|
Server : Apache/2.4.62 System : FreeBSD fbsdweb2.web.rcn.net 14.1-RELEASE FreeBSD 14.1-RELEASE releng/14.1-n267679-10e31f0946d8 GENERIC amd64 User : www ( 80) PHP Version : 8.3.8 Disable Function : NONE Directory : /domains/gohover/test/GH-C/ |
Upload File : |
<HTML>
<BODY BGCOLOR="FFFFFF" TEXT="000000" LINK="0000ff" ALINK="ff0000" VLINK="ff0000">
<center>
The GH-C comes with all the parts found in the GH-1 and GH-2 kits, plus an additional GH-1, plus an additional duct, plus lots of extra skirt material, foam tape, and assorted foam trays of various sizes, including large trays for the four motor monsters seen at the end of this section. You'll also get 2 battery holders for AA size batteries as well as the AAA size battery holders standard for the GH-1 and GH-2. You get a total of 4 ducts (4 motors, 4 AAA battery holders + 2 AA battery holders, 4 propellers, and 4 plastic ducts, 4 duct stands), two GH-1 cabins, one GH-2 cabin, three airboxes, one WaveJumper attachment, and three special parts shown below and featured in the designs on this page: a thrust-blocker/elevator, a create-a-lift-duct part, and a die-cut pointed hull. <br>
<br>
<br>
<hr>
<br>
<h2> A thrust blocker</h2>
<img src="thrust-blocker-overview074.jpg" HEIGHT=200 >
<img src="thrustblocker-close075.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br><br>
[Insert explanation of the thrust blocker here]
<img src="Elevator0072.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
[insert explanation of the elevator here]
<br>
The parts are best described in the context of actual designs, so lets look at a few.
The following is hardly an exhaustive list of all the crafts that can be built with the parts from the GH-C, but it should get you thinking.
<h1> Designs Using One Duct</h1><hr><br>
<h2>A Pointed Hull -- the "GH-P1".</h2><br>
<img src="GH-P1-noskirtPB160184.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br><br>
<img src="GH-P1-PB160177.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br> <br>
Every GH-C construction kit comes with a pointed hull designed to fit the parts from
the GH-1. The hull is a flat shape, made from the same foam/plastic composite material as the parts from the GH-1 and GH-2. The skirt for this craft uses the same skirting material as the GH-1 & GH-2, as do all skirts on this site. Surprisingly, even though the hull is not shaped like a foam tray, the craft can travel across on smooth floors without any skirt at all.
A first time observer would be sure that the craft is, in fact, a sled rather than a hovercraft. This can be proven to be false by closing the airbox trapdoor (see the section on how the airbox works if this is unclear). When the trapdoor is closed, the "sled" receives twice as much thrust as before, and yet it barely moves. Open the trapdoor to give the craft some lift and it will putter away. Of course, the craft performs much better with a skirt. <br><br>
So, is the shape just for appearances? One advantage of a pointed craft becomes clear when you try to use the craft indoors in amongst furniture. A rectangular craft can become trapped by a variety of chair and table legs. The GH-P1's pointed nose and curved sides allow the craft to escape from a maze of chair and table legs that tend to trap a rectangular craft. If you are planning to use radio control with your craft, you'll discover another advantage: a rectangular craft can be trapped against the sides of a wall. Think about it: if a rectangular craft is along side a wall, turning the rudders one way forces the nose toward the wall, and turning them the other way forces the tail toward the wall. But sometimes neither of these actions will do any good -- both actions require the craft to roll along the wall and since the sides of a rectangular craft are straight, the craft may not roll at all. The curved sides of the GH-P1 allow the craft to easily roll out of this problem. <br>
<br><hr><br>
<h2> Design Your Own Hull Shape</h2><br>
<img src="star-alonePB140112.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
<img src="star-from-trayPB160172.jpg" HEIGHT=200 >
<img src="scat-from-trayPB160171.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
<img src="GH-P-hull-to-Scat2.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
<hr><br>
<h2> Design Your Own Tray</h2><br>
<img src="cool-picture-goes-here.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
<img src="alternatives-to-skirt140119.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
<br><hr><br>
<h1> Designs Using Two Ducts</h1><br><hr><br>
<h2>A Pointed Two Duct Craft -- the "GH-P2".</h2><br>
<img src=" GH-P2-topPB160185.jpg " HEIGHT=200 >
<img src="GH-P2-sidePB160191.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br><br>
<hr><br>
<h2>Double Airboxes</h2><br>
<img src="Double-airbox-frontPB150152.jpg" HEIGHT=200 >
<img src="Double-airbox-sidePB150153.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
<img src="double-airbox-foxcroft82.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
<br><hr><br>
<h2>Mini Two Duct Crafts </h2><br>
<img src="lift-in-back-twomotor16s-2.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
Looks like a GH-1, packs the power of a GH-2, has the performance of something inbetween.
