M_M_I_2015_04_

24 APRIL 2015 http://www.marinemodelmagazine.com

OnbOard I/C hull radIO bOxes

are rICk’s theme thIs mOnth

powerplug

author: rick eyrich [email protected] uSA

Moving to the container’s cover layouts there are two basic

locking types involving either a series of fasteners with a separate

sealing gasket; or, a simple tape-down cover that usually fits-into a

slight recessed edge on the top of the box assembly.

Another choice of I/C boat radio box is one made up of a simple

series of marine or aircraft grade plywood that you’ll have to glue

up and seal before affixing it and its hardware to your hull. With the

advent of CNC/laser-cutting machines manufacturing a plywood

radio box kit is nothing unusual and in many cases the components

will simply interlock with one another making it much easier to

mock up the whole container. Once the pieces are situated in their

correct positions, a medium-grade drying cyano can be used to

W

hen you consider the total amount of energy put out by

even a ‘mid grade’ powerboat found today, there can

still be a massive level of stress present on a nitro/

petrol boat’s onboard control system. The marine craft’s throttle/

rudder servos, their receiver, the required battery power source

and the container itself for these components must all be up to

spec; so this month’s column space will be dedicated to the various

techniques to set up, install and maintain an I/C boat’s radio box.

Choosing a Radio Box

For the majority of the I/C hulls made today, the modeller will

find a composite material radio box situated inside the boat and

these containers are available in many different configurations. Your

general square-style radio box can be purchased in either a tall or

a low profile form. The low profile style servo holder is mainly used

on those hulls that have full canopies and/or are designed for full

length tuned exhaust pipes as the radio box will have to clear the

exhaust passage through the hull and under the hatch cover.

Another option on your choice of radio box will centre on whether

or not it’s designed to fit between your boat’s twin engine rails/

stringers which will both help secure the container to the vessel

and; if you so decide, also make it easier to remove if so needed.

Situated between the hull’s thick wood ply stringers the boater will

have the ability to fabricate any number of ‘box-holding methods

(more on this later) other than just gluing the unit directly to the

rails.

Early RTR I/C hulls came with basic radio boxes that sometimes

had less-than-capable lid seals; but today’s servo holders have

excellent lid seals when the modeller attaches it properly

Using its centre tub as a radio box this gas outrigger’s servo-holder will have to be carefully

water-sealed due to the boat’s mostly open hull layout

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