66" Nautilus Hull is a dream come true

[thomcmdchief]

I started looking for an off the shelf Nautilus a couple of years ago. I checked out all the websites, the personal home pages and all the vendors listed here on the Sub Committee site and really I had no luck finding something that was actually available to the general public. Many members were scratch building the sub, but for those of us interested in getting a kit version, sorry about that.

Somehow, I hooked up with David Simpkins who was having Custom Replicas build a detailed static Nautilus for him. As molds would have to be made, I contacted Jim and asked the obvious question, could he adapt the static model for R/C.

What I now have in my possession is absolutely superb. The way the guys a Custom Replica's have separated the hull, the awesome metal and resin casts, are a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
Now they are not R/C specialists, so there is a degree of scratch building involved, especially in the rudder configuration, but guys, is you love the Nautlius and are not adept at laying up hulls, etc., this package is awesome.

Hopefully, my sub will be at Sub Ron 6's May 17th regatta in Carmel Indianal

Thom Lustik
South Bend, IN

[anonymous]

Thom;

Glad the Custom Replicas hull

Thom;

Glad the Custom Replicas hull worked out for you. Those guys do great work. And say hey to "The Bend" for me. That's where I was born and raised.

Jim Key and Scott Brodeen are currently building a detailed salon interior for my CR static Nautilus. Now that should be cool.

Best,
David Simkins

[thomcmdchief]

Thanks to Jerome, I can

Thanks to Jerome, I can upload a couple of pics. Hope you enjoy.

Thom Lustik, SC 2471
South Bend, IN

[PaulC]

Thom,

Terrific pics and a fine

Thom,

Terrific pics and a fine boat!

If you don't mind my asking, what did they charge for the hull?

[bob the builder]

Very nice boat, Thom.

You're

Very nice boat, Thom.

You're a lucky guy to have a CR Nautilus. I haven't seen one in person, but Dave Simkin's site
gives an absolutely awesome background into the construction of it.

I'm really looking forward to seeing progress shots on that salon interior!

[Guest]

Nice Nautilus.

Although I honestly can't

Nice Nautilus.

Although I honestly can't fathom out why they altered the top half of the hull for acces the way they did.

The best way to split the hull, is like the Scott Brodeen 1/64th scale Nautilus- you don't see the join that way, unless you look underneath the hull- but then who looks there when the boat is in the water anyhow!

Good luck with the rest of the project- what ballast system are you using BTW?

Andy

[thomcmdchief]

I'm using Dave Merriman's 3.5

I'm using Dave Merriman's 3.5 WTC. But there is so much room in there I could have done just about anything I had wanted to,

Thom

[Guest]

3.5" WTC...hmmm!

Depending on the speed

3.5" WTC...hmmm!

Depending on the speed you expect from your Nautilus, I would consider a better spec motor. I believe the 3.5" WTC cmes with a speed 500- not really big enough for a model in excess of 5 foot, IMHO.

As a guide, a chap I know built a 4 foot model of the Nautilus. He runs that on a speed 700, and the performance is impressive.

You may want ot consider a car fan heater blower unit- will be more efficient than the speed 500 anyhow!

Andy

[modelmaker]

Andy,

As to your question of

Andy,

As to your question of why we split the hull the way we did, was because if we didn't we would have had to redesign our molds completely. To divide the ship as you suggested, would have meant having to split over the salon window housing, which to cut it apart is a real nightmare. To pull the upper and lower hulls from the molds, means sans the fins, for mold release ease, and longevity of the molds. That's why our fins are external add-ons.

In a smaller casting such as Scott Brodeens's 31" resin Nautilus, it easier to make the fins incorporated into the molds. Although I hear Bob Martin did the same, and nearly lost his mold doing it. Still, he's proof that it can be done.

I'm not saying that it's a bad idea, it's just that we had already made the static model, and weren't about to redesign our molds for a couple of R/C versions that we did. Therefore we just opted for the upper hull ( chineline ) cut out.

Hope that answers it,

Jim Key - Custom Replicas

[bob the builder]

Jim,


Didn't lose my molds, it

Jim,


Didn't lose my molds, it just made laying up a real nightmare to do.

I ended up reworking my molds, (mostly to remove a lot of air bubbles due to my inexperience with brush-on rubber application.) The new molds split the side keels at the center, and the model is assembled as a single piece. That means creating your own access, but I think I like that idea better anyway.

If I had the cash, I wouldn't have started my project at all, and would have bought your kit. It's a real work of art.

Be sure to let us know when you're going to get some progress pics of your salon workup posted.





Edited By Bob the Builder on 1056199861

[fx models]

As to your question of

As to your question of why we split the hull the way we did, was because if we didn't we would have had to redesign our molds completely. To divide the ship as you suggested, would have meant having to split over the salon window housing, which to cut it apart is a real nightmare. To pull the upper and lower hulls from the molds, means sans the fins, for mold release ease, and longevity of the molds. That's why our fins are external add-ons.

Hi Jim,

I like how you split the hull for the record! I know what's involved in remaking molds and what its like to have a part that never comes out forever and ever... ha ha.

Very nice images uploaded too. Nice Job.

Oh, I will be talking to you soon about the other stuff we have been dealing with. I will probably start with a post of a consumer alert here very soon unless I get a response from him. [ for those confused, there is an individual who has taken several of us for quite a bit of money and he is a Nautilus fan. I will detail the events that affected numerous members if I do not hear from him within 1 week]

Great Nautilus Jim!!

Talk to you soon,

Marc

[modelmaker]

Thanks Marc.

And thanks to all

Thanks Marc.

And thanks to all of you in this group that have taken an interest in our boat. I'd also like to express my joy at seeing the fine job Bob Martin has recently done on actually getting his boat through it's birthing ( berthing ) pains...

Never easy, and it's like having a child born. Months and months of planning and worrying, and then it's there in your lap.

Raising it ( awareness and sales ) is also a bit like parenting. Everyone can give you advice, but each one is unique and individualistic.

Not to change the subject, but wish us luck as we're taking our other child ( 66" Enterprise ) to Creation's Grand Slam to present it to the world at the Roddenberry table.

Also, be advised that Chandler's Cove will be making an annoucement soon ( if not already ) about a Nautilus party in July. We'll be there and hope to see as many folks as possible.

More to follow in the months to come as we undertake our salon interior.

Happy Modeling!

Jim Key - Custom Replicas