Vac-U-Tow 2™
Length: 21.5 in. Beam: 6.5 in. Draft: 1.6 to 2.0 in. Displacement: 4.5 to 6 lbs.
1:48 Scale (1/4 inch = 1 foot)
Twin-Screw Model Towboat Kit
( Model Pushboat Kit )
For Radio Control, Manufactured by Vac-U-Boat™
NOW AVAILABLE. Quantities may be limited.
Complete instructions will not be available for a couple of months. Kits will be shipped with single-screw instructions plus tip pages for installing the twin-drive system.
The Vac-U-Tow 2 is a twin-screw version of the Vac-U-Tow. I don't recommend the twin-screw for just "more power". Running on 12 cells instead of 6, will give you that. The twin is best to simulate the actual handling characteristics of a modern real twin-screw towboat in handling barges or maneuvering on a river.
Now available in two TOPLESS TOWBOAT versions. Click HERE for details.
The kit contains all of the single-screw Vac-U-Tow parts plus a modified hull, liner, and a complete second drive system from motor to prop. Like the Vac-U-Tow kit, servos, batteries, or radio electronics are not included.
Some photos of the development of the Vac-U-Tow 2 kit follow:
(All framed photos can be clicked to enlarge.)
3/1/07: Hardware bag for Tow 2 kit.
1/24/07: I still need to make a set of comprehensive instructions. In the meantime, a few prototypes I have shipped include these notes to accompany the single-screw version's instructions.
2/17/07: Modified the rear hatch opening for both the single-screw and twin-screw models. Rear hatch is raised 1/16" and has a full opening with a clear plastic window that can be taped in place for a transparent waterproof seal under the rear hatch cover.
Click the photo below to view the instructions in a PDF file.
2/7/07: Makes all of the drawings & plans seem worthwhile. Elegant Simplicity. Two pushrods running 6 rudders. No linkage play or rudder slop. No wasted space. Minimal parts to fail. Pushrods are about 1/8" apart where they cross. No metal-to-metal contact that might create radio interference.
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2/5/06: Twin-Motor/Servo tray is done and has a good fit. As soon as the epoxy cures, I'll mount the servos, rudders, & flankers and fit the pushrods.
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2/2/06: Designing the motor/servo mount and pushrods for the rudders. The crossed pushrods will be insulated and spaced from each other to prevent metal-to-metal radio interference. The "factory" layout will be independent left and right rudder/flanker controls so you can control each motor and each set of rudder/flankers with a 2-stick 4-channel radio. It can be adjusted to tie the 4-flankers together and 2-rudders together by modifying the pushrod layout and adding two 90-degree bellcranks between each servo and each row of rudders.
1/27/06: Hull and Liner test molds show a good fit. Machining the twin engine/servo mount. Building a first-prototype to confirm a good fit & finish.
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11/27/06: Hull done and test molds are good. Working on the Liner mold now. Once the liner is complete, I'll start milling a twin-motor/servo mount.
11/15/06: Lower hull mold almost complete. Have a few holes to drill and to mount it for test-molding. It is designed to use the same drive, rudders, and flankers as the single-screw Vac-U-Tow kit.
