1/125 Engel Akula II build

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Not sure how what you are saying would help.
----------------------------
There is a plug at the front of the tray to disconnect the batteries.
The wires from the batteries to this plug go through the brass tubes and connect to the plug that is in the plastic box.
The plug on the outside of the box goes to power all the equipment.

Another plug does not seem necessary.
-----------------
The plug at the box is used as the disconnect switch.
Unplugged power is off.
Plugged in, power is on.

The boat needs to be opened up to get to this plug or the other plug.
Pressure build up when on the bench is not likely as the hull halves are open.

[Antoine]

Old Fartus was talking about the pressure switch not the main power, Ralph.
About adding a plug to this switch, there is no need as you can disconnect it from the CTS-2 if you ever wanted. But I do not see the point of doing that as you have the possibility to equalize the pressures with the breather tube before putting the model in the water.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Oops. Pressure Switch. . .
I understand, now.

Thanks for cleaning that up.

[Oldus Fartus]

Got it.

I'll just splice a few more mm. to the short wires so they reach and solder directly to the pressure switch.

Thanks!

[Oldus Fartus]

Paint

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

Noticed you used Tamiya TS-33 for the bottom. It's a lacquer-based paint but it looks like there wasn't a problem painting over the flat black. Tamiya also makes a TS-80 (flat/clear) so I'm wondering if that would also work as a final protective coat.
Thoughts?

[Antoine]

Well, I've never used the Tamiya clear coat but from what I read on the internet, it seems a good product. Regarding the compatibility with the Engel paint, I can't say.
As you wrote, the TS-33 behaved well with the black so why TS-80 wouldn't ? As I did with the TS-33, I'd make a test on the black stern hatch first (except if you plan to paint the bottom hull in red). What do you think ?
If you do that, please tell me how it reacted because I may be tempted to use this coat too. ;-)

[Oldus Fartus]

Receiver

It looks like you may have removed the receiver housing...any reason for this?

[Antoine]

Yup, the Rx I had in stock was a little bit too big. I had to remove the housing to install it inside the sub

[Oldus Fartus]

The Futaba I had slated for this build was also too big so I opted for Matt's 75 MHz SubCommander. Nice small receiver and fits with plenty of room
Put power to the TechRack for the first time today and everything worked perfectly.
Thanks Gregor for a great kit!

[Oldus Fartus]

Yup, the Rx I had in stock was a little bit too big. I had to remove the housing to install it inside the sub

How did you get the antenna wire thru the long plastic tube?

[JWLaRue]

For my Engel Type 212 I temporarily glued a thin wire to the end of the antenna. After pushing the wire through the tube I then gently pulled the wire which, in turn, pulled the antenna through the tube.

-Jeff

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

This is what I did.
I used a length of small piano wire to push through the plastic tube.
I glued a piece of strong string to the wire and pulled it through.
I then made a few turns and knots on the antenna wire.
Using the string I pulled the antenna through.
-----------
I tried to glue the antenna wire to the piano wire but that failed.
The string is just strong thread.

[Oldus Fartus]

This is what I did.
I used a length of small piano wire to push through the plastic tube.
I glued a piece of strong string to the wire and pulled it through.
I then made a few turns and knots on the antenna wire.
Using the string I pulled the antenna through.
-----------
I tried to glue the antenna wire to the piano wire but that failed.
The string is just strong thread.

Thread worked.
Thanks!
TechRack complete.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

As we all built, we encounter problems to solve.
Every problem has several ways to approach it and solve it.
The solution depends on the tools and parts you have available to you at the time.

Move forward....every day!

[Oldus Fartus]

The instructions suggest separating the center section from the piston tank to join the aft section to the now completed TechRack.

Did anyone split the TechRack again at this point?