GATO! (It has begun)

[matthewnimmo]

Awesome, ok, so now i'm to the point of cutting out the superstructure and about ready to bond the stern and bow; but i do have a few questions.

1) the bow planes that i made my pin holes (1/16") that's where my 1/16 brass rod that i need to purchase comes in correct? Or was that a part or parts of the kit that i might have missed somewhere?
2) Before attaching the bow, do i need to bond the bow planes/linkage/mechanizm in place before doing so? In the video Dave is shown just tack welding the part in place ... but suggested to leave it loose just incase of adjustments.
3) So, i noticed that i have two pairs of bow plane struts (the first being the ones supplied by the model kit that have the hooks, and the second contained in the conversion kit ... that don't have hooks). Which pair should i use, i already made my holes in the model ones since i didn't think i had the resin pair?
4) Lastly, I noticed that I have (what seems to be) two bell cranks for the bow planes? Is the second a spare or does that go somewhere else ( i just can't think of where at this moment ... even after reviewing all the videos before starting my build). And of course ... related to question number one....does this need to be in place and locked down before bonding to the hull?

Thanks gang!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Awesome, ok, so now i'm to the point of cutting out the superstructure and about ready to bond the stern and bow; but i do have a few questions.

1) the bow planes that i made my pin holes (1/16") that's where my 1/16 brass rod that i need to purchase comes in correct? Or was that a part or parts of the kit that i might have missed somewhere?
2) Before attaching the bow, do i need to bond the bow planes/linkage/mechanizm in place before doing so? In the video Dave is shown just tack welding the part in place ... but suggested to leave it loose just incase of adjustments.
3) So, i noticed that i have two pairs of bow plane struts (the first being the ones supplied by the model kit that have the hooks, and the second contained in the conversion kit ... that don't have hooks). Which pair should i use, i already made my holes in the model ones since i didn't think i had the resin pair?
4) Lastly, I noticed that I have (what seems to be) two bell cranks for the bow planes? Is the second a spare or does that go somewhere else ( i just can't think of where at this moment ... even after reviewing all the videos before starting my build). And of course ... related to question number one....does this need to be in place and locked down before bonding to the hull?

Thanks gang!

1) You cheap so-and-so! Come up with your own damned brass wire!

2) You can permanently bond the retract mechanism any time, but I suggest waiting till everything is in place and working as a system before permanently bonding the mechanism into the forward hull. Only with the torque tube in place and hooked up to the tilt-arm will you know if the vertical position of the mechanism is right or not.

3) Not 'struts'. Operating shafts! Use the resin ones because they have the off-set to the bow plane pin foundation needed to translate the planes correctly so they fold up nice and tight when retracted.

4) That other bell-crank goes on the ass-end of the retract mechanism torque tube. You put an iron 'ball' fitting (a Du-Bro product, part of their elbow connector kit) at the outboard end -- it makes up to the interlink magnets off the swing-arm. It's secured with a set-screw so can be move around and adjusted

I have spoken, so let it be written!

[matthewnimmo]

LOL!

1) Awesome will do:)
2) K, I will wait on this:)
3) derrr...yeah that's what i had in my head, but typed the wrong thing. I noticed that those shafts (the resin ones) have a smaller diameter than the 1/16" drilled ones I produced....so obviously I need to redrill those ... or am i making those pins too big?
4) Ok ... oh crap that brings up another questions then about the stern....does all of that need to be in place (rudder, planes, bell crank, etc,etc) before i do the final bond to the hull?

Thanks again super Dave!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

3) Yes. bore those holes out bit looser, a .063" bit if you have it. If not, take a length of that brass wire, chuck it up in the drill, file the tip to a point and a flat on the side (at the tip ... duh!) and use that as a boring bit. The burr raised as you ground the flat will extend enough to twist away a non-interference bore for the 1/16" wire.

I are smart! Me Torpedoman!

4) No. You can slap that dude on any time.

David

[matthewnimmo]

Ok, a lot more work done over the weekend:

1) Bow planes assembled and pin holes created.
2) Bow plane mechanism seems to be in a good place, but according to Dave's recommendation ... i'll wait until i get the dog bone in place before fully bonding him in.
3) Stern pretty much completed (besides adding in the stern planes/rudders with pins/shaft).
4) Sub assembled with tape (including deck) for outlining cuts for super structure removal.
5) Cuts made (took some getting use to with the new saw blade...that thing is a beast ... but VERY small cutline ... i like).
6) Now i just need to clean up the hull with some filing/etc.



*next steps*

1) will file down that one propeller thats larger than the other.
2) file down hull after structure cuts.
3) Get 1/16 brass rod for making pins and add the bow planes to the bow (might wait longer on this as i still would need to paint the bow metal struts...might be easier to do seperately).
4) of course continue following the video's for the other stuff:)

[matthewnimmo]

off topic, last night i was watching an episode of "submarines: hidden hunters" from the discovery channel. Guess who I saw playing with a USS Alligator model?:) Super Dave is famous!:) That is a beautiful model Dave.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

That was a few years back. Tim Smalley and I were commissioned to make and operate effects miniatures for the Discovery Science Channel. Here's some of that work:

[matthewnimmo]

Well lovely, this is my 2nd attempt to post this message (lost the first one...so trying it again)

More work over the weekend. Got the bow planes installed, the pins are still removable so i can adjust if needed. The bow mechanism is just tack welded so i can adjust as well if needed.

I opted to perform those harder cuts before gluing on the stern/bow. This allowed no visible cut line on the bow, and i was able to still put a knife through the cutline to ensure it was still open after glueing. For the stern, since i didn't have one of those saws (apparently hard as hell to find in this area....but whatever). I used the smallest drill bit i could find...and drillout the horizontal line and just use my knife to finish the cut....worked well!

Glued the bow/stern onto the main hull...also before that cleaned up my plastic removal mess from last weekend with filing/sanding ... think i'm ready for adding the deck now:)

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Very good! Most of the grunt work is out of the way. And nice job on the bow plane retract mechanism.

David

[matthewnimmo]

Still here, just had some wisdom teeth removed and such ... should have an update pretty soon:) Essentially i've did the major cut on the model and it's looking good.

[matthewnimmo]

About 2 years later, but i'm still here. I hoping to have more progress posted soon. I had to put the hobbie aside for a bit.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Life sometimes gets in the way. Welcome back to the party, pal.

M

[greenman407]

Yes, Matthew, Im always bumping into something that tries to derail me..............but I keep slogging along in my Goulashes. I want to build one of those Gatos too.

[matthewnimmo]

So im big time into rc cars as well. I happen to have this new remote system that can tether to 20 different models car or boat. Im curious if it will work for my sub. Thoughts anyone? Ive included the link

http://www.nitrorcx.com/79p-it4-touchscreen-radio-orange.html

[Subculture]

Sadly 2.4ghz sets do not work underwater. You require the older lower frequency sets.