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I have been meaning to post my progress with my Trumpeter Seawolf and 2" SubDriver. I have had the kit and all the applicable pieces parts for almost a month and loving the experience so far.
I am a retired USAF Lt Col. Airplane driver (KC-135) and a RC sailboat buff. I have been doing rag boats for about 4 years (although I took a year out due to an auto accident - left me somewhat disabled). Anyway, the subs have always been a fascination for me, the real ones and well as what I have seen on the web. I was looking for something that I can work with on days when there is no wind and am not a speedboat fan. Subs seemed like a natural. Not a performance hobby, more of a technical mechanical work.
The Trumpeter kit is a nice kit. According to Merriman, it has good scale features, although some need some minor tweaking (transducers, bow plane position, Pump Jet).
I took allot from Merriman's suggestions. It has been a long time since I worked with a plastic kit and his suggestions on adhesives, fillers, and building have been more than helpful. If you are new to subs (both appearance and the WTC/wet hull concept), you have your work cut out for you (I have always hated that expression, it seems it would be harder if someone hadn't cut your work out for you). Anyway, some observations on the build:
For the first week or so, your life is cutting holes. Seems to go against everything I have ever done with boats. Of course, these are meant to sink anyway. Hole cutting is made easier with a Dremmel tool, a good set of grinding and cutting bits, and a set of small files.
Merriman's technique for "welding" plastic (grinding a groove, heating sprue and pulling it into a string, using a plastic cohesive to bond it into the groove) is spiffy and works great for those parts that you would never wan't to come apart. I have also become a believer in cyan adhesive and baking soda as a way to build up areas, especially around bearings. I have been thinking about using it to hold super magnets to hold down the top of the sub for access (rather than screws). I already purchased about 20 cylinder magnets from gaussboys.
The additional fitting, rudders, planes, PJ, provided in the fittings kit are fantastic. Nice finish, easy to work with material, and it really makes the build go quicker than trying to fabricate them yourself. If you are serious about this, you need to snag one.
Mine came without the prop, which caused some confusion for a few days (since I am new to this and I have this "how does it all work mentality) it really threw me. Caswell and Merriman got me a replacement ASAP. That was a real moment of enlightenment when it arrived. Nice design.
I have become fond of using Bondo with denatured alcohol. You can apply Bondo to the model and use denatured alcohol to smooth it out before it dries. Saves allot of sanding and it helps the Bondo penetrate small cracks. Also, it does not affect the plastic.
I will try to post some "as - is" pictures here soon. My life has moved from cutting openings to sanding. Rudders and all planes are attached. Half of PJ is attached as is internal motor bearing. Working on appearance so that I can start with the SubDriver assembly.
Learning the WTC concept and assembling the SubDriver is like drinking from a fire hose...I have to admit, the videos have been more than helpful to get a better feel for the SubDriver .
I am a retired USAF Lt Col. Airplane driver (KC-135) and a RC sailboat buff. I have been doing rag boats for about 4 years (although I took a year out due to an auto accident - left me somewhat disabled). Anyway, the subs have always been a fascination for me, the real ones and well as what I have seen on the web. I was looking for something that I can work with on days when there is no wind and am not a speedboat fan. Subs seemed like a natural. Not a performance hobby, more of a technical mechanical work.
The Trumpeter kit is a nice kit. According to Merriman, it has good scale features, although some need some minor tweaking (transducers, bow plane position, Pump Jet).
I took allot from Merriman's suggestions. It has been a long time since I worked with a plastic kit and his suggestions on adhesives, fillers, and building have been more than helpful. If you are new to subs (both appearance and the WTC/wet hull concept), you have your work cut out for you (I have always hated that expression, it seems it would be harder if someone hadn't cut your work out for you). Anyway, some observations on the build:
For the first week or so, your life is cutting holes. Seems to go against everything I have ever done with boats. Of course, these are meant to sink anyway. Hole cutting is made easier with a Dremmel tool, a good set of grinding and cutting bits, and a set of small files.
Merriman's technique for "welding" plastic (grinding a groove, heating sprue and pulling it into a string, using a plastic cohesive to bond it into the groove) is spiffy and works great for those parts that you would never wan't to come apart. I have also become a believer in cyan adhesive and baking soda as a way to build up areas, especially around bearings. I have been thinking about using it to hold super magnets to hold down the top of the sub for access (rather than screws). I already purchased about 20 cylinder magnets from gaussboys.
The additional fitting, rudders, planes, PJ, provided in the fittings kit are fantastic. Nice finish, easy to work with material, and it really makes the build go quicker than trying to fabricate them yourself. If you are serious about this, you need to snag one.
Mine came without the prop, which caused some confusion for a few days (since I am new to this and I have this "how does it all work mentality) it really threw me. Caswell and Merriman got me a replacement ASAP. That was a real moment of enlightenment when it arrived. Nice design.
I have become fond of using Bondo with denatured alcohol. You can apply Bondo to the model and use denatured alcohol to smooth it out before it dries. Saves allot of sanding and it helps the Bondo penetrate small cracks. Also, it does not affect the plastic.
I will try to post some "as - is" pictures here soon. My life has moved from cutting openings to sanding. Rudders and all planes are attached. Half of PJ is attached as is internal motor bearing. Working on appearance so that I can start with the SubDriver assembly.
Learning the WTC concept and assembling the SubDriver is like drinking from a fire hose...I have to admit, the videos have been more than helpful to get a better feel for the SubDriver .
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