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A dialog between The Wizard and The Witch
Ok! Mr. Wizard!
You harped on about the Trumpeter Kilo and twisted my arm to buy a bunch of models. Compared to the Revell Gato and the Trumpeter Sea wolf, sales are sluggish? Why is that Smarty Pants?
It was a good idea then and it remains a good idea now to stock these things, Mr. Caswell. It's just that those customers of yours don't know its a good product yet -- hence this little dog-and-pony show I'm compelled to put on to show off what one of these things looks like converted to r/c.
I still maintain that this little plastic model kit is just about perfect as the 'minimum investment' for anyone wanting a fully functional, statically diving r/c model submarine: The length of the model, coming in at around twenty-some-inches overall, turns out to be just long enough to cram in a two-inch diameter SubDriver with all the devices needed to achieve control of the rudder, stern planes, bow planes, throttle, and ballast sub-system (with the availability of the little Caswell Inc. LPB you can even snorkel this thing to the surface, saving the on-board gas supply for emergency use only).
Now, with the availability of our KILO fittings kit, it's a snap to reconfigure this static display, plastic model kit to accept our KILO SD and make it fully operational. The above shot of an assembled Trumpeter 1/144 KILO (painted dark gray, yet to be painted and weathered) sitting next to the contents of our fittings kit should illustrate. We've corrected some of the dimensional errors of the kit as well as made provisions for its conversion to r/c. We even provide practical propellers for each of the two main variants of the class (Project 877 and 636) -- giving the end-user his choice as to which type KILO to represent: export or domestic.
The Trumpeter 1/144 KILO plastic model kit is still on the market, retails for about thirty-bucks, and assembles with the upper deck already split at the waterline -- right were we want it broken in order to gain access to its interior for SubDriver (SD) installation/removal/adjustment/repair. It's like Trumpeter had conversion to r/c in mind when they engineered this fine little sub kit.
The small size of the model, coupled with its very tight turning radius in the water, permits its use in the smallest pool.
The KILO SubDriver (SD) though small contains a factory installed and tested gas type ballast sub-system; a forward dry space for the recommended Lithium-polymer battery and mission switch; and an after dry space that comes with the motor, and four servos installed and tested. Additionally, the SD is delivered to the customer with an MTronics ESC installed and tested. With our KILO SD all the end-user has to do is buy the battery, ADF, r/c system (WFly transmitter and Sombra receiver), LPB, LPB switch, Lipo-guard, a can of air-brush propellant, miniature toggle-switch and watertight boot, and he's good to go. We even provide the plumbing fixtures to facilitate hook-up to the optional LPB hoses and motor-compressor unit.
As mentioned, the motor is factory installed. It's a direct-drive, 240 size, spark-suppressed motor. The motor shaft and pushrods all pass through watertight seals, all which are tested for water tight integrity.
With all the virtues the little Trumpeter 1/144 KILO kit has, it's being so easily converted over to r/c with minimal cash outlay by the end user, it simply amazes me that these things have not been more popular.
So, why aren't they scooping them off your shelf, Mike? I blame you .... poor marketing! I don't think these guys know we have this product in the catalog, ready for assembly and enjoyment. What the hell's going on over there at the New York plant?
And don't forget, no cussin' on this site, or your avatar with the pink panties on your 'orrible carcass will be back.
Too late, pal. Anyway, if the forums 'nice police' spent as much effort advancing the state-of-the-art within this hobby as they do counting cuss-words issued by posters at their site a lot more constructive things would be happening.
The trouble with these forums is that they fixate on attainment of quantity, not quality. Blah! Blah! Blah!Blah! Blah! Blah!Blah! Blah! Blah!Blah! Blah! Blah!
I'll slip those pink panties back on now, Mike. No sweat.
It's a neat boat, or is it just too small?
Neat. Yes, I think so. Too small? The little Revel 1/280 SKIPJACK is 'too small'. Not the 1/144 KILO. I've been running the hell out of mine at the local scuba training pool -- it's a rock-solid, reliable, maneuverable little package. I love the thing.
