HMS Gnat
An Insect Class Gunboat
As built by Nick Brown.
The model is built to 1/32 scale making it 7ft 3inches loa (including the rudders), beam 14inches, and only 1.5inches draught.
It is powered by two 12v car heater motors each driving an in-turning 45mm propeller from Prop Shop. Due to the large size of the model I wanted to have smoke/steam pouring out from the funnels, this is achieved by two MMB big foggy units. We used two Electronize 30amp speed controllers, controlled by a Robbe F-14 twin stick Tx.
Here is the story so far...
September 2010- whilst I am busy surviving the Leuchar's Air show (for Queen & Country) my Dad, Steve, lays down the keel and builds the entire hull, tunnels and motor brackets, etc... in less than two months
November 2010- A big tapering wooden box (I mean hull) appears at the Warwick Show on the Wicksteed Park MBC stand.
December 2010- Dad hands over the hull to me and in a typical forces way tells me 'to get on with it or else!'
May 2011- At the Model Boat Mayhem show- HMS Gnat's maiden voyage
The model is built to 1/32 scale making it 7ft 3inches loa (including the rudders), beam 14inches, and only 1.5inches draught.
It is powered by two 12v car heater motors each driving an in-turning 45mm propeller from Prop Shop. Due to the large size of the model I wanted to have smoke/steam pouring out from the funnels, this is achieved by two MMB big foggy units. We used two Electronize 30amp speed controllers, controlled by a Robbe F-14 twin stick Tx.
Here is the story so far...
September 2010- whilst I am busy surviving the Leuchar's Air show (for Queen & Country) my Dad, Steve, lays down the keel and builds the entire hull, tunnels and motor brackets, etc... in less than two months
November 2010- A big tapering wooden box (I mean hull) appears at the Warwick Show on the Wicksteed Park MBC stand.
December 2010- Dad hands over the hull to me and in a typical forces way tells me 'to get on with it or else!'
May 2011- At the Model Boat Mayhem show- HMS Gnat's maiden voyage
We recreated the original steering system of push rods and chains around pulleys, and it actually works .
We thought that the steering gear would be the weakest link on the model but it was human stupidity when both prop shafts disconnected themselves from the motors (someone forgot to tighten the nuts, I'm not mentioning names, Dad).
Nick B
Thanks to Paul Millers for the pictures so far.
We thought that the steering gear would be the weakest link on the model but it was human stupidity when both prop shafts disconnected themselves from the motors (someone forgot to tighten the nuts, I'm not mentioning names, Dad).
Nick B
Thanks to Paul Millers for the pictures so far.