WoodStuff 3.5 FE Conversion

[Darin Jordan]

Just thought some of you might be interested in seeing a WoodStuff 3.5 being converted to FE...

I just finished mocking up the steering system in this 3.5 WoodStuff and it's turning out (pardon the punn...) pretty nicely... The goal on this, like with the TS-2 I did, was to make it a direct conversion, without having to cut out the hull at all, so that's why the radio box is still a drop-in... I figured it would make Nitro guys more likely to want to give it a try if they could just drop in a new radio box to convert it... The only other mod I decided to make on this one was to cut down the top of the transom to allow more room for the steeing... Seems the FE stuff has the steering arms down lower than on the Nitro boats... This part of the transom wasn't being used even for the nitro stuff, so not a huge mod... just about 20-seconds in my benchtop belt sander!!

I decided to try using a pull-pull cable system that I purchased from James Clegg at www.ovalexpressracing.com (http://ovalexpressracing.com/hardware.html )... Comes with most everything I needed...

In this hull... the batteries really needed to go all the way to the back to get the balance right, so in order to make room, I wanted to get the steering system OUT of the way... So, I'm ditched the solid rods, moved the steering servo WAY into the nose, then ran the cables out the side of the box... I still have to do the finishing touches, like add some guides to the rear of the box for the cables to ride in, but otherwise, the mock-up is about how it will be... I think it's going to work great...

The steering servo is mounted on a mounting plate made of ply, then it slides into the rails in the nose and is pinned in place...

I'll post more as I get closer to done... This one will be aimed for our P-OPC Spec class, using the SV27 power system on 4S1P...

More to come...

 

[RodneyPierce]

Looks great Darin!!!!!!!!

 

[Jerry Dunlap]

Nice work on the setup. I prefer mounting the steering servo near the transom, but having it way up in front definitely gets it out of the way.

JD

 

[Darin Jordan]

Nice work on the setup. I prefer mounting the steering servo near the transom, but having it way up in front definitely gets it out of the way.
JD

Jerry,

Because of the cowl on this, there isn't much clearance in the back to make the box tall enough to really pull that off without cutting out the hull... I was trying to avoid that... so this was the next best option... I think it should work fine, though I don't like the idea that once the cables are installed for the steering, they're part of the box... so if they are damaged at a race, it's NOT a quick fix to replace them...

I also needed to get the weight as FAR back as possible to get this to balance, so I needed the cells WAY in the back... and it's still going to be about 1/2" or so forward of where I was told I should start out...

On the LeeCraft/Geraghty hull I have here that I got from Charlie, I'll have some more options because it's a full-length tunnel...

Hint to Tunnel designers... If you'd like to market to the FE crowd... make FULL length tunnels... We need the room!

 

[David Kingston]

Darin,

Nice job.

Hope to see some more vid footage when its completed.

Dave

 

[waltr]

Hi Darin,

Lookin good!

Quite a bit different than I'm used to seeing,but you've done a really nice job with it.

Please keep us posted on the rest of the build. I'm curious to see the rest.

Thanks for sharing the pics

Walt

 

[Marty Slater]

Hay Darin what kind of speed an time an prop are you looking for

thanks

Marty

 

[Darin Jordan]

Hey gang... I think I have the steering system finalized now... I've been concerned about crimping the wire with the ferrels included with the kit, as it makes installing the cable kind of a one-time shot, but I figure out a use for those steering rod end-links that come with the TS-2 kits! I opened up the hole just slightly so two cable-diameters would fit, then ground off the little pin and made these removable "ferruls"... They are very secure and should allow for cable adjustments, etc., should they be needed...

The nylon guides at the back of the radio box are just landing gear straps from Dubro, mounted upside down... I think they'll work fine for now...

In response to Marty's question... With the SV27 power system, we're getting about 35-40mph out of the TS-2s using various props... Thus far, the fastest has been the ABC 45x55 with some work done to it... I think an X440/3 is just about there as well... We have a ton of torque, all the time, so we may have different prop needs than a nitro boat... we don't have to do ANYTHING to "stay on the pipe" all the way around the course...

Next step is to mount the radio gear and get the tubes installed in the back to run the motor leads through... Stay tuned!

 

[Darin Jordan]

Here are a couple more shots that show how I'm handling running the power leads out to the motor... and the water cooling for the ESC...

