sterling, chris craft corvette 42" [Archive]

wooden nickel

06-08-2005, 05:17 PM

This is one old kit and I've had it for 25 years. I'am looking for the full fitting kit B-15F for the kit # B-15M. If anyone has such an item let me know or an e-mail address for Sterling models, Boats not Estes rockets, which I understand owns rights to the boats. If there is a complete boat kit out there I'd be interested in that too.

gskeney

09-13-2005, 04:53 PM

Wooden nickel..........I just had to reply..... since this brought back some old memories for me. I too, purchased the Sterling Chris*Craft Corvette over 20 years ago (maybe even 25). It's been sitting around all this time waiting for me to start the build. After seeing your post, I went out into the garage to see if it was still there. Yep.....it sure is. The model is really 48" long.... not 42" ....and is the scale version of the 42' boat. Details details :) Anyway, I also purchased the B-15F fitting kit ......and apparently it was a good move. I don't want to sell anything though.....because I am going to build it ........someday. But, it's great to run into others that like this model. I just recently relocated to Albuquerque NM last January after 25 years in CA as a Nuclear Engineer for two different utilities. I never had any spare time with that kind of job......thus the Sterling model isn't the only one that has sat around collecting dust. I also have a ROYAL STUKA and an A6M5 ZERO ....from a 1980 purchase. Can you beleive that???? I am just finishing up a TAMIYA Leopard 2 A6 RC Tank. I've been taking a career break since Janurary, but do plan to return to work any time now. Meanwhile, I'm working on some models. Later really IS better than never !!
Anyway....chow.... and good luck in finding what your'e looking for.

wooden nickel

09-22-2005, 05:55 PM

Your right the overall deminsion is 48". I purchased the kit from a hobby shop in about 1978 that was going out of business. The first time that I'd seen this model completed and run was in about 1953, I think I was 12 yrs. old. The builder used a Babcock reed reciver and some weird powered escapments, it was rudder only. He used a Camron Marine glow engine and the boat was an excellent performer, somewhat messy as the exhaust dumped overboard the home brew manifold was not the best.

I can give you some building hints when you are ready to get into the construction part. The die-cut wood can present issues as the dies were not very precise or sharp. Sanding the back of the die-cut sheets and pushing the parts towards the finished side will save some filling and sanding time.

I'm going to power mine with two Sea Wasp electric motors. I hate to say this but they were the premire motors to own in the 70's and 80's and they held many European electric speed records. Not state of the art today. The motors were designed by Ray Kroker my neighbor when I lived in Albuquerque, Northeast Heights. Check the local phone book for Electuron as that was Ray's company last I'd checked. I have five and two others power my Dumas American Enterprise. I would suggest that you consider using flex cable drives drives. Good luck and keep in touch.

My Email address is jreasoner2@cox.net

gskeney

09-22-2005, 09:11 PM

That is really something.......first seeing the Chris*Craft Corvette model run in 1953!!! I enjoyed reading your response.

I happened to be on the Stirling Models site the other day, to research the company history, and was suprised to learn that this model was actually released back in the 1950s. Your information certainly confirms it. I had no idea it was from that era when I purchased it. That makes it even more valuable to me. Also, thanks for the building tips.....I will keep that info in mind. It's going to be a "profound" experience for me to build a balsa model from the 50s modelling era.

It's amazing that the Sea Wasp designer, Ray Kroker, lived in Albuquerque. I had to read that 2 times!! I'll check the phone book to see if Electuron is still around.

I also have the Dumas American Enterprise. Small world huh??? It's also been sitting around for years.

I also live in the NE heights.....but just temporarily ......as I am having a custom home built over in the East Mountains along NM SR 14. It should be done in Jan 06.....and perhaps I can then begin a boat.

