Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Submarines => Topic started by: Gentoo#144 on March 06, 2012, 06:49:25 pm

Title: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: Gentoo#144 on March 06, 2012, 06:49:25 pm
Back in 1981 I built a 690mm (27 inch) long "teardrop" hull shape fully functional model of a nuclear submarine which had both main and trim ballast tanks for static (vertical) diving capability (see the photo at the left of this entry).  Although the model was sold in 1986 and has long since disappeared I have just found some good photos and even a set of plans that I had been drawing up at the request of Model Boats magazine (although they were never completed for publication).
If anyone is interested in seeing how things were done in 1981 you can find a webpage about the model, together with a downloadable file containing high res' photos and the plans, on my website at http://www.gentoosjournals.co.uk/Links/Walter-S-Winans.html  The webpage also has a "contact me" feature in case anyone wants to ask some questions.
I hope that some of you may find the webpage of interest, and the drawings which show the "home made" ballast pumps may even give you some ideas that are still relevant today.
Regards,
Colin Gross.
Title: Re: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: Patrick Henry on March 06, 2012, 08:06:51 pm
This does make for fascinating reading, and shows how subs were built back then. You really should read it...



Rich

Title: Re: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: Subculture on March 06, 2012, 08:18:44 pm
Natty little boat. Looks like a cross between a Skipjack and Dutch Walrus class, and going by your description suffered from the same sail induced roll!

Mechanically I don't think things have moved on at all really since you built that- I guess there are only so many ways you can take on and eject water. Electrically we now have much better batteries and luxuries like miniature pitch controllers, which enable us to sail our boats for longer and with greater precision.

A pity you no longer own the original model, I wonder what became of it?

I see from some of the other articles you were a friend of Tom Andrews. I well remember Tom and the miniature boats and subs he used to sail at the Model Engineers Exhibition. I recall a favourite model was a conversion of a small Smitt Rotterdam tug kit, and he often used Cannon R/C equipment quite a bit in his models, which at the time was just about the smallest commercial radio kit available.
Title: Re: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: Patrick Henry on March 06, 2012, 10:14:23 pm
Did you ever see Tom's mini X craft?
Title: Re: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: Subculture on March 07, 2012, 07:05:51 am
I thought he made more than one. He did one which was about a foot long, maybe a little bigger, and a second which was about half that size.
Title: Re: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: Patrick Henry on March 07, 2012, 09:34:13 am
I remember the middle sized one...around a foot or so. Amazing piece of work.
Title: Re: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: bassplayer1 on March 09, 2012, 06:55:27 pm
Now, this is what I call workmanship!!! Superb!!!
Title: Re: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: redboat219 on March 10, 2012, 01:53:50 pm
Wow!  Can't believe this was done 30 years ago. Would be great to incorporate modernized versions in plastic models kits like the 1/144 Kilo and Seawolf.

When one wants  to go to the future one has to look to the past.
Title: Re: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: Subculture on March 10, 2012, 06:17:08 pm
Garrett had a similar system on his 'Egg' submarine back in the 1870's. A pumped water ballast system with a small piston trim tank.

(http://s12.postimage.org/z25am2221/curateegg.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/z25am2221/)
Title: Re: RC Submarine from 1981
Post by: Patrick Henry on March 10, 2012, 06:23:51 pm
Nothing is new...