Building the little Kilo submarine

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • redboat219
    Admiral

    • Dec 2008
    • 3579

    #16
    Manfred, with your initial plan of activating the lpb with a mechanical switch, those micro pumps are only rated to around 3V, how were you going to power the pump?
    Last edited by redboat219; 05-06-2026, 11:46 PM.
    Make it simple, make strong, make it work!

    Comment

    • MFR1964
      Detail Nut of the First Order

      • Sep 2010
      • 1582

      #17
      Romel,

      I've used in the past two ways, one is, tie it into the 4,8 volt from the BEC, second is, use a resistor into the circuit of the LPB motor, for 12V it will be around 11 Ohm, for 6 V around 5 Ohm, this wil limit the voltage.

      Manfred.

      PS: Did a checkup on my stock, all those LPB's are rated 6V, not really sure why you have the 3V variant.
      Last edited by MFR1964; 05-07-2026, 07:42 AM.
      I went underground

      Comment

      • RCSubGuy
        Welcome to my underwater realm!

        • Aug 2009
        • 2004

        #18
        Originally posted by MFR1964
        Romel,


        PS: Did a checkup on my stock, all those LPB's are rated 6V, not really sure why you have the 3V variant.
        I was about to say that. I've run them at 12V for short bursts with no issues at all...

        Comment

        • MFR1964
          Detail Nut of the First Order

          • Sep 2010
          • 1582

          #19
          Same for me Bob, have them inside the V80, running them on 12V also, the one venting the ballasttank has a 11 Ohm resistor inline, this one has to work longer for venting the ballasttank, the other is used for the peroscopes, only short bursts needed.

          Manfred.
          I went underground

          Comment

          • He Who Shall Not Be Named
            Moderator

            • Aug 2008
            • 13786

            #20
            Originally posted by RCSubGuy

            I was about to say that. I've run them at 12V for short bursts with no issues at all...
            Same here with the 3V units. But, being the Conservative guy I am, I do (but not always) put an 11 Ohm resister in series with one of the LPB's input wires.
            Who is John Galt?

            Comment

            • redboat219
              Admiral

              • Dec 2008
              • 3579

              #21
              Originally posted by MFR1964
              Romel,

              those LPB's are rated 6V, not really sure why you have the 3V variant.
              Thank you for pointing it out.

              The one's I initially saw were rated to 3v but yes there are 5v variants available.
              Click image for larger version

Name:	images - 2026-05-08T062549.242.jpg
Views:	74
Size:	20.9 KB
ID:	195211 Click image for larger version

Name:	Screenshot_20260508_082501_Gallery.jpg
Views:	0
Size:	0
ID:	195213
              Attached Files
              Last edited by redboat219; 05-08-2026, 07:28 PM.
              Make it simple, make strong, make it work!

              Comment

              • MFR1964
                Detail Nut of the First Order

                • Sep 2010
                • 1582

                #22
                Some more work on the SD, i did counter a problem,

                Click image for larger version

Name:	20250429_104918.jpg
Views:	72
Size:	54.7 KB
ID:	195233

                Click image for larger version

Name:	20250429_104926.jpg
Views:	65
Size:	53.1 KB
ID:	195234

                In this configuration i started with testing, everything worked, but the motor wasn't spinning at full speed, at the end i found out it was a 12V motor instead of a 6V motor.

                Click image for larger version

Name:	20250429_124219.jpg
Views:	66
Size:	54.1 KB
ID:	195235

                Had to breakdown the complete configuration, found a 6V motor and glued it low tech on the bulkhead, if needed it can be replaced by braking the glue joint.

                Click image for larger version

Name:	20250512_185957.jpg
Views:	63
Size:	56.5 KB
ID:	195236

                The new build-up with the 6V motor, added the steering rods and shimmed the shaft of the motor to 4 mm (using a 4 mm lipseal)

                Click image for larger version

Name:	20250512_190012.jpg
Views:	63
Size:	50.5 KB
ID:	195237

                Since i use 1,5 mm rods, i had to alter the standard seals for the shafts, by drilling a slightly smaller hole you compress the O rings, after that you glue them down, giving you a good seal on the steeringshafts, did this trick some time ago on the type XXIII SD, still working without problems.


                Manfred.
                I went underground

                Comment

                • MFR1964
                  Detail Nut of the First Order

                  • Sep 2010
                  • 1582

                  #23
                  In general the SD is ready to be tested in the pool, let's see if she is watertight, if not, fix those leaks, got the box with the kilo out of the storage facility, i guess at least a decade ago got me this kit from Caswell and with a fittings kit from David.

                  Click image for larger version

Name:	20250512_190021.jpg
Views:	47
Size:	50.3 KB
ID:	195276

                  Click image for larger version

Name:	20250512_190026.jpg
Views:	43
Size:	50.4 KB
ID:	195277

                  Last step in the proces getting me a SD for the Kilo, decided to go with a servo in the frontpart for steering the front diveplanes.

