Kit advice for a beginner -please

[bonky]

Lafayette

heres my 2 cents,

I started in this hobby in Jan of this year and purchased the Engel Lafeyette kit, took about 3 months to complete, but I worked kinda slow. My former expirence was in nitro mono hull boats, but that was about 10 years prior. Overall I think the Engel Laf kit was a good start for me. Engel really provides great customer service, I always received a reply to any question I had in a very timely manner.

Here is a link to my assembly thread.

http://www.subpirates.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=3663

regards,
Stuart

Ok, not gone to bed yet...

An excellent link (above); also see]http://www.subpirates.com/viewtopic.php ... &sk=t&sd=a[/url]

Bw

Richard

[polaris]

here take a look at

here take a look at it running, couple still shots and a couple videos.

http://www.subpirates.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=4236

[tmsmalley]

Welcome guys! Good advice from

Welcome guys! Good advice from everyone.

Another thing to consider is to get a kit of a boat you are interested in. If you like the look/lines/history or just plain coolness factor, that will keep you motivated/interested when (not if) you make a little goof and have to backtrack or ask for help. Be sure to check the "vendors" area of www.subcommittee.com under "kits" to see what is out there before you plunk down your money. Dave Manley of Small World Models has several great beginner's subs that are proven builds and as Jeff says - will get you in the water fast if you want to be working on your second boat -

Yes - there is always a second (and third, etc) boat eventually for we who, to paraphrase rocker, Robert Palmer - "You might as well face it, you're addicted to subs."



That is the great thing about the SubCommittee. We all remember we were beginners once and you can always find someone on line here with friendly advice and encouragement if you need a boost!

I also like the idea of an RC sub dictionary/glossary posted here. We could split the alphabet into sections to get a start, then people could chime in with more. Who wants to tackle it?

[polaris]

I second that, http://www.subcommittee.com/forum/icon_biggrin.gif

I second that,

[noney]

Stuart, thank you for the

Stuart, thank you for the link. I just spent about 45 minutes perusing your build. I had to laugh at the post that Dave M. wrote. I believe that is his name. Anyway, I picked up some good stuff from what you had to say that I believe would be relevant in whichever boat one built. Some I did not understand, but figure it will become more clear when I start to put one together.

Jeff, what do you think of the Robbe F-14 Radio Controller?

TMSmalley, good point on building a boat in which one is interested. Being a woodworker by hobby, I have built things for family that was of little interest to me and it was a chore. So that settles it for me. Its the Robbe U47. Please continue to press for the glossery. I am sure if I had access to something like that, I would be more comfortable starting in this hobby and have a better idea of how to start. I would be glad to assist, if by no other way listing terms I do not understand.

Thanks, Gene

[JWLaRue]

Jeff, what do you think

Jeff, what do you think of the Robbe F-14 Radio Controller?

Gene,

I recently helped one of our local folks figure out the F-14.

My advice: run away!

While it has some nice features like the optional dual throttle sticks, the way in which it implements the expansion capability actually limits what those 'channels' can do.

-Jeff

[tmsmalley]

U-47

If you do a search on this forum for "U-47", you will find a number of helpful posts. There are also several SubCommittee Report articles about building and improving that kit. It really helps to have paper pages to spread out on your workbench!

Let me know if you are intersted, and I'll go through my set and find the issues that you can order from Don Osler for $7.50 each plus postage. A few are are on CD, some are hard copy. I am scanning everything and it takes a HUGE amount of time doing it one page at a time. Don is at - membership@subcommittee.com

Best,
Tim

[noney]

Tim, I noticed on the

Tim, I noticed on the board that a DVD or 2 CDs are available with all back copies of SubCommittee Reports. I was thinking about purchasing it and printing out copies of pertinant articles. Are the Reports indexed with table of contents for each? Do you think purchase of the DVD would be as good as individual Reports that you suggest? I have done searches on the forum as you mentioned and have found several posts on the U47. I am still trying to figure out all the terms (sub hobbiest vernacular) used which will help me better understand all that is being written. Nonetheless, it has been interesting reading, and not just on the U47.

