New guy with Revell 1/72 Type VII C R/C conversion question....

[wingtip]

dont let frustration stop you... its been a long 10 yr build on my current project and is nearing completion ... i got frustrated several times and had to put the project aside for a year or two several times but always came back to it... you will be frustrated but its not the end of the project... trust me. Just build a little at a time at your own pace and do lots of research....

Im from indiana as well... Im from martinsville... there are several of us from here....

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

A suggestion, if you run in to a problem that you do not have the answer to, Come to one of several forums and express your issue in detail and with photos if you can.
Then while waiting for help, move on to something else on the boat,
You build small assemblies and then you start joining the small assemblies to make bigger assemblies.
Then it happens..... all the assemblies are together and then the testing starts.

Submarines are not like other models.
We can't go to the store and buy a ready built operational boat.
And if you can't find what you need, you will have to figure out how to make it or finds someone who will make it for you.

This hobby forces you to be a builder and an engineer.
Some times it will make you a diver as well to retrieve your boat if you rush your build or forget to prep your boat completely every time you go to put it in the water.

Not trying to scare you off...It is all really worth it the first time someone asks where did you get that submarine. And you say "I built it."

[indiana_mike]

Well, at least i got the diving part down, Ralph. I'm an PADI certified Open Water Diver, lol. Pretty fair with a snorkel too, or used to be.

Wingtip, Im from a small town east of Muncie called Farmland. About an hour or so from Indy.

[chips]

Any r/c model submarine will have a split hull of some sort. The hull may be split horizontally parallel to the centerline; or vertically - either parallel or perpendicular to the center line. The majority of my subs are split horizontally, parallel with the waterline. I also have a Thunder Tiger NEPTUNE, which has a forward nose cone that is removed to access 6 nuts that secure a plexiglass bulkhead to access the battery.

[indiana_mike]

I realise and understand that chips, but one of the WTC kits i looked at required cutting the hull in two across the middle, wasnt real wild about that idea, dont remember the name of the vendor now, but they are in germany. just didnt seem like a good design if it requires choping the sub in the middle like that.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

You are going to learn real quick that those of us in the US build differently than those who are in Europe.
I think the reason is, they build more dry hull systems than we do.
They cut the hull vertically and install bayonet connecting rings.
We cut the hulls using Z cuts, deck cuts and sections down to the waterline type cuts.

We like to build and get in the water quickly..sort of.
They enjoy the engineering precision as much if not more than the running.

We seem to try and build cheaply.
They boats are engineered wonders on the inside at times.

The type VII is a small boat ... narrow.. figuring out how to get the cylinder in to the hull is what has to be worked out.

Remembering, one that was cut vertically down to the waterline through the side tank.
This allowed a section of hull and deck with tower to be lifted straight up giving good access to the inside.

All held together with one screw at the read through the deck.

There are several good 1/72 Type VII builds.
Tomorrow, I'll look around and see if I can find some of the older builds.

[indiana_mike]

According to info on Caswells site, (copied and pasted) "The 2" diameter Sub-driver will slide into the hull with the deck removed. The hull opening will spring apart very slightly."

I have some 2" PVC, i may cut a piece the same length as the sub-driver and experiment with it to see how it would fit in the hull. Im assuming they are saying it fits without modification to the hull..i may be wrong. seems like that would be a tight fit.

[sam reichart]

do you have your heart set on the Type VII? The Gato and the Type IX offer more space with which to work...?

[indiana_mike]

well, sam...i already have the revell 1/72 type vii c kit, but, funny you should ask because i was just about to ask everyones opinions on actually going bigger since im a newbie, as in would it actually make things a bit easier since i would have more room to work with on the interior of the hull. the more thought i put into this the more tempted i am to go up to the 1/48 scale Arkmodels Type VII C which is 55" in length and 5" wide.

I have a 1/72 Gato as well, but its too far along on construction to be feasible for converting to R/C. If i keep stewing things over like this im going to end up getting really silly and ordering one of the big 1/35 Type VII C's...and i really dont have the room for a nearly 7' long sub lol.

So how about some opinions on switching scale, fellas? Im very tempted to go with the 1/48 Arkmodels Type VII...im trying to follow everyones advice on how constricted the 1/72 scale is inside the hull and again i really do appreciate the help you guys have been trying to give me.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Hope these give you some ideas.

Built with removable deck to insert cylinder.
With a photo.

http://subcommittee.com/forum/showthread.php?29611-Revel-1-72-Type-VII-Conversion

Built with hull split vertically.

http://subcommittee.com/forum/showthread.php?28405-Revell-type-7-build

[indiana_mike]

Thanks so much, Ralph, for the time and effort to look those up and post them. I like the removable deck idea the best. Im still researching and may go up to 1/48 scale...not sure yet.

[salmon]

I have two 1/72 scale Type 7 subs to be built. I have been pushing it off because of the cramped working area and big fingers. For some reason, small spaces and big fingers do not mix well (add to that I have ox-like abilities and break delicate things a lot). When I built a sub that had a 3.5" WTC, it was like heaven with all that room. I have had those two Type VII on my build list for awhile, but bright shiny objects (or subs) seem to give me a reason to put it off. 1/48th scale will be a relief for the eyes and fingers, but also give you plenty of space to detail out as much as you want.

When I first started, I could not get enough information and I wanted everything in my sub. A wise piece of advice was given to me, crawl, walk, and then run. So, do not go crazy with all the extras you can put into your sub (working scopes, torpedoes, etc.). The goal should be to get your sub working and keep it simple. Then you can build on that experience. I did not build the easiest sub first, but I built a sub that I love, the Gato. If your passion is the Type VII then go for it. Whatever you choose we are here to help.

As a side note: I too am a scuba diver with both PADI and NAUI - We used to joke about PADI standing for Put Another Dollar In.
Peace,
Tom

[indiana_mike]

Simple is definately what i had in mind, Salmon...I wasnt planning on torpedoes or working periscopes...i figure im going to have enough on my hands just ending up with a sub that stays surfaced when its supposed to, dives when i want it to, and then re-surfaces when i want it to. I am lucky in the fact that I have a small pond right in the back yard that would be easy to retrieve a sub from should something go wrong.
Right now i am leaning towards possibly just going with the the Arkmodels 1/48 scale Type VII with one of their WTC kits and just build on that over time. The ARTR stuff is out of my reach in price, and I would also prefer to have the building experience to truly understand how everything works and relates to everything else. Anything larger is out of the question cost-wise and I simply just dont have room for a sub that large.
I still have a good bit of research and pondering to do, so I may be thinking something totally different in a da or two who knows.

[indiana_mike]

Well...I have canned the idea for the Arkmodels 1/48 Type VII. I've been made aware that the company has a very bad rep for taking payment and not shipping product, this hobby is going to be expensive enough without having to worry about losing money like that. I was guided in the direction of Dan Kachur for a 1/48th Type VII, but can not find contact info, and since his product is hand made from fiberglas its probably going to be out of my price range. Not to mention I really dont want to wait months to recieve a product. So...im going to just continue on with the 1/72 Type VII and deal with whatever the narrow hull brings.

[sam reichart]

Dan's Type VII was a nice model. Still not a hell of a lot of room in that one, either.
good luck with the build.