Inquireries on ballast system - Norbert Bruggen's system for Revell VIIC

[captain nemo12]

After I revisited this website, I wonder if anyone know what Norbert used to make this ballast system, looks like a balloon ballast tank coupled with a pump of some sort. The circuit board behind the balloon could be the end switches. It looks easy to make, perhaps one of those flexible ballasts, I'm planning to use perhaps flexible ballasts to acts as trim tanks in my U-boat and piston tank for main ballast, or vice-versa!

[Guest]

Yep.

Steve Webb (UK Sub Committee

Yep.

Steve Webb (UK Sub Committee member) fitted one of Norberts pumps in his chariot. Works well, if a little slow.

It's a peristaltic pump (like they use for medical or food industries) controlled by a relay switcher. The bag can be any decent strong bladder, correctly sized for the boat. A medium sized boat could use a bladder from a rugby ball. Just one example.

The advantage of a peristaltic pump, is that it is self sealing, so you do not need a check valve.

Disadvantages are, the pipe can wear, they can be rather slow (compared to a geared or centrifugal pump) and they're not that easy to find, hence rather pricey (unless you grow your own).

Look here- you should find a couple of drawings of the peristaltic pumps- will give you some clues if you are going to scratchbuild one.

http://www.modelluboot.de/Zubehoer/Pumpen.html

Good luck!

Andy



Edited By Sub culture on 1112176771