I first rebuilt it as a nitro boat with K67
power. The boat ran well, but needed a
lot of setup work to run with the greater
power of modern engines.
After some experience with electrics,
I decided to convert the boat to moderate
cost electric power. The first try used a
Scorpion HK 4035 - 800 Kv, a Castle
ICE 200 lite ESC with added water
cooling, and two Gens Ace 5300 4S
packs in series. Brian Buaas was able to
drive that setup to a NAMBA Electric
Scale and T Sport Hydro two lap record.
However, testing for full one mile
heat racing showed that the battery
capacity was marginal. Brian rebuilt the
battery box for four - 4S 5000 mah
packs. Now the added capacity let the
Scorpion draw more current with the
same prop and the motor became the
weak link. Brian burned up one motor in
Nationals testing, but installed a spare
and propped down to win both 1/8 Scale
and T Sport Hydro.
Scorpion increased their motor prices,
making the Neu 1527 1.5Y an attractive
choice for the higher power we now had
available. The motor barely fit, but test
runs at a District Eight race showed a lot
of promise. The maximum current draw
was now around 120 amps running a
1655 prop and the components were
very cool. The speeds were similar to a
Sport 60 at the same race.
PROPWASH
18
November 2012
News from District 19
(Continued from page 17)
My solution was to appoint an engine tech committee made up of Roger Pane, Jim
Osborne, and Mark Grim. At our races we now check engines before racing begins as
well as the winners in Classic Thunderboat at the end of the day. I am happy to say we
have only found one boat that was out of compliance at the six races we have run so
far. We also have had no complaints from anyone while doing this.
Legg Lake was the site of the 2012 NAMBA FE Nationals hosted by the Scottsdale
Model Boaters and the Southern California FE Club. I won’t go into too many details,
as I am sure David Newland will cover it else where in the
Propwash,
but it was a
great event and I believe everyone had a great time. FE is continuing to grow in our
district and we now offer two classes at all our district heat races.
I also want to take the time to say thank you to Steve Lopez, my Assistant District
Director, Jim and Tracy Osborne, and my Engine Tech Committee for all the help they
have given me in this first year of being a newbie in the District Director role.
Hope to see you all at a race!
NAMBA Hall of Fame Chairman Retires
By Al Waters
NAMBA Hall of Fame Member
NAMBA Hall of Fame Chairman,
Doug Twaits from District One, has
decided to retire from his position.
The Hall of Fame in NAMBA begun
in 1981 and to my knowledge, Doug
has been the only official Hall of
Fame Chairman during NAMBA’s
existence. This was a position that
was created by then NAMBA
President Alan Hobbs during his
tenure.
Doug requested that Hall of Fame
member Jerry Dunlap from District
Eight take the position for the
remainder of his term. All records
have been turned over to Jerry and a
nomination and election among the
Hall of Fame members will coincide
with the election of District Directors in the odd numbered districts, NAMBA
President and NAMBA Vice President which will be in the latter part of 2013.
Thank you Doug Twaits for all that you have done for NAMBA, as a President,
Contest Director, Fast Electric racing, and the NAMBA Hall of Fame. You have
served the membership well and will be missed.
Electrifying Adventures in Scale
By Lohring Miller
NAMBA Safety Chairman
Electric power and scale boats should be a perfect match. The clean and dependable
power plant should be great for boaters more interested in recreating unlimited
hydroplane racing than fooling with engines. NAMBA’s rules allow T (10S or 37 volt)
batteries with 12,000 mah capacity. These days, a much smaller and less expensive
electric power plant should easily be able to duplicate 11 cc nitro power. I decided to
convert my nitro Executone to electric power to see.
The boat was built by Dave Frank in 1988 and raced by Paul and Jerry Dunlap in
the 1989 season. Jerry gave it to me to replace my Phil Thomas Executone.
The 1982 “Dave Frank” Executone