Hey all. So I have been busting my booty to get one of two ships ready for a battle on the first Saturday of October. The main one I want to have ready is a class 3 cruiser that I have been scratch building. I seem to be running into one issue after another, and it is beginning to nickle and dime me to death. I have given up on being ready for October, but the greater issue is that I am incredibly frustrated and tired of dropping all kinds of $$$ to basically get no-where. What do you guys do in when this happens? I am assuming this kind of thing has happened to others. How do you get past this feeling of wanting to take the damned boat and cut it up with a sawz-all and be done with it?
Ah, the joys of the hobby. First of all, I'd recommend shelving the second boat entirely until your primary one is completed. Even if you're prioritizing one over the other, just having two incomplete boats adds to the "lack of progress" pressure / impression in your own mind. Second, focus on ships systems one at a time. Obviously, you start with the hull: windows outlined & then cut, subdeck / decks installed, then prop shaft(s) & rudder(s). Next get your power systems in. Battery, receiver, drive & pump motors. Don't sweat skinning the boat, superstructure, or even guns / firing systems until you have a boat that can drive, steer, and pump out. If you take the systems one-by-one, you will have a better feel for how much progress you've made. Hope this helps. Any specific problems or issues, throw them out in the forum here, lots of us have probably had and solved similar issues.
Short term, I go get a drink. Longer term, depends on the problems. Mostly though I am so entwined in the hobby at this point I really can't help but get drawn back in. I do try to look at problems from 2 views though: 1) is there something wrong with how I am approaching things, am I cutting corners, working while too tired, in a hurry, etc, and is that causing my problem, and 2) am I simply getting lost in the forest because I'm not looking at anything but the big picture.
It's tough keeping motivated. For me it's a systems approach and I work from the bottom up trying to finish one system before starting on the next. My sequence with my Barham: Hull edge trimmed flat and true! Internel stiffening frames Shafts and motor mounts Water channeling Rudders Subdeck and casemates Cut hull windows (done after all structure is in place) Decks and turret bases Install cannons and CO2 system (working on this now) Electronics and power Superstructure Skin Paint Battle It helps if you have other builders nearby to go BS with from time to time.
Huh, kind of sounds like me. Could you give us an idea of what is giving you trouble? That might help us give you advise.
keep perspective...remember its only a toy boat hobby...only sell your wife and children(if you have them) not your house or apartment,you need a place to build! Seriously, step away for a while it will still be there.
Also, if there is a experienced captain any place remotely close (4 hrs or less in a car), plan a build session, make the drive... even if it is a few hours of boat time... you will discover different ways to do things, and also, when you work with somebody else, it helps.... That is why Jeff and I, and lately Charlie, hang out on Skype while I am in my shop. They can watch my video feed and we talk about everything from pole dancin classes to whats happening in the hobby... Your invited to join us... may help with the frustration a little...... at worse, you get to talk a bout beer and that strange noise you keep hearing coming out from under my chair...
That's why Ralph and I will be working together to build our WWI BCs (Indefatigable and Seyditz). Ralph didn't enjoy the competition part of the hobby very much, probably because his models often didn't peform as well as they could have. He liked to figure things out on his own and could design interesting and complex systems, but being more complex they were more prone to problems in application. After many years Ralph's getting back into the competition part of the hobby in part because I'll help him build the Seydlitz. I've learned from a lot of people in the hobby and as a result of their experience and advice have been able to build some effective RC warship combat models. I've learned a lot from Ralph about how to make hulls and molds due to his extensive experience in professional fiberglass work- we've collaborated on some hull projects (HMS Nelson and Indefatigable) and I look forward to working with him on the battlecruiser models. I think you'll find that working on a combat model with someone else will be mutually beneficial.
Well, I think the issues I am having are a combination of inexperience, at lack of listening to others, and trying to cut costs/corners. This is a hobby with a VERY steep learning curve and I have not been following established best practices. The gang at SCRAP is great, I am just a really bad listener. I think I just need to step back and take stock of where I am. I can then decide if I need to start over again. One thing I have recently realized is that you really should have everything laid out in your ship before you start putting things together. lol.