                  Click image for larger version

Name:	20250514_220101.jpg
Views:	44
Size:	43.9 KB
ID:	195278

                  Added the tubes for the antennawire and tested the SD using every function on dry land, no gremlins onboard sofar, adding the O rings will make her ready for the plunge into the test pool, curious to see if i've got leaks.

                  Click image for larger version

Name:	20251111_135427.jpg
Views:	44
Size:	54.4 KB
ID:	195279

                  Box is opened with the content inside, made a search to see if i got me all parts.

                  Click image for larger version

Name:	20251111_135803.jpg
Views:	44
Size:	57.2 KB
ID:	195280

                  Those are the parts from the fitting kit from David, hoped there was also a kit for all the stuff at the conningtower, bummer, not present, have to make those items myself in the future, from what i've read during research the kit parts are totally offscale, so, some lathe work for the future.
                  This boat will be build as basic as possible, want to use her during events, so other people can drive her, hoping to infect more to join the tribe.


                  Manfred.
                  I went underground

                  Comment

                  • MFR1964
                    Detail Nut of the First Order

                    • Sep 2010
                    • 1582

                    #24
                    SD tested in the pool, 2 minor leaks, one near the vent and another by one of the inner bulkheads, for now she's approved, started working on the hull parts,

                    Click image for larger version

Name:	20251111_141231.jpg
Views:	19
Size:	46.6 KB
ID:	195303

                    Upperhull is one piece, the lower consist of two pieces, applied glue and taped her together for curing, taping her this way gets the shape of all parts right, lesser seems is better.

                    Click image for larger version

Name:	20251115_143734.jpg
Views:	18
Size:	50.3 KB
ID:	195304

                    Same story on the conningtower, made allready some parts for the scopes and other stuff i have to make.

                    Click image for larger version

Name:	20251115_135403.jpg
Views:	20
Size:	51.9 KB
ID:	195305

                    Those two cradles will hold the SD, prepped them to glue them inside the hull.

                    Click image for larger version

Name:	20251115_141717.jpg
Views:	19
Size:	53.1 KB
ID:	195306

                    Once glued with 2K epoxy held the hull together with some elastick bands, yet again less seems is better.

                    Click image for larger version

Name:	20251111_142804.jpg
Views:	18
Size:	48.4 KB
ID:	195307

                    Just for fun i've made the stand which was inside the box, have to make in the future a more robust one for daily use.

                    Once everything is dry i can add the cradles in the upper part, and start thinking about opening those timy floodholes on the upperpart.


                    Manfred.

                    I went underground

                    Comment

                    • He Who Shall Not Be Named
                      Moderator

                      • Aug 2008
                      • 13786

                      #25
                      Originally posted by MFR1964
                      SD tested in the pool, 2 minor leaks, one near the vent and another by one of the inner bulkheads, for now she's approved, started working on the hull parts,

                      Click image for larger version  Name:	20251111_141231.jpg Views:	0 Size:	46.6 KB ID:	195303

                      Upperhull is one piece, the lower consist of two pieces, applied glue and taped her together for curing, taping her this way gets the shape of all parts right, lesser seems is better.

                      Click image for larger version  Name:	20251115_143734.jpg Views:	0 Size:	50.3 KB ID:	195304

                      Same story on the conningtower, made allready some parts for the scopes and other stuff i have to make.

                      Click image for larger version  Name:	20251115_135403.jpg Views:	0 Size:	51.9 KB ID:	195305

                      Those two cradles will hold the SD, prepped them to glue them inside the hull.

                      Click image for larger version  Name:	20251115_141717.jpg Views:	0 Size:	53.1 KB ID:	195306

                      Once glued with 2K epoxy held the hull together with some elastick bands, yet again less seems is better.

                      Click image for larger version  Name:	20251111_142804.jpg Views:	0 Size:	48.4 KB ID:	195307

                      Just for fun i've made the stand which was inside the box, have to make in the future a more robust one for daily use.

                      Once everything is dry i can add the cradles in the upper part, and start thinking about opening those timy floodholes on the upperpart.


                      Manfred.
                      Damn you, Manfred. Now you've motivated me to assemble another one of these remarkable little kits!

                      David








































                      Who is John Galt?

                      Comment

                      • MFR1964
                        Detail Nut of the First Order

                        • Sep 2010
                        • 1582

                        #26
                        David. she's a nice little submarine, just build out of the box a good submarine to start with, hope to infect more people by letting them drive her, i will build her as simple as possible without extra gizmo's, believe me, my fingers are itching to add more things, but the main goal stays a good driveable rc sub.

                        Manfred.
                        I went underground

                        Comment

                        • He Who Shall Not Be Named
                          Moderator

                          • Aug 2008
                          • 13786

                          #27
                          Originally posted by MFR1964
                          David. she's a nice little submarine, just build out of the box a good submarine to start with, hope to infect more people by letting them drive her, i will build her as simple as possible without extra gizmo's, believe me, my fingers are itching to add more things, but the main goal stays a good driveable rc sub.

                          Manfred.
                          A 'training boat'. Great recruitment tool. Go get 'em!
                          Who is John Galt?

                          Comment

                          Working...