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

[shawn32671]

Thanks Bob and Pete...I installed the bottom sheeting tonight so far and bent a couple pieces around a large can...Not much else done yet but I plan to finish sand the entire hull yet tonight and maybe add the parts I'd bent...more updates as I get more finished.

[shawn32671]

I haven't been in the mood for sanding much today but plan to sand the hull tonight. I did make a little more headway today so far though. I re-bent some pieces around a large can, (I wasn't happy with the results of a couple pieces). I also made the front and rear seats, the rear seat is removable to be able to access the radio gear. Plus making a few other odds and ends for the boat...More later as I get more done.

Edited December 15, 2013 by shawn

[pete48]

Looks Good Shawn, Rember sanding is part of the game (hey I don't care for it either)

[shawn32671]

I know I shouldn't let sanding bother me like it does really, after-all the results are always nice to see in the end. So on that note...let the madness of sanding continue...I will post the results this evening.

Edited December 16, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

   Well, it's far from perfect but I got the hull finish sanded tonight. It may not look pretty but it is baby's' butt smooth all over so that's what matters I guess. I plan to paint the whole boat anyway rather than stain it so I'm not too worried about the appearance of the wood.

   Below are some photos plus check out the link to another picture show video I posted to YouTube (assembly log part 3). There isn't really much more to actually build on the kit besides adding all of the trim and some odds and ends. I will probably tackle that tomorrow then test fit the radio control gear and get ready for painting. More updates as I get more done.

 

 

Assembly log in pictures part 3:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcJlOJARr1g

Edited December 16, 2013 by shawn

[pete48]

Looks Great Shawn , Keep it up

[shawn32671]

Thanks Pete and thanks to everyone else following my posts...love this forum.

[shawn32671]

I just thought I'd post a quick update showing the placement of my Midwest Model VI Steam Engine in the boat.

 

Edited December 16, 2013 by shawn

[AndrewNaylor]

Shawn 

I have just been given this kit by a mate of mine He is just fairing the hull of his model We intend to race! He has e glassed his hull to ad strength and ensure water intergrity I see you hate sanding but a little e glass and bondo and you will have a water tight and strong hull

Andy   

[shawn32671]

Thanks Andy, I hope you have as much fun building yours as I'm having building my Fantail Launch. I do see the instructions call for fiber glassing the hull but I have had very little success with using fiber glass in auto repairs and don't think I want to try with this boat. I'm researching alternate ways of sealing the hull while adding strength. Hopefully I figure something out...

 

I wonder if just using some Bondo type glazing putty or regular Bondo over the entire outer hull would work and skipping fiber glassing? Does anyone have any suggestions? I'd be very grateful.

[shawn32671]

Another quick update, the boat is nearly finished and the assembly process is done at least. I just need to decide what to do as far as strengthening and painting the hull and install the radio gear. I may go with fiber glassing the hull afterall, although it will be more difficult since I have the trim added now. I think for colors I will go with a darker shade of a sky blue for up to the waterline and an off white for the rest of the hull. I'm not sure if I will leave the deck trim and upwards natural or paint that an off white too since stain will likely not soak in well, if at all where glue had soaked in a bit too much. I once again posted a link after the pictures below to another photo slide show on YouTube titled part 4 if anyone would like to see.

 

YouTube photo slideshow of part 4:

Edited December 17, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

Out of curiosity...would spreading epoxy over the whole outer hull be OK as compared to fiber-glassing it? Would the strength be as good or close? It would sure be a lot easier of a job to do. Your thoughts?

Edited December 17, 2013 by shawn

[captainbob]

Shawn,

 

It is the glass that gives the resin strength.  But I have heard of using nylon stockings instead of glass.  That would also be strong and I would think easier to apply.  I never liked fiber glassing either.

 

Bob

[shawn32671]

Thanks Bob, I never would have thought to use a nylon stocking in place of the fiber glass, that sounds like an awesome idea.

[shawn32671]

this is a cross post from my post asking about fiber glassing elsewhere on the forum but thought I'd add it here too..."" I found this great tutorial on fiber glassing balsa on YouTube for anyone else thinking about glassing their build.

 ""

[shawn32671]

OK, it was a bit scary at first but I had to try anyway. Here is a little progress so far on my attempt at "glassing" the outer hull with nylon from nylon stockings. I think it turned out rather nicely myself. I may do a second layer but I shouldn't have to unless anyone here thinks it'd be best that I do. I'm thinking just a few layers of thinned epoxy should do the trick nicely and be super strong and waterproof. What are your opinions guys/gals?

