Roddie-Rigger.. a 2005 original design

I thought-up this outrigger model boat design almost 20 years ago when I worked at the sign company. I ran CNC routers that were used to cut dimensional graphics made from foam-board (3/16" through 3" thicknesses...) balsawood, ply/hard wood, PVC, polystyrene, acrylic, aluminum.. lots of materials that lent themselves to my hobby interests. I was able to do some CAD while the machines were on long-running jobs. The outrigger was just one of quite a few CAD projects that I was able to create and cut.

Here's a CAD image of all the parts that make up the rigger-design from back then. I could "pull" parts from this file.. and cut them from the various materials listed.




I made a boxful of parts that had been in storage since then.. and I had also mocked-up a hull that's been kicking-around.. well.. for way too long.. and has workshop-rash to prove it.

Shown below; with prospective Cox .049 reed-valve engine and 2mm shaft (wire) drive. This would come together quickly at this point/stage in time.




Since I've been sourcing parts for the Cox powered jet-pump.. it's rekindled my interest. I un-buried the rigger's box-o-parts and thought; "what a shame to let this keep sitting.."




Apparently I was confident in my design... because I made parts enough for several models..  

Below image is of two differing profile foam-board sponson "blanks" and .030" aluminum sanding-templates to contour the foam to form a 90 degree (right-angle) or 60 degree angle at the step.








The aluminum boom stock tubing is used to hold the templates in alignment when sanding-in the contours.


These foam parts are of the polyurethane type and need to be "faced" with something smooth and lightweight. There's no wood to worry about here.. but unprotected foam gets dinged-up with discouraging ease. I've got some options.. it just depends on the method of adhering a given skin to the foam.