R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

[bigdave]

Years ago!!
As my old boss used to say.
When I was a kid there was a really cool toy called the Remco Frogman!!
It was a big 22" tall frogman that you could operate in the water with a built in power pack and propeller under the scuba tanks.
You adjusted the trim by adding water to the tanks to get a slightly positive trim. You adjusted the flippers for the dive planes. The problem was (at least with mine) there was not much power and it barely moved.
I had one when I was a kid and picked up another one on ebay about 8 years ago.
My plan was to make a more powerful unit to go in place of the stock power system and R/C the toy.
I ran a few ideas through the mill and nothing seemed suited to making it work well.
Then a few years ago while heading back from the Subregatta with Jim Butt he said his idea (He has one too) was to make a R/C scuba tow to control the frogman.
This sounded like an easier way to do it if you could figure out a control system.
Then a while back my friend and fellow 8-ball Paul said he had wanted to do a scuba tow for years using a GI Joe.
We have talked about a way to make it work and Paul being Mr. CAD did some drawings based on the older designs like the kind Mike Nelson used on Sea Hunt!!
Looking for something in my closet today I came across the frogman and said that’s it!!
So I spent a few hours today designing up a system and I think I have it.
I am going to work on this and try to have it done by the next YMCA run.
Working an hour here and there I think I can do it. We shall see!! BD.

[crazy ivan]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

Frogman, eh? Well there's a word I haven't heard since the 50's. It used to be a Hollywood staple back in the day. You're dating yourself again, BD!

Anyway, can't wait to see what you come up with this time around. Should be interesting. And you get an extra long stretch to get 'er done this month. Carry on.

[Guest]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

I thought about something like this last year. Got quite a few images of scuba scooters. I think the twin type versions used in films like the 'Spy who loved me' would provide a simple solution for steering, by using tank style mixing on the motors.

The flippers could be used for pitch control, or even simpler, angle the scooter down a bit and control depth using throttle, like those cheap fish tank subs- you would only need two channels then.

[bigdave]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

Paul and I collected photos of the scuba tows too.
It was very hard to get anything on the older ones.
I wanted something around the 1960.
To represent this as a 50's to 60's unit it has to be a single screw.
I have come up with an interesting control system which I will show later.
My tow will look kind of like this photo. BD.

[Guest]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

I have some interesting ones which I can forward on, if you're interested, including some Jacques Cousteau variants.

[bigdave]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

Sure!! Forward away!! BD.

[Guest]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

[bigdave]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

Thanks Andy!
Some really cool designs.
I got some work done today on the tow.
The power cap is done and it looks everything will work.
Weather the system will actually control the frogman in the water is another story.
Time will tell.
Here are some photos. BD.

[bigdave]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

I had a question on the original system that powered the frogman so here are some photos.
The power pod was removeable and sat under the air tanks. It just had no power at all to move the toy. BD.

[Rick Teskey]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

Big D
Slap a grupner pump jet on his back and then you can play rocketeer!
Too infinity and beyond!!! ( Buzz Light year) ( toy story not rocketeer but still a good saying anyway)!
Rick

[bigdave]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

Always thinking Rick!!
I will have to ponder on that one.
I got all the linkages done and hooked the system up to shoot some video of how it works.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words so a video should be worth a lot more!

What you are seeing are the grab handles the the frogman will be holding on to.
With his arms outstreched in the water the tow should pivot on the attachment point to direct the thrust up or down as both handles move in the same direction.
When they move in different directions this (hopefully) will cause the tow to twist and direct the thrust to either side.
The two servos are running through the T/X X-mixer to do this.
I think the depth control should work good but I am not so sure about the rudder control.
So stay tuned sports fans!! BD.

[bigdave]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

The tow will look basically look like this.
The prop will be inside of the tube and pull in the water from the holes in front of the shroud. BD.

[Guest]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

I too considered moving handles for pitch control, but I'm not sure if that steering system will work- won't it bind up, unless it's on gimbals?

Andy

[bigdave]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

That my friend is an excellent question.
And my answer is I have no idea!
I guess I will find out when it hits the pool.
If this steering does not work I have a different way that will work but I just had to try this.
What fun would it be if it worked the first time!!

Here are some photos of the almost completed unit. I have tested it in the water and it floats but needs trimming.
It has ton's of thrust.
Even with the battery in the bottom when you put the hammer down the body spins very fast.
This will not be a problem when it is attached to the frogman.
I still have to make some sort of gizmo to attach the hands to the grab bars.
I also may put a light in the front. Plus it needs paint.
But I will not paint till after I test. BD.

[bigdave]

Re: R/C scuba tow!! Yea Baby!!

So George!!
Will we have the usual list sealed in a funk and wagnals mayo jar for the first tests BD.