I will definitely keep in touch. My email is: gskeney@aol.com

Chow for now....... jreasoner2@cox.net

clk

09-23-2005, 12:09 PM

I can't believe it!!! What a comforting feeling it is to know that there is someone else who has been putting off building this kit for over 20 years. I purchased my kit in 1972, while in California, hauled it to Louisiana, then to Mississippi and finally to Michigan. During the last 30 years, I have made several abortive attempts to build it but each time life intervened and back in the box it went, only to gather more dust in the basement. Apparently the last time it went back in the box, the instruction booklet did but the template/plan sheets didn't make it. As I remember, there were two full size sheets printed front and back with the templates for constructing the ribs, cabin, etc. I am looking for copies of these sheets, so hopefully, I can someday complete construction.

WOODENNICKEL-My current project is a 36' Chris Craft Commander by Dumas Products. Kit #1244 The kit is 1/12 scale. It supposedly will be 36" long with a 10 1/2 beam. The kit comes with a 35 piece, die cast metal, accessories packet(anchor, vents, life rings, binnacle, running lights, throttle quadrant, horn, wheel, etc). I don't know whether Dumas offers these pieces sepatately. The scale size maybe close enough that you might be able to use the if you can't find the sterling accessory kit.

A-37

10-10-2005, 07:41 PM

When I was a kid, the local hobby shop had a finished Corvette on display. Some time later, the shop had a close-out auction and, being a kid of about 14, my paper route job couldn't pay for such a prize. I'm a senior citizen now and have built a few boats but never the Corvette.

Since a few of you gentlemen have an American Enterprise, here are a few pics of mine. Power is a pair of geared AstroFlite 40s. I bought the partially built hull (up to the gunwhale) at a local auction. The superstructure and the rest of boat is built from scratch using a set of plans provided by Dumas. It was a tedious job scaling up the parts but everything turned out okay.

http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae3.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae4.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae1.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae2.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae5.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae6.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae7.JPG

http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae8.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae9.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae10.JPG

gskeney

10-11-2005, 03:24 PM

A-37,

I thoroughly enjoyed all those pics of your American Enterprise. And I'll be looking at them again too. You did an exquiste job....so I think it turned out a lot better than just "ok". Mine has been sitting for 20 years or so.... waiting for the build. Some day for sure....it's gonna happen. I would like to use a pair of marine 4 stroke glow engines if they ever become available. And maybe 3 for my 1/20 scale fibergass hull PT boat........also sitting around in its box. Hmmmm......too many models.....and too little time.

Congrats again on that fabulous build !!

greg

A-37

10-11-2005, 06:52 PM

Greg, thanks for the compliments.

4-Stroke power is what the boat needs. I was disappointed with the performance so I removed the gear boxes and set it up for direct drive. Still wouldn't plane.

I wrote to OS and Saito suggesting that they develope marine 4-Strokes or, at least, provide marinizing kits.

BTW, my boat is covered with fiberglass cloth (using West Systems epoxy) and painted with the old type K&B SuperPoxy.

The searchlight is a brass pipe cap machined to accept a Mag Lite reflector and lamp.

More photos for your viewing pleasure:

http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae11.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae12.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae13.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae14.JPG

http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae15.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae16.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae17.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~pek58/ae18.JPG

wooden nickel

10-12-2005, 08:04 PM

In reply to power and the lack of the ability to plane the boat , I've seen the pictures of your hull and drives. The props are too big. Rember that electric motors don't like a large currant draw.
My boat has been run on Astro flite 25's and planes just fine. I've also run it with The Kroker Sea wasp water cooled electrics. I haven't had it in the water for 4 years and I'm going back to the Kroker motors. Think about parallel drives and making the boat as lite as you can. As soon as I can figure out this picture posting business I'll send Pictures

A-37

10-12-2005, 08:59 PM

WN,

Thanks for the observation. I'll try smaller props.

Not much I can do about reducing weight, though. I tend to stuff a lot of stuff in/on my boats. Weight is no problem with my tugs but I should've been more weight conscious with the A. Enterprise.

Looking forward to your pics.

Ed

Gearhed

10-26-2005, 10:15 AM

I also have an American Enterprise and i am currently putting dual O.S. .21 engines in it i am having a problem with the u joint though. they keep breaking idk. i thought it was the motors were too powerful because i recently had 2 .32 engines and i had the same problem. anybody know where i can get some metal u-joints. or even an alternate way of connecting the motor to the solid drive shaft?

