My 1/35th, 66" long Disney Nautilus

[RCSubGuy]

If memory serves, Jim and I sold around 200 over 10 years. I'd wager most are still on the shelf somewhere awaiting building (or the death of the owner, which typically seems equally likely to occur).

[SubDude]

Thank you gentlemen. Can anyone tell me roughly how many of these kits might have been made and when production stopped? The detail of this boat is very impressive. The running gear install is progressing although I think some bad filament has caused me some grief trying to print a bracket I need. I am able to keep the center section free for potential salon detail and am looking at replacing the wheelhouse and salon windows. I will have one servo, battery, motor and ESC in the wet. Everything else will be in the watertight boxes. More pictures to come.

[trout]

Wow is not sufficient to describe this.

[RCSubGuy]

I couldn't agree more! That is beautiful!


Bob

[SubDude]

Ok, so as is my custom, I typically let something sit a couple days while I look at it and wonder what I like or don't like about it. I wasn't too fond of the contrast between the base coat and rust effect after the satin clear went on. First I tried a light coat of matte clear to see if that would help and it was a little better but I felt it needed more of a rusty hue. As an experiment I tried dusting the whole model with some Vallejo old rust powder pigment and then hit it again with a light coat of Krylon clear matte and now I couldn't be more pleased with it. She looks friggin' awesome!

[rwtdiver]

Great photo Tom! Thanks for putting it up! I am so looking forward to my build of the Nautilus. There is so much great information on the nautilus on this forum.

Rob

"Firemen can stand the heat"

[RCSubGuy]

I personally like the semi-gloss sheen. Seems more realistic to me, and it's what I do on my Nautilus builds. Matte lacquer actually doesn't play nice with Modern Masters iron paint. It has the terrible habit of turning the rust pink in spots.

I think what you've got going there is perfect.

I'm also a huge proponent of the vertically gimballed prop for pitch control. This boat already has that feature implemented thanks to Steve Neill, but it should be modified for additional throw. I personally feel that the stock rudder has more than enough authority to spin that boat around. Adding a clear piece of plastic to the trailing edge of the rudder would have that thing turning on a dime.


Bob

[SubDude]

Interesting bit of detail... I never noticed that. Thank you for pointing that out.

[trout]

Depending on what model or Nautilus you are painting, on the set Nautilus the rackers have silver/gray along the leading edge. So, no rust where the blades are cutting through the ships hulls.
Here is a picture:

It is a detail I plan on putting on when I build one. Just a random note I had stored away.

[SubDude]

David, that gimbal setup is a masterful piece of engineering. I look forward to your build Rob. Anything shared on any thread of mine is always welcome as an opportunity to learn. I did gimbal the pitch control on my Nautilus but was unaware of being able to incorporate yaw functionality as well until now. I am a little past that point on mine but it is definitely logged into my memory bank for future builds.

[rwtdiver]

Hi David,

Thank you so much for the photos and the video links for Steve and me to use in our builds of this beautiful Boat! As soon as my Nautilus kit arrives, I will be setting up a build blog on my Nautilus as well. Steve thank you for the use of your blog here so that we could get this great information from the master!!

Rob

"Firemen can stand the heat"

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Hi Steve!

Your Nautilus is looking great! The size is so impressive! Your skills with aircraft building are showing through with your Nautilus build. The coloring and your detail work is spot on. Watching your progress on your Nautilus and the great photos you have taken have impressed me to the point you have pushed me over the edge!

I am in the process of purchasing from Bob at Nautilus Drydocks one of his 1:77 scale (31" length) Nautilus complete starter kits. As if I needed more Subs to build!

Keep up the great work Steve, I sure will be following your build close!

Rob

"Firemen Can stand the heat"

Steve, not meaning to hijack you're thread, as I think this will be helpful to you too, I'm linking a video of a 31" Disney NAUTILUS to show you and Rob how easily controlled this r/c model submarine
is by gimbaling the propeller -- in this example not just pitch, but also swinging it about the yaw axis to complement the turning force of the rudder. This is basically the same kit Rob just bought:

https://youtu.be/cwS6o4jsxoU

https://youtu.be/kOO_sz6Sh7U

https://youtu.be/ku1DTcxuKak

David

[rwtdiver]

Hi Steve!

Your Nautilus is looking great! The size is so impressive! Your skills with aircraft building are showing through with your Nautilus build. The coloring and your detail work is spot on. Watching your progress on your Nautilus and the great photos you have taken have impressed me to the point you have pushed me over the edge!

I am in the process of purchasing from Bob at Nautilus Drydocks one of his 1:77 scale (31" length) Nautilus complete starter kits. As if I needed more Subs to build!

Keep up the great work Steve, I sure will be following your build close!

Rob

"Firemen Can stand the heat"

[SubDude]

Will do. Thank you!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Hit it with a very flat clear-coat and you're done!

David