Inspired by the speedboats that one sees in the good old James Bond movies, I've started scratchbuilding a new model.

Balsa / Japonica / 2mm Ply / Foam Board build.

OAL : 950 mm
Beam : 250 mm
Estimated AUW : 1800 grams
Motor : Speed 550 DC Brushed
Direct Drive with universal joint
Single Propeller: 3 blade 55 mm dia
ESC : 30 A Turnigy (Overkill?)
Power : 3 S LiPo
Power reversal via DPDT switch (servo controlled)

Model will feature open cockpit with working lights. Hopefully, this build will give me confidence to start the much bigger Aquarama Riva someday.

Girish, thanks for the servos!

Posting a few pics that I am loosely following for the build.

Cool! Will be following with great interest

Thank you Sire! All started with a Graupner boat that I had as a kid. Many years later a senior gentleman from Gurgaon procured beautifully laser cut parts for the Aquarama Riva. A little practice will help me do justice to that beauty when I do build it.

Build started on 27th. Oct. Using an existing keel and modifying it - lot of surgery involved. Bulkheads have to be repositioned and completely redesigned to arrive at the desired shape. Motor has been wired to the DPDT switch and tested - works fine. Stuffing tube is a brass pipe that has been lengthened with the addition of ball point pen skeletons. The greasing funnel on the tube is from the tip of a ball point pen.

Target completion date is set at 30th. Nov. 2013 

So, this madness is the fault of that "senior gentleman from Gurgaon?" Ban him, hang him, bake him in pies!!!!

Would have loved to have indulged in the last alternative suggested by you, however, I am a vegetarian in my food habits. Unfortunately...........

That will be great boat. Will be following this post. :-).

The only large water body here to run this SPEED boat is the Brahmaputra, I suppose. Bhorolu is out of question! Veterinary pond will be small if you want to test its speed. Have you thought about it? Guwahati outskirts?

  Didn't think of that.......

Where did you source the propeller from?

I have seen that most boat scratchbuilders here use DPDT switches controlled by servos to get reversible brushed motor controllers. Is there no affordable reversible brushed esc available?

1. Prop was sourced from RCD

2. You are the champ - why don't you design one for us? Seriously.

I had sourced 2 reversible ESC's from a forum member (possibly came out of a cars) and installed them on my earlier builds - Mermaid and RAF FIRE Boat. This is my first attempt with a DPDT.

Cheers!

Deck finalised and side sheeting planks have been cut. Hull sheeting has also started.

Hull planking almost completed. 3mm balsa cut into strips 50mm wide and stuck with CA to the formers. Hull base from 1.5 mm sheet. Bow section to be done next. All excess will be trimmed away and gaps filled.

Used a heavy book to allow the adhesives on the pre bow curves to set. All joints reinforced with Bond Tite WOOD Adhesive after the CA has dried.

Will be reinforced with layers of Belco automotive putty after the hull has been sanded to shape.

Tedious and time consuming process, however, the results will nullify all that. Hopefully.

Does the angle of the prop cause difference in speed? I had read somewhere that speedboats have the props at a shallower angle than normal boats. "Surface drive" props?

Yes it does affect the speed/performance. The prop should ideally be parallel to the hull for best efficiency. The steeper the angle of the prop, the worse the efficiency as it will generate a down thrust into the water and cause the hull to rise. The shallower the angle, the more water it will push to the rear of the boat with increased efficiency and speed.

Nice... very nice...
I wish I will be able to get the neatness of your builds in my builds

Really apperciate you build VC sir very excellent boat Great build

Running out of adjectives. Wish I could have the same level of dedication that you have. 

That is one beautiful boat taking shape. Eagerly waiting....

Thank you gentlemen. The bow is the always the most difficult to shape and I am about to start on it now.

Amazing scratch build, VC bhai.

Quote from: lastRites on October 31, 2013, 07:03:30 AM
I have seen that most boat scratchbuilders here use DPDT switches controlled by servos to get reversible brushed motor controllers. Is there no affordable reversible brushed esc available?

HobbbyKing 45A Xcar ESC (brushed) for 750 rupees, shipped. Ordered 2 weeks ago, now waiting patiently.

Anjan, link please. This one?

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__32025__HobbyKing_X_Car_45A_Brushed_Car_ESC.html

VC bhai, yes that one.
Check this site for product buddy codes for discount-- http://hk.rc-international.info/swarm
I got mine for around $11 inclusive of shipping.