A-37

10-26-2005, 11:34 AM

Octura has a good selection of U-Joints. What size is the crankshaft thread on your .21? I might have a pair of U-Joints in my parts box.

LarDog

10-26-2005, 10:56 PM

Gearhed

10-27-2005, 02:51 PM

i'll find out what the thread size is. and i tried putting a flex shaft but the stuffing tube doesnt go all the way to the prop. there is about a 4 in. of open shaft under the boat.

wooden nickel

10-27-2005, 04:29 PM

i'll find out what the thread size is. and i tried putting a flex shaft but the stuffing tube doesnt go all the way to the prop. there is about a 4 in. of open shaft under the boat.

The shaft log only needs to go thru the bottom of the hull about an inch.
There is a teflon tube that inserts in the shaft log and slips into the lower prop stinger bearing housing at bottom of the vertical strut. The teflon tubing should be long enough to reach the end of the drive coupling on the motor. Once the length of the tubing has been established it can be cut to give an inch or so of exposed drive cable at the motor coupling end. The drive cable will have to be cut to the proper length.

Check Octura Products for flex cable drive systems. They produce complete sets.

A-37

10-27-2005, 05:51 PM

Flex drives are trouble-free but if you want your boat to be scale, you have to put up with shaft drives, U-Joints, critical strut alignment, etc. Everything's a trade-off.

wooden nickel

10-28-2005, 01:04 AM

Flex drives are trouble-free but if you want your boat to be scale, you have to put up with shaft drives, U-Joints, critical strut alignment, etc. Everything's a trade-off.

You are correct about the scale drive lines. I chose the flex drives for the AmEnt because I wanted to be able to adjust the running angle (bow angle) and have the hull run as dry as possible. Once the CG was established (70% of the overall length back from the bow) the angle of the struts and depth could be set using the 38mm dia. low pitch props that I had. I made my own struts and stinger bearing housings. Three test runs were made before I'd established the depth and angles used.

On the AmEnt model drive lines can be builders choice as the real boat used Rockwell jet pumps to move it along.The wing pumps were powered by DD12V71T1's and the center was spun with an Allison A501-13D turbine. Halter wanted a shallow draft and with the jet pumps the hull drew five ft.

I'm going to use the flex drives on the chris as I know that I'll get the plane angle I want and, I am more interested in speed and duration than what the drive lines look like.

Gearhed

11-01-2005, 03:02 PM

I thought i'd try something different so i'm going to run a single .21 and attach it to the shafts with a pulley and a belt. i hope to have some pictures up soon. It's really one of a kind.

Gearhed

11-01-2005, 03:16 PM

Somebody should start a new forum with the title "American Enterprise" this way more people can find it.

Gearhed

11-07-2005, 09:53 AM

wooden nickel

11-21-2005, 06:49 PM

has anybody been able to get the AmEnt up on plane. I hope to to this when construction is done. I want this boat to fly. My brother has a 36 shockwave and i want to race him. Its gonna be a challenge but i think i can do it. If anybody knows if this boat is capable of doing this let me know.
I've been trying to get to Matt Higgens to help me out with posting pictures to the proper thread. I've pictures of my
AmEx on plane as well as pictures of the chis craft. If you can help me out with this chore I'd appreciate it.

wooden nickle

Jreasoner2@cox.net

maximus2000

01-21-2006, 10:30 PM

Wooden nickel how many Sea wasps do you have and are the the 6v or 12v

wooden nickel

01-26-2006, 10:49 PM

Wooden nickel how many Sea wasps do you have and are the the 6v or 12v
I have four Sea wasp 12's.

The in-put voltages range from 12 to 16v at the brushes. Duration will vary depending on the use of the water cooling features.

12v @ 5.3 amps 11,000 rpm water cooling "no" duty, continuous
16v @ 7.5 amps 14,500 rpm water cooling "yes" duty, continuous
16v @ 15 amps 11,000 rpm water cooling "yes" duty, intermittent

These motors are not for sale as as I am using them in some scale boats.