The Riverboat Gambler

That's starting to look like my white test car

So, I have to confess when I received Riverboat Gambler I wasn’t sure if it was a challenge or a test.
Should I complete it, or keep it as is?
Would it be a good idea to ask the master builder endless questions or make my own decisions as to what to do next?

Since my current build went horribly wrong, and was totaled (in its final stages) I've decided to do my best to build it with my own thoughts and improvements.

So, what I choose to do is with no prior consultation and any discussion here on my part is simply a small reflection of how my mind works and what I am planning on. It may or may not end up being anything like what was originally envisioned, but without instruction it’s a blank canvas with a base coat on it. So, here we go.

Ok... I applaud you for taking up the challenge!

Just my personal input here.

That car is made almost entriely from balsa with the exception of the axle spars...

The Concept was to make one of those big ole boats that fellas like CamCar used to run and DWS is now doing so well with.

The main drawback with a riverboat IMHO is that there is so much weight with all of that extra material... hence the balsa body..

However... those big ole pontoons also serve a hidden purpose in that they add structure... so maybe this design could actually even be lighter than a typical speedboat if done right.

I suggest you glue a row of cubes behind the axle spar to keep it in place... be sure to weigh them exactly and write it down before gluing in..

Then you can lol off that stick I left on the rear bumper...

Then you can continue to poke holes in the coffered body like I started to do... so that all the way up to the nose and leave the skeleton framework like I started to do... see where you are at with weight...

Now then... this is where it gets fun...

Treat the outsides of those pontoons like you would a pine body... either punch holes or hollow them out leaving a framework to stretch a cover over...

Try to make it a nice design ... it could be just holes drilled to a specific depth but create a nice pattern with them...

Inset the front wheel because I think that I neglected that... and slim down the trailing fender behind the front wheel so it doesn’t catch any air ... and I bet you might be around 9g with the whole damn thing after the cover is on!

Just my 2 cents though...

Have fun with it and let your imagination wander.

Yes... I don’t like those shrink wrap things... always makes me nervous though I am interested in Chuy’s tightening of clear packing tape with a heat gun...

I think that CA glue is good for putting a shell on balsa without adding excessive weight...

for a cover... I prefer something with a sticky back and enough tensile strength to gap the framework without wrinkles...

though i I am curious about these paper kites that are made with dope. 

That is basically how how I am picturing this thing... like a paper box kite. 

Like any inquisitive PWD mind I had to thoroughly inspect the car. I had to see what I did and did not see in the build compared to my current knowledge.


The first thing that I noticed was that except for the axle spurs this car was entirely made out of balsa. This was not going to be an easy build/completion no matter what. And, even once completed it was going to be delicate.


The next thing I noticed was there had already been some breakage and repairs. And there were some hairline fractures that didn’t appear to be repaired.


There is the obvious. There are two cut outs/windows. Why not 4? Am I brave enough to cut two more. Or, is that area requiring a top for structural integrity?


I also noticed that the top of one fender was flat. While the other tapered down towards the rear.


The bottoms of the fenders did not appear to be machined like the body. And, one of them was clearanced quite a bit higher than the other. Or, it looked more like, the shorter side had sustained some damage.


I assume the car is over 7” to allow weight to be glued in before shaving off the rear (for strength).


Then there were the things I did not understand. Why was there no inset on the DRFW? Why was the fender not shaped for the DRFW to be angled out on top?


Then there is this faint sketch of what looks like drawn on cut outs on the side of one fender. And, one fender extends further over the rear wheel than the other and is straight. Where the other is angled and shorter. My guess is that side wore thin. But, I like symmetrical.


And, what if anything had been done to give the balsa some strength? This thin balsa body supporting these big bulky fenders (being handled by my big old hands and hand tools) was going to need some fortification to survive.


Gotta decide whether to add or take away, or both. This should be interesting to say the least.

And, that is the brilliance of working with a master builder. That little nugget is worth the whole exercise. I likely would have never thought of that on my own.

Anytime Joe! If you send two I’ll likely build them both differently. And, both may be completely different then how you originally intended.

It’s not to be contrary. I love to learn and test things. And, I think you might take away a different perspective and way of looking at things as well.

It might just be you and I on this one. I will likely be done with this build before others chime in. Not sure if others are on vacation or what. But, this is the type of thing I love about this forum.