 

Edited December 17, 2013 by shawn

[shawn32671]

I forgot to include this picture when I made the above post. This is the sanded first coat of thinned epoxy. I'm low on epoxy so the remaining coats will have to wait until tomorrow. Over all I'm very please with the results so far.

 

Edited December 18, 2013 by shawn

[themadchemist]

You can't even see the stockings. I figured the tan colour would show more. This should really toughen up the surface and waterproof also.

Good work Shawn.

[shawn32671]

Thanks Keith. I'm pleased with it so far and was surprised how little the nylon shows up myself. Too bad it's winter, it would have been nice to try the boat out right away after I complete the build.

[themadchemist]

In my experience with glassing, the resin makes the mat/clothe disappear...but I've always used white chopped matting or clothe. Of course my experience with glassing is limited to automotive use and I've never mixed it and wood so this is new to me. I thought the tan colour might not disappear as well, but its invisible. So what type of epoxy did you use? and what did you thin it with? 

 

I enjoyed the video on glassing you posted, I like that he mentioned where to purchase the cloth. Its a much thinner cloth then I've used in the past. Although the stocking seem to have done the trick and they are cheaper and more easily accessible. 

[NMBROOK]

Looks pretty darn good to me Shawn,great work   You have managed to keep it tight and neat around the deck rail,which was always going to be the hard part with it in place.

 

Kind Regards Nigel

[shawn32671]

Thanks Nigel and believe me, getting the nylon to lay nicely along the deck railing was no small feat.

 

Keith, I had an email from a guy tonight who had watched one of my "build log" YouTube videos of my Fantail Launch. He said he uses isopropyl alcohol as the thinner and that it works great so I gave it a try in conjunction with some new Loctite 5 minute epoxy I already had laying in my desk. I had plenty of working time since it was thinned to just about the consistency of water. I wish I had more epoxy as I'm eager to see what kind of final finish the hull will have.

 

I also plan to use slightly thinned epoxy to coat the whole inside of the hull too, well where I can reach anyway.

Edited December 18, 2013 by shawn

[captainbob]

Thanks for showing your work.  As I said I had never tried it myself but had heard it was good.  And yours looks fine.

 

Bob

[AndrewNaylor]

Well Stockings!!! I hope the Admiral gave you permission Looks like they worked well and now you have a much stronger watertight ship for your electronics and power plant remember to fill the propeller log with heavy grease to help stopping water coming in there

Andy

[shawn32671]

Thanks Bob and Andrew, I'm actually having fun with the nylon "glassing", it's really coming along nicely now. I have the second coat of thinned epoxy applied and curing right now. It seems to take upwards of 2 hours to fully cure to the touch but any final sanding shouldn't be done until it's cured at least 24 hours then I plan to follow up with a final rub of 0000 steel wool and really give the finish a "pop".

[shawn32671]

Second coat cured and ready for sanding. I may go with a third coat of thinned epoxy depending on the finish from sanding this second coat.

 

[shawn32671]

Doing the hull this way made a nice finish and I'd love to leave the hull as is besides adding color below the waterline but there are a few easily seen blemishes where the finished boat wouldn't be as nice looking. So my plan is still a sort of darker sky blue below the waterline and an off white for the remainder of the hull. I'm thinking about clear lacquer for the decking and the inner hull. I epoxied (as well as I could) inside the hull and was hopefully successful in getting it at least in the areas that will have the higher likelihood of getting wet while running the model.

[shawn32671]

This is after one coat of semi-gloss white Rust-Oleum Ultra Cover premium latex paint. I plan to apply 3 layers, sanding in between with 220 grit then a rub down with 0000 steel wool. The final sanded finish on the epoxy/nylon "glassed" hull wasn't as pretty as I'd hoped but the painted hull should be fairly nice when I'm done.

 

[shawn32671]

OK...That's enough sanding for me for a few days I hope :-) Here's the finished hull with three coats of semi-gloss white sanded in between the first two. The final finish isn't as smooth or as nice looking as I had hoped but the hull is water proofed and strong. Next is to paint the water line with some blue Krylon spray paint and do the final assembly and finally, add the radio gear and steam engine. I'm pretty jazzed about this build.

 

[shawn32671]

Just a quick update. This is my build with three coats of clear poly urethane on the deck areas and inner hull. Next is paint the blue water line and final assembly.