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Hi again Martin,
I have just completed and test flown a hovercraft that I have built.
Details as follows.
This is my first attempt to build a hovercraft. It was built from plans
which I obtained from the Model Hovercraft Association of which I became a
member. Other members of the association helped me overcome some of the
many construction problems. It is based on the hull of a Griffin
hovercraft, but the cabin is of my design.
The hovercraft is 42 inches long, 18 inches wide and 12 inches high. It is
powered by two electric motors. A Graupner 600 for forward and reverse and
a Graupner 400 for lift. There are 2 ESCs and 2 batteries, one for each
motor. The twin rudders make it very manoeuvrable. Unfortunately it is not
very good in reverse, however this mode can be used nicely as a brake.
Construction is from .04 and .08 mm plywood and 6mm balsa wood. The skirt
is kite material. It was spray painted with Tamiya paint and sealed with a
clear lacquer. Later in the year I am going to reconstruct the cabin as I
am not overjoyed by certain aspects of the one I have at the moment. It
will be exactly the same design but will be fitted better and in a
different way
Building a hovercraft is quite an experience as is flying it. It is also
something people tend to look at twice. So far I have only operated it on
concrete and am really looking forward to getting it on water. From all
accounts it is a different ballgame on water so it looks even more
interesting.
There were two main problems I came across. One was making the skirt as
sewing is something I leave to the wife. As she likes dressmaking, she was
keen to help. The other problem is storage. As my wife had put some effort
into making the skirt she could not object to it being kept on a bed in
one of the spare bedrooms. Well that's what I like to think!!!
Pete B |
