I am in the process of building a laser lookalike out of automotive sculpting clay. No I did not take mold from the original and I do not plan on selling them. I am not a class racer so I am not concerned about competition regulations. I have sailed the laser several times but was not impressed with the finish and hull surface. I also wanted to use my own radio equipment.My question is… What would you improve upon to make the boat sail even better . I am allready experimenting with a new keel bulb and sail winch. It will be nice to see one in a different color than white.
Darrin,
If you are not planning to race with the class, then what do you want to do with this boat?
One thing I have contemplated doing is taking one of these boats and removing the keel bulb and instead installing a “skipper” that would act as ballast.
Here are some pictures of the AS1200 Musto Skiff built by a guy in the UK along these lines:
Download Attachment: [ APS 1200 Production Prototype 135.jpg](http://www.rcsailing.net/forum1/data/wgorgen/2004723103916_APS 1200 Production Prototype 135.jpg)
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There is no ballast on the keel. Instead the “skipper” is the ballast. It moves from one side of the boat to the other (and thereby moves in and out in the process). I’m not sure if he can also move fore/aft or not (which would be ideal).
Download Attachment: [ APS 1200 Production Prototype 160.jpg](http://www.rcsailing.net/forum1/data/wgorgen/2004723104614_APS 1200 Production Prototype 160.jpg)
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The boat does capsize:
Download Attachment: [ APS 1200 Production Prototype 150.jpg](http://www.rcsailing.net/forum1/data/wgorgen/2004723104111_APS 1200 Production Prototype 150.jpg)
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The skipper includes enough flotation so that when he is pushed under water, it causes the boat to right itself:
Download Attachment: [ APS 1200 Production Prototype 153.jpg](http://www.rcsailing.net/forum1/data/wgorgen/2004723104228_APS 1200 Production Prototype 153.jpg)
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Download Attachment: [ APS 1200 Production Prototype 154.jpg](http://www.rcsailing.net/forum1/data/wgorgen/2004723104344_APS 1200 Production Prototype 154.jpg)
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I think this would make a very fun laser and add a lot of realism to the sailing experience. It certainly would earn a lot of looks from the folks pondside!
Will Gorgen
How does the person turn around on that boat Matt?
I see said the blind man to the crippled nudist who put his hands in his pockets & promtly walked away.
The “skipper” swings through to the rear:
Download Attachment: [ APS 1200 Production Prototype 155.jpg](http://www.rcsailing.net/forum1/data/wgorgen/200472682948_APS 1200 Production Prototype 155.jpg)
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(It controlled by a servo in case that is not obvious.)
- Will
Will Gorgen
Will: The boat you are describing already exists. A number of years ago, Robbe of Germany I believe (it might have been Graupner) sold a kit of a laser like sail dinghy with a lead filled man on deck that rotated around the boat on a servo. Further, he was hinged at the waist and would hike out on the sides and sit up toward the back. The boat might even still be in production.
As to the original idea of building a one off laser, you should know that the current r/c boat was designed under the supervision of the full size boat’s designer, Bruce Kirby and was intended to duplicate the sailing characther of the full size boat. Sure the sail winch is not the fastest one out there, but it is the same in all boats. The reason for the current all white finish is the boat is blow molded out of materials that make it virtually indestructable. I suppose a model laser could be done again, but its kind of like re-inventing the wheel. Seems like a lot of work just to have a non-competitive boat with a different sail winch painted a different color than white.
Roy, Sorry to have hijacked this discussion… I was answering Darrin’s question of what I would do to the laser to improve it… Seems no one else wanted to give Darrin an answer…
Anyway, thanks for the tip on the model already out there. I’ll see if I can find it…
As for the all white hull - that is a thing of the past. They now have a decal that allows you to do the two tone hull colors like the full size boat. Check out the RC Laser “color” Page: http://sailrclaser.com/So_You_Want_Color.html
- Will
(Edited to give a better link)
Will Gorgen
thanks for the photo of it will
I see said the blind man to the crippled nudist who put his hands in his pockets & promtly walked away.
The A600 was made by the same guy that built the APS1200 prototype that I posted the pictures of. He uses a similar mechanism on both boats to move the skipper from side to side and a similar flotation system to right the boat if it should capsize.
- Will
Will Gorgen