Getting torpedoes to go straight!! - Does anyone know?

[skuggan]

Does anyone have torpedoes firing with propel gas that goes straight shoot after shoot?
Need do know so that one doesn't turn left and the other goes right and the third is straight.
I've read that some skews the tailfins in order to get the torp to spin is that enough ?

[novagator]

I am thinking trial and

I am thinking trial and error with each individual torpedoe.

[dietzer]

Does anyone have torpedoes firing

Does anyone have torpedoes firing with propel gas that goes straight shoot after shoot?
Need do know so that one doesn't turn left and the other goes right and the third is straight.
I've read that some skews the tailfins in order to get the torp to spin is that enough ?

I have no actual experience building torps yet, but from what I've seen posted here and elsewhere I can list the popular solutions.

1) Skew the tail fins to induce spin.

2) Make sure the gas exit hole is properly centered and straight. If the gas exits at an angle, even with the tail fins inducing spin you will wobble, and have loss of control. Even worse, the angled gas exiting the torp may counteract the spin induced by the fins! I think Merriman bored his exit holes by putting the torp in a lathe to make sure the exit hole is properly centered and straight.

3) The torpedo should be well balanced. If its not well balanced, it will wobble as it spins, causing loss of control. Merriman's method of making torps helps you make balanced torps.

4) The length of the torpedo tube. A longer tube helps get the torp moving straight before it exits the tube. The downside is that if the tube is too long, you may be wasting gas just to overcome the friction of the long tube.

Hope this helps,

Carl

[starfox9]

Yes diet said it perfectly...your

Yes diet said it perfectly...your hole is probably off center...make sure it is perfect...its hard to get a perfectly centered hole even on a lathe, like Dave said.