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I am a Radio Control aircraft flyer in the main however, a disaster with a
model inadvertently led me into a crazy, unusual, workable, model boat!
I had a twin engined Falcon Park Flyer as my first model some time ago
and, like most know-it-all first timers, I flew it on my own with
disastrous consequences. I picked up the pieces and my mates said, 'Well,
that's the end of that then'. I told them then that an aircraft never
dies and would live on one day in another form.
The bits were stored in the shed and time went by until, one day whilst
tidying the attic I spotted my grand-daughters old Barbie boat. I don't
know where the inspiration came from but I thought of the old twin motored
Falcon bits and thought, 'I wonder'. All over the kitchen table went the
bits and the Barbie boat. Within 2 evenings Radio controlled Barbie Mk1
was built.
The concept of Mk1 was 2 Channel steered by the motors. It worked well on
the Canal, much to the amusement of passers by. Comments included,
'Mummy, why has that man got a Barbie boat in the water?'. A
bewildered mother looked, stared at me and said to her 4 year old
daughter, 'I really don't know my dear!!' and walked on. Barbie Mk1 worked
Ok and turned on itself almost for a few sessions then, disaster struck.
The circuit board packed up. Over to Barbie Mk2.
Barbie Mk2 had both motors connected together for on Channel and a
standard Servo sat on the back seat with a rudder fitted in the dummy
motor box on the back. She is terrific., travelling at 3mph, turning
within 1 metre and running for 30 minutes on a 7.2v 1200ma NiCad battery.
On one session my mate was happily running his IC boat, some way from me
as he did not want to be associated with it, when he suddenly ran out of
fuel in the middle of the Canal with no hope of retrieval. Several people
were watching trying to work out how to get it back. No problem!! Barbie
to the rescue. She nudged his posh boat to the side much to the applaud of
the spectators and his embarrassment.
Since then Ken has come on the scene, complete with ski's. Still under
development because he is too heavy for the skis and tends to sink too low
in the water. There must be a way to keep him afloat!!
Crazy idea it may be however, had it not been for an air tragedy I would
never have had an interest in boating. I am now looking at building
another crazy boat. Who knows what it will be!!
Specification:
Boat name: Barbie's Teddy Tours
Engine: 2 x 180 Electric with ESC powered by 1200ma NiCad (running time
approx 30 minutes)
Length: 20 inches
Beam: 8 inches
Weight 2lb 4oz
Top Speed: 5mph
Regards,
Graham Voss
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