I've been working on mine (design pictured earlier). I'm not bothered about winning a prize, so if the competition gets canned then c'est la vie, the design will stand. Just need to finalise the layout of the tech rack and shaft seals.
I favour o-rings, which can be found pretty much everywhere and are cheap unlike shaft seals which tend to be a bit more difficult to find depending where you live on this spinning ball.
I have little enthusiasm for a ballast system for a sub $80 budget. I reasoned that to keep the price low requires dimensions to be kept small if printing at a bureau. I can fit one within the footprint, but as the boat utilises a dry hull design the tank has to be fairly large to get 10% displacement requested which will mean less space for batteries etc. This isn't a scale boat so I don't see much benefit.
Dynamic divers are just as much fun as static divers, especially when they're fast. I'd say if you don't like driving one then subs probably aren't for you.
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Great idea, but the parameters of contest are too restricted and unrealistic sir. Unless we have a time, machine and contest takes place in 1966 prices. $80.00? My Autobody primer rattle can alone cost $37.00.
If my entry looks like a transformer 2 Liter plastic soda bottle, then I would rather spend precious funds on getting my existing projects completed. Long to sit by a nice pond somewhere free of stupid park rules afraid we will harm mothing (nonsensical park rules formulated on complete total ignorance & stupidity by the powers that be)) and s run my sub safely in relaxed fun watching my sub makes realistic bow waves. I love whatever my very limited mental powers can enjoy devising engineering challenges for existing projects.
Salutes to Bob.
Last edited by Albacore 569; 08-04-2026, 10:57 AM.Leave a comment:
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I haven't seen a lot of interest, though admittedly people might be madly working in the shadows. For the quality of the prize, I want to see at least 5 entries. If we can't get that, we'll have to postpone or cancel the contest.
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I am happy to see this contest come back. I really want to do it and bought a bunch of stuff for it last year then it fizzled out. I just don't think I have time to start (let alone finish) another project right now. I've got a sub project on the bench I'm hoping to bring to Sub-fest that still needs a lot of work.
JasonLeave a comment:
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The CONTEST LIVES!
In revamping my site, I found the contest page, and I'm officially making it active. Contest details are posted there. Start date is... well... NOW! End date is October 31st, 2026. Prizes are going to increase in number and value as I wrangle vendors to help promote it.
I'm going to be creating a new thread where people can post up their progress, ideas, vendors and other details of their builds. Let's keep this thread separate for contest questions, clarifications, etc.
LET THE GAMES.... BEGIN!
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I was literally just thinking about this. When I get back from portugal, we are going to make this happen!!!Leave a comment:
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Well if we're into the professions, let's play doctors and nurses, and I've shown you mine.....Leave a comment:
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Well to print this in nylon costs about $20 plus postage. It's a small boat about a foot long, so Bob's worst nightmare, but all the linkages are external, and inside will be no worse than working with a 2" wtc.
That leaves around $50-60 for the rest, so plenty of headroom.
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