The SubDriver for the 1/144 KILO is a purpose built unit. A neat feature is that the upper hull half of the KILO model secures to the top of the SD, not the lower half of the hull, making the SD a truly homogenous element of the vehicle.
Why aren't those Europeans buying 'em? Is there a shortage of swimming pools over there? (Why am I asking you that? Of course there is!)
The KILO model, out of the box, has its shortcoming and I corrected those I could with our fittings kit to improve the scale appearance of the display. Maybe them foreigner's are sticking their noses up at the kit because they don't know we offer fixes to make it a better looking display?
As to the European pool issue: Decorum forbids my commenting on that, Mike. Maybe Andy and the other guys from that side of the world would like to take issue with your horribly raciest/nationalistic/homophobic/hate-mongering suggestion that them European's don't know how to use fresh water, Mike. Just leave me outa it, pal. What's wrong with you?!....
Is the model itself too much of a challenge for most model makers?
I'm a Model Maker. Most of our customers are kit-assemblers, not 'model makers', Mike.
Oh! Dear! I shouldn't have mentioned 'model maker'.
Anyway ...
... Assembling the Trumpeter KILO kit presents no special 'challenges' to the average glue-jockey; I've made it simple for 'em by developing and producing the KILO fittings kit and KILO SubDriver. With those items in hand -- along with the other items suggested in your catalog -- the customer can assemble the KILO into a nice r/c sub.
Pictured are just some of the tools, jigs, and holding fixtures I've developed and use to make up the KILO fittings kits and SD's -- I've tackled the hard stuff so the kit-assemblers won't have to; when the product goes out the door of the massive D&E Miniatures Industrial Complex it's ready for assembly.
The fittings kit provides replacement/supplemental parts to get the kit operational.
Out of the box Trumpeter KILO kit shortcomings include: The bow planes are way out of scale; the propeller (two versions provided in the kit, but neither anywhere close to looking like what is seen on prototype boats) are impractical; and some of the masts that come with the plastic kit are not even close to what projects out the top of the sail on the real boats. These and other problems are corrected by use of replacement parts found in the D&E Miniatures fittings kit offered by Caswell Inc.
I conducted practical tests of 636 and 877 propellers (each type represented by a 'high and a 'low' pitch unit). Of course that meant making four masters, four tools, and four evaluation propellers. The best match for the direct-drive motor (no water-cooling needed, Dave ... sorry) was found to be the low-pitch propellers -- so those are the ones we provide with the fittings kit.
The fittings kit has one of each type propeller, so the end-user has a choice of type KILO he builds, domestic or export version. Pictured are three of the four propeller masters made in support of the project. Note that these are near dead-rings for the actual KILO propellers, not at all like those POS units provided by Trumpeter.
Whats wrong with the finger? I feel a workers comp claim coming on!
Wayne Frey was a big help providing me with documentation and guidance on where to find the information I needed to make the fittings kit parts as faithful to the prototypes as possible. Pictured are Renshape masters of the vortex attenuator's, rudder, stern planes and horizontal stabilizer.
If you're interested, the four propeller masters were assembled from cast metal blades mounted to Renshape hubs. These masters were later used to create the rubber tools needed to cast the white-metal and resin pieces of the fittings kit.
A 1/144 Trumpeter KILO model kit outfitted with our fittings kit items and KILO SD. Addition of the fittings kit items turns this otherwise flawed static display model into an attractive r/c model submarine.
How long would it take Mr. Average to built the model?
Hell, I don't know. Don't ask me stupid questions! How long will it take Mr. Average? .... all depends if he can tear himself away from the computer keyboards long enough to get any real work done, doesn't it?!.... Guy's with dial-up modems get more work done. Does that answer?
If you put two-hours a night into it about two weeks time is what it takes to assemble, paint, outfit the SD, trim, and learn how to drive the KILO.
Just some of the alterations needed to get the Trumpeter KILO kit up to a more accurate representation of the prototype, in this case a Project 877 KILO.
