Setting up a FF.12

[Watercadet]

Hey ya'll. I am getting my feet wet in 'riggers and so I bought the Protype FF.12 from Peter at Climate. As it sets it is built and sealed? It has the stuffing tube in and rear sponsons off. It is drilled for a 3-30 mount so I will get one of those. The spar for the turn fin was included but not drilled for in the sponson. Where specificaly does that go? Also on that note, which fin should I get? The tube looks like 7/16 (can you confirm or deny that Peter?) so what size flex are you guys running. I need to know balance point from the transom of the sponson too. What are the part no.s for the speedmaster strut mount, strut, rudder and mount that ya'll are running. I am going to talk to Kevin B about the Nova .15 as there are no other A hydros at my club so the extra .03 ci is gravy . Is the Maccs 2.5 pipe the one used normaly? The hole for the flex that is in the radio box wall, how do I fill in arround it? Shims onder the booms? There are two maybe 1/4 blocks in the rear and one in the front. I don't have any instructions and I am sure some of my questions are addressed in there but I know that I will get the latest and greatest info here. Any thing else I am missing? Thanks in advance.

Adam

 

[ClayGlover]

This should help you out-

http://www.firefighterboats.com/backup/FF%...n%20manual2.doc

(if it asks for a password, just hit cancel and it will direct you there, I guess Tom's been editing them)

The turnfin spar is not attached to the sponson? Is there a slot to slide it into at the rear of the right sponson? The spar should have been installed before finishing the sponson, so you might have to improvise? That is a high stress point, so make it strong. Mount the sponsons on the tub and make sure you set the spar level to the water surface before gluing it in.

Turnfin? grimracer .12 fin works great. I slotted the rear mounting hole in the fin to provide angle adjustment. While your at it, go ahead and get Grimracer's FF12 fuel cell he makes for this boat-

http://www.grimracer.com/Hardware/172ninja12TurnFin.htm

http://www.grimracer.com/Fuel%20Cells/Fire...cell%20page.htm

You say 7/16" stuffing tube? that's huge, at least you'll be ready for the lawnmower engine upgrade in the future.

you must have made a typo. I used 3/16" stuffing tube through the tub, then shimmed up to larger tubing through the strut to accomodate a standard 3/16" stub shaft. It is 1/8" flex cable soldered to a 3/16" stub shaft. Make sure you get a 3/16" stub however way you do it for the good prop selection.

Just use some scrap wood with the right size hole in it to glue around the stuffing tube exit into the engine bay, but only after you have lined up all of the driveline straight into the engine coupler so that the cable slides right into the flex coupler without having to bend the stuffing tube any.

CG- a hair behind the turn fin.

Speedmaster .21 mini rudder and .21 small strut works. You might try the small Octura BC stuff.

http://www.rossisales.com/strut.html

http://www.rossisales.com/ruddernew2.html

Mac 2.5 pipe and Associated 180 degree header. The Mac small pipe coupler works great for me, the car couplers seem to slip to much on mine. It allows for a very short pipe length too. Tom suggested two 1/16" shims under the rear boom, and that's what works for mine as well.

Recommend you give G&M Hobbies (aka Gary Pruesse) a call at 630-279-2451 for all the non-grim stuff. He has or can get all of what you'll need in one place at good prices to boot.

Don't let the engine size fool you, these little guys are a h00t! I'm gonna order the FF.21 from Climate as well. B)

 

[TomMoorehouse]

hey Clay..... are you a mind reader? I don't think I could have said that better myself. Thanks much!

ummmmm yea.... so if ya have any more questions feel free to ask and clay will read my mind again

 

[Watercadet]

Wow Clay! That was point for point! Thanks a lot and to you Tom, its the thought that counts Ya 7/16 was a typo I ment 7/32. I think that those FE guys run tefflon. There is no slot or hole or nothin' for the spar. That makes me nervious :blink: The sponsons came with the white flame/ red body paint scheme, like the floor model on the web site. Maybe it is.... either way there is no space for it. Also I discovered two holes in the bottom of the tub in the engine bay. They are approx 3/8. Are they supposed to be there? I looked over the manual quickly and didn't see any thing about them.

 

[TomMoorehouse]

yes the holes are supposed to be there.... they let the water out while your running..... kinda a standard thing to do on nitro riggers.

you will have to figure out a way to mount the spar to the outside of the sponson i guess??? you can do it that way without trouble..... actually makes replacement easier if it was to ever break.... i just think they look better inside. see if you can glue say 3 4-40 threaded inserts into the sponson to attach it???

 

[Watercadet]

they let the water out while your running

I guess that makes sense B) Do ya'll run the round or flat bottom strut? Also it there a legnth I should start out with for the rudder. OK that is all for now. I am sure I will have more questions.

P.S. Thanks to Bill McGraw for the fast responce

 

[TomMoorehouse]

i recommend the round bottom strut

my rudder is a tad over 3" long and about 1.5" is below the bottom of the rear sponsons

 

[TomMoorehouse]

pic1

View attachment 2583

 

[TomMoorehouse]

pic2

View attachment 2584

 

[Watercadet]

Hey Tom have you run that Sirio .15 5 port? It sounds like a powerhouse. At my LHS it is 179 but, KB said he could deal on the NR .15 rear exhaust. Too many options. Maybe the mugen like you have Clay...

Adam

P.S. Clay I havn't forgotten about the Hydro footage, I am still trying to find the tape! The beach footage was from 2001 and I have 2002 and 2003 so far. Only thing good was us towing the u-3 back after the red flag for u-100 doing acrobatics.

 

[ClayGlover]

LOL. sweet, whenever you have the time Adam

 

[TomMoorehouse]

i have not got the boat done yet with my garage project..... so the sirio is still untested. i'm guessing the .15 NR would be a big block not a small one???

 

[Watercadet]

Tom!! the pics you posted have fallen off!! Do you still have a copy?

 

[TomMoorehouse]

we only have room for about 2 months of pctures at our current usage rate. i deleted a bunch today to make room for the photo gallery post...... i got to keep my eye on the bandwidth also!

anyways..... i just took another..... this one good?

View attachment 2973

 

[Watercadet]

Ahhh that is perfect thank you so much! I was cringing when I say that galery thread come up Thanks again, I will copy it to my hard drive when I get home.

Adam

P.S. did you do that steering linkage like that to help kick up?

 

[TomMoorehouse]

yep, thats exactly correct..... nothing gets broken..... or so is the theory!

 

[ClayGlover]

Hey Adam. I slotted both front boom's screw holes about 3/16" (not the sleeve) to allow for toe adjustment.

 

[Watercadet]

Are either you guys having a problem with watering the carb? Good tip on the slots Clay. My booms were not even cut when I got it. That made for some choice words when I went to pull them from the tub and the sponsons were the only thing in my hand!! Umm yeah Peter said he built this boat for display...

 

[TomMoorehouse]

nobody races 12's...... so no watering problems <_< got to get in someones spray for that to happen