Test tank Sunday came around. The sub had only been bolted airtight the first time the night before. I had my feelings something was wrong when I pumped about three pumps of air into the model with a bicycle pump, then tested the bike valve for the expected hiss as I let the air back out..nothing.
So I had a leak, I knew not where.
I am at least the fifth owner of the model, at least two of the previous owners should not be allowed near sub models again, while at least one and a half of them have done a great job so far ( not sure if I am included in that list one way or the other??). I have previously been chasing leaks in the wall between the hull and bulkheads, caused where very early bonding problems have been cured with successive applications of epoxy, silicone or some thick paint, hopefully this was not one of them leaks.
In the test tank, with the air bag deflated and a pile of EPO foam and lead ballast beside me, we launched the model. With the bicycle pump attached so I could find this pesky leak, the model plunged to the bottom of the tank stern heavy. that can be fixed. The problem was the large amount of bubbles escaping from at least eight places UNDER the bolt down plate. Multiple failures in difficult to access places, under many layers of glue, gunge and muck.
PANIC!