New Guy on the Block

[the_unknown_paintballer]

Hey I was thinking about getting into the whole submarine thing. Is it a pricey thing or is it cheap I was gonna get into RC planes and I was checking them out when I thought to myself, "It would be really cool to be able to film under water without having to go in the water." So I wanted to build my own submarine and film under water. I need input on what I should do.

[Guest]

If you do a little

If you do a little research on this forum, you'll find this question has been asked many times before.

You need to ask yourself the following.

1. Scartchbuild or kitbuild.
2. Type of submarine you want i.e. subject and static diver or dynamic diver
3. Size of boat.

This can be a resonably priced hobby if you are prepared to scratchbuild, or perhaps convert a cheap plastic kit, like a Revell or Trumpeter model.

If you want to go for a kit, and you want a high quality item, then it can get expensive, think in terms of model helicopter prices.

A lot of folk whinge about the cost of sub kits Vs other branches of modelmaking.

The reason the costs are high, is because this still a very niche hobby, which means the products are still, largely speaking, produced by hand usually in someones home workshop.

Other kinds of models enjoy the cost reductions of mass production.

In short noone is getting rich!

Andy

[himszy]

If you want to mainly

If you want to mainly film underwater I'd suggest you go the ROV route....It's generally alot cheaper and you can have something pretty decent working for circa £200GDP.

ROV forum: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/robotrov/

Michael

[wolfsong]

you might want to check

you might want to check out the new ROV forum on this page.. i posted some links for manufacturers.. a good project would be the Galathee.. a researchvessel for just under $300.-

i myself will be getting norbert bruggens delta.. with camera and all

regards
stefan

[tmsmalley]

Also keep in mind that

Also keep in mind that you will need to be hardwired to the surface if you plan on underwater photography.






It runs on six $10 bilge pumps as thrusters and the camera is a $29 B&W unit from SuperCircuits. Sixty feet of 8 conductor wire connects the motors to the surface control box. A separate 60 foot twin conductor coaxial cable handles the video signal and 12V to the camera. The 3 conductor yellow through-hull connector plug and socket for the video housing were purchased from Paul Hruby at Daniel-Woodhead.



The basic design (sans camera) came from a book titled "Build your own underwater robot" by Harry Bohm purchased on-line from www.HBOI.edu

If you are interested in learning more about ROVs, check out the Yahoo ROV group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/robotrov/

[the_unknown_paintballer]

thanks guys but I dont

thanks guys but I dont think I have the money for all this. You guys keep up the good work.

[jeffrey j]

.....

hi New Guy,
Hey, look at it this way, besides some of the guys buying pre fab hulls, most of the model submarine is scratch built anyway, or modified to the point where it might as well of been scratch built..... the overall layout of the interior, ballast systems, control linkage's, servo and motor mounts, gear reductions "if you want them", cutting , finishing the hull, periscopes, deck detailing, or building,,,, and tirming the boat,, ... You came to the right place for info and help. After you decide what you want to build, this is a good place to ask for plans, or where to point you for them....Good luck. Jeff J.