Argonaut Junior - Looking for opinions

[tmsmalley]

I have been toying with the idea of building an RC version of Simon Lake's first submarine, the "Argonaut Junior." Here are a couple of pix]http://www.rc-submarines.com/26ebc26b0.jpg[/img]

This one of her hulk, shows a few more...


And this one shows the shape better than any other photo I have seen...



Now - which end is forward and which is aft? I always assumed it would roll towards the big wheels - judging by the way the chain drive is mounted, that hatch opening direction, etc., but I have heard a few arguments for it rolling towards the small steering wheel.

What do YOU think and why?



Edited By TMSmalley on 1070231042

[kd6hq]

I suspect that most “new”

I suspect that most “new” inventions us a lot of what is already know and the invention comes in when dealing with new ideas. Keeping this in mind the basic outline (wheels) I see here is a classic tractor. The small wheels seem to be of a classic setup, small and angled towards each other at the bottom. Makes me wonder that the inside looked like. Wouldn’t it be interesting if there were a spring-loaded seat and a long steering wheel? I can visualize someone sitting on the seat pumping a bicycle setup for forward motion and using the front wheels as a rudder (or maybe I’ve just been up too long).



Edited By kd6hq on 1070236479

[tmsmalley]

Mystery solved ... but as

Mystery solved ... but as often happens - when one is solved, another pops up!

In Lake's "autobiography" - "Submarine" he states]third wheel at the stern was for support and steering."[/b]

A NEW WRINKLE]A propeller was operated by a man-power crank..."[/i]

In looking at the photos I have been able to find, I can't see anything that looks like a propeller or a stuffing box for a prop shaft.

I believe the upright devices are "oar locks" for rowing the sub to their diving area and the book mentions "paddling out" to a 16 foot deep area in the river. In imagining using a hand cranked prop (a VERY difficult and strenuous activity) - one man would have to turn the crank while the other conned the sub and steered.

On the other hand - if I decide to build an RC version someday - a propeller would be much easier to animate than oars!



Edited By TMSmalley on 1070290776

[uss silversides]

One obvious error seems to

One obvious error seems to be on page 60 where "he" describes the Jr as follows -

"The boat was a tiny affair, perhaps fourteen feet long, roughly in the shape of a flat-iron mounted on wheels, flat sides and flat bottomed. She had a double skin of yellow pine, with canvas between the skins and was well caulked and payed. A propeller was operated by a man-power crank..."

In looking at the photos I have been able to find, I can't see anything that looks like a propeller or a stuffing box for a prop shaft.

Don't you think that round metal ring in the stern could be the end of a stuffing box? Just an idea.

Jonathan

[tmsmalley]

I was thinking a porthole

I was thinking a porthole - at least it looks like the one on the conning tower.

[uss silversides]

Could be. It would be

Could be. It would be a very large shaft to fit in that large of a stuffing box at any rate.