Strange And Unusual Subs From My Skunk Works

[AQUASUB]

In this thread I will show some of my unusual craft.
I have modified these subs so that they can be more maneuverable and run much longer and deeper than originally designed.
With the invention of the Lipo battery the realm of the small highly maneuverable sub can be built to run much longer,I hated to after just a few minutes to have to get the sub out and open her up to replace the blasted battery that was a pain and alas I did not build many mini subs for that reason.
That has changed now and small is back in with a vengeance,the wonderful Graupner Shark with its dual drive and sleek lines make it a blast to run at full!But she has a problem when she goes that fast one that really makes her a bit tricky to operate safely for she will drill her self into the mud,I almost lost her at the springs the other day she went out of control and went right into the mouth of the spring and by sheer luck got stuck a few inches in in a crevasse,a few inches more and she would have been unreachable!
The reason is that long sail it causes the bow to dive on turn much like the Skip Jack did.
Well I could not eliminate the sail so I decided to install wings or large horizontal stabilizers I found on a airplane model,the problem was how to install them so that they would be perfectly aligned and at the right angle.First crazy glue was applied on the wing then once dried Epoxy bead all the way around then 2 large wood screws one per wing screwed in from the inside out hold the wings in place.
The epoxy and the rest was done after extensive testing in my Koi Pond there the water is clear and not deep,so I ran her at all speeds and maneuvers and found her to be very stable no more diving at high speed turns.Now she even leaps out of the water and skims over the surface like a plane trying to take off I can then make her dive nice and controlled even at high speed.
I will make a video as soon as the weather gets better.

The other sub is one of my old favorites the Octura ZX ,a modified Deep Star VI I believe the name is,she has modified dive planes that operate like ailerons,a Jet Drive ,water cooled,about 15 LEDs 2 are high intensity ones ,dynamic diving ballast system and last but not least a new casing.She can go down to about 12 ft and banks like no other and is very fast!Highly maneuverable like a Jet Sky a blast to run in the caves.
She is a good candidate for Lipos as well as she has 4 each SLBs of 1.2 mah,she runs for about 20 minutes.
All this in a sub that is under 24 inches long but is quite wide around 7 inches!One would think this design would not work well in water but its fine as long as the forward only planes move in a aileron manor and only by a computerized radio.

The next Creation is not a sub but a aircraft originally better known as Thunder bird 2 from the series Thunder birds ,they used puppets back then as performers ,Oh well,still there ships are pretty cool and this one will make a neat sub,it also will have aileron planes but no Jet Drive or I might put 2 jets in the sides,maybe?

Well enjoy the pics and videos ,there will be more coming from this Skunk Works soon.

Dave

[Tugrat]

What about Thunderbird 4 - that would be a nice subject

[AQUASUB]

Yes it would but I have not found a model large enough.



The T2 shown is 12 in wide 7 tall and 17 long,not a bad size and very staut build hull with the center cargo hold that comes out ,I might build it in such a way that it becomes the means to gain acsses to the electronics.
The T2 should have great hydrodynamics and manueverability and space for a simple syringe ballast system.

[AQUASUB]

The videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdXQb856Vf0&feature=player_detailpage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRjkituWtPE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StwxwX3wegg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16oVx_PK2ws&feature=player_detailpage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksp3tk9XERs&feature=player_detailpage

Even the wonder full SB-2.0 has extensive mods that are described in great detail in RCU and RCG.

I will still be making more mods to her 2 of which are new enlarged aft vertical stabilizers and a bow thruster.

The Javelin 7 also is a Jet Drive sub or Squid sub.

Dave

[redboat219]

What about Thunderbird 4 - that would be a nice subject

Here's an interesting model of T4 converted to RC by a Japanese modeler

http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?trurl=http%3A%2F%2Frc-blueworld.com%2Findex.html&lp=ja_en&.intl=us&fr=slv1-msgr

hmmm. the link above doesn't go directly to the T4 page.
Click on the "work display room" to see the list of models including the T4.

[AQUASUB]

Yes that is a great website!I visit all the time.
I don't see any T2 ,a supersized model is the one I am building.

Dave

[greenman407]

Hey Dave, Do you remember the thread the needle video that I took for you outside at Devils Den? You ought to post it.

[AQUASUB]

Yes it is the first one.