Note that the thrust duct can rotate. That compact lift and thrust package could be used in pairs (or other multiples) on a larger hull...
<br><hr><br>
<h2>More Lift? </h2><br>
<img src="two-lift-no-thrustPB150167.jpg" HEIGHT=200 >
<br><hr><br>
<h1> Designs Using Three Ducts</h1><br><hr><br>
<h2>Twin Rotating Thrusters</h2><br>
This craft has interesting performance in its own right, but before we get to that, notice that three kinds of parts not used in the standard GH-1 and GH-2 are used here: the rotating duct-stand, the create-a-lift-duct part, and the battery perch are each put to use in this design. <br>
<img src="thrst-lift-thrust-spinner02.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
If you thought the picnic plate flying saucer could spin fast, just imagine how faster this craft spun when one thruster was pointed forward and one was pointed backward. (I'll have to make a movie of this and post it here). Consider that all three motors were contributing to the spin!<br><br>
<img src="thr-lft-thr-not-going-anywh.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
And yet, turn each thrust duct ninety degrees and the craft isn't going anywhere. <br>
<img src="thrust-lift-thrustPB140123.jpg" HEIGHT=200 > <br>
This way, it went fast! Gives us a hint about the next craft.<br>
<img src="thrust-lift-thrustPB140124.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
Fast in this direction too. Surprising, given the central obstruction.
<br><hr><br>
<h2>The Fastest Craft Yet</h2><br>
<img src="twin-thrust-pict.jpg" HEIGHT=200 >
<img src="twin-thrust-diagviewB140134.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br><br><hr><br>
<h1> Designs Using Four Ducts (and why stop there?)</h1><br><hr><br>
<h2>Is there such thing as too much power?</h2><br>
<img src="Three-thrustPB140136.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br><br>
[Note to self: mention the airbox in the back - lets you change the thrust to lift ratio]<br>
<img src="three-thrust-duct-stand143.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
[Easy-on/Easy-off boosters]
<br><hr><br>
<h2>Another Four Motor Monster</h2>
<img src="Quad-front-smPB150154.jpg" HEIGHT=200 >
<img src="Quad-side-smPB150158.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
<br><hr><hr>
<h2>The GH-C Kit Lets You Do Experiments</h2><br>
<img src="GH-1-in-three-sizes-expe110.jpg" HEIGHT=200 > <br>
<img src="multi-thurst-experiment0138.jpg" HEIGHT=200 ><br>
Which of these crafts is the fastest? Which hovers the highest? Which one can best get across bumpy pavement or a slightly shaggy carpet? You can ask these questions and many others about all the designs presented on this website, and maybe more interestingly, you can ask them about the as-yet undreamed-of designs that can be built using the same components. What works best on water? Does the shape of the hull matter? Does the size of the hull matter? Does the amount of power matter? When you get bigger, you add weight, but you also spread that weight over a larger area. When you add power, you also add weight. If you add power, and then add size to compensate for the extra weight, have you compensated for the extra weight of adding size? Find out by experimenting -- the kits' standardized components allow you to control your variables. Use a mathmatical theory if you prefer, and then check your calculations against the real world. Have fun!<br><br>
<hr><hr>The GH-C "Design Your Own Hovercraft" kit requires at least 4 and preferably 8 or even 16 AAA size NiMh rechargeable batteries. Buy four batteries per duct. Be sure to check the <a href="../batteries.html">notes on batteries</a> section before ordering.<hr><hr><br>
<br><hr><br>