Resurrecting the K Class
I got back into model making six years ago, after a break of some 40 years. Quite a few successful builds since then, including an (ultimately) fully operational semi-submersible. In the Spring I intend to start building a seven foot split-hull warship with training turrets, which will be a long project as most of it will be “scratch”.
In the mean time I keep looking at my first very unfinished project gathering dust, the first RC boat I tried building after returning to model making.
Maybe it was a bridge too far at the time, but perhaps it may be possible to resurrect my incomplete K Class submarine. At the time I ran into too many insurmountable snags, plus total inexperience ended up shelving it, literally. Maybe now at least I might be able get it going as a surface runner, perhaps more even. . .
So, what have I got. A 53 inch Dean’s fibreglass hull, a fairly complete Caswell dive module (mostly in parts) that fits the hull, various micro servos, and a Futaba F14 40MHz transmitter (40MHz necessary for underwater reception.) Also various linkages, magnetic couplers, dive planes, rudder, fail safe unit, dog-bone couplings, and a sub 10 Viper ESC.
Required: A suitable battery to fit the forward compartment, a compatible but small Rx (the large one I bought with the Tx is in use elsewhere), plus props and shafts etc. The magnetic couplings look like they go through the module end plate, which look to need some form of corrugated rubber boots to keep the water out. Futaba or compatible Rx’s & crystals seem tough to find nowadays.
Six years ago I really did try to figure out how it went together, and failed. Hopefully the intervening years of advice and experience may make me in a better position now. I learned a lot building HMS Polyphemus and ultimately getting its dive system working.
As I have got most of the parts required I might as well have another try. There will be quite a lot of questions though.
What do you think ?