- Ship Cost-
How much does a ship cost? It varies.
How big is the ship? Larger ships require more material to build it whether its wood or fiberglass, the vendors generally reflect this in the price of fiberglass hulls as well.
How many units is it? Each switch/gun/solenoid combo runs about $80-100, more guns will cost more money.
How much “new” tech are you putting into it? ESC vs mag throttle, firing boards vs mag switch, how fancy is the transmitter?
How new are the components? Do you know a guy who is looking to clean out some of his spare parts and can get them to you cheaper?
Do you have tools? Access to Dremel tools, drills, different types of saws are required. Does your father in law have a wood shop?
Do you have spare parts and materials? Some people with prior RC or model building hobbies probably have super glue, epoxy, fiberglass, brass, etc sitting around that can be used.
What kind of batteries are you using? Battery tech is seeming to be ever changing and more expensive as energy density increases.
Is this the first ship or a second? Can you use your parts from another ship to get this one going?
In reality calculating the cost of a ship is actually fairly tricky because of the above variables. In November 2019 I set out to try to calculate the “value” of the Derfflinger 2 by adding up the cost of new components similar or identical to the ones I had used to build it. As much as possible, I directly took the cost from a vendor and provided a link to that part as listed below. It was a bit surprising to me how much the small intangible items start to add up when you start to factor them in. A collection of scrap wood, plastic, and brass clearly helped cut my cost but it makes it difficult to appraise how much I used in the ship. Some of the notable variables for this ship is that it is relatively low tech, with the drive control costing under $15 by not using an ESC. Essentially all of the internals I used on this ship were robbed from the Derfflinger 1. Another interesting but near impossible to calculate factor is labor. Ships get easier to build the right way the more you do. I’m much quicker at certain building techniques than with my first ship, but probably slower and more particular about others. At any rate, here is the chart that I came up with.
|
Part |
Cost in $ |
Link |
|
|
Ship Itself |
|||
|
BC Hull (seydlitz) |
140 |
http://battlersconnection.com/sms-seydlitz/ |
|
|
1/4 inch 5 ply wood 12x48in |
20.16 |
http://shop.balsausa.com/product_p/350.htm |
|
|
1/8 inch 5 ply wood 12x48in |
29.66 |
http://shop.balsausa.com/product_p/348.htm |
|
|
Superstructure |
50 |
various ABS/etc |
|
|
Turret x4 |
20 |
http://battlersconnection.com/sms-derfflinger/ |
|
|
Super Glue |
10 |
***estimated |
|
|
West Systems Epoxy |
69.99 |
https://www.amazon.com/System-Epoxy-Resin-Hardener-Metering/dp/B07JHC28CV/ref=sr_1_5?hvadid=78615149107131&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&keywords=west+systems+epoxy&qid=1573508129&sr=8-5 |
|
|
Fiberglass cloth |
4.49 |
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?I=LXL493&P=ML |
|
|
Internal Armor |
10 |
***estimated |
|
|
Hardware - screws, hinges, bolts |
20 |
***estimated |
|
|
Various Brass pieces |
20 |
***estimated |
|
|
Gas system |
|||
|
3oz CO2 bottle |
41 |
http://battlersconnection.com/3-oz-c02-bottle/ |
|
|
CO2 regulator |
40 |
http://battlersconnection.com/ultra-light-regulator-npt/ |
|
|
Solenoid x3 |
120 |
http://battlersconnection.com/combat-gear-solenoid-npt/ |
|
|
50rd Gun x2 |
63 |
http://battlersconnection.com/50-round-straight-magazine-cannon/ |
|
|
75rd Gun |
32.5 |
http://battlersconnection.com/75-round-straight-magazine-cannon/ |
|
|
1/16 hose barb x3 |
2.4 |
http://battlersconnection.com/1-16-hose-barb/ |
|
|
1/16 hose clamp x6 |
1.02 |
http://battlersconnection.com/1-16-hose-clamp/ |
|
|
1/16 hose x3ft |
1.8 |
http://battlersconnection.com/1-16-inch-hose/ |
|
|
1/8 hose barb x6 |
4.8 |
http://battlersconnection.com/1-8-barb/ |
|
|
1/8 hose clamp x6 |
2.4 |
http://battlersconnection.com/1-8-hose-clamp/ |
|
|
1/8 hose x6ft |
4.5 |
http://battlersconnection.com/1-8-inch-hose/ |
|
|
T fitting x4 |
5.8 |
http://battlersconnection.com/t-fitting/ |
|
|
Gasket rings x20 |
1.2 |
http://battlersconnection.com/gasket-10pk/ |
|
|
Drive System |
|||
|
Gear Box |
38 |
http://battlersconnection.com/gb500-gear-box/ |
|
|
550 Drive Motor x2 |
11 |
http://battlersconnection.com/550-motor/ |
|
|
Shaft/tube x2 |
23 |
http://battlersconnection.com/12-prop-shaft/ |
|
|
Prop 1.5in 4 blade 25deg x2 |
42 |
http://battlersconnection.com/1-1-2-4-blade-25-pitch/ |
|
|
Pinion Gear x2 |
10 |
http://battlersconnection.com/12-tooth/ |
|
|
Drive Gears |
10 |
***estimated |
|
|
Rudder |
4 |
http://battlersconnection.com/class-4-single-rudder/ |
|
|
Traxxas rudder
servo 2056 |
29.99 |
https://www.amazon.com/CRANIAC-STEERING-THROTTLE-SPARTAN-TRAXXAS/dp/B011HK1U1E/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=traxxas+2056+servo&qid=1573508207&sr=8-5 |
|
|
Damage Control System |
|||
|
Pump |
30 |
http://battlersconnection.com/large-pump-full-kit/ |
|
|
Radio Control System |
|||
|
Fire Board x3 |
75 |
http://battlersconnection.com/combat-gear-dual-gun-pcb/ |
|
|
Drive Servo Futaba S3003 |
10.99 |
various |
|
|
Pump Servo Futaba S3003 |
10.99 |
various |
|
|
Micro switch x3 |
3 |
various |
|
|
Various Wire |
25 |
***estimated |
|
|
Deans connectors x6 |
12 |
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?I=LXKX39&P=ML |
|
|
Spektrum DX6e |
199.99 |
https://www.spektrumrc.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdId=SPM6650 |
|
|
Batteries x8 10ah NiMH |
479.6 |
https://www.batteryspace.com/nimhbatterypack60v10ah5xd60wh40arate.aspx |
|
|
Silicone - blue RTV Gasket Maker |
5 |
***estimated |
|
|
Solder, flux |
5 |
***estimated |
|
|
Hull skin |
|||
|
1/32 Balsa 48x4 inch x3 |
17.25 |
http://shop.balsausa.com/product_p/50.htm |
|
|
silk span |
5.99 |
https://brodak.com/catalog/product/view/id/1626/s/silkspan-lite-white-only-2-sheets/category/893/ |
|
|
Spray paint |
5 |
walmart |
|
|
contact cement |
8 |
walmart |
|
|
Nitrate dope 16oz |
14.66 |
https://brodak.com/finishing-products/dope/nitrate-clear-16-oz.html |
|
|
TOTAL |
1790.18 |
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