Cox Powered Airboat

Ok. Despite me feeling like crap, I didn't want to keep hanging on this, so grabbed the phone and snapped these pictures for your enjoyment, if you can call it that... Anyways, weight to date as it sits in the following pictures is right at 14.7 oz. Only other things to add are the micro servo and throttle cable for the throttle. So, I can expect to keep it at just under 1 pound. Receiver is not very visible in the hatch area, but it is off to the right side in the picture, I just have to glue down some Velcro for it to mount to, as well as the battery pack. I do now wish that I had cut the hatch opening about an inch more towards the front for balancing, but should get away with it as it sits.

And I would like to add that the engine powering this contraption is a Cox product engine with black horseshoe bckplate, SureStart piston/cylinder set, Killer Bee thrust washer, r/h snap starter, TD spinner, and the added bonus of an Ace R/C throttle ring. And not as to tie up the 'Cox Engine Of The Month' thread, yes Jason, it may look quite familiar..........

I think it looks good! Like all models you'll need decals, stripes, flames or stickers of some kind to keep your orientation ....port or starboard. Glue on a GI Joe for the Captain and Pilot. Pop open an Adult beverage pour some over the Bow and christen and give her a name!! I'll settle for a video of her flyin across the water!

Marleysky wrote:I think it looks good!  Like all models you'll need decals, stripes, flames or stickers of some kind to keep your orientation ....port or starboard.  Glue on a GI Joe for the Captain and Pilot.  Pop open an  Adult beverage pour some over the Bow and  christen and give her a name!!  I'll settle for a video of her flyin across the water!

I'll second that! These models are so cool! You never have to worry about it going splat into splinters.. unless you run it in a granite quarry.. and make a bad turn..

Uh oh, always wanted to build one for the times when the baseball field gets swamped from rain.
So foam it is!

1/2A Nut wrote:Should move along much better than the old Dumas mahogany ones.

Sacrilege!!!  Like saying a Norvel .049 moves along better than a Cox .049.  Some things should just be left unsaid!

New, I can't really tell from the photos, but is that a balloon tank?  The shape gives me an idea.  This build makes me want to build a L'il Swamp Buggy replica, even though I have nowhere to run it.  The tank looks like the back half of the strap on engine pods for gliders, and it seems that I could take one I'm not using and just strap it down to a foam hull.  Save some fabrication time, and make it easier to transport.  Just thinking out loud on paper here.

The Swamped Mark

batjac wrote:

1/2A Nut wrote:Should move along much better than the old Dumas mahogany ones.

Sacrilege!!! Like saying a Norvel .049 moves along better than a Cox .049.  Some things should just be left unsaid!

New, I can't really tell from the photos, but is that a balloon tank?  The shape gives me an idea.  This build makes me want to build a L'il Swamp Buggy replica, even though I have nowhere to run it.  The tank looks like the back half of the strap on engine pods for gliders, and it seems that I could take one I'm not using and just strap it down to a foam hull.  Save some fabrication time, and make it easier to transport.  Just thinking out loud on paper here.

The Swamped Mark

Yes, that is a balloon tank on the back of the pod. I will take a picture of it in a bit and post it here for you. I may have a set of drawings of the boat still that I can send you if you are interested. I will have to take a peek though. At worst, I can draw out the pod for you and give the dimensions. Please bear with me for a bit.

And also, thanks again for the help and compliments.

Ok. Here Is a picture of the tank assembly from the back side. I am trying something I saw somewhere else on the tank neck. I cut the top off of an e-juice bottle that was laying around, and used it as a 'plug'. The one I saw online was from a Visine bottle top, and this was comparable in my eyes. I did not have anything of suitable size to use as a front 'plug', and why I tried it. Anyways, here it is.

New, that's a darn good idea with the juice nipple end , I don't have any of those but I do use eye drops and solution that has those removable nipples that could be drilled to fit a fuel hose and a balloon slipped over the outer circumference for a tight fit . Have you had a chance to run it or you still snow bound ? The boat looks good . Eric

No, I have not yet run it. Snowbound I am, and getting more as I am typing this message. I do have intentions of trying it out in the snow, but only when it is nicer out and I get rid of this darn cold that has been hanging on. Third time its been back since between X-mas and New Year's. Thanks.

I hate that your suffering from the dreaded cold/flu . You eating plenty HOT peppers with your chicken soup bottle OLE Crow on the side // That's a long time to have a cold maybe a Doc visit for some antibiotics is in order. Hope you feel better soon and can get out to run that swamp buggy . Eric

Your airboat will work fine on snow. And, for what it's worth, float planes work great off of snow as well. I find that the floats bridge the inevitable footprints that are found on a typical winter flying field.

Thanks. I am now beating this darn cold. It has now broken and the bad stuff is going out of me like itis going out of style!☺ Thanks for the rreinforcement of using it on snow.

Hey New, What are the dimensions of your air boat ? Thanks

I am not home right now, but will get those for you later this afternoon.

Ok, here it is.
8 1/2" wide (constant)
19 1/4" long (constant)
2" tall at the transom
2 1/2" tall at the deepest part.
Hope this helps. As of right now, it balances at approximately 7 1/4 inches from the transom.

NEW222 wrote:Ok, here it is.
8 1/2" wide (constant)
19 1/4" long (constant)
2" tall at the transom
2 1/2" tall at the deepest part.
Hope this helps. As of right now, it balances at approximately 7 1/4 inches from the transom.

Thank you sir

Well, the airboat now has a bit of artwork and a name. Spirit Of Wisconsin.....

Nice, Can't wait to see it run, And thanks again for the Plans