USS SHARK SSN-591: Refit Log 2016-08-23 (1:48 BeBoer Skipjack)

[QuarterMaster]

She may not be the most accurate hull, but my goodness do I love this boat!!

Refit Log 2016-08-23

Another in the "Not so reality TV" Series brought to you by.....
INDIVIDUAL ANEMICS
Electric Model Boat Division
...a "sub" Division of MRCSB (where the rent is TOO DAMN HIGH!!)

[bigdave]

Hi Ed
I have to say your approach to building your cylinder is the most interesting I have seen in years.
I love it when Bubbleheads think out of the box. I hope it works out for you.
Great job Sir! BD

[JWLaRue]

Ed,

.....gotta ask: did I correctly understand that you are using a 2.4GHz receiver? How are you solving the problem with the lack of signal penetration in the water for that frequency?

-Jeff

[QuarterMaster]

Hi Ed
I have to say your approach to building your cylinder is the most interesting I have seen in years.
I love it when Bubbleheads think out of the box. I hope it works out for you.
Great job Sir! BD

Thanks Dave!

Taking EVERYTHING I learned from Sayreville to today and using it here. In fact, the Pushrod seals are the same concept used on my Krick U25 in '88. Theyrw we nothing more than a long PVC tube with the push rod inside capped with a price of fuel tubing and an o'ring.

Old school meets new school which is MY school lol!!

[QuarterMaster]

Ed,

.....gotta ask: did I correctly understand that you are using a 2.4GHz receiver? How are you solving the problem with the lack of signal penetration in the water for that frequency?

-Jeff

I'm just taking the lesson from Mike Dory who ran in brackish water, my antenna (the 1.25" exposed end of the coax) is threaded through a simulated Antenna on the SHARK and will ALWAYS be exposed above the water. Jim Wheeler had VERY tall out of scale scopes allowing us to run deep, which was nice to avoid surface runners I run with. They would just sorta bounce off the scope with nothing more than a "Loony Tunes" twaaaaang effect to them. My Keel depth at PD is close to 18"

Sure I would here people at a Regatta whisper "That's NOT to scale..." as to which I would just remember those with scales measuring my boat really need a life. We're here to have FUN. Don't get me wrong, accurate scale boats are the bomb...but really, ya need to knock another persons preference???

I save my FULL accuracy for my static models and don't cry when my play boats get dings. But that's me.

To be honest I rarely ever dove past my scopes. I get VERY nervous in open water when I lose sight of my mast's. NEVER outside of a pool, which I have rare access to anyway. So I don't see the need to stick with 75Mhz anyway. I have two good 75Mhz radios which I'm saving for the Mason NAUTILUS and Teskey PROTEUS, boat's sans scopes.

My F14 NAVY (the conversion to 2.4Ghz video I did earlier in Modelers Tips and Tricks) will be shared among 4 boats that have Mast's and Antennas.

Like I said earlier with Dave, two schools coming together, old and new...quite a lovely combination

[JWLaRue]

Thanks, Ed. Will be interested to see how it works out!

-Jeff

[salmon]

You are right, Mike Dory did run with antenna out in brackish water. I can completely agree about being nervous when the scope goes down.
I cannot fault your logic and there are a lot more 2.4GHz out there!

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Tom, you know that at our little gathering in Yorba Linda Park, we had this discussion about loosing signal but yet Mike Dory and Will Will Oudmayer ran several of their boats with out flaw.
The rest of us had signal issue every time we tried to run.
I suggested that I did not remember them running without at least a little bit of antenna above the water surface.
I know they were not running 2.4ghz but they very well could have.

So maybe there is something to 2.4ghz.
Just set the fail safe to bring the boat up and then signal can be regained.