Jeff, if I am going to ask for advice, I better follow it, especially if the advisor is considered an expert. So, no Robbe F14. When I had my rc planes all my controllers were Futuba. So what are your thoughts here? One thing more, I probably will not be operating my sub around anyone else as there just isn't anyone around here that operates RC.

Stuart, I really liked your PVC cradle. I am going to have to build one of those. Any suggestions for improvement over your original design?

Gene

[tmsmalley]

Tim, I noticed on the

Tim, I noticed on the board that a DVD or 2 CDs are available with all back copies of SubCommittee Reports. I was thinking about purchasing it and printing out copies of pertinant articles. Are the Reports indexed with table of contents for each? Do you think purchase of the DVD would be as good as individual Reports that you suggest?

A slight correction - the DVD has SCRs 1-31.

The latest issue of the SCR (June 2008) is number 73, so it is only the earlier ones that are available so far, since we were running out of some of the hard copies people were ordering. I am hand scanning the later ones, but it is a very very very sloooooow process.

The advantage of the DVD is small size, price (30 issues for $99 as compared to a single hard copy mag at $7.50 each plus postage). As far as searching - you do it the old fashioned way - open each one on your computer and look at the table of contents

[Guest]

Didfficult to buy a 'bad'

Didfficult to buy a 'bad' radio set these days to be honest.

I have a Futaba FC-16 , which is basically an F14 with a computer bolted on.

For aeroplanes I use a Sanwa (Airtonics) RD6000, which is equally good, and very inexpensive for a computer TX.

You don't need anything super fancy for subs. It's worthwhile buying a TX with as many channels as possible (recommend at least six), as this will give you the option of adding extra functions to your boat later on.

Hitec, Futaba, Snawa (Airtronics in your neck of woods), JR are all reputable makes. Go for the beat you can afford, and the TX you feel most comfortable with.

Just steer well clear of 2.4GHZ- bad news for subs.

[noney]

Hi Sub-Culture, you have just

Hi Sub-Culture, you have just opened up a whole new line of questions. First, why would one need a computer added on to the controller? Second, what is a TX?

Tim, okay Iwould like to take you up on your offer regarding copies of the Report you think would help me building the U47. Please let me know how much money and I will send a check. I am looking forward to reading them.

Gene

[bonky]

u-47

Noney - still can't make up my mind about the U-47 or the Engels Lafayette.

i see you are going to get the u47. Here's some wonderful links:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=415435

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=572238

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=689423

(non-standard English on this one!)

A few problems noted on]http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=270042[/url].

Hope this helps

BW
Richard

[noney]

Hi Richard, (Okay, I need

Hi Richard, (Okay, I need some direction here. Do we speak to one another using our "user name" or our real name? Bonky or Richard?) Anyway, thank you for those URLs. I have bookmarked each and plan to print them out for future reference. I had already read the last one about the leaking problems. Unfortunate turn of events there concerning communications.


I'm still trying to decide on a controller. What are your thoughts there? I'm starting to feel like the guy that jumped on his horse and rode off in all directions. The good thing about listening to these guy here is that they are not selling anything so I can listen without fear of bias. But even then, vendors want repeat customers so they want to sell good stuff too. I guess I will wait until two SubCommittee members recommend the same controller, and that will be the one I buy.

Stuart had a great thread on building the Lafayette. If you decide to go that way it should be of great help. I liked his cradle and was planning to build one but I see the U47 kit comes with one. It looks like it is just for building tho, while the one Stuart has could be used for transporting.

I have visited your great country, and love reading about its history. If I could go back in time I would want to meet Queen Elizabeth I. What a woman!!!

