Greetings from Jersey City

Hi all Stumbled across this website while looking for other things and an interest has started. I have been in R/C for some time started in Airplanes with my dad when I was a kid and am now doing tanks of all things. This looks like a fascinating and cool Hobby. I thinking about building my first ship and was looking for some input on a first ship. I am not completely unskilled but have no illusions that i could scratch build anuthing of substance. Like ships on both sides favorites would be Iowa class Battleships ( would do the NJ as she gets no love from the forums and I am a native Jerseyan), HMS Hood, DKM Bismark, Tirpitz and Graf Spee. Looking at Fiberglass Hulls preferably a shake and bake kit from Strike...Thoughts...Are my plans flawed....doomed to sink to the bottom like Bismarck....

 

Sorry I assumed everyone knew Jersey City was in NJ right across the river from NYC, in NY state.... hope this helps for the advice stand point.

Jon

 

Welcome aboard.
You're surrounded.
Ircwcc (fast gun) has members in NY, NJ, Mass, Conn, Pa
we meet on upstate ny ponds mostly and look forward to meeting you soon.
The nj members have Iowa class and Bismarcks so you can see how they are built. (a big build for a beginner though)

 

Hey Jon,

I'm one of the guys that live in Jersey, up in morris county (Wharton), who has a Bismarck. So about an hour west north westish on 280/80. Like Iceman alluded to the NJ is a rather large ship for a first build but it is doable especially since it sounds like you have some background in modeling and R/C to begin with. You'll still be a huge target on the water, Iowa class boats generally are, at least till you learn how to battle. Generally we recommend that people start off with smaller boats (class 4 or 5) as they tend to be easier to build and don't attract the same attention on the water. Examples would be the VDT (Von Der Tann), British I-Boats, Arizona/Pennsylvania, Maryland/Colorado, Iron Duke, Konig, Derflinger, Kongo, or Moltke. Of coruse there are more but those were some of the major ones that Battlers Connection and/or Strike Models sells hull for. Of course build something that you want to build and like since a lot of work and building is required before you ever get to battle so you might as well enjoy the model you're working on.

Snipe

 

Welcome! the IRC websites are: www.ircwcc.com and on Yahoo, IRCWCC Come join us on Yahoo and we can answer any questions as you build.

Marty Hayes
Maryland Attack Group, IRCWCC

 

Welcome Jon;

As stated by others, Find the local club(s).
Check out the different rule sets. Which one do you prefer?
Most importantly, check out how well you fit in with the folks in the clubs!
Because the members of the club will become your close friends!
At the club meetings the member may give you a chance to sail different ships.

As for which ship to build, that is up to you. The basic rule of thumb is: to build something BIG first.
Then as your skills improve go to smaller ships, then build your dream ship.
The smaller the ship the harder the build and more expensive the build is as well.

Once again welcome and hope that you have a wonderful time.

 

Thanks for the thoughts Snipe hunter and other Jersey Guys....if you have a bismark I guess i could do Tirpitz or Graf Spee maybe we could do a denmark straits breakout scenario...just need a hood.....hmm. What rule set do you guys use... Looks like fast gun?? From what I can determine. Also who has the easiest to build complete kit ie Hull, deck, SS(precarved) Barbetts, Turrets, Co2 cannon, pumps, motors, servos, and anything else I would need to build it and run it in the water minus receiver and Radio and batteries essentially for these ships No Carolina, Graf Spee, Bismarck Thanks again for the input.

Jon

 

The vast majority of the guys around here, myself included, play fast gun. IRCWCC is the club in this area but a few of us also travel to MWC events from time to time. (The rule sets are VERY similar so it is pretty easy to have a ship be legal in both without any changes.)

We don't really put much effort into recreating historical battles, for a lot of reasons, so really build something you're interested in is probably the most important tip. While building a big ship is harder (more expensive, more systems to build/maintain, you're a larger juicer target) it is doable if you're dedicated. Mid size ships are a good starting point.

Who has the best kits? It is pretty close to six for one vs half dozen the other as far as I can tell. They each require a ton of work and I wouldn't really consider any of them "easy" to build, but again that is just part of the hobby. That said they aren't hard especially with some guidance but they do require a fair amount of time and effort. Fiberglass hulls and the kits are great for beginners and getting people onto the water quickly but it is pretty easy to build the vast majority of the boat yourself too, again some guidance here helps but that's why we get together and hang out and work on boat stuff.

The list of things you need for a boat is pretty large if you include all the little parts and tubing/wiring/connectors etc, however the major things I see missing from your list are: CO2 Tank, CO2 Regulator, CO2 Valves (Solenoids and the associated electronics, you could do poppets to save a little money in the short term but they really arent worth it.), Batteries and associated chargers, rudder, propeller, still probably missing a few but off the top of my head and without getting into the weeds I think that is mostly everything.

 

We, the IRC have a regional scheduled for the first weekend in May at Greenbriar State Park, Boonsboro, Md. Also the MWC and IRC nationals are in NC this year (June and July). I suspect that the NY group will be planning some battles when the winter breaks and they should be close enough to go to. They will probably have a ship you can borrow and run at their event. So join us on Yahoo (IRCWCC) and we can help you out.