1. Hey guyz. Welcome to the All New Phlatforum!



    Sign Up and take a look around. There are so many awesome new features.

    The Phlatforum is a place we can all hang out and

    have fun sharing our RC adventures!

  2. Dismiss Notice

Mostly it's about Footy Class R/C Sailboats

Discussion in 'General WaterCraft Talk' started by frankmcneilll, Nov 15, 2009.

  1. frankmcneilll

    frankmcneilll New Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    53
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Hi All,

    I got acquainted with Graham McAllister several years back as the very first person to join a Yahoo discussion group he had started. In return, Graham was the first person to accept my invitation to join pop-pop-steamboats group, and one of the first people in the US to produce kits for Footy class R/C sailboats. See ScaleSailing Model Boats at http://www.scalesailing.com/ and be sure to check out Graham's ScaleSailing Free Downloads at http://www.scalesailing.com/support.htm and and his blog,
    Lifewithafooty's Weblog at http://lifewithafooty.wordpress.com/

    Best wishes. Frank
     
  2. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    Speaking of Footy Class boats, I am working on a FFF Footy. Maybe I should call it a PhlatFoot :lol: .

    I mounted the servos and ran the rigging lines today. The hull will be covered in liquid sheeting which will waterproof it and seal it up nicely.

    I am not quite ready to realease the plans yet as I want to finish sealing it and get the sails made for it and then water test it. After that, I will be publishing the cut files for the boat as well as the official sizing box to check for proper footy class dimensions.

    I will probably make a stand for it as well.

    Here is a preview of the new footy.... Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  3. theothers

    theothers Administrator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    761
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Wow Flash!! That looks great!! Very impressive. Can't wait to see it in the water.
     
  4. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    I've been spending a lot of time figuring out where the best placement of servos and such will produce the most throw to allow the main sail and jib to extend out. Sketchup has been a great tool in helping to see how everything will work before I actually placed the components on the boat.

    I ended up having to design servo extensions and cut them from 1/16" phonelic. I am hoping the Turnigy TG9 ($2.99) servo I am using will have enough torque to pull the sail in when under way in windy conditions.

    The sailboat is going to be very light weight, so maybe, just maybe, these servos will be enough. If not, I will have to add more freeboard and go with a higher torque/larger servo.

    I have an aluminum mast and ripstop nylon for the sails. Brass plates (hard to see in photos) will secure the halyards. It will probably end up having a bow spirit added to secure the jib and possible one aft for the main sail.

    I've talked to other footy owners who had a different hull design which caused a lot of problems pitching forward downwind. My initial testing of this hull and weight distribution leads me to believe this design may not have those issues, but I'll have to wait to see how she does when she is fully built and in the water with wind in her sails.
     
  5. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    6,311
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    NJ
    Flash that is some impressive work!
    How do you plan on sealing the foam?
    Nice job
    Mark
     
  6. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    I am going to use StyroSpray 1000 from Industrial Polymers. Same stuff that Wowplanes.com sells as liquid sheeting. I have put it on another boat I built and it worked very well, giving the hull a nice hard surface yet remaining very light weight.

    A mixture of spackle, water, and Durhams water putty will fill in any crevices prior to applying the StyroSpray.

     
  7. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    6,311
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    NJ
    Nice! I was hoping you would say that. I tell you the stuff can't be beat. I think you could use it on a life size boat and it would work just as well.
    Looking forward to seeing the first boat plans posted in the boat section :)
    Mark
     
  8. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    I made a little more progress on the Phlatfoot Footy. All of the internal rigging is complete and tested so it is time to glue down the decking, add the rudder and keel.

    A quick water test with a 500 mah Lipo installed shows the waterline will be right at 1/4".

    The jib and main sail lines which are connected to Turnigy TG9 servos run thru brass servo bushings which I had left over from some full sized servos. These are then glued into some 1/32" lite ply which is also glued to the underside of the deck. The brass bushings will reduce wear on the lines and the lite ply will provide the support needed for the tension on the lines when the sail is hauled in.

    I glue most everything together using Gorilla 2x Fast dry glue. To prevent the glue from expanding where it is not desired, I use blue painters masking tape. It can be removed about one hour after gluing the parts together. Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  9. theothers

    theothers Administrator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    761
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    New Jersey
    Nice job Flash. She looks great! Electronics and water are always scary but it looks like you have it covered. Keep up the good work!
     
