Nautilus Drydocks - Yesterday's work

[trout]

George,


Depending on how the files for Typhoon turn out, the final scale will be flexible until we lock it in. Likely 1:144. Any larger and it would take weeks to print out. Of course, with 3D printing you can just scale to whatever you want, provided wall thickness doesn't get to thin when scaling down.

Rob, yes... working on a Typhoon!


Bob

Typhoon.....(.said with Anime eyes and a voice of a child) - Oh my I know what is next on my list! Thank you Bob!

[rwtdiver]

George,


Depending on how the files for Typhoon turn out, the final scale will be flexible until we lock it in. Likely 1:144. Any larger and it would take weeks to print out. Of course, with 3D printing you can just scale to whatever you want, provided wall thickness doesn't get to thin when scaling down.

Rob, yes... working on a Typhoon!


Bob

OH NO! G** help me!!!

Rob

"Firemen can stand the heat"

[RCSubGuy]

George,


Depending on how the files for Typhoon turn out, the final scale will be flexible until we lock it in. Likely 1:144. Any larger and it would take weeks to print out. Of course, with 3D printing you can just scale to whatever you want, provided wall thickness doesn't get to thin when scaling down.

Rob, yes... working on a Typhoon!


Bob

[rwtdiver]

Bob! Is George referring to a 3D printable Typhoon?

Rob

"Firemen can stand the heat"

[george]

What scale will the Typhoon be?
Excuse me, please pass on my condolences Bob to your wife on the passing of her mother.
Sorry for her loss.
George

[rwtdiver]

My wife just walked in and caught me looking at the 3D Print files for the 1:96 scale Los Angeles! NOT ANOTHER ONE!!! She then quickly reminded me about the Disney Nautilus I have coming, and the three that are waiting to get started on...

Bob! You have got to stop tempting me! This hobby is like an addiction for me!!!






I know! The ceiling!!!!:-)) That LA looks like it would be a great build!

Rob

"Firemen can stand the heat"

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

that bow is way too pointy! (the LA, not Nemo's ride).

David

[RCSubGuy]

In preparation for Tuesday's flight up to Canada, Logan and I got four orders packed and ready for shipment tomorrow.

I also spent the wee hours of the morning designing up the vectored thrust unit for Logan's (aka "RCSubKid") next project, a fully functional RC Millenium Falcon from Star Wars. The vectored thrust nozzles are on the printer as we speak (as I type, that is), and should be done tonight. They'll be printed in clear plastic and backlit with high powered blue LED's. This Falcon will have no ballast system, but be ballasted slightly positively, with no control surfaces, just vectored nozzles that will allow not only pitch and yaw, but roll as well. I'm really excited to play with this. It's so far beyond the standard sub builds that I've been doing for years... it's fun to stretch the creative muscles and see what we can come up with together.



I also finished up the prototype for the new 1:96th Los Angeles. You can order the files here. It's a gorgeous boat, designed with help from a talented Canadian hobby 3D modeler. He also hooked me up with a beautiful Skipjack file that I need to flesh out, and (drum roll please) he's working on a Russian Typhoon! I have the prototype model finished up and available for sale now that I've proved out the files. One only, obviously. If you're interested, it's already set up with all linkages and control surfaces in place and ready to rock!




I also had some time today to play with the LXG Nautilus. The rudder was tons of fun (read "pain in the ass"). It's a triple arrangement that is linked together. I finally got it working perfectly. Next up is sectioning off the ballast area and starting work on the electronics compartment.

[trout]

Bob, My condolences and I pray this day can be a celebration of her life. My heart goes out to Renee and family!

[gantu]

My condolences Bob and your family

Gantu

[scubaed1911]

My condolences also to your family.

Ed

[rwtdiver]

Bob,

Your new shop really looks great! Looks like it will give plenty of space to build and operate your business! I am sure you, Renee, and your family have a lot to go through right now. My Wife and I would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to you and your family!

Stay safe and well Bob!

Rob

"Firemen can stand the heat"

[RCSubGuy]

Well, it may seem that I've disappeared into a black hole, but rest assured, things have been happening!

For those of you subscribed to my newsletter, you'll already know that I had a family tragedy with the death of my wife's mother, Bonnie. She was only 62 and suffered a massive brain aneurysm. Renee is up in Canada making funeral arrangements and I will be joining her on Tuesday, staying up there for at least a week to get things looked after. This will, obviously, impact my ability to fulfill orders, but I should be good to reply to emails and check the forums.

On a lighter note, and throwing gas on the fire so to speak, I managed to secure a new shop facility. You can view the video here. But for those who don't want to watch through the 3 minutes, here are some photos.

Hoping to hit the ground running when I return, including hiring someone to manage the shop for shipping and inventory, freeing me up for builds, new product development and new kits.

[SteveNeill]

Cool stuff Bob. Glad to see you having so much fun!

[RCSubGuy]

A lazyish weekend, at least from a build perspective. Did work around the house. Lots of storms here over the weekend, so we couldn't get the Batsub into the pool for final testing and beauty shots. Hoping to do so later today if the weather holds.

Most of the work revolved around the LXG Nautilus. I completed the printing and did final assembly, filling, sanding and primer. I'm pretty satisfied with how the hull went together. I still have some gaps to fill that the primer brought to light, but that should be a quick process.

I've been putting some thoughts together in regard to the control system for the boat. The access to the rear section is only about 1.5" wide. I'm thinking of building a clear acrylic box that will house the battery, air pump, receiver and four servos (rudder, rear planes, front planes and ballast). The ESC and brushless motor will live in the wet. This waterproof box will drop in from the top and seal on a foam seal at the bottom. In that way, if there is a leak at the main seal, air pressure will stop the water from advancing more than a tiny bit into the electronics compartment (think diving bell).

Also thinking about the propulsion more. Those twin pinecones low in the hull aren't going to do anything, and rigging up twin props in a cramped space, while possible, isn't anything I want to play with if I don't have to. What I'm going to do is open up the rear of the hull and put a 30mm(ish) diameter hole in there directly in front of the really cool triple-rudder arrangement. A single direct-drive three-bladed prop will be mounted in a closed tube, drawing water from the interior of the hull and expelling it directly out the back of the boat and over the rudders. This has many advantages including simplified driveline, a stock-ish appearance, and superb rudder control thanks to the water flow going directly over the rudders at any hint of throttle.



I'm also working on a new locking system for use with the upcoming LA class 3D files. This is a bayonet system designed by Randy up in Canada (the original artist that did up the files). It works really well and the test-print below makes for a solid union with perfect alignment. These were printed in draft quality so ignore the nasty seam that was printed without supports.