Blazer Marine Slingshot Build!

[Mario Johnston]

Right on. I'll look into that later on.
I've been out of work for 2 months so I'm sort of stuck using what I have here until I start making paychecks again!

 

[Mario Johnston]

12 hours later, these turned out great!
Quite pleased with the results

Managed to get the right rear ride pad on yesterday as well. Went very well, maintained a very sharp edge.

 

[Mario Johnston]

12 hours later, the rear shoes have ride surfaces! Couldn't be happier with how these turned out. Super sharp!

 

[Mario Johnston]

Also coming out of the clamps today, the first left sponson skin! Turned out about as good as the first. Almost time for floors


Seeing less and less of these oddly shaped wood pieces laying around every day is hugely rewarding! It's starting to turn into something that resembles a boat!!

 

[Mario Johnston]

Started the floor skins first thing this morning, just pulled the clamps for the finished product! Again, pretty pleased for my first attempt!

Very small gap in epoxy on right, doesn't seem to be anything some thickened epoxy filler couldn't handle. Will sand and fill in tomorrow. Otherwise, very happy!

 

[Lay26]

have you been watching the weight of your finished parts?

 

[Mario Johnston]

have you been watching the weight of your finished parts?

Not entirely. But I have been checking in with other local club members who own slingshots from time to time to show them my work and get their approval. I'm working on acquiring a scale soon

 

[Lay26]

go easy on the epoxy wherever it pools adds weight and every little bit adds up in the end.

 

[Mario Johnston]

Speaking of weight, what sort of weight are you guys seeing on these slingshots once fully built? Tub and sponson weight?

 

[Lay26]

i found the tub coming in at 1.5lb and almost 3lbs with some savox servos i had in one of my builds. could be a little lighter, but because i add a layer of carbon cloth in the motor section. i heat race so i want the hulls to last a little bit longer
the sponsons i found a bit over 1 lb each but the total weight varies...if you equip the boat with a 26 motor its going to be a little lighter than the 30.5 rigger......weighs even more with the 32 . you don't really need a ultra light hull unless you doing saw. but just know water, oil too much epoxy and paint all add weight to wood boats.

 

[Mario Johnston]

Took some time away from the build to focus on work. But I've been back to making progress recently! Beginning to line up stuffing tube...


Setting sponson tubes in place. Will be taking some measurements before these get epoxied into place.

 

[Buckshot]

Speaking of weight, what sort of weight are you guys seeing on these slingshots once fully built? Tub and sponson weight?

My Gas version with a 29.5 and steel pipe weighs 189.2oz or 11.8lbs
My Nitro version with CMB 1.01 and aluminum pipe weights 171.4oz or 10.7lbs

 

[Mario Johnston]

Pins are aligned in the sponsons, finally time to set them permanently.

 

[Mario Johnston]

Set side skins this morning! Pretty thrilled with how these turned out. Time to prep for top skin

 

[Mario Johnston]

Back at it! Last week I managed to get my final skin onto the sponsons and couldn't be happier with the result!

Also started playing with this piece of carbon for the forward support. Going to do some cutting on that part today hopefully, stay tuned as it won't just be a solid cover.
Back to the sponson sanding!

 

[Mario Johnston]

Got the sponsons all buttery smooth, now its time to tackle the ride surfaces.

 

[Mario Johnston]

Another step knocked out, very excited with how these turned out!! Nice sharp edges intact, almost ready to seal.
Might give these some pretty cherry wood tips

 

[Lay26]

Another tip is to put silicone inside the holes in the pins so that water doesn't seep into the sposons

 

[brad nichols]

What was the epoxy mix you used in filling the box for sponson tubes? Great looking build!

 

[Mario Johnston]

What was the epoxy mix you used in filling the box for sponson tubes? Great looking build!

Thanks so much!
I made a thickened West System epoxy mix:
105 resin, 206 hardener, and equal amount 406 filler. Same mixture i use to fillet