  10. xtremeRCpilot

    xtremeRCpilot Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    736
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Cleveland, Ohio
    WOW Flash , really cool, my kids would love this!!! Dont give me any ideas :D

    John
     
  11. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    The build is going slower than I'd like. Too many irons in the fire lately, but I make a little progress every few days.

    A friend is also building one. It will be cool to be able to sail them on his pond.

    So anyway, I have now gotten the boat sealed with Styro Spray 1000 and am working on the sails.

    I am going to go ahead and pre release the SU files for those who may be wanting to build one of these. Attached files Bowsies.skp (83 KB)Â FFFfooty.skp (892.8 KB)Â FFFfootyServoTray.skp (377.2 KB)Â SailTemplate.skp (72.3 KB)Â ServoArm.skp (2.6 MB)Â [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  12. 3DMON

    3DMON Moderator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    2,380
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Sebastian, Florida
    Looking good.
    I almost wonder if the foam template could also be used as a sail.
     
  13. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    Here is a sheet of Bowsies cut on a friends table top CNC machine since I am currently having some problems with my Z axis.

    Attached files [​IMG]
     
  14. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    I suspose it could, but if you are going to race them, as I plan on doing, you need to be able to control the sheets.

    In strong winds, you want to pull the sails tight and in light wind you want them loose.

     
  15. mavacpjm71

    mavacpjm71 New Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    167
    Trophy Points:
    0
    This is too cool!!! Way to go!!!
     
  16. Bohh

    Bohh New Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    46
    Trophy Points:
    0
    I've had two Footy boats "in progress" for some time now. The stopping point for me was trying to attach the lead weight which is torpedo shaped to the stabilizer that goes down into the water. How are you accomplishing this?

    -Mike
     
  17. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    Gorilla Glue 2X Fast Dry, taped to the foam with blue painters tape till dry.

    That glue is something else... I did not start using it until a couple months ago at the recommendation of a friend. It works!



     
  18. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    Was able to set the sails today, well one sail anyway. I am going to increase the size of the jib sail now that I see that I have room to enlarge it.

    After getting the sail rigged, I put it in the pool and hooked up a fan for testing. When I turned the fan on, the boat promptly flipped over on its side and filled with water.

    So it was back to the shop for modifications. I removed the 2oz sinker and put a 12oz sinker in its place.

    Second pool test was good. Full blast on the fan and it heeled over a bit but only a few degrees so I think this amount of weight will work out pretty well.

    The footy draws about 1/2" of water now with the heavier balast vs 1/4" prior to the added weight but we get some pretty strong winds this time of year so I would rather opt for stability than lighter weight. Attached files [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
  19. kram242

    kram242 Administrator Staff Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    6,311
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    NJ
    That is looking really sharp Larry! I had no idea you could loosen the sail line too! that's too cool, I have to see this in action. Whens the race?
    Mark
     
  20. Flashsolutions

    Flashsolutions Active Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    1,123
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Leesburg, Florida
    I still have to make a new jib sail. My first template was too small. I found I can add another inch and a half to the sail which should give it more area for catching wind.

    Both the jib and main sail will loosen and tighten via the same sail servo.

    I am not too happy with the rudder action right now. Nothing I can do about it now, but next one will have to have some changes made to give more positive control of the rudder. The push pull system using fishing line is too sloppy and did not give me the results I expected.

    John Bernard is building one too. He has a small pond behind his house. I expect we will be racing there before too long. There are also several Footy clubs here around the area.

    I also race US 12's on Mon and Thur each week. I had a good day last time out, got 1st place in 2 out of three races.

     
  21. PAULE

    PAULE Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    79
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    FL
  22. MarkDavidson

    MarkDavidson New Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    1828 Pineta Cove Dr Middleburg, FL 32068-3471
    Nicely done..I have a T24 Tug Fun which is and fun to run! Sea friendly and fast, the T24 tug is a classic wooden tug boat that will last for years. Its powerful engine drives the tug at a fast pace and has plenty of torque for towing or pushing other boats.
     
  23. Tweakie

    Tweakie Member

    Offline
    Messages:
    233
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    UK
    Excellent work Flash :doubleup:

    Tweakie.
     

Share This Page