My Seaview Build

[mickelsen]

Hi all,

I have been building my Seaview slowly now for some time. I have had a lot of trouble getting the instructional DVD's to play and so I've skipped around, assembling parts for which I didn't have questions and leaving other parts for later. Now, with this website, the help of my fellow modellers and maybe even the Guru himself, maybe I can proceed with some of these other parts. We'll see.

My first question is this. The three rudders are connected together by a finely crafted crossbar made of white metal that comes with the fittings kit. In order to use it, a small vertical hole must be drilled in the end of each rudder. It must be placed so that it intersects the small rectangular hole in the rudder. Even though DMIII states on the DVD that he will show us how to drill these holes, he never does, on my DVD at least. I would like to know what size hole that has to be and what size wire is used in it. Any hint as to how to drill them perfectly the first time would also be greatly appreciated. (I think I've got it figured out but I'm always willing to listen to my betters before I forge ahead and blow it.)

Thanks

[mickelsen]

Okay, let's try something else. Is there anywhere I can look to learn the care and feeding of LiPo batteries and their chargers? The charger has an LED on it but comes with no explanation of what it indicates or how to use it. Since I've heard horror stories of LiPo's exploding or expanding to twice their size while charging, I'm a little hesitant to just plug them in and forget them until I want to use them. Can anyone give a brief explanation of how to charge and use the Vislero batteries and the chargers that Caswell sells with them?
Thanks again.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Okay, let's try something else. Is there anywhere I can look to learn the care and feeding of LiPo batteries and their chargers? The charger has an LED on it but comes with no explanation of what it indicates or how to use it. Since I've heard horror stories of LiPo's exploding or expanding to twice their size while charging, I'm a little hesitant to just plug them in and forget them until I want to use them. Can anyone give a brief explanation of how to charge and use the Vislero batteries and the chargers that Caswell sells with them?
Thanks again.

Don't let the simplicity of that charger throw you -- it's a constant current/constant voltage unit and will shut-down on its own once the full-charge voltage is reached. You'll be fine. The horror stories are over-blown.

Just use the right charger, don't over discharge (below the recommended voltage) and you'll get fine service from this high capacity, light-weight, rechargeable battery.

David,

[mickelsen]

Thanks.
Next question: can anyone direct me to a source for the 1/8" polyurethane tubing used in the Snort system? The hobby shops around here don't carry it. McMaster-Carr doesn't seem to have it either, at least they don't have the Clippard URH1-0402. I don't know if I need to use the Clippard stuff of not, but when you don't know what the exact parameters are, I say go with what is used in the original.
Thanks again.

[Nuke Power]

You are using the small pump right? Try going to the autohobby store and getting some vaccum line. I have found that for the larger pumps aquarium hosing works great.

[toppack]

Yes, I was trying to locate that tubing also, with no luck, so used RC Fuel-line tubing instead.
I think It must be some military-surplus stuff that David had in his Goody-box for about 20 years. :D LOL :D

[junglelord]

Hi all,

I have been building my Seaview slowly now for some time. I have had a lot of trouble getting the instructional DVD's to play and so I've skipped around, assembling parts for which I didn't have questions and leaving other parts for later. Now, with this website, the help of my fellow modellers and maybe even the Guru himself, maybe I can proceed with some of these other parts. We'll see.

My first question is this. The three rudders are connected together by a finely crafted crossbar made of white metal that comes with the fittings kit. In order to use it, a small vertical hole must be drilled in the end of each rudder. It must be placed so that it intersects the small rectangular hole in the rudder. Even though DMIII states on the DVD that he will show us how to drill these holes, he never does, on my DVD at least. I would like to know what size hole that has to be and what size wire is used in it. Any hint as to how to drill them perfectly the first time would also be greatly appreciated. (I think I've got it figured out but I'm always willing to listen to my betters before I forge ahead and blow it.)

Thanks

I hope when I order, my DVD set plays properly.
If not I wonder if I will be able to return them.

So did you get that drilled and if so how is the build going beyond the LPB tubing....got any pictures?
:p

[mickelsen]

My build is going slowly but I am making some progress. To drill that hole I got a 1/32" half round drill bit, then I carefully clamped each rudder perpendicular in the table vise of my drill press and then SLOWLY and CAREFULLY peck drilled the hole. I decided not to drill the hole all the way through, just down to the rectangular hole and about 1/8" farther. Putting a pin in from the top should work fine.

I'm including some pictures of what little progress I have made so far.

[junglelord]

Nice pictures and great work. Thanks for sharing.
What is that line coming from the rudder?

[mickelsen]

Thanks for the compliment. That line is a piece of piano wire I stuck into the 1/32" hole drilled in the rudder to show where it is.

You might be able to see where the hole in the horizontal stern plane broke out when I was drilling it. I think that one of my biggest challenges is going to be patching, filling, sanding, and painting that stern plane so that it looks untouched.

[junglelord]

I can see that. A little bit of JB weld maybe? Or Bondo?

[Nuke Power]

jb weld or evercoat! ::slap on the hands for jungle lord::
Mike offer some stuff called evercoat easysand. It is the best stuff I have ever used...ever!

[mickelsen]

I made a mistake and tried to finish off some of the limber holes by using a brush in a mototool to smooth the edges. Now I have to fill in the gouges I made. I've included some pictures of the damage including one where I've highlighted the damage in blue.

It's going to be difficult to fill in the damage and preserve the edges of the limber holes. I really don't know how to do it and I would appreciate some suggestions and instruction as to how to proceed. I know that some of you guys could fill this in, sand it and paint it and make it look as if nothing ever happened, and any help would be appreciated.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I made a mistake and tried to finish off some of the limber holes by using a brush in a mototool to smooth the edges. Now I have to fill in the gouges I made. I've included some pictures of the damage including one where I've highlighted the damage in blue.

It's going to be difficult to fill in the damage and preserve the edges of the limber holes. I really don't know how to do it and I would appreciate some suggestions and instruction as to how to proceed. I know that some of you guys could fill this in, sand it and paint it and make it look as if nothing ever happened, and any help would be appreciated.

(in the heroic voice of the off-stage announcer)

This is a job for CA, baking soda, and a flat Jeweler's file!

Go get 'em Tiger! Now you know why high speed tools and polystyrene don't mix.

David,

[mickelsen]

You wouldn't use Evercoat for this?