1/125 Engel Akula II build

[Antoine]

Day 5.


Beginning of the paint job, the aerials first. I chose enamel paints for this, alu, black and brown.
Like I wrote previously, I seized the opportunity to turn a periscope. I used my "handmade lathe" for this job, aka my Dremel.





Painting of the emergency buoy. It is certainly one of my worst paint job but being temporarily disabled, I could not drive to my shop to airbrush it so I used enamel applied with a brush. I could not thin enough the paint otherwise the masking tape would have been ineffective. Anyway, I'll do it again when I fully recover.

[Antoine]

Day 6.


Hull masking for the red anti-fouling. I've always liked the russian subs with their red paint, it's the reason why I decided to depict the Akula this way.





I use the TS33 Tamiya spray paint, it is the Dull Red reference. I made a test before applying it all over the hull after having seen what happened on Ralph's model. Thanks (and sorry) Ralph ! ;-)






I think it begins to look quite good, doesn't it ?

[Antoine]

And here is she with the depth markings. It's almost done, it just needs a clear coat (mat) and trimming in the tub when I can walk again (hopefully in few months).








To conclude, I must say that this kit was the perfect project for my current condition. I enjoyed building (assembling ?) it with no hassle (thanks again to Ralph without whom I would have had more difficulties to finish the model).
I can't wait to show it to you in the water but it won't be before august I think.

I strongly recommend this kit, both to the beginner and the experienced builder. The little mistakes made by Engel (wrong prop, shape not 100% accurate) are quickly forgotten when you see the finished model.
If it runs as well as the 212 does, I'd give a 4.5 stars (out of 5 ;-)) to this kit. I only anticipate a poor turning radius due to the size of the rudders, the 212A will keep this advantage for sure !

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Very nice!

When I build, I post everything.
Even the errors, mistakes and mishaps.
Hoping others can use the information an hopefully avoids some of them.
That is a nice look.
Never under stood the sail marks. (who is going to be on the deck to need to see them?)

Again, nice job.


I may paint the bottom red, later but I do not know right now.

Where I run my boats, there are 2 of these Engel's Akula IIs being operated the last to gatherings.
You will be surprised how well these boats turn.
They out turn my Revel Skipjack by a couple feet.

In one week, my boat will be in the lake.
----------------------------
I see you left the sail draft marks off and the horizontal sonar location lines.

[Oldus Fartus]

Did you put on any flat clear over the flat black (per Engel) or red (Tamiya)?

If so, what brand/type?

[Antoine]

Not yet. A water based for sure to avoid any bad reaction with the black paint.

[Oldus Fartus]

The two smaller red/black wires with the red connector in the kit for the pressure switch are too short.

Did anyone else have that problem?

[Antoine]

Yes I think they are a little bit too short too but I managed to use them, check the photos.

[Oldus Fartus]

Yes I think they are a little bit too short too but I managed to use them, check the photos.

Mine are a good 40mm too short...time to get more wire and splice...

Also noticed I only had two Faston connectors which I used on the two limit switches (on yellow/violet wires to motor) and there were none for the pressure switch...hmmmm.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

I found them to be short as well.
I added 2" before stripping to solder.
I added it to the front where I could solder a 1/4" straight splice.
Covered with heat shrink tube then pull the connected section in to the brass tubes.
-------------------------
Oldus Fartus,
The southern California submarine group will be meeting at our usually place on June 10th. (next Saturday)
There should be 3 of these Akula II there and running.

Yorba Regional Park, gate opens at 7am and we are there until about 1pm or so.
Center of this map.

[Antoine]

You do not need the faston connectors for the pressure switch, just solder the wires directly to the switch terminals.
I did not even use these connectors for the microswitches.
40mm short is too much for sure, it seems Engel should give more length for these parts...

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Making the wires longer would cut in to their profits. <G>
------------
A thought on being 40mm short.
It may be that the wires path is not in the shortest way.

[Antoine]

A thought on being 40mm short.
It may be that the wires path is not in the shortest way.

Yup ! I cheated a little bit by looking for the best way, it worked for me but there is no slack.

[Oldus Fartus]

I've heard that it is sometimes necessary to disconnect the switch when there is pressure build up in the hull on hot days...any truth to that?

[Oldus Fartus]

I found them to be short as well.
I added 2" before stripping to solder.
I added it to the front where I could solder a 1/4" straight splice.
Covered with heat shrink tube then pull the connected section in to the brass tubes.
-------------------------
Oldus Fartus,
The southern California submarine group will be meeting at our usually place on June 10th. (next Saturday)
There should be 3 of these Akula II there and running.

Yorba Regional Park, gate opens at 7am and we are there until about 1pm or so.
Center of this map.

I'm thinking I might use a pair of JST connectors w/pigtails...that way I can easily disconnect the switch in the field if I ever need to...already used JST's on the UBEC so I wouldn't have to solder the UBEC wires directly to the power plug.
If I were closer I'd come over to the regatta next week but it's a day's drive for me each way...