Akula II Radio

[Benzol]

Gents.

I am an experienced boat builder, but totally new to submarines.
I plan to build an Akula II from Engel, but hit a roadblock already.

I have many Futaba radios, but they are all 2.4 GHz.
Engel sells 40 MHz radio in Europe, but that might not be legal in Canada.

My understanding is that I need a 75MHz radio, but that is no longer available.
Any advice how I can get one ? Thanks in advance.

Benzol

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

There are new 75 mhz radios available.
Example: https://www.rc-submarine.com/radio-t...-and-receivers
Make usre what frequencies you can use where you live.
The used market is also full of these "discontinued" radios.
New $80 seem like a good deal.
The vendor is also one of us sub modelers.

[salmon]

Benzol,
Where in Canada are you? We have several bubbleheads up there and I am sure they can help guide you!

[Benzol]

I am in Burlington, Ontario. This Akula II will be my first sub, just to gain some experience.
With my friends we usually gather at the Spencer Smith pond.

[Benzol]

Thanks Ralph. I did not know that place. That VEX radio looks OK.
Does anybody has experience with it?

[jure george]

Hi Benzol

I see your in Burlington, Ont. I am in Hamilton, Ont. IF I can be of any help or information, just ask. There is another Sub member here in Hamilton, a much more technically advanced member and he is also always willing to help people. PM me and we can go from there.
George

[eckloss]

Benzol,

Bob Martin at The Nautilus Drydocks does sell the Vex radios, as well as separate receivers and crystal pairs.

Link here: https://www.rc-submarine.com/radio-t...-and-receivers

I have personally used the Vex and find it to be a very acceptable radio for 4 channel submarine use. IMHO I would suggest the Vex over the WFly brand.

There are also some used Futaba 4-channel SkySport 75mhz radios on eBay from time to time. They do not, however, usually include the receiver. I have used several of these myself and like them a lot. But for the price I would go new with the Vex.

Link here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Futaba-SKYS...EAAOSw73ZdUZ0G

Additionally, I own and operate an Engel Akula II. It's a very well designed and executed boat. Runs like a dream, once you get it running. Some of Engel's stuff tends to have a bit of a learning curve. At first all the directions can look like a foreign language. But once you stare at everything enough, step back, and take it all in, it will make sense. The boat comes with very, very valuable photos in the construction manual. Often times they will guide you where the text seems to be lacking.

If you would ever like photos of specific parts of the boat, feel free to ask.

erich

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Akula II build trick I learned from another well known builder.

You are going to have to pull power wires from the front to the back.
THe instructions say to pull the 2 large black and red wires through one tube and then pull 2 smaller black and red wires through the other tube.
The trick is to pull 2 black wires through one tube and the 2 red wires through the other tube.

I did pull the 2 larger wires through one tube.
It required a length of wire and tape and a lot of effort to pull through.
When I learned the trick, I pull the 2 wires out and did the 2 red and two black wires together and they could be pushed through with no pull wire.
---------------
Here is my Akula II build.

http://www.cliffhangershideout.com/Akula/Akula-log.html

At photo #7 starts the wire pulling.
At photo #10 the trick is explained.
This is so much easier.

[Benzol]

Gents.

Thank you so much for your help.
I ordered the VEX radio, can't wait to see it.
I sure will miss telemetry what I have on my boat radios.

I haven't started the assembly of the sub yet.
I have the smaller Akula II kit, since I plan to use Lipo batteries instead of NIMH.
I also have a bunch of parts around, like ESCs, servos, UBECs, batteries , etc.
I am going to check out your Akula II build for sure, experience is king.
Thank you all.

Benzol

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

Just a warning in reading my build logs.
I post everything I do.
I post the mistakes as well as all the things that go right.
So be sure to read through each assembly to make sure you do not just read the mistake and not the correct as well.

[Benzol]

Today I came across a brand new Futaba Attack 4 75MHz radio. It is AM though. Is it any good for a sub?

[bob_eissler]

It will work but is not real desirable. Greater chance of signal interference and most people need at least 5 channels. I wouldn't pay much for it, they can usually be found at a very low price or well below $100 anyway.

[Benzol]

Thanks Bob.

It is new in box with receiver, charger and servos. $75 CDN, which is around $50 USD. Here nobody has a sub, everybody is running boats with 2.4 GHz radios. I am debating, maybe for a back up radio.

[subdude]

Benzol, you might want to check around you. Kevin McCloud is in Hamilton, Bruce Martin is near Toronto (I think), Rick Teskey is a bit further north, and there's a bunch of guys to your east around Rochester, one of the most active SC groups going. Alll of the Canadian guys I mentioned are seriously prolific sub builders. Trust me, you're not alone up there.

I wouldn't bother with the Attack 4, go for an FM set with at least 6 channels.

Jim

[Benzol]

Thanks, I skip the Attack 4. How about a Futaba T7CHP? That is 7 channel and FM. Would that be a better choice?