Construction methods and materials

[Mike Van Volkenburg]

A friend who is constructing a model of the Arno Ferrari just asked me if the hull was planked or sheeted. Going by the few photos available I allowed as to how it looked planked but upon the discovery of more photos it became obviously sheeted.

 

So here are some questions:

 

Are hulls ever planked on the bottom or sides? Are the tops ever planked or are they sheeted? What kind of spacing do the fasteners require? Is there a definative book on the subject of hydroplane construction?

 

Thanks for your help!

[Pete Groves]

MIke,

Thanks for the kind comments.

for that price, the engine is NOT included, you can add another 1500 Euros (2000 usd) for that, and I would not have much faith in you getting one, I chased it down directly from the makers in Italy, and finally after a great deal of effort (over a year) managed to get one. I think they only made 10 or so engine kits, who knows it they sold them all. Yes the engine kit is quite amazing, 1500 Euros amazing not so sure, as it still needed a great deal of work to get to this shape, and its not done yet. I had to scratch build all the cowls as both the Amati kit ones are the resin ones in the transkit were in my opinion unusable. I would also agree that 600 bucks is pretty steep for what you get in the Amati kit, but then again, other than mine I have only ever seen one built complete with the engine, and that one had no interior detail. 

I am still not done, still to go, oil tank plumbing, instrument plumbing, finish fuel plumbing, install prop shaft and rudder, as well a skid fin, install the headers, finish and mark the support stand, (I made it from photos I have seen) decals, and some other small details, but I think I am getting close.

If I did it again, (pretty sure I would NOT!) I am not so sure it would be much more work to build a real one, but if you really wanted to build the model, just build from plans, there is just not enough in either kit to justify the prices, so hand cut the formers, sheet the hull, cowl it and build it as ready to go, so skip the engine. It would still be a very pretty model.

 

[Pete Groves]

But what might be far more affordable and equally visually pleasing is to build one of the 60`s Unlimiteds, Miss Thriftway, etc, with an Allison in 1/8th scale. There are now some really affordable laser cut kits in 1/8th, (costing about 90 USD) and there is a really nice 1/8th allison for under 200 USD, and some sources for excellent 1/8th vintage instruments, (RC stuff) the whole package would be around 350 USD (and some labour) but the end result is a fully detailed static unlimited Hydroplane. That is certainly what I would look at next. (after I finish a little airplane project I have)

If you want sources for the above parts, I am happy to provide them.

[Mike Van Volkenburg]

Pete I fully support what you are saying. I have plans for SloMoShun as published in Pop Mechanix. If you will send me the instrurment and engine links it will be appreciated. I think our new house complete with lake could use a 1/8 hydro.

 

Mike

[James Ferris]

Bumping this (old) thread....

The Arno is going to auction (again).

Will be at the RM Auction in Monaco May 11 & 12. 

Estimates are  £1.5M or better...

See you there!

[Mike Van Volkenburg]

Thanks for the heads up James.

[Phil Lampman]

James Ferris said:

Bumping this (old) thread....

The Arno is going to auction (again).

Will be at the RM Auction in Monaco May 11 & 12. 

Estimates are  £1.5M or better...

See you there!

I would not be surprised if it didn't bring more than that, James. Despite the boat's provenance, I suspect it's that Ferrari powerplant that might drive the price up. I haven't followed the history of the Arno in great detail, but old Ferrari powerplants, especially those with history, can command some significant prices.

That said, and assuming the powerplant is the original as installed in the boat during its record runs, I would be said to see them separated.  However, if the engine had been in some Ferrari Grand Prix car before it found its way to the ARNO, I'd guess that whatever the winning bid, it's that engine that's at play here.

[James Ferris]

Phil -

Unfortunately you might be right about the value of the 375 motor by itself.....although this engine was never in a car; it was built specifically for THIS boat (Castoldi added the 2 superchargers), and has always been there. Therefore there is less value than for a specific car awaiting its original motor. Of course at this level of the game; this is still pocket money for some of the guys; remove & re-configure the motor, and quietly insert a 'cooking' 250 motor with the blowers, then flog it to a museum who will never get it wet....(the motor doesn't even need to run; a shell is fine...).

Hopefully there will be no "more money than brains" philistines at the auction (what are the chances of that....) coveting the motor only. 

Have you listened to the 15 sec audio on utube?

[James Ferris]

MORE GOODIES!

A fresh treasure of 20 new (historic) B&W photos from the owner of Arno XI. Enjoy!

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/1953-ferrari-arno-xi-hydroplane/

[Steve Deligan]

Hi everyone,

I am just starting to build a 1/8 scale model of the Miss Wahoo and have a question about this very topic. How do you get the sheets to conform to the compound curves of the deck? Obviously it can be done, but I'd like information on how to do it so I don't reinvent the wheel.

Any information you all can offer is appreciated!

Steve

Phil Lampman said:

From all the photos I've seen, including several of the finished Amati kits, I'd say the deck is sheeted, not planked. Which would be consistent with most of the hydroplanes of the era. Typically, the old boats were built with frames and battens which IMO would make "planking the deck very difficult to do.

 

Not sure about the spacing of the fasteners. From my experience assiting with the Miss Wahoo project, it seemed to be the spacing was on the order of 3" but don't hold me to that. Besides the spacing on a larger unlimited maybe different than on a smaller boat. You might go through some of the photos from the Miss Wahoo project and see if you can somehow scale up the spacing. 

 

I don't recall ever seeing a hydroplane ever having been "planked" on the sides either. That's not to say somebody hasn't done it at one time or another, but I see no advantage to it. It's not a very large area to cover.

 

There are a number of people who belong to the museum that know this stuff far better than me. I just noticed that no one has answered your inquiry so thought i'd at least let you know you're not being ignored.