Alvin Build Photos

[tsenecal]

So, I have finally got some free time, and I thought I would put it to use documenting the build of my Alvin. will be posting in blocks so that it isn't one gigantic post.

The boat was ordered from FXModels in April of 2004 and arrived in August of 2004. These photos date through October of 2004.

Tim

[tsenecal]

Some more photos, these two

Some more photos, these two are also from october of 2004, but more work has been done on the rear prop, I have at this time made a wooden master for the hub, with the final piece cast out of alumalite from that master. I also have the side thrusters mounted, and the divers platform is ready to be glued down.

[tsenecal]

We now jump to January

We now jump to January of 2005.

These photos show the first cuts into the brow, the final arrangement of how the side thrusters are attached, and the start on the main prop/shroud parts

[raalst]

nice. how are the thrusters

nice. how are the thrusters powerd ? the large gear is for positioning the thruster, I guess, so what is rotating the prop ?
is it built into the pod itself ?

[tsenecal]

the thruster units are modified

the thruster units are modified graupner 1761 units.

https://shop.graupner.de/webuerp/servlet/AI?ARTN=1761

the large disk is for powering the unit. The propshaft comes in from the bottom of the photo, where the u-joint is, then a bevel gear transfers this motion to the large disk, which has intermeshing bevel teeth on the bottom of it (evident in the exterior shot). at the back of the brass bracket is an arm with an arc of gear teeth on it. this intermeshes with the gear you can see between the large disk and the platform/base, and it positions/steers the nozzle. the other end of the arm will be connected via a tie-rod to the servo. I believe some future photos show more detail on this.

[Guest]

Nice work ,but a sugestion

Nice work ,but a sugestion ,in the aft cone you are useing a black steel set screw,this will corrode so badly that it wount come out again for service,a stainless steel one is recomended.
Nice sub and sure is large ,hydraulic arms would be very cool.
Let me know if you need some help with that sysytem,and what type of dive control are you intending on useing.

Dave

[tsenecal]

Dave,

please note, this is

Dave,

please note, this is a "document build way after the fact" thread... most of these photos are 3 or 4 years old. the dive system was decided on long long ago. be patient, and all will be unveiled...

i assume there will be tons of questions like raaslt's, but i also assume there will be tons of questions like yours with the "what on god's green earth were you thinking when you used 'A' instead of 'B'?"

the possible answers I have are either:

i don't know

or

after a year of watching rust build up, i replaced it with a stainless part. (yes i am an idiot)

or

after a year of watching rust build up, i began to love the color of rust

Tim


one last note:

this was the third submarine i built, and I learned as much building this one as i did building my first one.

[tsenecal]

Next batch of photos.

These ones

Next batch of photos.

These ones are dated march thru may of 2005, and cover substantial updates to the internal framework that holds the WTCs in place as well as how the main propeller/shroud/cone attach to the sub.

Also, in this group is the first appearance of the ballast system.

not sure if you guys have noticed this, but i am adding descriptions to each photo...







A little info about the last photo: endcaps are milled PVC, note the dubro bellows style servo pushrod seals on top of the WTCs with pushrods leading up to the arm on the backside of each graupner schottel drive, each side WTC contains a full size futaba servo, an Mtronics ESC and a graupner 380 size motor and gearbox #GR1039. Main WTC contains an astroflight ESC, the Engel ballast tank controller, the receiver, a fullsize servo, a Como 550 size motor with 13:1 gearbox, and a robotmarketplace switch to turn lights on and off.

[tsenecal]

Next set of photos...

These are

Next set of photos...

These are from the months of June and July of 2005

the first photo is the WTC for the ballast tank. the feet around the bottom of the cylinder have slots that key into the fingers epoxied to the hull seen in the last photo of the previous set.

the remaining photos are from the Alvin's maiden voyage in June of 2005.












I think the last photo is from the 2005 subcommittee regatta in Carmel

[tsenecal]

This posting covers the details...

since

This posting covers the details...

since the maiden voyage proved the hull sea-worthy, now its time to make it look good...

these photos are dated November of 2005 thru July of 2007

[tsenecal]

halfway through the details, I

halfway through the details, I decided there were a few things that needed updating/fixing.

because of the gearboxes, the side thrusters didn't move enough water to actually do anything. Also, there were nagging little leaks that i noticed on all the WTCs, and they were due to the servo cables going between the WTCs, five in total. by making some changes, I was able to reduce that to 1. In addition, I updated all the motors to brushless, and was able to use a really nice planetary gearbox mounted directly to the endcap to free up tons of space in the main WTC.

first few photos show the original brushed setup, followed by the brushless setup.

[tsenecal]

finally, some photos of the

finally, some photos of the sub running in the water, after the details and the refit.

[roedj]

Tim,

I am very interested in

Tim,

I am very interested in your Alvin build but I see that some of your pictures did not load from imagepost. I'm not sure where the error lies but could/would you please upload them again?

Very nice work,

Dan

[roedj]

Tim,

Sorry about that. I found

Tim,

Sorry about that. I found that if I hit the ol' refresh button enough times sooner or later all the pictures loaded.

Again, very nice work,

Dan

[tsenecal]

roedj,

if you happen to have

roedj,

if you happen to have trouble with imagepost again, this thread was also posted on rcgroups.com

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=946045