And, No, I am not ready to give up on 75mhz.
I just got mine system working again after a very long time of having issues. (mostly builder induced)

[salmon]

The subs that they are running now are not the same ones they ran in brackish waters. I do not believe either of them do that environment now. They both run using Will's piston WTC and there is not an external antenna. I do not believe they could have run with 2.4GHz. However their older boats (10 years +) did run the antenna up the tower and extended like a periscope out the top. Those boats could have.

[bigdave]

I don't believe Mike ever ran 2.4.
He had a Graupner MC 18 I think way back when.
One of the earlier computer radios. He ran all his subs with it. BD

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Dave, I wasn't suggesting Mike was running 2.4 ghz.
Just that Mike runs almost all the time with a little bit of antenna above the surface.
Last month, I think Mike was running a 40mhz systems on at least one of his boats.
That's what was printed on his Tx.

I will pay more attention to what others are using at the next run, coming up in Sept.

[bigdave]

You know Ralph it may be the same exact radio.
Lol
Back when Mike got the radio it was not, and don't think it was ever imported into the US.
He most likely imported it himself from Germany.
As they use 40 MHZ over there.
Maybe it's been retuned.
Years back at one of the subregattas we were compairing radios as I had my Multiplex.
It was a computer radio as well. BD

[bigdave]

I am very interested though in how Ed makes out using the 2.4. BD

[salmon]

Those boats could have.

BD, you are right they did not run 2.4GHz. I was saying those boats could have 2.4GHz if they were running today (tying it into this threads topic of running Ed's Shark with 2.4GHz) - sorry for not being clear. My mind thinks it is making sense, but what I type it is another story. I also believe they ran in the 40MHz - 50MHz radio range then too.

[QuarterMaster]

All,

I'll do my best to document EVERYTHING.

This weekend I plan to wrap up the "wet" side of the coax. which will extend through the brass section of the "faux" Navsat antenna. I'll video that too. Waited on 2.5:1 Moisture Seal Heat Shrink from McMaster to cover the 1-1/4 exposed conductor on the RG-178

Hardest part with all of this is working with the small diameter of the RG-178. Especially w/regards to modifying the Corona RX. But at $15USD a pop for the RX, not a bad loss should one botch it. FWIW, I paired the RX/TX before I did the antenna swap out. That way I eliminated pairing as a troubleshooting factor after the antenna swap.

A little more behind the decision regarding the change to 2.4Ghz.
First, I often embrace new technologies. I am NOT one of those guy's who lament the "old" day's. Yes I miss 'em, and discuss them. But as Stephen King wrote repeatedly in his Dark Tower series..."the world has moved on" . If the market is changing, what can I do to change that if I want to play? So adapt, or become a dinosaur. Keeping a TX without reliable customer support is problematic at best. Can't fool myself that Big Radio gives a $#*! about the individual consumer...just the Market trend. Am I wrong??
Second, I'm one of those guy's plagued by 75Mhz glitching issues. Not sure why, but always had. Always at the worst time too, like my turn at the competition course at a regatta! So, I had planned.......
Third, ......to follow in Mike's footsteps (didn't realize Will O did that either) and extend my 75Mhz antenna through a scope, holding me at PD anyway...which is what I always do! But now that I saw an article by Dave M. regarding 2.4Ghz, I said "Why not", what have I got to lose? Plus, from what I seen once a 2.4Ghz RX/TX are paired they're fairly solid in terms of glitching compared to 75Mhz. If it survives the location by the underwater pump at the North Lake in Groton, I'll be a believer for life.
Fourth, cost! Did I mention an 8CH Corona RX is $15? I bought 3 additional receivers for $45..one 75Mhz priced at over $59!! As I'm sharing this TX among 4 boats...another NO brainer!!

Really does work for me.

But then again, what always looks great on paper, may be a bust in practice! In two week's we'll know.

BTW, Mike Dory still running? You guys see him? Last I heard he sold everything due to health issues. I get soooo many conflicting reports and would LOVE to reach out to him via email.
He is one of the nicest guys who shared everything, always offered to help. Would sit with me and patiently help and explain.