I've never really liked the Thunder Tiger Neptune. It's not a scale model. It's layout doesn't even make sense. What is the bubble on top? why do the side windows have a cage over the outside that isn't even touching the window? shouldn't that be on the inside? It has ugly external linkages. worst of all it just looks like a cheap plastic toy. But after I watched Bob's videos with the steampunk conversion and he said how fun it is to run I thought I should give it another look. I bought a used one in the usual clapped out condition. All batteries DOA, appears to have been painted yellow (don't know why since it is already yellow). Upon taking it apart I was very impressed with its internals. The WTC is very well designed and looks like it could handle some real depth. Here's where my troubles with it began.
After replacing the batteries I found everything to be in working order. Backyard pool test #1 showed it to be completely functional but way out of trim (very stern heavy). I also found that anytime I submerged the radio would loose signal frequently. So I took it back apart and range tested the radio out of the cylinder. The radio was the original Ace Sea Commander and although it generally works well I found the range to be rather short and sometimes the radio would just start glitching even when at very close range so I changed it to a Futaba PCM. I also moved the ballast farther forward and cleaned up the wiring inside the hull.
Backyard pool test#2 shows it is still heavy in the stern even though I've got all the ballast as far forward as it is designed to go. I also find that although considerably better the range is still not very good and often looses signal when submerged. After about 10 minutes I find the model is still going but will no longer surface. I lift it out of the water and the ballast pump is not running at all either direction. Bring it back on the bench take it all apart again. No sign of leaks. when turned back on now the pump works fine again but the main drive motor has stopped working. The original Ace Veloci ESC seems to not detect the receivers output. What is going on with this thing?
My main question is about the antenna. As designed the receivers antenna makes a few laps back and forth and around the inside of the WTC. The cylinder itself has a wall thickness of just under 4mm and the end caps are nearly 7mm thick. That's a lot of plastic for the signal to penetrate. Is this a known issue for this model? have others experienced short radio range? would putting the antenna outside of the WTC likely solve this issue? My pool has salt/chlorine in it but not much. I have run other subs in it without any real trouble.
Any ideas why the ballast system shut down while on patrol? battery was good. Can't find anything wrong. On the plus side I can see that when working properly it is a great pool toy. It turns incredibly sharp and in general has good characteristics. Sure is easy to see in bright yellow plus this one has flood/nav and strobe lights added that can be turned on and off from the transmitter.
thanks for any thoughts
Jason
After replacing the batteries I found everything to be in working order. Backyard pool test #1 showed it to be completely functional but way out of trim (very stern heavy). I also found that anytime I submerged the radio would loose signal frequently. So I took it back apart and range tested the radio out of the cylinder. The radio was the original Ace Sea Commander and although it generally works well I found the range to be rather short and sometimes the radio would just start glitching even when at very close range so I changed it to a Futaba PCM. I also moved the ballast farther forward and cleaned up the wiring inside the hull.
Backyard pool test#2 shows it is still heavy in the stern even though I've got all the ballast as far forward as it is designed to go. I also find that although considerably better the range is still not very good and often looses signal when submerged. After about 10 minutes I find the model is still going but will no longer surface. I lift it out of the water and the ballast pump is not running at all either direction. Bring it back on the bench take it all apart again. No sign of leaks. when turned back on now the pump works fine again but the main drive motor has stopped working. The original Ace Veloci ESC seems to not detect the receivers output. What is going on with this thing?
My main question is about the antenna. As designed the receivers antenna makes a few laps back and forth and around the inside of the WTC. The cylinder itself has a wall thickness of just under 4mm and the end caps are nearly 7mm thick. That's a lot of plastic for the signal to penetrate. Is this a known issue for this model? have others experienced short radio range? would putting the antenna outside of the WTC likely solve this issue? My pool has salt/chlorine in it but not much. I have run other subs in it without any real trouble.
Any ideas why the ballast system shut down while on patrol? battery was good. Can't find anything wrong. On the plus side I can see that when working properly it is a great pool toy. It turns incredibly sharp and in general has good characteristics. Sure is easy to see in bright yellow plus this one has flood/nav and strobe lights added that can be turned on and off from the transmitter.
thanks for any thoughts
Jason
Comment