Wow, this is great. You do an awesome job. The build instructions are so informative that they are helping me with my battlecruiser build. I may buy one of these kits (or the escort carrier you make) for my next build.
i would really like to get this do you ship internationally i am stationed in germany i have a apo address.thanks so much for your time
Frankly, anywhere and everywhere. There is no One-stop-shop for everything you'll need to build a ship. There is a trend to buy parts online, both for convenience and savings. Hulls are available from Strike models in the US or Dreadnaught hulls in Australia, among others. Or you can build a hull out of wood from plans (Scratch-build). Balsa? Any time you I find good quality balsa, I buy it. Hobby shops, craft shops, even got some real nice stuff from a hardware shop once. Batteries? Lotsa places for them, depends on what you want to run. SLA, NiMH, LiFe, that's a whole big subject right there. Motors? DC Brushed motors come from anything battery powered with a motor in it, or hobby shops, or Ebay, anywhere. Brushless? I never ran one, but there's a lot of sources for those out there too. Look at hobbyking.com for cheapo ones, as well as cheapo radio gear. Speed controllers? I get them from Mtroniks in the UK, direct online to save money. Others are available, but you'll need one with instant reverse. Props? I use Raboesch props, and buy them direct from Raboesch online. There are other manufacturers out there, and I'm sure some of the guys will chime in on that. Guns? Well, it depends on whether you're going to run fastgun or biggun. With time and patience and some tooling , you can "roll your own" fastgun cannon, and maybe even build a biggun cannon. The biggun cannon are more complex and difficult to construct. There's a myriad of other parts and peices and bits and bobs and knicknacks and doodads that go to building an operational warship. Scrounge what you can, build what you need and buy what you must.
Hey Buddy, Mark posted this on the first page. I hope he doesn't mind me reposting it: http://www.jenkse.us/rcengr.
Attacker, as an experienced boat builder and battler, who has build many hulls from scratch... the lasercut Balti is a GREAT thing for beginners. I cannot recommend it highly enough, especially at the price. The kit goes together with a file, a hobby saw (like $6.99 at the local Hobby Lobby), and your choice of waterproof glue. As to building it for combat, the ship is roomy, not too touchy about weight, single rudder (easier to build), and can mount 3 guns (always nice for getting someone's attention).
Would BC's Des Moines hardware kit work as an easy way to power this kit? I'm decent with woodworking and electronics, but I have no experience with model ship drivetrains
It should work, the ships are similar in size and propulsion arrangement. But I've never used the hardware kit, so hopefully someone who has used one will chime in here.
The BC hardware kit has everything needed for the propulsion systems & steering except the servos. The default setup gives you microswitches you'd mount to the sides of a servo for your forward/reverse power to the drive motors. If you chose to go with an ESC, you'd gain the ability to adjust speed easier, but the older tech still works fine.
I've got plenty of servos and ESCs lying around from my RC cars. It's mostly the props and stuffing tubes that I'm worried about.
Props, driveshafts, stuffing tubes, rudders & rudder mounting posts, plus basic 550 can motors are included in the kits.
