With 2 expert submariners giving what on the surface seems like opposite views, it started me thinking . Skip & Dave have to be both right since they have enough experience in the hobby. Assuming both are right, it must be the different submarines that gave different results.
I think the centre of gravity of the sub is the fulcrum or pivot, which should be the middle of the hobby sub. The downward force of the front diving plane or the upward force of the stern plane will rotate the sub thru this pivot. I think the effective force is therefore the ' moment force ( upward or the downward force X distance from pivot). Skip is right on the Typhoon because the stern moment due to its longer distance from the middle of the sub, is stronger than the front planes. Dave is also right that it does not matter that much on its sub because that Octura sub has both front & stern planes at equal distance from the middle. Anybody think that I am on the right track ?