Ok! Mr. Wizard!
You harped on about the Trumpeter Kilo and twisted my arm to buy a bunch of models. Compared to the Revell Gato and the Trumpeter Sea wolf, sales are sluggish? Why is that Smarty Pants?
It was a good idea then and it remains a good idea now to stock these things, Mr. Caswell. It's just that those customers of yours don't know its a good product yet -- hence this little dog-and-pony show I'm compelled to put on to show off what one of these things looks like converted to r/c.
I still maintain that this little plastic model kit is just about perfect as the 'minimum investment' for anyone wanting a fully functional, statically diving r/c model submarine: The length of the model, coming in at around twenty-some-inches overall, turns out to be just long enough to cram in a two-inch diameter SubDriver with all the devices needed to achieve control of the rudder, stern planes, bow planes, throttle, and ballast sub-system (with the availability of the little Caswell Inc. LPB you can even snorkel this thing to the surface, saving the on-board gas supply for emergency use only).
Now, with the availability of our KILO fittings kit, it's a snap to reconfigure this static display, plastic model kit to accept our KILO SD and make it fully operational. The above shot of an assembled Trumpeter 1/144 KILO (painted dark gray, yet to be painted and weathered) sitting next to the contents of our fittings kit should illustrate. We've corrected some of the dimensional errors of the kit as well as made provisions for its conversion to r/c. We even provide practical propellers for each of the two main variants of the class (Project 877 and 636) -- giving the end-user his choice as to which type KILO to represent: export or domestic.
The Trumpeter 1/144 KILO plastic model kit is still on the market, retails for about thirty-bucks, and assembles with the upper deck already split at the waterline -- right were we want it broken in order to gain access to its interior for SubDriver (SD) installation/removal/adjustment/repair. It's like Trumpeter had conversion to r/c in mind when they engineered this fine little sub kit.
The small size of the model, coupled with its very tight turning radius in the water, permits its use in the smallest pool.
The KILO SubDriver (SD) though small contains a factory installed and tested gas type ballast sub-system; a forward dry space for the recommended Lithium-polymer battery and mission switch; and an after dry space that comes with the motor, and four servos installed and tested. Additionally, the SD is delivered to the customer with an MTronics ESC installed and tested. With our KILO SD all the end-user has to do is buy the battery, ADF, r/c system (WFly transmitter and Sombra receiver), LPB, LPB switch, Lipo-guard, a can of air-brush propellant, miniature toggle-switch and watertight boot, and he's good to go. We even provide the plumbing fixtures to facilitate hook-up to the optional LPB hoses and motor-compressor unit.
As mentioned, the motor is factory installed. It's a direct-drive, 240 size, spark-suppressed motor. The motor shaft and pushrods all pass through watertight seals, all which are tested for water tight integrity.
With all the virtues the little Trumpeter 1/144 KILO kit has, it's being so easily converted over to r/c with minimal cash outlay by the end user, it simply amazes me that these things have not been more popular.
So, why aren't they scooping them off your shelf, Mike? I blame you .... poor marketing! I don't think these guys know we have this product in the catalog, ready for assembly and enjoyment. What the hell's going on over there at the New York plant?
And don't forget, no cussin' on this site, or your avatar with the pink panties on your 'orrible carcass will be back.
Too late, pal. Anyway, if the forums 'nice police' spent as much effort advancing the state-of-the-art within this hobby as they do counting cuss-words issued by posters at their site a lot more constructive things would be happening.
The trouble with these forums is that they fixate on attainment of quantity, not quality. Blah! Blah! Blah!Blah! Blah! Blah!Blah! Blah! Blah!Blah! Blah! Blah!
I'll slip those pink panties back on now, Mike. No sweat.
It's a neat boat, or is it just too small?
Neat. Yes, I think so. Too small? The little Revel 1/280 SKIPJACK is 'too small'. Not the 1/144 KILO. I've been running the hell out of mine at the local scuba training pool -- it's a rock-solid, reliable, maneuverable little package. I love the thing.
