Making My First Sub

[starfox9]

I have been wanting to get a model submarine for the longest time but just havent gotten around to getting one. Well now i have...the Dumas Akula is on its way and i was wondering if i should order an automatic leveler too...i am a little short on cash for now. Is it necessary to have one on a sub if i am going to have fun diving it and such? I also fly airplanes, race trucks, and compete in battlebots so i got tons of left over parts i can use which is a good thing. I have already made a working torpedoe system that i plan on implementing in the Akula if there is enough room. There might be enough for just one side because i know the front dive planes arent rigged...which i might also do as a modification later on. Also this forum doesnt seem to be very popular like some other car and truck ones out there...am i missing something? Is there a bigger forum out there? Any help would be apreicated, thanks.

[starfox9]

Also what is a good

Also what is a good drive for this? Towerhobbies and another site say two different drives...

[starfox9]

Yea its this site http://www.rcboats.com/

Yea its this site http://www.rcboats.com/ and www.towerhobbies.com Also how do you edit posts? I cant find out how to do that on these forums

[crazy ivan]

While not absolutely necessary, an

[color=#000000]While not absolutely necessary, an automatic pitch controller will make depth control considerably easier, particularly at periscope depth with a little speed on. Otherwise, you will be trying to eyeball the boat's attitude underwater and overwork your joystick, causing the boat to porpose up and down. I use Subtech's APC-4 in mine and it works wonders. Nice and small in the Akula's tight waterproof compartment too.

By "drive", are you referring to the motor? I used a Graupner Speed 400 in mine with a 3]

[novagator]

Starfox,

Yes, this is the most

Starfox,

Yes, this is the most active submarine forum there is.

[anonymous]

Yes, this is THE source

Yes, this is THE source for accurate submarine model information. Model submarines are significantly more complex than model cars, therefore, are more expensive and appeal to a smaller group. After all, anybody with a twenty dollar bill can walk into Walmart and walk out with a car, but you better be expecting to sink several hundred bucks into a sub. Your Dumas kit is a pretty good place to start, but you will be much happier and less frustrated with an APC-1 or similar angle keeper.
Good luck, and keep reading these pages...it will let you tap in to world wide knowledge.

[starfox9]

Ok thanks for the info...but

Ok thanks for the info...but nonono i race REAL rc trucks. Ones that can cost upwards of 2-3 thousand dollars. My truck right now is a $500 truck.

I think ill get the sp400 drive...but does the kit provide means for mounting the motor and such? All i got on order right now is the kit from tower hobbies. I got batteries and a radio system, including an esc and sp400...with servo's and the such.

[crazy ivan]

Dumas provides a tray for

Dumas provides a tray for servo and motor mounting. Since it was designed for the larger Pittman motor, I added a parallel pair of 1/4 x 1/4 inch styrene bars to form a motor cradle and clamped the motor down with a brass U bracket.

See my motor installation here

The output shaft of the gearbox aligns nicely with the prop shaft.

[starfox9]

Ok thanks thats good to

Ok thanks thats good to know. Where did you buy that gearbox? I was thinking of makin out of of 1/4" or 1/8" lexan with a bearing to hold the shaft for the larger gear.

[crazy ivan]

It's a lot simpler and

It's a lot simpler and quicker just to order one. Its made specially for the speed 400, has a ball bearing, and it gives you a choice of three ratios. Get it from Cermark.

www.cermark.com

[Larry Kuntz]

Crazy Ivan was asking me

[color=#000000]Crazy Ivan was asking me for information on Cermark last night so I thought I would answer here this morning. The motor/gearbox combo he was refering to is Cermark]



Edited By Larry Kuntz on 1080228296

[starfox9]

Wow thanks a lot...that is

Wow thanks a lot...that is wicked cheap! I have a feeling im gonna have lots of fun with this I was hoping to arm it with torpedoes, i know its my first sub but i have a lot of experience with pneumatics and pressurized gasses, so i was going to give it a go but i have been reading a lot about it having cramped spaces.

[crazy ivan]

There is some room above

There is some room above the battery box and up in the bow, but you would have to get really creative with some super miniaturized components.

[starfox9]

Ah ok thats good to

Ah ok thats good to know. Im gonna go search around to see if you can use Lipolies in these ships, though i dont know why because i would be addind all that more weight for ballast anyways. But i think thats the biggest maH bats i got laying around...nimH would be my second choice.