I was wondering has anyone made a torpedo that is electric?? I want to try to make one with a pen and one of those little pager motors (the prop from a Megatech/redhorse will fit) was wondering if it would work.. or see where this idea goes Tom.

shaneperch,
Has anyone made model torpedoes? Sure. I think a pen (as in ball-point?) is going to be a real challenge though! The ones I've seen have been larger than that (maybe three or four times as large). But, if you can find the components that are small enough, why not?
- 'Doc

The biggest issue with torpedoes that small will be buoyancy, what's the point in diving for your torpedo every time you've launched it...?
If you can solve the weight problem than go for it!
Remember to pick a powersource that will give you 30 seconds to a minute runtime, maybe even less, depending on the speed it reaches, to prevent losing the torpedo out of sight.

Let us know how things go.

Regards, Jan.

Yeah, when you think of it, buoyancy will be a problem if you have a small surface. The weight of the motor/cells can be an issue though, what scale are you working with? Bigger scaled boats are easier to fit the torps in. Plus, you can still use gas powered one, they are lighter, easier to make, all you need is a valve w/ trigger. Use a servo to pull the valve open, and well, TOPEDOES AHOY!

maybe they wouldn't be very scale or realistic...but what about extra fins on the torp?
so it kinda gets that cruise missle effect? perhaps not as big but small ones that could be slightly angled to keep the nose pointed up?
just thinking aloud here

Well, if you make the shell out of molds, you can decide on the shape, extra fins would make it more realistic yes.

I personally haven't but I do know someone that has. He may be able to help you with some ideas if not selling you the torpedoes themselves. Contact David Merriman at [email protected]

Dave owns D&E miniatures in Virginia Beach Virginia. He is the guy that builds all the WTC's you see for sale commercially. I have also seen his Russian sub that he fires torpedoes out of. If anyone could help you, he can.


Good luck hunting!!
Pete



there are two types of ships: submarines and targets

During WWII the Japanese navy came out with midget suicide submarines called the "Kaiten". These were no more than a one man human torpedo submarine. Why not construct a modern version of this ?
This should be a interesting guided torpedo/mini sub that should run on the surface. (no need to dive)
This can ride "piggy-back" on the sub and launced by a separate two channel controller.
You can guide this "torpedo/submarine" to a slow moving or stationary target.

GulfstreamI

you know I may have a solution for this problem,

I fly R/C model helicopters, and one that I recently bought is a micro helicopter called the zoom400, it has a micro gyro, now two of these could be fitted into a torpedo, one on each axis, not only this but protech have released some extremly small servos and recievers, which could also be fitted, and with the new lipo battery packs (not too sure about that, you would have to be very careful about water proofing it, or the torpedo could explode) you could make a very small cell to power a motor from the tail of an eco-picolo (very small) all this would make a gyro stabilised torpedo, which could be steered, talk about possibilities

Here is an idea I found for torpedoes. http://www.pt-boat.com/torpedo/torpedo.html