Switching gears - ditching the Dumas PG-88 hull Options

[PaintChip]

Well I finally stopped the hectic life junk for a few hours last night and pulled my PG-88 hull down to work on it. I had managed to get the running hardware in and the RC gear setup and working. I figured I'd be relatively "safe" to epoxy the decks on since things were nice and neat.

I put the decks in place and let them dry (thank goodness for 5-minute epoxy) and put the hull on the temp stand I had crafted so that I could put the superstructure, turret, and 40mm mount on it to get an overview on how things looked. That's where things went from so-so to bad

The 40mm mount looked fine...level and nice. The superstructure looked so-so...it didn't "seat" quite right in the cutout of the deck...I figured I coild level it easy enough. Popped the turret into the hole I had drilled in the deck so that the shaft I put on the turret (so I can have it spin a bit off of a servo)...didn't look bad. Then I spun the model around so I could look down the beam from the bow to see how things lined up. My evil nemesis had returned! The first 8" or so of the bow were twisted up so that the starboard side of the bow was easily 3/4" higher than the port side. Once the deck got back to the point where the superstructure began it leveled off and was true.

So I started my search again for a premade fiberglass hull for the PG boats. The Scale Shipyard has one listed for $159..a 1:35 scale. I've got an e-mail inquiry in to get some ordering info. Looks like if they have them/can get them I'll scrap the Dumas hull and scavenge the RC gear and running hardware and start from scratch using the fiberglass hull. That way I can just worry about making decks and superstructures which should be easy

[rktman56]

Chip,

I can understand the money issue. I find myself very quickly spending lots of $$$ on a project. It simply SUCKS to back track and rebuy items for the same project. I have done it in the past, and I know it's part of the hobby we all enjoy. But I think I can save you some $$$

The struts that come with the Dumas H/W kit are not scale. When I built my USS Crockett I first used the Dumas running hardware. It does the job of "pushing" the boat around the lake. I ran my model many times with it. BUT, trying to get my model to "look" more scale they left alot to be desired. I later changed the struts, stern tubes, shafts and probs on my model. I wish I had made these changes before I had completed my model instead of going back later and tearing the hull apart. Take a look at the rudders, props and shafts. Will you be happy with these on a “true scale” hull? Although you bought the running H/W for the Crockett, it can be used on other models. I would recommend that you build what you will be happy with. If you want a “scale” model, take the extra time and effort ($$$ too) and build a scale model. If you are just wanting a model to run at your local lake, the Dumas running H/W will do you fine. Do what will end up making you happy reguardless of the money or time required. The money and time required are major reasons why some of these models take years to build.