Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

[subdude]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Ramesh, can you please tell me what changes you are making to improve performance? I'd be very interested to know what you're doing, especially as you have the experience with one already.

Thanks very much!

Jim

[Guest]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Something I've done with a pair of Engel 6 volts tanks is to adapt them to use 385 motors on 12 volts. They use about half the wattage, and still power the tanks with ample reserves of poke, so no worries about them stalling. The standard 540 motors are way overkill.

It also reduces the weight and footprint of the tanks. They're not for a typhoon, but same principles apply.

Don't know if you have the Traplet book 'Submarines- Models and their originals'. One of the chapters in that book details a typhoon model in 1/100 scale. In this case its a Kehrer hull, but the same principles apply to the Engel hull. The builder fitted cylinders instead of a box, and used a pair of Engel tanks. This reduced the bulk of the model considerably, making it easier to transport to the pondside

Ron Perrott did something along similar lines with Mick Higgot's 1/100th early Engel Typhoon. In this case the tanks were replaced with four of Ron's scratchbuilt tanks, which work a little differently to Engel piston tanks, as the threaded shaft remains fixed and the piston runs up and down on the shaft as it's turned. That boat features no less than four separate cylinders, two for the motors, plus two independent dive modules.
Because the ballast volume is divided into four discrete tanks, diving time is very fast indeed, probably about a third of the time required for a standard Engel. Ron also made and fitted a bow thruster, twin torpedoes mounted up front, and also auxiliary rudders mounted inside the korts greatly improves the turning circle when under power.

[subdude]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Hi Andy

I do indeed have the Traplet book, thanks. Also, Ron was kind enough to send me photos ad details of his Typhoon build several years ago. Beautiful job. For this one I'm staying pretty much stock Engel. I have an old Copeland hull that I started "correcting" that I may finish in the future with the full custom treatment.

Jim

[Wheelerdealer]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Hi Jim, amongst other things, I am fitting larger truer to scale propellers. 10% larger and 10% more pitch, using 2 cell LiFepO4 batteries which have a higher voltage for a bit more oomph and faster dives ( the 6v motors that Engel use for the drive and piston are are rated for 9v), larger piston tanks for a scale waterline and a more scale rudder which gives a little more effective surface. I found the Typhoon turned just fine with a rudder mixer handling the motors.

[Guest]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Are you sticking with brushed motors for drive or going for brushless?

[subdude]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Current plan is to stay with the brushed motors.

[subdude]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Lots of work today, but little to actually show for it. Spent several hours drilling and filing flood holes. My favorite part of a build. /sarcasm



After that, I spent a bunch of hours sanding and smoothing all the filler that was applied to the stern control surfaces, prop shrouds, etc. Again, lots of fun (not). But, it's looking much better.

I found that the upper rudder had a stiff spot in it's movement. Apparently this was being caused by the rudder lead-in / support not sitting squarely on the hull. So I've taped it off and seated it in a bed of marine epoxy putty. Once dry, I'll remove the rudder support, remove the tape, and hopefully have a nice flat surface to pull the part down on.



One bright spot of the day is that my order from Engel arrived. Props, bow thruster, and other trinkets await!

[KevinMC]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

This is great to see Jim - I can't wait to run a patrol with my OSCAR in close formation!

Not sure if you're planning to try independent ESCs on this monster, but don't discount the idea until you've tried it. It blew my mind how much of a difference it made for me in terms of ease of handling in close quarters.

[bigdave]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Great to see a new build from the Pennsylvania dockyards.
Seeing your two boats running together would be like our own personal whalewatch.
I look forward to more reports with my morning coffee.

PS
I was asking Don if he thought you would be putting in the doors for the catipaller drive system.
Remember one ping only Vasilly! BD.

[subdude]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Kevin,

I can't wait to patrol with your fantastic Oscar! And yes, dual throttles are in the plans.

BD - "whale watch"! Hah!

Tonight was an experience. First, I undid the upper rudder support. The idea of bedding it in marine epoxy worked perfectly. There is now a solid base to draw it down on, and the rudder swings freely throughout it's arc.



I decided to tackle the bow thruster tonight. Never having done one, I was a bit hesitant. Adding to my concern is Engel's method of direct driving everything, with no dogbones or universal joints. Better get it right the first time!

I measured the position from Engel's instructions, then drilled the holes in the lower hull. I ran a piece of half inch tubing through so I could verify measurements. I figured once I had it right, I could just enlarge the holes to fit the thruster tubes.



Here's how I tried to make sure I had the holes aligned properly, a level on the hull, and another on the tube.



That looked pretty good, so I opened the holes to fit the thruster tubes. Then I discovered that the measurements in the instructions put the thruster a solid 1/8" too high. So, I wound up slotting the openings to lower the thruster.

Here we go checking level again, this time with the actual thruster installed.



Then I sat the pressure hull in the boat, and marked where the drive shaft would exit. This allowed me to verify that there was room inside the pressure hull for the drive motor.