Sounds like you need to make yourself a build thread. document what you've got and where you're stuck
I totally understand I have had mine for almost 10 years and it is still not done I waited for to long and now I have only 2 rotating big gun canons the old friend of mine designed and built them. I sure miss my old friend helped me in many ways but the best thing is just keep plugging at it before you know it your either dead or its done lol
Pick one boat, take it apart and start a build thread. Ask questions, get this first boat on the water, then worry about a second boat.
Whenever you can, pick a ship for which a fiberglass hull is available. That'll be a tremendous help in building your first model(s).
I may have missed it, but is there a general building thread for guys with no experience building RC ships?
Are you looking for a walkthrough of a build with explanation of thought process, general guidelines, a 'where to start', or something else?
Yes basically a "how to" for someone like me who has no experience in RC ship building. I've built RC airplanes so I'm comfortable with the various adhesives and some basic wood working etc. I've gone through many of the build threads which give me a general idea of the process but nothing very explicit. I should say that I'm not going to be able to do anything in this hobby in the short term (family commitments) but was more curious if there was an already established thread to peruse.
First, get to a battle or build session. Second, look and listen. Third, you are NOT going to reinvent the hobby or be the biggest bad @ss on the water your first time out. Concentrate on building reliable systems, your sanity will thank you later. Your avatar says you are in NC, we just had the IRCWCC national event there, reach out to those guys to help get you into the hobby. Some captains have "loaner" boats at events, if you are nice and listen I am sure they will let you battle. As for some light reading, check out the build threads in this website. Tons to read, but everything should be taken with a grain of salt. Again, get to know your local captains and get some real world advice and see some functioning ships. Once you have done that, then post in the build section of this website of your build and we will help where we can. Last thought, be in it for the long haul. You only need ONE ship to battle, get it working perfectly before starting a second ship. If and when you start that second ship, you are not to touch the first ship for any parts. This way you can build the "killer ship" but still have the original to actually battle. Lou
Brad F - To VVaholic's point there is a battle upcoming in Oaksboro NC (~ 30 min from Charlotte) October 10-12. Probably either the last decent sized event on the east coast before it gets cold and the main building season starts up. If you're at all interested in the hobby this would be a huge benefit to atleast come out for a couple of hours on saturday/sunday. We'll be more than happy to show you our ships, answer questions, and generally talk your ear off about the hobby. Even if you can't build or get involved for a while it would give you some back ground so when life calms down you have a better starting point. As for the original topic - it can be a very frustrating and expensive hobby (and it's still a LOT less than a ton of other hobbies....) having the right tools and knowhow help alot so for a rookie getting into it either using these forums or even better meeting up with someone with more experience can help out a lot to both make progress and keep yourself motivated. Like others have said focusing on one ship at a time can help. Another thing that can help is just trying to do 1 hour of work a day if you can, you'll make a ton of progress faster than it sounds like you would and not working on it for hours on end can give you time to think through issues and sort stuff out so you make fewer mistakes that need fixing later. Most people I've met (myself included) dont do their best work when they are frustrated and walking away for a few hours or a day or two can really help you approach the problem from a different angle and see a fix that you were blinded too before.
Thanks for the advice gents. I have actually been to a battle about 10-15 years ago down in Orlando but have only been a distant observer since. I was actually thinking about building a transport of some sort for the first ship. Something that's relatively easy and would still be useful for certain game types (and something my son could drive around when he gets old enough outside of combat.) I was informed about the October event in Oaksboro but unfortunately I cannot make that event. Perhaps in the spring when the season starts up again I can attend an event or two. Oh and no worries about me trying to reinvent the hobby or thinking I'm gonna be remotely good at this when I can get into the hobby. I'm firmly confident in my ability to get my @ss kicked!
