Hi Sonnich - Your boat's looking good. My hull is just about on the waterline and mine too wants to dive if I go at full speed but I stop it diving by using full surface rear plane. I think this is pretty normal 'cos the subs is designed to dive as the speed picks up. Usually I just cruise on the surface at half speed and just flip the rear plane now and then to stop it diving. I did some trials today and found that if I sailed the boat straight and level then increased the speed to nearly full, the boat started to dive gradually and very realistically but the stern tried to lift slightly out of the water so I just flip the rear plane to the surface position which makes the stern initially duck under the water then I just keep the sub fairly level under water with the rear plane - but I have reset the front dive planes so that when the sub goes under the mast only tilts back to make the front planes level to stop it dashing to the surface too soon. The only problem I had was when I picked up a fair bit of weed on the prop, the prop slowed down a fraction and stopped me being able to push the stern under to dive - so I have added another two musket balls to the rear compartment to dip the stern down a bit. If the stern then runs too low on the surface I'll keep it up by using the rear planes - but until I can get back to the pond again I'm not sure what will happen. I think that unlike a surface craft the sub needs 'driving' all the time and the controls need adjusting all the time it's in the water - I reckon it's a bit like helicopter flying - there's no relaxing because adjustments have to be constantly made. I'm really enjoying my sub, especially as I get better with practice. Hope you get as much fun out of yours - I'm sure you will. I don't think I shall bother turning it into a static diver - I might later on build a nice looking world War two type of sub with railings and deck guns etc - but the ones I know about seem to be a bit expensive but I'll keep looking around. By the way I've had my bath taken out at home and replaced with a large shower compartment - so i'm in the same boat as you now Sonnich - I'll have to find some other way of doing my ballasting at home..... Good luck with your trials mate.


Ian