Here is my second scratch built radio control boat made of popsicle sticks. It is somewhat based on the Andrea Gale fishing boat from the movie “The Perfect Storm.” It isn’t super detailed, but was given more effort than my first one.
It runs on a stock 540 motor with a 7.2 volt battery. She’s about 30″ long and 8 1/2″ wide. Like my first boat, a traxxas villain drive system was used. There is an electronic speed control which is a bit harder to control low speed on than the old mechanical speed control in my other boat. I also installed a cooling fan for the motor. This came out of an old computer. It’s a 12 volt fan but runs plenty fast enough on a seperate 8.4 v battery.
Some cosmetic features include an HO scale train bridge stood on end, O scale train figures, and some HO scale train building roofs. Everything else is popsicle sticks, dowels and thin slivers of poplar.
The hull was wood glued, epoxied inside and sealed outside with the resin only from a fiberglass repair kit. Fiberglass was not used. Every change of season my old boat gets joint cracks on the outside of the hull from expansion & contraction. I must seal them up every spring. This taught me to seal the outside with resin on the new boat. After the resin many, many coats of white paint, and finally several coats of clear coat.
Overall I’m pleased with it’s handling, though I would like to get a less aggressive power plant. It’s tricky to get a smooth take off sometimes with this motor and the ESC that I have in it.
This video includes both my first popsicle boat which is a tug/work boat and this new one. There are front and rear views on board.
All music from www.freeplaymusic.com
Duration : 0:8:25
[youtube k7VbQxZrvow]
I forgot to ask a …
I forgot to ask a question. I am trying to figure out the best way to make the bow and stern curves without breaking the sticks. This causes me all kinds of headaches, and it looks like U found the seceret. any suggestions? I have heard that there is something U can dip the pieces into that will help maintain the curves while the glue sets, but what it is I dont know.
It depends. I …
It depends. I usually go slow with this boat so it last pretty long – 20-25 mins. with an 1800 mah
how long does the …
how long does the battery’s last??
Thanks so much! I’m …
Thanks so much! I’m really glad it worked out for you. I’d love to see some of your projects sometime!
I wanted to take …
I wanted to take just a minute to thank you for really great idea. I have been trying to figure out how to scatch build inexpensive boats and this really works. I am finishing up a model of a BROOKLYN class navy cruiser for my nephew and it really looks good. has cost me less than $30 to make and is an absolute joy to work on.
I actually built …
I actually built the hull last summer. That took about 3 weeks but that’s working only an hour or 2 a day. That didn’t include sealing & finishing. I finished the deck and top and everything else this summer in less than 2 weeks with limited working time.
how long did it …
how long did it take for you to make that? just the popsickel stick boat nothing else
You’re welcome. …
You’re welcome. Glad to help and hope to see your boat on you tube soon!!
thanks soo much …
thanks soo much thanks to you i have all my ribs ready and starting the hull happy sailing
First of all, I …
First of all, I glued the “V”‘s together, starting with the back ones and gradually making them steeper after a certain point. Once they’re together, glue a stick to the bottom on each side to form half “i beams”.
Here’s what should help you: The sections that are toward the back and flat , mostly the same(No twists), Lay a piece of wax paper on the table and glue stick edges together forming a wall section. Once that’s dry glue the ribs to it. You must use small pinch clamps for twists later on
i was inspired by …
i was inspired by you to make my own popsicle stick boat but i been having trouble getting the ribs to stay together so i can add the sticks to the outside could you help me out thanks
Thanks. Yeah, the …
Thanks. Yeah, the bow is pretty high so there’s no problem with some waves.
i was supprised to …
i was supprised to only see one motor, but its still an awesome boat, and it looks like if the waves dont brake the bow it would go great through waves
I didn’t really …
I didn’t really establish a scale but the closest I could tell you is that I use “O” scale train people on it nicely. I’m not sure what the ratio is on that scale. I know “HO” scale is 1:86, so it’s bigger.
wat scale is it
wat scale is it
Thank you! It makes …
Thank you! It makes my day when I’ve made someone else’s day!! If you like this, I have several other RC boat videos.
I love that movie, …
I love that movie, this made my day
Thanks. Yeah, I …
Thanks. Yeah, I wasn’t to thrilled with that myself.
Nice Boat.
But …
Nice Boat.
But the “mapere-to-noise-converter” is horrible. Better use direct coupling.
She’s called the …
She’s called the Elizabeth Dane, named after a ghost ship in the original “The Fog” horror movie from the late 70′s.
whats her name
…
whats her name
lemon fruit tango blast vanilla strawberry razzle ice?
what colour the flags?
tasty
tasty
wow. awesomeness.
wow. awesomeness.