couple of Christmas trees in it and some concrete culverts for fish cover and stock it for fishing. It would be great for sailing an R/C boat also.

 

30 minutes is a long run Shawn. do you have a possibility of adding reverse to the propeller, in case she become snagged. I'm sure it could be done but for how much money and effort?

[shawn32671]

30 minutes is a long run Shawn. do you have a possibility of adding reverse to the propeller, in case she become snagged. I'm sure it could be done but for how much money and effort?

It's possible, a gas powered Traxxas brand R/C speedboat I once had used an electric motor for when the gas engine died where you could reverse the boat then forward again to get back to shore but I'm sure it'd be spendy to do in a boat kit. Plus the room it would take up in the boat. I'm sure it could be done though but like I said, I plan to just bring along my fishing pole to cast out and retrieve the boat. I wouldn't trust having it go too far away from shore anyway though.

 

It's sure a fun build so far though. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the radio gear set up in the boat but laying the rudder servo on its side still doesn't leave much room so I may have to order a micro servo. I'll see what I can do with what I've got though. More to come...

Edited December 11, 2013 by shawn

[pete48]

Hey Keith, The centerboard was worked out in Posting #24 on the Keel 3 build log

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[captainbob]

Keith, Shawn,

 

A single cylinder steam engine cannot be dependably reversed but a two cylinder “V” steam engine can be reversed and does not take up much more room.

 

Bob

[shawn32671]

Thanks Bob.

[shawn32671]

Well I figured out where to mount the radio equipment and got the upper side planking done and finish sanded along the deck edges and lower edge where the lower balsa sheeting meets up to the sides. Next is add the bottom sheeting and finish sanding the whole hull. More updates to follow as I get more done.

[shawn32671]

Below are a few more update pics of the partially sanded hull and a photo show video of the progress up to now that I posted to YouTube. More updates tp follow as soon as I get more done.

Video picture show build log on YouTube:

[captainbob]

She's loking good, Shawn.

 

Bob

[pete48]

Looks Good Shawn