Building a Mini-T powered boat...new pics 12/08

[jim007]

Hi all. Since upgrading to the mamba its rained almost every day here!!
While I wont risk running the mini t in the wet I do still have the stock electrics and the peak raider...
My idea?? Build a kit boat and stick the gear in that. !lmao
Then I have a wet weather R/C too...
The boat's built and all the radio gear and batt fits perfect... Will post some pics of my progress when I get home...
Still need to paint it... gonna make it match my new shell. pics of that coming soon too :)

Can anyone tell me how I can make the electrics more water resistant?
Shrink wrap? Candle wax?
Do I need to worry bout heat or anything?

[James]

this is going to be awesome. you can then make a little boat trailer for your mini-t, that tow's the boat :)

I guess for the elecs, try a baloon or something, dunno about how hot it will get.. probably less hot with a regular mini-t stock motor in it... dunno if i'd risk the peak raider in it... :)

[justo316]

Damn, I can't remember what it's called.....but I remember reading on the traxxas revo forums about some liquid that you can dip your electronics in and it sets and makes it waterproof pretty much....

[remotebandit]

yes , candle wax is the best for a few reasons , main reason being you can still get the soldering iron in there to change things later on or repair .

ANother thing you can do which ive tried and does work not to bad is Jaycar Jiffy boxes and squeeze a fine line of silicon around the lid so that when you screw it on , it forms a seal . With regards to getting wires out of the box , drill a hole for them then fill it with more silicon .

[remotebandit]

PS .. i wasnt talking permanantly siliconing the lid , let the silicon on the lid dry overnight and so that you can screw it on and off any time you like .

I cant see you burning out the unit on a small boat but in saying this , id assume your talking a 280 - 380 size motor . Just give it a bench run with that motor and see if the heatshinks get hot , if they do , throw some bigger heatsinks on it , very simple process .

Adam .

[jim007]

I'm more worried about the esc/reciever and servo than the motor... if that gets wet too bad.
I am going to risk the peak raider in it. Why would i want to put a SLOWER motor in it???

[remotebandit]

well thats what im talking bout jim , putting the esc receiver in the jiffy box , i wouldnt be isulating a motor .

Id assume a different motor as there are many kits and some come with tiny motors allready and if your talking an ARF boat kit some come with 540s even 600s which would be suicide as youd know with that esc , you just mentioned kit in general so assumed youd use the motor it came with in the kit .

[BALISTC]

I've thought about building a micro RC boat too, but no luck in finding any hobby grade boats in a small size...does anyone know??

[James]

motor's can get wet anyway... some pro's drown their motor's in water or stick ice cubes to them before a race (cooling).. but yeh, the elecs, different story :)

[danhfvcsd]

only micro stuff i been able to find...
http://www.microhydros.com/

[jim007]

Well I'll give candle wax a go and silicon the edge of the lid... see how she goes...
Balistic, my motor was a $25 balsa kit that came with a tiny motor and twin C batt holder from my LHS. I'm really not sure how it will handle the weight or power of the set up i'm cramming into it but when i saw the kit i just had to try it.

[jim007]

Here'a a couple of pics of the boat so far. Just one coat of paint, and the electrics are just sitting there for the pics.

e107_files/public/121_mini_t_boat_web.jpg

[jim007]

the 7.2v batts fit too !lmao
but i'll see what happens with 4 AA's first.


e107_files/public/121_mini_t_boat_2_web.jpg

[jim007]

When finished the boat will have the same colour/pattern as my new mini t shell

e107_files/public/121_new_shell_and_mamba_web_004.jpg

[JD]

looking good,

don;t forget to smash a bottle of champagne on it when its done, HA HA :P

[jim007]

Wanna be a f*kin small bottle!! lol
The boat is 38cm long and weighs 600 grams with everything you see in the pics. Once the 7.2v batt goes in I think it should get some serious speed...
Will be finished in a couple of days. More updates to follow.

[remotebandit]

the old aeroflyte Sabre kit ( correct me if im wrong ) , those boats are wicked .

[BAGES]

looks great jim - I cant wait to see some action shots :-)

[jim007]

Thanks guys.
You're good remote bandit. It is in fact the aeroflyte kit.
Has taken me about 10 hours to get to this stage.
Finishing the paint tomorrow and fitting a rudder and all the electrics.
I can't wait to hit the water with it!

[opAsx]

get some vid of it :)

then when you get bored of the peak raider, dump the mamba in it :D

[jim007]

mmm, mamba powered boat... believe me the thought has crossed my mind. :-)

[opAsx]

"you can dooo eeeet!!!!"

[jim007]

Oops!!!
Maybe I would do less damage with the mamba in the boat...


e107_files/public/121_busted_web.jpg

[opAsx]

hehehahaha, thats what i have done to mine 4 or 5 times.

i understand why justo had so many plastic front parts in his lot :)

[Bowling Ball]

errr Did a tree jump out and bite the Mini-T??

I have never seen one bust-assed like that!

[opAsx]

nose 1st into a kurb and a hard front 1st landing on the nose broke mine on 2 seperate occasions.

only plasic and only like $5 to replace it :)

[danhfvcsd]

This part will stop you breaking that front kickplate -lol-
http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&I=LXGZK1&P=7

Doesn't look as good as the FullForce RC one - but i've heard the FFRC version wont work unless u run the FFRC chassis....btw - they're having a wicked special atm - pretty much all of their alum mini-t parts for like USD$200 - that includes chassis/arms/towers/etc etc :)

Throw the mamba in the boat and be done with it! hehehe

[jim007]

I busted it by smashing dead on with a treated pine log.
It cost me $25 in parts to get it ready to go for more punishment.
Could have been worse... I definately wont be getting a carbon fibre chassis now as it would have busted for sure and could happen easily again.

[BALISTC]

That BRP bulkhead brace looks shit and cheap....well it IS cheap, and I'm sure its not shit cos BRP stuff isnt, but it sure looks it :P

[jim007]

Well I just replaced all the broken bits then went out for a spin. I got through half a battery and snapped my brand new chassis. Was not really a hard hit either. The mini-t is now going to sit on the shelf until an alluminium chassis arrives in the mail. I won't bother with plastic anymore... Eventually the whole car will be ally.

[jim007]

Well it's almost finished... threw it in the pool today and am happy to report the mini-t boat floats!!
wasn't happy at all with the 4 cell AA pack... Nowhere near enough power to get the boat moving along at a reasonable speed. But as soon as the 7.2V pack went in... !lmao
I have a bit of fine tuning now to get the rudder to turn enough and somehow stop the propellor shaft to stop slipping. Once that's sorted the boat is going to be a lot of fun...
Here's some pics of the (almost) finished product.

e107_files/public/121_mini_t_boat__car_web.jpg

[jim007]

phew... !bow it floats

e107_files/public/121_mini_t_boat_in_pool_web.jpg

[opAsx]

ahaha, thats fking cool... now you need some vid so we can see how good it is :P

then you need to try the mamba... !yikes

[remotebandit]

1 word " Absolutely Sensational "

Excellent choice of colour Scheeme

[jim007]

I'll use the digicam to get a small vid once i sort those things out...
Should have seen it sit up out of the water before the propellor shaft started slipping. Way cool.

[BAGES]

ha ha wicked - can't wait for the vid - well done mate!

[JD]

heh, a nice use for the pool in winter :)