Lew


Thanks for getting back to me.

As I said based on my research it is a USS Cushing TB-1, but with three exhaust stacks, where it should have had only two.

The 3 stack version is the USS Porter, but both the bow and stern are wrong.


The solution that I’m contemplating is to remove the middle stack. Then it is 100% the USS Cushing at least externally. The third propeller is not seen when in the water, so I feel it will be ok.


I got the hull repaired and am painting the bottom in stages

As much as this has become a huge project, I’m enjoying it tremendously.

I’m doing the work in my garage with the door open. My neighbors are popping in to see what I’m doing with this big thing. 👍👍👍

My recollection is there were no names mentioned. I also remember doing a little research (image wise) and could not find a close enough match. Most likely it was built pre-internet when info was limited.
Lew
Florida ⛱️, USA

Lew

When you got the original email about the mystery boat, did the seller mention what it is or its name ?


I researched it and it has features of both the USS Cushing TB-1 and the USS Porter TB-6

Please let me know


Thanks


Isaac

The Ace radio system is not functioning.👎


Either the receiver or transmitter or the crystals ( channel 72; old 75 mhz ) not working. But all look pristine. The radio sat idle for at least a decade most likely , and all the batteries died years ago.🤕

I tested the boat system with my regular 2.4 Ghz radio and the servos are moving.👍


One more test and most likely I will convert the controls to my Spektrum 2.4 radio. However, I will couple all the motors to a single throttle.


I really wanted to have this unique and special radio work, but may sell the radio ( it will not be cheap ).


Isaac

In light of the battery issues with all of them ( they are dead ), I decided to dispose of all the lead Acid batteries ( 6 of them ) and will replace with LiPo batteries which I am familiar with on my RC flying side.

Secondly, I ordered new replacement batteries for the Ace RC transmitter and receiver ( 9.6V for the transmitter and 4.8v for the receiver, both Nimh type ).


So hopefully when it arrives in a few days, I can proceed with testing the system.


Most likely, I will have to wire my own because of the multiple harnesses already bundled inside this boat.


I am still debating about keeping the BEC for each motor or replacing with a single one for all 3 motors.

Good planning, battery explosions are exciting🤕

Shifting gears now.

In the process of finding out what the current circuit is doing, I removed all 6 batteries and decided to slow charge one of the 12 volt lead acid batteries. Unfortunately it melted after one hour on the charger. These are really old batteries and currently measure at less than one volt to 2 volts. It appears they died a long time ago due to their complete discharge.

I charged it outdoors just to be safe. It was a good call.

Anyhow, all batteries will be recycled and replaced by a single LiPo battery that will do the same job as the old ones.


I will use weights for ballast later.



Isaac

Your current cart is similar to the ones most of the guys in our club use between the car and the water. Tool box, transmitter and boat, all in one cart

What you see in my picture is the retracted wheels, storage. Extended width is 3 feet wide

Ross

Yes, I am looking at the golf cart you modified.

however


It does not appear to be stable as the wheels are very close to each other and unless you are on a hard paved or concrete surface, it will tip over.


I currently use a conventional cart which I cut portions out to allow me to haul a single large boat with some extra room for radio and batteries. But it is limited to my current four ft long boats.


Attached is another version of the same cart I use to transport two boats each 4 ft long weighing under 10 lbs each. The boat stands are velcroed to the yellow platform for security. The boats are then lashed to the platform.


For this 6 ft boat, I will need to make a new cart with soft wheels so it can go over grassy areas on the wat from my car to the pond.


Isaac

Isaac,

If you squint closely at my avatar you will notice wheels under the hull, (no, it's not amphibious). I also will have 6 feet of boat and around 40 pounds to deal with. I found and old pull-type golf cart at a garage sale and modified it to a pull-type boat trailer. The wheels even retract for vehicle carry

Ross

Colin / Stephen

You are both right about the ballast weight and I was also concerned about how it sits in the water lengthwise as well.


however.....

at a total weight of 35 lbs of which 20 lbs is ballast, it make the transport of this boat extremely difficult both getting it in and out of my vehicle and then trying to transport it to a dock and then launching it. 🤔😮☹️

So short of getting a crane and a heavy duty dolly/cart, I need to make the job easier.



one solution is to remove all the batteries, replace with a single or if needed two LiPo batteries of 5500 mAh or greater ( which will last close to an hour of running time at medium speed ( more than enough as I carry multiple batteries ).


then for ballast, I will have some heavy fishing weights of similar weights that I can drop into the boat at the same positions as the current batteries while the boat is in the water and at the dock.


separating the ballast weight by dropping it and then removing it for transport will make it easier.



Failing all that, I will sell the boat as is to someone having more equipment than myself.



Thanks

Isaac

Mine weighs in at 6lb with out its poer battery and thats half this boats length was the battery to aid trim am I missing some thing if you take 20lb out will it not sit right in the water with such a long model

That's a lot of ballast you will need to add, and also lose valuable run time.
Cheers Colin.