The SV27 ESC, with my own cooling plates, is sitting on top of a pair of 2S1P 4350mah PolyRC 20C Lipos... There is plenty of room there for a single larger 4S1P pack if I go that route... With all the cell weight back there, the balance point is around 8" from the back of the sponsons, which I think will close... 30% would be 8.4" and I still have the RX to put toward the front... so I should be able to get it close... If I need more weight in the back, I'll just have to add a touch of lead...

The wires will be sealed with heat shrink tubing...

I think I should have this one about ready to add some color to before the end of the week... Then I can get started on my new N2-Sport... or P-Mono... or N2-Mod Tunnel... or.....

 

[Darin Jordan]

OK Fellas... My WoodStuff 3.5 FE Conversion is complete... Completed weight with 4S1P of 4350mah Poly RC cells is 5lbs 2.9oz... That's just a tad heavier then the TS-2 conversion I did, but not by much... I could actually shave a tad of weight from it if I would have used something lighter than 1/16" lite ply for the radio box, but not enough to give up the strength...

I'll let you know when I get a chance to test it to see how this compares to my TS-2 with the same power system... I'm a little concerned because even with the cells ALL the way to the back of the box, the balance point is about 8 to 8.5" or so, which I think is about 3/4" or so too far forward... We'll see when I run it... In the meantime, here are the finished pics...

 

[Mike Hughes]

Darin

If you need to get the CG back some, change that lower out for the K&B. This will put more weight towards the tail. Also could extend the motor further off the transom. Lose that heavy cowl also. I could probably lay one up lighter than the dumas plastic.

Mike

 

[Darin Jordan]

Lose that heavy cowl also. I could probably lay one up lighter than the dumas plastic.Mike

Thanks Mike... I may take you up on that....

What does a good Nitro 3.5 boat weigh??

 

[Mike Hughes]

I think my LYNX. is 3.25 to 3.5 pounds. The scale is kinda screwed up. Not to sure how accurate it is. The plate that you set the stuff on wobbles. The kids love to play with it and one day drop it on the concrete floor. Yippee went Dad. Need to go get a new one.

Mike

 

[opio]

hey i dont know much about FE but i do have to say your workmanship is AMAZING nice looking boat

 

[Darin Jordan]

hey i dont know much about FE but i do have to say your workmanship is AMAZING nice looking boat

Thanks... but on this hull, I can't take any credit for the hull finish itself... I bought it this way from Dave Roach here on this board... I just pulled the decals off and cleaned it up... I'm not sure if he built it, or if Mike Crawford built it, but they did do a spectacular job... the finish work is very nice and I'm excited to now have it ready to test with... I'm hoping it's a step up from a TS-2 for this spec-power class we are working on...

 

[dave roach]

Mike Crawford built the boat and i used west systems to seal the boat and has two coats of ppg 2021 clear on it.

Dave Roach

 

[Marty Slater]

i believe Mike C builds all his hulls

Darin what kind of run time can you expect to get with that set up

thanks Marty

an loooking goood

 

[Darin Jordan]

Darin what kind of run time can you expect to get with that set up

Not completely sure... We were getting 10-laps around a 1/8th mile course with the same setup in the TS-2s... but the cells were getting dangerously low on mah and getting very warm... so we cut the races to 8-laps... then decided to go the standard 5 or 6 laps...

I should be able to fit some larger cells in this without too much trouble, but I'll only put in as much as I need to be safe... it's already a little heavier than I'd like...

By the way... Does anyone know WHY the inside edges of the ride pads are chamfered for the first 2/3rds?? Is this desired, or should they be sharp??

 

[Darin Jordan]

Completed weight with 4S1P of 4350mah Poly RC cells is 5lbs 2.9oz... That's just a tad heavier then the TS-2 conversion I did, but not by much...

I needed to make a correction... I got my TS-2 back together last night, and it turns out the full-up weight on that hull is 5lbs 12oz... so the WoodStuff is actually lighter... not heavier, as I originally thought...

 

[waltr]

Hi Darin,

Mike Crawford of Woodstuff Boats is finishing a 40" tunnel for me now and I'm going to see Mike to pick it up Saturday.

Being that Mike has no computer, If you don't mind, I'm going to print your pics to show him when I'm there.

You did a great job on it.

I think he will get a kick out of it.

I'm betting you have the 1st electric Woodstuff