WTCs

[ivan09193]

I'm not sure I understand just how water tight cylinders work.

1) How do you seal off the propeller shaft, the diving planes' shaft and the rudder without impeding their motion?

2) If the WTC is sealed off, where would you put rechargable batteries?

3) Do you even need it? You could just seal off the radio crystal and be done with it.

[raalst]

pushrods are sealed with an

pushrods are sealed with an O-ring which impedes motion only slightly if the pushrod does not "wiggle".
axles are sealed with an oilring/simmering, which is a ring with
some sort of skirt pushing into the axle. the contact area
is minimal so heat and friction are kept low.

the batteries are in the wtc (most of the times) and need some
sort of access into the WTC to charge.
Larger batteries are sometimes put in the water, with some
isolation put onto the cables.

the wtc has removable end-caps, which seal with a large o-ring
against the tube.
the European alternative is an interlocking bayonet ring with
again an o-ring for sealing.

do you need it ? well, for one thing lots of people can help you
with wtc problems. few can with other solutions.
But it's good not to accept on face value.
in principle (!!) an oil-filled container would do just as well as
a wtc, with added value that the oil does not compress.
but an oil slick in the swimmingpool would not make you any
friends.
most electronics could be immersed in epoxy or something,
the problems are with the moving parts, like servo's.
And beware that water can work it's way into wires, like
the aerial.
waterproofing a servo is often discussed. use the search
facility.

[anonymous]

Oh Ivan,

You have much to

Oh Ivan,

You have much to learn. I would research this subject completely. There many threads here showing the use and construction of WTCs. There are a few companies selling them like D&E miniatures, Small Worlds, Dave Welch and more.

The need for a WTC has been documented over and over again for near 30 years now. You must have one to keep the electronics dry. Sealing them off a lone rarely works.

It's like asking, " Is an engine in my car really needed"? I think you know the answer to that question.

Steve

[ivan09193]

Are there any websites you

Are there any websites you would recommend for help on making WTCs?

[anonymous]

Hi Ivan,

Just checking an obvious

Hi Ivan,

Just checking an obvious thing - do carry out a search of messages on this website using the term "WTC".

Make sure that you set the time period for the search to as long as possible.

You will get a lot of material to browse though and a lot of useful ideas and opinions.

David

[raalst]

like this entry from a

like this entry from a couple of weeks ago ]wtc endcaps[/url]

the tube itself can be as simple as drainpipe.
lexan tubing is often used and is see-thru, so a bit
handier, and a bit more expensive.
Nearly all plastic pipe is extruded, which means it's diameter
varies a bit. enough not to fit a pre-made endcap.
so you are forced to make the endcaps for the piece of tube
chosen, or buy it from a vendor (or get close friends with
somebody who done it before..)