My first working 'submarine'
Both my workbenches have been reallocated into submarine builds following the completion of my destroyer. However, all work has been on hold for three weeks whilst waiting for key parts from Germany and America. The Engel Type 212A is short of special servos and X tail mixer, plus the K boat needs its micro LiPo-Guard and battery.
I am SO glad Mayhem is back because with no build work to get on with and nothing to read online this dockyard was in danger of having to lay off 1/96 scale figures.
I am sure our boats talk to each other. Maybe that caused the near calamity this week, careless whispers about how great it would be to submerge and surface as well as going round in circles. I guess my two surface warships were easily led.
It was a lovely day on Thursday, if a bit gusty, so I took the working ships to the lake for a relaxing workout. HMS Skirmisher was heading slowly into the wind when a freaky gust raised a series of three inch waves. Two inch freeboard had always been more than adequate, but I watched in horror as mini-tsunamis washed along the main deck behind the 3 inch f’o’c’sle. Water resistant - but not a four foot WTC, I got it to the bank just as the stern submerged like an M2 seaplane carrier.
Damn ! That was a close call. Luckily damage was limited to a new receiver and replacing the rudder servo for a waterproof one.
OK, it was a rebuild that came with drop-in decks. It is now in for a refit to build in a series of watertight bulkheads, rebated comings and magnetic catches, like my destroyer. I was recommended the submersible pump and bilge pump controller from Hunter Systems, which are on order. A little like the snort pump for my K9 submarine. Hopefully the big pump can keep water from building up, or at least give more time to get to shore.
When the parts arrive for my subs they will be designed to take on water, and expel it.