dwr9 wrote:
That is what I am talking about!:clapping:
Stuff you can practically make from what you may have laying around, or can get with a bit of scrounging at your local workshop metal bins(usually if you ask they dont mind at all) you might even make a new friend to go boating with!:drinks:
What I mean is things can be made simple and strong without spending any money if your willing to improvise and get inventive!:?
Maybe we should have a JUNKYARD CHALLENGE section?? Could be a lot of fun to see what people can build without spending anything at all(disregarding radio gear/prop) And then watch these junkyard mutations actually get up and go on the wet stuff!

:drinks:

its a great idea cause in the racing scene everyone gets what the jones have or just like it and it seems to stay bout the same for years now its when ya get creative or crazy by some do you find ideas that may lead to something great.....i say call it scratch building that sounds good in my opinion the section will also help newbies see that they can improvise and get away with the $4 flat stock aluminum trim tabs instead of the $30 ones lol and make it more appealing to get peeps in the door, when i started jrcbd had his homelite boat on the front page and thats what attracted me

dwr9 wrote:Great looking drive! ill take one if ya ever make extras

I'll get a section up shortly. BTW I do have an article that I've been keeping on the sideburner about how to make economical trim tabs...I'll have to see if I can dig it up and get it published.

Maybe something like,Budget Builds,so that way it could cover any homemade projects,ideas,and directions.THANKS!! C.B.

Also to take this to the next level the manufactures could also get involved. I am sure they have blemished parts that arn't good enough to sell at full retail, so they could also help out the new budget racers.
I have been in the RC hobby for 30 years and inorder for us to keep the hobby alive and well the big boy's need to help out when they can. Not to say that they don't already, but it seems that in this day and age with the economy so weak it is hard on people to take there pay check and buy Big Boy Toy's.
We need the new people to keep the hobby healthy and growing so we can continue to see new faces at the races and visiting our ponds,and hobby shops. I owned a Hobby Shop 20+ years ago, you have to love the hobby.

I think this is a Great idea;

my 2 cents

Randy

We could simply call it D.I.Y and that covers it all?:drinks:

OK, new section created. If you're reading this, your in it already!

Let's see if we get some interested threads started here!

the boat on the right is the one to show cheep out drive i did.years ago it was got from dumas.and the mcull engine. since i have had to make the out drive over.(ace hardware or m&s hardware)if you look they carry the k&s metal racks i redid mine with copper for rudder and strut as you can see.alum for the main mount for rest only down fall was made it 7 inches the back to long for raceing i think 5 1/2 for raceing is max. but in all it only cost 29 bucks i got 1/8 thick copper for rudder by 1 3/8 by 12"
1/4 copper round for rudder post cut slot 1/2 inch deep. for rudder. 2 inch wide by 12" by 3/16 alum flat. for main mount. 1"by1/2" ..half square for water pick up and rudder mount. 3/16 copper tubre for water pick up if needed. all angles were bent in vise checking with carpenters square. i used silver solder for mine my frend paul just made a boat and this same hardware.in march. he jb welded his so far its worked well and holds to. got his wacker motor at walmart for 69 bucks total for boat ran him 195 dont look bad for a first if i can il ask for a photo from him of it. as for strut i used left over rudder flat. on 5/16 i.d. brass tube ask where there 1/4 brass bushing are they were i think 40 cents each fit right in.nice.rest we all know drill holes where needed to bolt all on and waaa hoooo go go go.

I found that sometimes you can find a good cheap deal on hulls and hardware by searching all the different boat forums.I bought the black hull below for $35 plus shipping.I didn't even know what it was and called it the 54" Unknown Hull for some time until I found out it was a 1985 International Hobbies Formula 409.The boat was never run,didn't have rails or stuffing tube in it .The hardware that was on it when I got it was homade.It had a strut bracket made of 1/8" aluminum bent and attached to an aluminum door hinge with a homade rudder of 1/8" aluminum.Seemed to work pretty well.Didn't have a strut blade ,but did have trim tabs made of 1/16" aluminum and screwed onto the hull.I also bought a 52" Eliminator for $80 that needed fixed and the deck and bottom put back together.I've made my own trim tabs,crackerbox skeg and other parts from materials obtained locally.I made a larger version of the homade muffler on this site and it's the exhaust for my crackerbox.Just have to use your imagination.Sales staff at Lowes think I'm weird for always coming in asking for something to use on an r/c boat or airplane.