I would like to replace the five heavy sealed lead acid batteries ( total weight is 20.4 lbs ) currently in this huge Torpedo boat with single LiPo either 2S ( 7.4 V ) or 3S (11.4 V ). of approx 5500 mili h. Anyone use those?


I run both brushed and non brashed motors using LiPo batteries on my 4 ft long boats with no issues ( all are on the 2S since 3S makes the ship go unrealistically fast ).



Isaac

thanks Lew

Ross

Lew

I sent you a pm regarding the old email you got regarding this model.


Can you post the letter and its pictures, or email to me ( I can give you my email in a pm.


Thanks

Isaac ( also in Florida )

One option is the link below.
Second option is a float activating a micro-switch.
I am trying to retrieve info on a DIY bilge pump water sensor that someone sent me many years ago🤞.

Lew
Florida, USA

https://www.bonzisports.com/product/electronic-bilge-pump-bonzi/

Lew

My other problem is that there are holes in the bow and the entire area need to be repaired.

So hopefully it will float first before it leaks😂😂😂



Thanks

Isaac

There are several methods of turning on bilge pumps in model boats when water is present: floats and sensors.

Lew
Florida, USA

The issue with bilge pumps is that you need to know you are taking water. Unless you keep the pump going all the time ( that may heat up the motor un necessarily ) or just turn it on every minute or so. Since the Ace RC transmitter has a label on it that says "Bilge", I assume that is what the previous builder had in mind.


Thank you


Isaac

mine has a bilge pump as they do get covered in water cutting through blilge pum runs when the motor is running its amazing how much water it does take on board even with well fitting top

mine has 7.4 Nimih batterys and goes like a shot not good in choppy lake and have to carefull on the turn its well leaded to keep even

My mistake sorry😮

Ross

Your questions answered below:

Now I have questions Isaac. . . 😁What is the pump(?) ahead of the 3 motors?

answer: See the previous post


I couldn't find a TB boat 1 to 18 with 3 stacks

answer : The USS Porter TB-6 had 3 stacks


Hope it helps


Isaac

Now I have questions Isaac. . . 😁

I couldn't find a TB boat 1 to 18 with 3 stacks

Who is she??😎

The pump apparently is bilge pump ( or at least that is what the label on the transmitter says ). I wonder why you need one for a model boat? Why not seal the hull to prevent water entering it?

Also, there is a water scoop behind the center prop and it exits out to the side. Normally, that is for cooling ( I have it on my other water cooled electric motors and ESC ).


So I still need to look closer.
👍

Isaac

More pictures of the electronics on board


and the transmitter

Isaac

I think I finally figured out what this orange unit is.

Apparently the builder wanted to save on channels and used a single servo with a cam on it.

When moved to one side, it would press on one push button switch and then when switched to the other side, it would go off the first switch and activate the other side.


I found a slider on the right side of the transmitter that said Horn and also Siren.

So that it is.



Isaac

Could the cam-switch be part of the motor, (located ahead of the 3 drive motors), that appears to have a water-pump and water lines connected to it?

(a water activated torpedo launcher, 2 torpedoes, 2 switches? One water line for outside water intake and the other for the torpedo launchers. One switch starts pump, opens valve to a torpedo launcher. Second switch starts pump opens valve to second torpedo launcher? I think this way coming from the world of electrically controlled hydraulics. Too far fetched??)

Wolle

There is an extra lever on the side of the transmitter for the third motor ( center ).

So here is a question :

I will replace all of the motor controllers with a modern ESC controller. If I couple them all together, then a single lever will control all at the same time without independent movement.

how do I get 3 controllers connected to each channel on the transmitter?


Thanks

Isaac

Stephen


Same era, similar design with minimum superstructure, but different ship.

I will gut out the old batteries and replace with much smaller and lighter LiPo batteries of 2S size ( approx 7.4 V )

I have the same boat or at least a version of it its a early motor torpedo boat wooden kit but same sort of 6 volt motor

Could the pressure switches controlled by the orange cam unit be to fire the torpedoes.
Cheers Colin.

ACE RC NAUTICAL COMMANDER TWIN STICK 7 CHANNEL SYSTEM

ACE R/C 7-Channel Nautical Commander. System Model No. 20G570810. Channel 62, 75.43 MHz, AM, including 7 channel twin stick transmitter. Dual throttles allow independent control of port and starboard engines for realistic maneuvering of multiprop scale ships and boats. The system was built in June 1992.

The “Robbe 100” module is a speed controller. I found something.....
"Robbe catalog from 1989, the Rokraft already existed: Data according to catalog: Operating voltage with BEC: 5-7 NC cells Operating voltage without BEC: 5-10 cells Traction current: 20/25A duration; 40/50A short-term BEC: 5 volts, 0.8 amps"

pics of electronics

Can you post another picture of the remote control. And Robbe's switch modules have German labeling. I did some research on it. Among other things, a short description... "Switching module that can be connected directly to the receiver and can switch up to 30V and 1A. Ideal for lighting, radar, etc. Unfortunately I didn't find anything else, but I'll stick with it.

