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 Author  Topic: Adventures With a SIngle 400 Speed Motor in 1/32 PT Boat
PeterTareBuilder

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of PeterTareBuilder  Posted on: Aug 7, 2008 - 6:48pm
Hi there.

Well, I finally got to run the old 1/32 scale PT boat with the new Graupner 400 Speed motor driving only the center prop at the local pond. Unfortunately the boat only ran for a few minutes. My buddy, who was watching it from a different angle wqs the first to see smoke coming out of the large engine room hatch. That is not supposed to happen. I had to wade out to recover the boat. I think the motor is fried.

Before buying this and a second identical motor for my current 1/32 PT boat build I asked and I was told by the clerk at the RC shop that it was fine to run this motor with a 7.2 volt battery pack. He LIED! I can still smell the hot wires. The model will have to live in t he bathroom over night because the odour is so strong.

Regardless of what any store clerk might say do *NOT* run a 4.8 volt motor with a 7.2 volt battery. I am going back to the shop with this motor and also the one I have not yet installed. I am hoping for a refund on the one and an exchange on the other one. At least the boat did not melt or catch fire.

While it ran the model looked very good. The model was almost planing and that was with two non-revolving twin props exerting their drag.

Therefore the experiment was a success in that a 1/32 scale Lindberg PT boat model can attain a respectable speed with only one center drive-shaft turning a three-blade prop.

Cheers from PeterTareBuilder

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm | IP Logged

Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Aug 7, 2008 - 9:17pm
A PT BOAT laying smoke is perfectly normal. Must have been being chased by a Large Mouth Bass and the Skipper called for smoke. Good thing you rescued the crew and the boat before any more damge could occur...........


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PeterTareBuilder

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of PeterTareBuilder  Posted on: Aug 7, 2008 - 10:30pm
Hi Frank.

I don't know about the bass. There are some very small fish in the pond. I do need to watch for Mallard Ducks and Canada Geese though.

The boat really did look good prior to the smoke appearing. And the smole came out of the large engine room vent not the smoke generator.

I don't know exactly what burnt inside other than the motor but it sure does stink -- still!

I bought an inexpensive digital camera the other day and hope to get some images of the boat underway soon.

Cheers from PeterTareBuilder

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm | IP Logged

PeterTareBuilder

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of PeterTareBuilder  Posted on: Aug 8, 2008 - 1:57pm
Hi there.

I took the entire model up to the RC shop where I had bought those Graupner 400 Soeed Race motors. The same clerk who sold me the motors was there.

He wanted to see for himself if the motor was fried or not so I hooked up my 7.2 volt battery and tried to run the motor. No go. The clerk told me I need a new $50 speed control as well as a new motor. He has no idea why the motor burned out. He would not replace the burned out motor nor would he refund my money on the unused motor. Now this fellow knew exactly what prop-shaft and prop I was going to use when I bought the 2 motors. Needless to say I did not buy a new motor and I did not order the $50 speed control either.

After I got home I installed a new 10.8 volt motor I had purchased for my 1/72 HMCS Corvette model. Guess what? The existing speed control is fine. I'm taking the boat to the pond later this evening to run it and see how it goes. I'll let you know.

Cheers from PeterTareBuilder

"Give me a faster PT boat for I'd like to get out of harm's way!"

Total Posts: 494 | Joined: Jun 24, 2008 - 5:59pm | IP Logged


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