Gene

[bonky]

U-47

Hi Richard, (Okay, I need some direction here. Do we speak to one another using our "user name" or our real name? Bonky or Richard?) Anyway, thank you for those URLs. I have bookmarked each and plan to print them out for future reference. I had already read the last one about the leaking problems. Unfortunate turn of events there concerning communications.


I'm still trying to decide on a controller. What are your thoughts there? I'm starting to feel like the guy that jumped on his horse and rode off in all directions. The good thing about listening to these guy here is that they are not selling anything so I can listen without fear of bias. But even then, vendors want repeat customers so they want to sell good stuff too. I guess I will wait until two SubCommittee members recommend the same controller, and that will be the one I buy.

Stuart had a great thread on building the Lafayette. If you decide to go that way it should be of great help. I liked his cradle and was planning to build one but I see the U47 kit comes with one. It looks like it is just for building tho, while the one Stuart has could be used for transporting.

I have visited your great country, and love reading about its history. If I could go back in time I would want to meet Queen Elizabeth I. What a woman!!!

Gene

Hi Gene/Noney (!),

either Bonky or Richard will do - I really don't mind. And you...?

Re ESCs - I'm largely ignorant here. This is from the KingstonMouldings ]http://www.howesmodels.co.uk/RadioContr ... p?CatID=48[/url]).

Thanks for the nice things you said about the UK. I often look at the globe and can't understand how 100 years ago we ruled a third of the Earth! (and The Waves). Of course two world wars have been our undoing (not the only reason of course), and it seems paradoxical that I should be wishing to model one of the very instruments of war that bled us so much and was responsible for the deaths of so many thousands of sailors - and innocents. I know this is OTT and may get 'flamed' for it... but... would I wish to model the Gas Ovens at Auschwitz or indeed the whole camp, I sincerely hope that people would find it repugnant and perverse. What makes E-boats, U-boats, V1s, V2s, Dornier bombers any different? Somehow I think that by modelling something one is almost deifying it. Is it just 'scale' (I'm not referring to model scale). Much as though I admire the aweful (sic) brutality of the German subs, as I said before, I view them in the same way that I view crocs/alligators - wonderful for the task that they were designed for (I'm an evolutionary Biologist BTW - but let's not go there).

Can you or anyone else help me here as I feel I'm in a bit of a moral dilemma? I know that if I object too much I don't need to buy it - but that's far too simplistic and the argument of kids. I once decided not to buy an AKG vac cleaner as I found that AKG were the builders of the forementioned gas-ovens. It's all a matter of scale I'm sure because we own a BMW and a VW!!!!, (and we wouldn't buy Jap cars for similar reasons). .I just feel a little uneasy with the whole issue - but I'm wittering now so I'll stop. Hence a sub modelled on the Good Guys (Brits and US etc) seems to be the way I want to go - but I DO keep ogling the U47 kit. The cheapest I've seen it over here is £229 (at http://www.howesmodels.co.uk/RadioContr ... bCatID=105) - about 465 USD

I once went to NY and the Cape Cod and Appalachians and loved it. Keep on meaning to go back - I'd love California and British Columbia I think. Many of our UK friends rave about Alaska (some have even bought there!)

Bw

Richard

(Don't feel you need to answer my moral dilemma ramble; a bit of a Cathartic exercise! Have just got back form visiting the Somme, Paschendale, Ypres and all the massive graveyards for all the countries involved in WW1 and it's made a profound effect on me.)

[Rogue Sub]

In my opinion the best

In my opinion the best first boat to buy bar none, no arguments, ifs ands or butts is..... The one you most desire. Get the boat you want!!! No regrets of man i should have got that or this. A little complex.. so what. You will have to learn with all of them as you go and with the help from these guys anything is achievable. Also if its the boat you are pationate for you are more likely to finish it in my opinion. Forget the forums go get that dream sub.

As for the polk 3. I love mine. Its so versitle why not use it and at big events I never worry about not getting to run my sub!

Kevin