Revell Hermann Marwede 1/72 RC Conversion

[wibblywobbly]

Well this will make a change from tanks, but I was looking for a winter project, and although I have a couple of tanks that need completing, and plan to build another one mostly from scratch, I am on course to move house shortly and didn't want to start any of those tasks until after the move. Knowing that there is a boating lake near to the new place, I decided to have a go at converting a static boat kit to RC, as it is a lot cheaper than buying an RC boat. I also end up with a very detailed model that will look good sat on the shelf.

I have in the past renovated a large scale Vosper MTB, and built an Italeri 1/35 Schnellboot, the latter was a real challenge as it is the largest 1/35 scale boat on the market, had photoetch etc and was very fragile. Despite building both, I sold them on as fully functioning RC models without ever sailing them myself.

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=11426&p=98020&hili ... oot#p98020

I looked around at what was out there, and what others have done, and found three models that are popular conversions. Flower Class Corvette, Submarines, and the Hermann Marwede, a German Search and Rescue vessel. After much research I plumped for the last one. A bit more research and I found Gameseek were selling the kits for £30 so I bought one. Looking at what is in the box, and how big this is, it is amazing value for money, and if it all goes pear shaped then it hasn't cost me the earth.

I have ordered two shafts, propellers and two flexible couplings that cost £15 all in.

If the build comes together using what I have, then this whole boat will only have cost me £45. Time will tell.

First job was to fit the rear tailgate and seal it.

Then printed a triple motor mount, but then decided that two 360 motors would be more than enough to propel this as it is so light.

I am going to try running it off an RX18, this will allow me to run both motors off one stick and control them tank style for turns etc. If this works, then I have a T90 RX18 that I can easily plug in there that will give me sound effects as well.

The decks need to be removeable, so I put a lip around the hull and inserted cross members to pull the sides against the deck. I can then screw the deck to the cross members.

There are bow thrusters at the front, and although I did my best to seal them, there is a pin hole leak somewhere. Getting this area watertight is todays task, there isn't a lot of room in there.

[silversurfer1947]

If you use the T90 board, you would need to keep well clear of the other control stick, otherwise you will have problems explaining away the cannon

[wibblywobbly]

There is that minor detail, , however, the T90 board requires the button to be pressed as well, so I should be on safe ground. If it doesn't all work how I am hoping it will I will have to invest in some boat esc's. The problem with using the RX18 is a lack of servo support, so I can't have servo operated rudders. As the boat is so light I will test it to see if it turns using just two propellers contra rotating (the RX18 does this on superspin) and if that works I won't bother fitting any. I could try using a turret rotation unit and cobbling that up to a pair of rudders, but that part is all a long way off yet.

[MichaelC]

This is an interesting project wib........

[Bogeyman]

Nice one Rob, looking good.

[tomhugill]

Following this one with interest rob

[wibblywobbly]

I am now realising that this is not a task for the faint hearted, nor anyone without an armoury of modelling tools, fillers, and glues....

Being a static kit, some parts, the decks and hull for instance, along with the railings are all designed to be glued together, and rely on each other for alignment and support. I have therefore had to cut some parts, and re-attach them to two other parts to get the whole thing built so that I can remove the decks for access to the rc gear. This in turn has resulted in using filler all over the place not only to fill gaps, but to keep the water out. Even as a static kit this would be a challenging build, as not everything lines up at all easily, and for some of the larger flexible parts getting glue onto a whole seam and getting it in place before the glue dries, and then holding it there while it does, requires five hands and 27 fingers.

I am making progress though, and now its pretty much just the superstructure to go on. I have cross members under the decks so that they can all be screwed down securely. I have no doubt that some of the fragile parts will get broken the first time I sail it, as there is pretty much nothing to glue them to, just dents in the deck?

I did a test fit of the running gear, and decided to order two brass propellers as the plastic ones that came with the propshafts looked pretty dire.

Anyway, here are a couple of pics and more will follow as work (slowly) progresses. I have to think 5 steps ahead all the time to make sure that nothing is going to prevent me getting it apart once it is completed.

[Bogeyman]

Rob, that. Looks very good indeed.

John

[wibblywobbly]

Having now learned to ignore the Revell 'Order of Construction', things are going together a little better. One thing that I have noticed is that the hull is slightly warped so twisted front to back, which is only starting to show up now that I building the superstructure. I may be able to pull it back straight with bracing, but we shall see.

[971wright]

Hi rob looks a nice model ,there are a few extras you could add if you wanted , helicopter spinning rotor ,fire hoses .



regards pete