Hello Isaak
interested boat. The servo with the orange knobbed head reminds me of my early days as a model maker, when I tried to switch lights without a switch module. I also built a device in which the servo arm operates a pressure switch. It worked, I still have the switch somewhere. I'll submit a picture tomorrow. But what I see here is a bit more professional. The rotating servo etc. presses and holds the knobs against the pressure switches or controls something at regular intervals through an endless loop. Maybe flashing lights or something similar.

I have no idea what this orange device is? It is servo activated.

Some sort of a cam for pressing an electrical switch left and right side.


Isaac

Set 3 pictures of the interior


Isaac

Set 2 pictures


Isaac

The model is approx 76 inches long and 10 inches wide.

Set 1 of pics of the model👍


Isaac

To let you know, I am the current owner of this model. I got it yesterday.

It was stashed away collecting dust in a garage of a friend who rescued it and the German U99 submarine from being thrown into the dumpster by the widow of the original owner a few years ago. The sub was sold to someone in Texas from what I heard.

It is an old technology boat model from the 1980's and 1090's with huge 6 volt batteries all over inside the hull. The boat weighs at least 35-40 lbs....

the model appears to be one of a kind and there is no documentation to go along with it. Apparently all in the dumpster.☹️

I am documenting the current condition before anything is done to it. I also have the original ACE R/C nautical Commander transmitter on 72 MHz ( with three throttle levers, one for each brushed and geared motor ).

The hull has some holes in it that need repair before going in the water.

lastly, There is at least a $1,000 in 1990's dollars that the original builder used here. It is also a work of art internally which at this point may not be functional. It is nice to look at though.


I did attach a battery to each motor and all are spinning freely ( yeh ).


The real boat:

It appears to be the American torpedo boat USS Porter TB-6 launched in 1896. However, it has a forward raked bow more in common with the earlier two stack USS Cushing. So either there is another boat which I did not yet identify, or the builder made an error on the bow. All else is identical to the USS Porter.


Photos later.

Isaac ( my real name )👍

I looked at my old Taubmann Plane Services catalog (1985-1986) and could not find this boat, Will continue the search👍

I don't have the boat, just an email that it is being sold (along with the sub). I responded about more info, but never heard back from them.

Good find Doug.

Lew

One war earlier I think Ron. Spanish American War of 1898.
The round conning towers were the first key for me - vaguely reminiscent of the conning towers of Ironclads of the American Civil War.
So agreeing with Tim, Nick and Lew's hunches I started hunting for early USN TBDs.
Instead of a TBD first up was USS Porter TB6 (pic 1), (link 3 below). Deck layout was about right but bow and aft stack position were wrong. (Model is obviously incomplete!)
So I then concentrated on TBs built in the 1890s, and discovered that 35 were built (see first link below) and several were involved in the Spanish American War, which incidentally resulted in the US taking the Philippines from the Spanish and the demise of Spain as a world maritime power.
Only one of the 35 had the equally spaced 3 stack layout as in the model, USS Stringham TB19 (pic 2). But by then the round conning towers had evolved into an open 'Bridge', as in the early TBDs and Destroyers.
I then stumbled over a site offering a plan for 'Spanish War Torpedo Boats', see 2nd link below. They freely admit that their model is an 'amalgam' of various features of the 35 TBs built between 1890 and 1898.
Alas we will never know what was in the mind of the builder of the model which started this electronic paper chase! But I think it is clear where his inspiration came from. Whatever, a very interesting subject, would be great to see Lew convert it to model a specific boat.👍
Or maybe another member takes on a build to the plan linked below?😀
Was an absorbing hunt😉
Cheers, Doug 😎


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_torpedo_boats_of_the_United_States_Navy

https://www.vintagemodelplans.com/products/full-size-printed-plan-spanish-american-war-torpedo-boat-suitable-for-radio-control

https://www.reddit.com/r/WarshipPorn/comments/2v85w3/the_reason_why_destroyers_were_invented_torpedo/

World War One torpedo boat. I will check some sites that still sell plans and maybe I will find it🙏

I've gone through many photos and have not seen anything like this model. My thought that it was pre-WWI but modern enough to have pivoting torpedo launchers.

So, back to the seller's email (the builder is deceased) that the photos were attached to:
"...large, over 5’ long. They are impressive. The chaser is old, an attic find 20 years ago and it was old then, now maybe 40 or 50 years old? -made of wood, and I suspect made from a set of plans and not a kit."

Somewhat close to the early U.S. torpedo boats, Cushing, Ericsson, etc., but the torpedoes, stacks, and other items are not close to the originals. Anyway, an enjoyable research looking at these old craft!

Lew

This picture is also very similar in it's features....

https://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-torpedo-boat-of-the-us-navy-1890-celestial-images.html