Attention all registered users. The new forum upgrade requires you to reset your password as you logon for the first time.
To reset your password choose this option that is displayed when you attempted to login with your username: "Forgotten your password? Click here!"
You will be sent an e-mail to the address that is associated with your forum account. Follow the simple directions to reset your password.
If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
Looks like a very old kit, basically a hull and a pair of early tanks, minus limit switches. At some stage, Engel altered the size and style of seal they used in their tanks and they're not interchangeable. Bear all that mind if you're thinking of bidding
I had one of these BNIB in box many years ago. t was so disgusting I trashed it
The hull sides were not round but vertical. The only thing good about it was the Ballast tank.
I still have parts downstairs that I saved from it if you want them
I bought one of these in Frankfurt Germany during a layover in the late 1970's, when pre molded fiberglass submarines were almost non-existent. The instructions were all in German (duh), but they were a marvel for their time. It's true, they were so heavy that a guy could be forgiven for thinking that they were made out of cast iron and porcelain. Through the years I gutted the insides, turned it into a 12 volt, wet hulled boat with a 3.5" WTC and a Z cut on the hull, which cut the overall weight by about 2/3 rds. I still run the boat all the time, and it still performs well.
Because the original configuration was as a a dry hull, six volt piston boat, the fiberglass is a heavy weight lay-up, but that works out very well if a person wants an almost bullet proof hull. There is no engraving detail on the hull, but it it's still a great looking boat .....from about five feet away on the water. As I recall, the boat cost the equivalent of about $400 1978 or '79 dollars, so it will be interesting to see what the eBay model sells for.
Someone with a bit of know-how could fit the Engel tanks into a custom built cylinder and the run the hull wet. In the past some owners replaced the original 540 motors with less thirsty 385 style motors. Still more than enough power to run the tanks, but saves the battery and also reduces the bulk of the tanks.
$209.62 is what it sold for (plus $34.95 for shipping). Despite the shortcomings mentioned, it would be a very unique sub to get running. I hope we see progress of it here.
If you can cut, drill, saw, hit things and swear a lot, you're well on the way to building a working model sub.
I had one many, many years ago...it was a superb boat, steady as a rock in the water. It was totally transformed when Ron Perrott fitted one of his SALCON's into it, it would run all day (or at least until the battery went down) with an inch of periscope showing above the water, and not budge.
As mentioned though, it was heavy...once, whilst carrying out an emergency surface procedure from the bottom of a swimming pool, I rammed a big wooden built destroyer dead centre. It went down in a shower of bits and pieces, very realistic, I thought....
Last edited by Richard J; 12-20-2016, 05:03 AM.
Reason: Image added..
"take her down, number one...periscope depth if you please"
DonO has had one since the mid 90's.
They are great running subs. I think his wife Pattie blended in the missile deck so it looked more scale.
He does not run it any more as it weighs a ton.
But I never saw a hull that was that thick. Bullet proof actually.
Richard probably turned the wood hull he hit into matchsticks.
The kit was upgraded through the years but it came out in the 1970's.
Sold by MRC in the USA. The old Gato was the same vintage.
BD
sigpic"Eat your pudding Mr Land"
"I ain't sure it's pudden" 20K
Both the Gato and Patrick Henry used to be sold in the UK by a company called SLEC. They used to place a small advert in Model Boats magazine, and they were hundreds of pounds back in the 1980's. Back then I was on a pound a week pocket money, and I used to top that up doing odd jobs, but kits like that seemed an impossible amount. Radio control modelling is a much less expensive past time these days.
I can't remember what I paid for mine, it came from the old Greenwich Models, via SLEC...I have an idea it was around £300...£350ish?
It really was a monster of a boat, we used to use it to go sailing in Orpington Lake when there was ice on the surface, it never failed to break the ice.
"take her down, number one...periscope depth if you please"
Tweet
BD
Comment