The SubDriver for the 1/144 KILO is a purpose built unit. A neat feature is that the upper hull half of the KILO model secures to the top of the SD, not the lower half of the hull, making the SD a truly homogenous element of the vehicle.
Why aren't those Europeans buying 'em? Is there a shortage of swimming pools over there? (Why am I asking you that? Of course there is!)
The KILO model, out of the box, has its shortcoming and I corrected those I could with our fittings kit to improve the scale appearance of the display. Maybe them foreigner's are sticking their noses up at the kit because they don't know we offer fixes to make it a better looking display?
As to the European pool issue: Decorum forbids my commenting on that, Mike. Maybe Andy and the other guys from that side of the world would like to take issue with your horribly raciest/nationalistic/homophobic/hate-mongering suggestion that them European's don't know how to use fresh water, Mike. Just leave me outa it, pal. What's wrong with you?!....
Is the model itself too much of a challenge for most model makers?
I'm a Model Maker. Most of our customers are kit-assemblers, not 'model makers', Mike.
Oh! Dear! I shouldn't have mentioned 'model maker'.
Anyway ...
... Assembling the Trumpeter KILO kit presents no special 'challenges' to the average glue-jockey; I've made it simple for 'em by developing and producing the KILO fittings kit and KILO SubDriver. With those items in hand -- along with the other items suggested in your catalog -- the customer can assemble the KILO into a nice r/c sub.
Pictured are just some of the tools, jigs, and holding fixtures I've developed and use to make up the KILO fittings kits and SD's -- I've tackled the hard stuff so the kit-assemblers won't have to; when the product goes out the door of the massive D&E Miniatures Industrial Complex it's ready for assembly.
The fittings kit provides replacement/supplemental parts to get the kit operational.
Out of the box Trumpeter KILO kit shortcomings include: The bow planes are way out of scale; the propeller (two versions provided in the kit, but neither anywhere close to looking like what is seen on prototype boats) are impractical; and some of the masts that come with the plastic kit are not even close to what projects out the top of the sail on the real boats. These and other problems are corrected by use of replacement parts found in the D&E Miniatures fittings kit offered by Caswell Inc.
I conducted practical tests of 636 and 877 propellers (each type represented by a 'high and a 'low' pitch unit). Of course that meant making four masters, four tools, and four evaluation propellers. The best match for the direct-drive motor (no water-cooling needed, Dave ... sorry) was found to be the low-pitch propellers -- so those are the ones we provide with the fittings kit.
The fittings kit has one of each type propeller, so the end-user has a choice of type KILO he builds, domestic or export version. Pictured are three of the four propeller masters made in support of the project. Note that these are near dead-rings for the actual KILO propellers, not at all like those POS units provided by Trumpeter.
Whats wrong with the finger? I feel a workers comp claim coming on!
Wayne Frey was a big help providing me with documentation and guidance on where to find the information I needed to make the fittings kit parts as faithful to the prototypes as possible. Pictured are Renshape masters of the vortex attenuator's, rudder, stern planes and horizontal stabilizer.
If you're interested, the four propeller masters were assembled from cast metal blades mounted to Renshape hubs. These masters were later used to create the rubber tools needed to cast the white-metal and resin pieces of the fittings kit.
A 1/144 Trumpeter KILO model kit outfitted with our fittings kit items and KILO SD. Addition of the fittings kit items turns this otherwise flawed static display model into an attractive r/c model submarine.
How long would it take Mr. Average to built the model?
Hell, I don't know. Don't ask me stupid questions! How long will it take Mr. Average? .... all depends if he can tear himself away from the computer keyboards long enough to get any real work done, doesn't it?!.... Guy's with dial-up modems get more work done. Does that answer?
If you put two-hours a night into it about two weeks time is what it takes to assemble, paint, outfit the SD, trim, and learn how to drive the KILO.
Just some of the alterations needed to get the Trumpeter KILO kit up to a more accurate representation of the prototype, in this case a Project 877 KILO.
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