Last step for the evening was to mix up a batch of marine epoxy and bond the tubes to the hull. I like PC-11 epoxy, as it has a 1/2 hour working time, sets overnight, and is absolutely rock solid and waterproof. And, it stays where you put it!



So that's it for now. I need to pick up some surfacing putty to smooth some things out and finish the stern assy.

[subdude]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Not many pics today, but good progress. Much of today was spent refurbishing and installing the bow plane mechanism. After dis assembly, all parts were cleaned and checked against the plans for accuracy. Most of the installation was good, but the linkage arms (threaded couplers soldered to brass sheet) were too short. No matter, I had to redo them anyway, as they threaded rods were steel. And, all the hardware (supplied by Engel) was steel also.

Of course, 3mm stainless setscrews aren't plentiful at the local hardware store, so McMaster Carr to the rescue. My favorite supplier. Order by 3pm and you almost always have your parts the next day.

The fitment of the assy was a bit tricky, making sure everything was level and square, and at the correct height. The previous owner had cut the openings in the upper hull for the planes to exit, but thankfully he cut them too small, not too large. Some work with the Dremel and a flat file and all was good.



I can't make the final adjustments to the unit until the watertight compartment is fiber-glassed in place, but couldn't resist running the planes in and out a few times using my drill motor as a power source.



I spent some time today with the surfacing putty filling in scratches and blending the tail section surfaces. Also made and installed the pushrods for the rudders. Funny, you'd think that with a boat this big the rudder linkage would be a piece of cake, but it's a long, long reach back to the rudder posts. More on this next time.

[spongjim]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Nice work as always , now get to work and finish her up . You maybe getting a bunch more hulls soon from the south .



Jim

[subdude]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Working as fast as I can, Jim

Two steps forward and one step back lately, though. I had a friend at the house Sunday, and we were in the shop looking at the Typhoon. After looking a bit, he says "you know the rudder's not straight, right?" ACK! I did all the work to bed the upper rudder fairing in epoxy, and set it so the rudder was swinging freely with no binding. I had it all done, filler putty applied and sanded, pretty much ready for paint. Sure enough, when viewed from the bow, it wasn't vertical. crap. So, another evening spent removing the rudder, removing the bearing from the hull, re-seating everything, and going thru the epoxy / filler exercise again. But, it's straight now.....



But, after that setback, I've been making good progress. I've made pushrods for the rudders and stern planes and installed them. Each rudder has it's own pushrod, I'll tie them together behind the pressure hull, where I'll be able to adjust them easily.

I dry fit all the drive motors and mechanisms (2 drives, bow plane retract, and bow thruster) into the pressure hull, and checked for shaft alignments. Once everything was aligned and shafts turning smoothly, I epoxied the mounting bushings into the pressure hull.







I also put the rest of the stern together. I've fitted the stern planes and puttied / sanded all the seams. It's pretty much ready for primer back there now.



While I had everything fitted up, I couldn't resist fitting the beautiful Raboesch 7 bladed scimitar props. Can't wait to see them move some water!

[subdude]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

This time, let's talk radios. Specifically the radio I plan to use for this beast.



When I bought the boat, this Robbe / Futaba F14 Navy radio came with it. Even though it's not a more modern computer radio, I decided to use it, for several reasons.

1. It has the capability to have expansion modules fitted, and did come with a 12 switch / 2 proportional channel module.
2. It has the capability to have 2 linear proportional channel controllers installed.
3. It came with dual throttle sticks installed.
4. It belonged to the original owner, and as I've said prior, I'm trying to maintain as much of him and his work in the boat as possible.

Of course, there were several hurdles to come. The receiver decoder module that I got in the deal was the wrong one, being for a 16 switch transmitter module. Apples and oranges. So, I needed to order the correct decoder. Ouch! That hurt the budget.

The transmitter had the open slots for the linear switch channel controls, but no controls. I ordered them along with the decoder. Ouch again.

The transmitter batteries were long since dead, yet another purchase. This radio has me bleeding cash!

The good news is that I now have all the parts, they are installed in the transmitter, and everything functions as expected.

Current plans are for the following:

Channel 1: rudder
Channel 2: bow plane rotation
Channel 3: port throttle
Channel 4: starboard throttle
Channel 5: (linear slide) forward ballast tank
Channel 6 (linear slide) aft ballast tank
Channel 7 - decoder is plugged in to this channel
Decoder proportional channel 1: stern planes
Decoder switched channel 1: Bow thruster
Decoder switched channel 2: Bow plane retract motor
Decoder switched channel 3: lighting

Whew! That's a lot of controls. But there's left over capability, in case I get stupid and add periscope retracts, missiles, or some other insanity.

[salmon]

Re: Engel Typhoon build from an early kit

Really looking good. I enjoy the Typhoon for many reasons, but I think the movie Hunt for Red October sealed the deal. You are moving along nicely and I am enjoying the photos. Thank you!