Carbon fiber masts and such.

[Buellman1]

I'm assembling a 1/144 Kilo and realizing the various masts, antennas and such are what really make the model realistic. The plastic ones in the kit certainly won't survive any misguided hand. I'm also trying to keep the topside weight down because my rcabs wtc doesn't lift much. I'm still in the early stages, but it looks like its going to work.

I cut the desired diameter rod to length. Put a dab of CA on the bottom and set it off with baking soda. Then I install it from the inside of the hull. Hanging the deck upside down, I set my alignment and CA it to the sub.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

You make the masts too strong and in a collision with a boat bottom you tear up the sail. Think: Shear-Pin! Easier to fix masts than the sail.

David

[Buellman1]

That seems reasonable David, but on this particular sub I'm in the belief of it being the best way to do it. The array of antennas and masts are strong enough now to bounce the sub out of the way of an intrusion of space. I've permantly attached the sail on this Kilo and can lift the whole deck in any position with any of the masts.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

That seems reasonable David, but on this particular sub I'm in the belief of it being the best way to do it. The array of antennas and masts are strong enough now to bounce the sub out of the way of an intrusion of space. I've permantly attached the sail on this Kilo and can lift the whole deck in any position with any of the masts.

Fair enough.

[Buellman1]

Tested it in the pond and decided it needs the forward planes. I have since installed them and didn't break anything off.

[redboat219]

What sort of dive system are you using?

[Buellman1]

Its a RCABS system with a weak pump it seems. The ballast is only large enough to raise the sail out of the water. It drops to sail awash and then I dynamic dive it from there. Without the forward planes it takes a long time to dive and almost impossible to level.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Which points out the major problem with air filled bags .... so much more room is needed to achieve the same displacement as compared to a system employing a more traditional type ballast tank.

David

[redboat219]

Either your WTC has insufficient volume to supply air or your bag is too small. Can you post photos of your WTC?

[Buellman1]

It's a wtc I found on EBay long before I found this site.