Finally achieved a childhood dream. I have been wanting to do this since my schooldays. Tried it once in 1982 and didn't succeed. I have just completed her a couple of hours ago and she works like a dream! Didn't expect her to perform so well with a brushed motor. She is almost entirely built out of coroplast. My only regret is that I don't have a big enough place to give her full throttle and let her rip!

Details and videos soon to follow.

I would like to thank all the forum members for their valuable guidance and support. I am pleasantly tired now after 12 hours of continuous effort.

Warm regards,

VC

Construction : Coro reinfgorced with bamboo strips.
Skirt : Nitrile/Nitroprene Refrigerant pipe
Length : 66 cms
Beam   : 35 cms
AUW    : 350 grams
2 Ch Tx/Rx
Drive : DC Brushed Motor (25000 Rpm at no load). No load current 1amp/Stall Current 10amps. Torque 0.36 KgCm.
Servo : One unit weighing 8gms.

A video would add to the awesomeness !  

And how did you do the black lines ?

Thank you! Black lines were painted on (temporarily) using a permanent marker. Video being posted shortly.............

the model looks superb, interesting material for skirt 

looks jazzy

how do you get "air cushion" ( the hover part ) with only one motor ?

Huge air intake which grabs half the thrust from the prop and channels it into the skirt.............

Trying to upload the video..............

Cheers!

VC

Looks neat and really clean. Video please!!

congrats sir
cant wait to see the video

Regards
Vaibhav

Ok Guys,

Here is the first video:



Cheers!

VC

It seems to be a bit under powered.......dont mind sir and you seems to be of my age....

Was trying it out at 1/3 Throttle as I don't have enough space. Recharging the batts now and will post a better video in a bigger place soon.

I am sure you are much younger than I am, I was born in 1964.

Cheers!

VC

but in the video theperson controlling seems to be under 20 it seems ytou have maintained a lot

good job sir 

"but in the video the person controlling seems to be under 20" - Botox, Plastic Surgery, Cosmetic Surgery, Facelifts, Shahnaz Hussein et al...............



VC

Some build pictures.......

And some more ............. Any questions are welcome.

Cheers!

VC

In order to reduce weight, I need to power this baby with AAA cells. She is now running on 8 X AA cells and with 8 X AAA, I can reduce the weight by another 35 - 40 grams. Can someone please let me know where I can buy AAA Cell holders? I have looked everywhere on the net. Would be willing to pay in advance if anyone can let me have 5 pieces AAA X 4 plastic battery holders.

Regards,

VC

VC,
Why not substitute it with a Lipo? Will be much lihter and you will get higher duration for same weight.

VC have you tried it over water yet?

Using LiPos would be the sensible thing to do, however, I would then need special chargers and equipment. I know that finally, for all my models, I am going to have to invest in LiPos, but for now, I am trying to stay away from that expense.

I was supposed to take her to a swimming pool today to try her out but we are now in the middle of a severe cyclonic squall. I guess that will have to wait till next weekend.

Cheers!

very nice VC. Waiting for more videos.

ashta

Thank you Sir!

Hi Members,

Resurrecting an old thread, with a very good reason, as will be evident in the days to follow. My scratchbuilt Hovercraft was lying dormant for the last 5 months and only today she's been upgraded to a Brushless motor, 6X4 prop, 18 A ESC. LiPo battery. Radio changed to Futaba Attack Tx/Rx. Video of the improved version follows.

If anyone has any experience of building a Griffon 2000, 8000TD or the LCAC 1, please drop me a PM with your contact numbers. If anyone has any practical experience of fabricating the Hovercraft skirt out of Rip Stop material or any other durable alternative (NOT GARBAGE BAGS), please PM me immediately. I will contact you,  I regret that I am not interested in discussing hobby class and / or experimental stuff that didn't work out. I've been there and done that.

Mark Porters sites / designs and plans have all been downloaded so don't take me there again. I need to hear from people who have actually constructed a Practical RC Hovercraft with an inflatable skirt that actually moved (not crawled) on land and water.

I regret that my usual niceties are not in place, forgive me. I am under tremendous pressure and I can't elaborate on that now.

IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?

VC

She is flying, she is flying!!!!!! Sweet Lord this one has now turned into a ROCKET! At 1/3 Throttle she is ripping across my living room at breathtaking speed. I am ecstatic! I had never expected anything as fantastic as this to happen. I wish I could post a video but the speed is too enormous for me to handle indoors. 

I want to express my deep gratitude to Mr. Musawir Mustafa, my guide and Mentor, who painstakingly helped me set it up from brushed to brushless. I couldn't have achieved this without him!

Outdoor land (maybe water) trials and video tomorrow!