Glen-L.com

Thought you might like a sneak peak at my latest project. Started building a radio controlled model Zip.

A "mini-zip" as my buddy Scott calls it. We resized the plans to just under 29" at his office a while back. I started tracing and cutting frames today. It will use an Aquacraft EP-1 550 size r/c electric outboard motor. I am building two sets of frames then my buddy Scott and I will each finish one out the way we wish. Mine will be a replica of the full size as closely as I can manage. Hope to have it done early this coming summer.

I wasnt sure what section to put this thread in, it certainly could have fit under "small outboards"

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My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

Looks cool here is a little back up motor that would look good on her. http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-JOHNSON ... _500wt_996

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Malahini, SEAN-NÓS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd6vkPjEy4U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uDVzcVpdhc
crackerbox build http://s753.photobucket.com/albums/xx17 ... =slideshow

The K&O motors do look good, but unfortunately are the wrong scale as the EP-1 requires....I have both and intend to build a scale something for my EP-1 also

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Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

Chris, let me know what r/c stuff to get as I know nothing about that stuff and can't even figure out what battery to use from the EP-1 instructions

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Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

Warren,
You can use about any battery pack that a r/c car racers use. Nicad, NiMh or Lipo depending on your budget and a charger. A r/c car speed controller is needed also, heat is an issue here so get bigger amp one then you need and make sure it has a heat-sink that comes with it. Any r/c car hobby shop will be able to help you, or just copy what I use, Im not sure what speed control that will be yet. Ive heard some r/c boat racing speed controllers are jumpy at low throttle and dont allow you to troll nice and slow so for non-race boats many prefer the car speed controllers.

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My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

Thanks Chris. I'm also a member of the Yahoo Toy Outboard group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ToyOutboardMotors/ .

They have had some discussion on the EP-1 and some have changed to look to look more like real motors and what controllers etc

Here is a cool site too:

http://toyoutboardmotors.com/

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

Pretty cool. I wondered if those little RC outboards were still available. So do you build this type of model from balsa and then stain it and epoxy it?

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2011 MALAHINI - KICKED IN THE HEAD

I wake up with a 16ft woody every morning
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534DBtp1Cnc
Website: https://sites.google.com/site/2011malahini/

Chris, did you make your frames from one piece,or multiple like the real thing?

Jeff, there is thin modeling plywood available, I had used some years ago when building a scale SK V-drive boat.

I had to soak it over nite to conform to the tumble home at the transom.

_________________
Boat building can best be defined as an endless series of
tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle, followed by a good bottle of beer.

Don't Dream Your Life, Live Your Dream

That is cool!!! When I get my Super Spartan done, I will have to do one, too. Our local hobby shop has 1/64 and 1/32" plywood that would be good for planking.

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

The frames pictured are all one piece from 1/8 Sapele scraps from my kayak build. I dont have enough to do both frame kits one piece so the second one will be cut piece by piece and lap joined. I cut several of those parts on the jig saw today.

All the plywood frame pieces will be cut from 1/8 plywood, I have them all traced on wax paper already, just need to go to Hobby-Lobby and get the wood and transfer/cutout.

The sides and deck of the boat will be 1/16th mahogany veneer, looks like I will have to order that. Some Woodcraft stores stock it though. I will likely use stain on plywood for the sole to match my Ash sole in the full size boat.

The real trick is getting the deck hardware that matches at making the cutwater, interior, upholstery to resemble the full size and hiding the r/c components. It will be really neat to see how my buddy Scott finishes his out. Im trying to get these both framed up here in the next couple weeks so I can give Scott his to work on during his holiday time off.

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My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

The 1/64 ply is called Marvalite and is frequently used to skin foam wings using aliphatic glue (Titebond). In this application the foam wing becomes extremely strong and rigid.

Traced and cut all the pieces for both hulls to be framed up. Started assembly.



Took me 61 hours to get to this point on the full-size Zip. Less than 20 hours to get the model to this point and cut out two of every part.

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My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

Looks really cool, Chris!!!

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"

Now that its winter again and its too cold to play outside I have been back to work on the r/c Zip model. Its a little tricky to put the forward planking on without screws....

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My Zip build log...
http://www.vupilot.blogspot.com
http://picasaweb.google.com/vupilot/Chr ... O0x7SvsQE#

"Nothing screams poor craftsmanship like wrinkles in your duct tape."

That is WAY COOL!!! You must bring it to G7!!!

Roberta

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Roberta
Built Zip "Oliver IV" and Super Spartan "Jimmy 70"