New to the hobby

[Guest]

Hi, i'm new to building R/C submarines, and have few questions. I'm making a 1/90 Los Angeles Class Improved for my first sub. I'm scratch building it, using this site for instructions. I do have some questions though.

1. Is there any way to make a ballast system without using stored gas? I dont like the idea of having to pay for a refill every week or so.

2. Whats the best way to make the plane/rudder mechanisms?

3. For a lot of the stuff on the sub I was planning to use Celtec, a plastic, but havent been able to find any. Any other good workable waterproof materials out there?

Thanks,
Alex

[Guest]

Oh yeah, I forgot, does

Oh yeah, I forgot, does anyone know where the ballast tank intake holes are on a Los Angeles Class submarine? Or any free-flooding holes for that matter?

[jdbostrom]

Hi Alex,

Welcome to the hobby!

Hi Alex,

Welcome to the hobby! I'll try to answer your questions as best I can]http://www.thordesign.com/Permit/kit_permit_intro.html[/url] Click on "Rudder" or "Stern Planes" on the left hand side of the page. That should help you out a bit.

3. I have used PVC sheet a lot for making endcaps and a lot of other stuff. It is pretty easy to work with and quite available. I think you can get this stuff from sign-making shops but I ordered mine online from this company]http://www.deepseadesigns.net/laclass.html[/url]

I'm not an expert, but I did my best answering your questions

Have fun!

Jonathan



Edited By JDBostrom on 1125451250

[chuck chesney]

Hi Alex,
Jon is right on

Hi Alex,
Jon is right on the mark. Regarding ballast sytems, Art Broders RCABS us superb. It's inexpensive, reliable and easy to build and maintain. Nothing to wear out or refill. It has become the system of choice for many sub builders.
Jon has many very good ideas...he built a beautiful model from scratch and was himself a rookie just a year or so ago. He can probably help you out on the steep learning curve that we all have when we start building our first submarine model, particularly if it's scratch built.

[mylo]

Alex,

I'm new to R/C

[color=#000000]Alex,

I'm new to R/C subs as well. I have spent a ton of time trying to learn the "ins and outs" of R/C sub construction. It seems every time I turn around I am discovering something new that I hadn't considered. In the hopes of not wasting a ton of time and money building something wrong, I am planning on educating myself as much as I can before attempting a build. I have had fun just doing that. I have a type VII U-Boat in mind for my project so, we're on different pages there. I have discovered that a crucial first step is getting your hands on some good plans / drawings / photos etc, especially for a scratch build. I am still in the process of getting this stuff together. .

As for my ballast system. The goal of my sub is to be as realistically functional as the real deal, including turn rates and dive times. I want to engineer a ballast system in which compressed air is generated on board using a small compressor (I had a hobby airbrush compressor in mind). I am planning on a large scale, perhaps 1]

[boss subfixer]

Alex,
Welcome aboard! It's been my

Alex,
Welcome aboard! It's been my experience here that the only dumb question is the one you don't ask. There are some very generous people in this hobby just waiting to help, so fire away.
Another thing you may want to do is find out what members are in your area and try to hook up with them and of course concider becoming a member. We have a great quarterly magazine with tons of information and dues are extemely reasonable at just $26.00 U.S. per year.
Spend some time test driving our website you will find a wealth of information there as well and perhaps will lead you to ask questions you haven't thought of yet.
I'll step down off my soapbox now and say again Welcome Aboard.
BSF

[Guest]

Thanks for the help everyone,

Thanks for the help everyone, the information was very useful.