66 inch Natuilus RC conversion

[Mermod]

Hello all, after believing 3d printing to be cheating for many years I've gone to the dark side and bought one specifically to print the 66 inch Disney Nautilus from CGTrader.
I've seen a few builds at reduced size but has anyone actually gone the full 66 and converted to RC? if so I'd be interested to know what dive system they fitted or if they went full custom, as I'm typing this my machine is whirring away spitting out the wheelhouse :)
Regards, Phill

[RCSubGuy]

You need less ballast than you think. Something like 1L would be lots. A twin tank 100mL from R&R might be just the thing. You can also go the watertight box route. I just recovered my test box from 10ft of water for 45 days and it was bone dry. I will be going that route on my own CR66" build whenever I get the time to build it out.

I offer those files on my site, btw... you don't like me or what? ;)

[Mermod]

You need less ballast than you think. Something like 1L would be lots. A twin tank 100mL from R&R might be just the thing. You can also go the watertight box route. I just recovered my test box from 10ft of water for 45 days and it was bone dry. I will be going that route on my own CR66" build whenever I get the time to build it out.

I offer those files on my site, btw... you don't like me or what? ;)

Don't I like you, are you kidding? it was your videos that have got me back into the hobby after a very long time :) only after reading this did I realize they were the same file (smart of me I know) but sitting here at a keyboard in Tasmania never did I expect to hear from RCSubguy himself, I hope you know what an incredible resource your videos are for any RC sub fanatic.
My last foray into subs was to build a 1.8metre long Typhoon from scratch back when plans were still hard to get (pre internet) so I bought the Dragon plastic kit, scaled it up and built a plug with all the details carved in for a glass mold, I made a couple of piston tanks but the whole thing wound up on the shelf when I eventually found out how inaccurate the plastic kit was.

Thanks again

Phill

[RCSubGuy]

Feel free to reach out with questions. The Nautilus is a particular favorite of mine, and I've build (just a few) of them over the years, in about any size you can think of...

[Mermod]

Feel free to reach out with questions. The Nautilus is a particular favorite of mine, and I've build (just a few) of them over the years, in about any size you can think of...

I wonder how many of us have a lifelong love of subs thanks to that movie :) well that one and The Hunt for Red October of course, after starting this project my 12yo Daughter decided she really should watch it with me and lucky for me she loved it :)
I'm playing around with the idea of going just a little bigger and adding 10%, I would truly love to use an OTW tank but I think the exchange rates are gonna kill me there, do they by any chance sell the pump's, solenoid and water level sensors separately?, I've googled these items but the amount of stuff out there is confusing.

Phill

[Subculture]

Just use a gear pump. Nidec units can be had for a few quid off Aliexpress. Instead of the sensors used in the OTW system, you could consider adopting the system used in the R&R modules which aspirates the tank via a passively valved snorkel. Then all you need is a reversible esc to control the pump.

https://tinyurl.com/Nidec-pump

[goshawk823]

I wonder how many of us have a lifelong love of subs thanks to that movie :) well that one and The Hunt for Red October of course, after starting this project my 12yo Daughter decided she really should watch it with me and lucky for me she loved it :)
I'm playing around with the idea of going just a little bigger and adding 10%, I would truly love to use an OTW tank but I think the exchange rates are gonna kill me there, do they by any chance sell the pump's, solenoid and water level sensors separately?, I've googled these items but the amount of stuff out there is confusing.

Phill

No, OTW does not sell components for ballast systems.

[Mermod]

No, OTW does not sell components for ballast systems.

That answers that question :) thank's

Phill

[Mermod]

Just use a gear pump. Nidec units can be had for a few quid off Aliexpress. Instead of the sensors used in the OTW system, you could consider adopting the system used in the R&R modules which aspirates the tank via a passively valved snorkel. Then all you need is a reversible esc to control the pump.

https://tinyurl.com/Nidec-pump

Hi Subculture, are you the same Subculture that posts over on Model Boat Mayhem? I think you might have offered some advice on my beaver tail typhoon at one stage :) I used to post all my builds over there a few years back.
I really like the concept of the OTW tanks but might have to make my own, thanks for the links to the pumps, any links to a nice 12v solenoid? also are their tubes and endcaps polycarbonate or acrylic?

Thanks

Phill

[Subculture]

Yes, although I post infrequently there these days, not much activity on the model submarine front over there now.

OTW cylinders are acrylic/PMMA I believe. R&R used the same in their earlier cylinders but switched to polycarbonate a few years ago,

12 volt solenoids-

https://tinyurl.com/2jksv35x

[Mermod]

Just use a gear pump. Nidec units can be had for a few quid off Aliexpress. Instead of the sensors used in the OTW system, you could consider adopting the system used in the R&R modules which aspirates the tank via a passively valved snorkel. Then all you need is a reversible esc to control the pump.

https://tinyurl.com/Nidec-pump

This ones here in AUS, from what I can find out I think it's the same as the OTW pumps, any experience or opinions on it?

Phill

[Subculture]

What one is in AUS? Found a cheaper link for the Nidec- https://tinyurl.com/ejpzz6hb

OTW seem to use a couple of pumps, a modified Shurflo Nautilus pump and I believe they're now using a geared pump in some of their current modules, Bob or Sam could fill you in with more detail there, far more exposure to these dive modules than I have. A geared pump can make decent pressure whereas the Shurflo pump tends to top out at a few psi. The latter uses a type of slinger disc I believe relying on centrifugal force to work. They're both bi-directional.

[Mermod]

What one is in AUS? Found a cheaper link for the Nidec- https://tinyurl.com/ejpzz6hb

OTW seem to use a couple of pumps, a modified Shurflo Nautilus pump and I believe they're now using a geared pump in some of their current modules, Bob or Sam could fill you in with more detail there, far more exposure to these dive modules than I have. A geared pump can make decent pressure whereas the Shurflo pump tends to top out at a few psi. The latter uses a type of slinger disc I believe relying on centrifugal force to work. They're both bi-directional.

That links got a better description attached, I'm looking to use a 250mm long 96mm ID ballast tank, does that sound reasonable for that pump or should I look at running 2 of em to speed it up a bit?

[Subculture]

That gives 1800ml.Filled how far, half full like R&R?

Nidec pumps at around 1300ml per minute at 12 volts, so about 40 seconds for half full and double that for a full tank. I would say you want a pair of these even for the smaller volume.