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Hello,
I've noticed the lack of data about this kit, so i'm posting some picture of mine. This one is navigating since 3 years. I'm still fine tuning it.
I will first post pictures, then i will comment them and complete data, modifications ect...
Click on the picture to get a bigger image.
Feature added :
Pitch controller : useless, the control surface are scale, and not very efficient exept going "too" fast, i will remove it and put it in my next sub if needed
Engine mix : from the radio emmitter, i can activate a mix that reverse one engine when turning. At surface this divide the turn radius by 3. Underwater it as some unwished secondary effects on the pitch movement of the submarine that's why it's interesting to be able to disengage it.
Working on : a new mix that add some water in the front ballast to limit the sub volontee to raise the bow due to the drag factor of the deck structures + off axis propeller and unefficient front control surface.
The building
This kit is really expensive, but the result is here, you can have a nice and perfectly working submarine. I bought this kit because i wanted a real scale model, in his real lignes when surfaced. I didn't have much time and a kit seems the good way to go. The building of the kit is rated difficult by Engel, i would say that exept some choices that will lead you to problems (see modifications), the kit isn't so hard to build, it's just takes a lot's of time (at least for me). If the rack stuff can be done in few hours, drilling the holes off the deck is another story. With the right tools, it's not difficult, but this is really boring especially when the fiberglass thickness is quite strong. Some parts needs to be readjusted, drilled ect.. but, it's not a kit for beginner, don't expect a lego work here, you will have to check that everything fits well several times before glue them. Whatever the step, quality is here, some parts are really amazing.
Modification to the original kit:
Radio implementation totally modified. The default radio implementation place the reciever at the bow when most of the things to control are placed close the the stern. The result is the use of a very long lenght of wire, catching all distrubances around. This cause multiple radio top... I've moved the reciver in the middle of the boat, and miracle, no more radio top, absolute radio signal stability and relability.
The kit use the BEC from the 2 speed controllers. First, never use 2 becs togheter, use just one, second, a bec from a speed controller is useally not very powerfull. This was causing reset of the receiver... so i've added my own reception battery just under the 2 control servos.
Locking system simplified
the kit is supposed to use a double lock system, but due to the twist elasticity of the rack, the front locking system can stay stuck in locked position... i've simply removed the front pins to avoid this issue. The rear lock is far enough, sometimes the sub is a pain to open just using this lock, this thing is seriously waterproof (tested at 5 meters).
the finished model:
Diving ]
[/url]
While painting ]
[/url]
while building
I've noticed the lack of data about this kit, so i'm posting some picture of mine. This one is navigating since 3 years. I'm still fine tuning it.
I will first post pictures, then i will comment them and complete data, modifications ect...
Click on the picture to get a bigger image.
Feature added :
Pitch controller : useless, the control surface are scale, and not very efficient exept going "too" fast, i will remove it and put it in my next sub if needed
Engine mix : from the radio emmitter, i can activate a mix that reverse one engine when turning. At surface this divide the turn radius by 3. Underwater it as some unwished secondary effects on the pitch movement of the submarine that's why it's interesting to be able to disengage it.
Working on : a new mix that add some water in the front ballast to limit the sub volontee to raise the bow due to the drag factor of the deck structures + off axis propeller and unefficient front control surface.
The building
This kit is really expensive, but the result is here, you can have a nice and perfectly working submarine. I bought this kit because i wanted a real scale model, in his real lignes when surfaced. I didn't have much time and a kit seems the good way to go. The building of the kit is rated difficult by Engel, i would say that exept some choices that will lead you to problems (see modifications), the kit isn't so hard to build, it's just takes a lot's of time (at least for me). If the rack stuff can be done in few hours, drilling the holes off the deck is another story. With the right tools, it's not difficult, but this is really boring especially when the fiberglass thickness is quite strong. Some parts needs to be readjusted, drilled ect.. but, it's not a kit for beginner, don't expect a lego work here, you will have to check that everything fits well several times before glue them. Whatever the step, quality is here, some parts are really amazing.
Modification to the original kit:
Radio implementation totally modified. The default radio implementation place the reciever at the bow when most of the things to control are placed close the the stern. The result is the use of a very long lenght of wire, catching all distrubances around. This cause multiple radio top... I've moved the reciver in the middle of the boat, and miracle, no more radio top, absolute radio signal stability and relability.
The kit use the BEC from the 2 speed controllers. First, never use 2 becs togheter, use just one, second, a bec from a speed controller is useally not very powerfull. This was causing reset of the receiver... so i've added my own reception battery just under the 2 control servos.
Locking system simplified
the kit is supposed to use a double lock system, but due to the twist elasticity of the rack, the front locking system can stay stuck in locked position... i've simply removed the front pins to avoid this issue. The rear lock is far enough, sometimes the sub is a pain to open just using this lock, this thing is seriously waterproof (tested at 5 meters).
the finished model:
Diving ]
[/url]While painting ]
[/url]
while building
After looking at your piciures, I'm fighting back the erg to buy one. 
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