RCU Forums - NEWBEE NEEDS HELP!!

I've never bought one over $20, though I maintain a simple toy sub I built--with a plastic model kit, Home Depot PVC, and some electronics from a sacrificial r/c boat. Sub operators use a surface (boat or car) r/c transmitter. How many channels can vary, but standard advice is at least three channels for a "dynamic diver", four if you have a ballast tank.

Small World Models sells subs that are supposed to be simple to put together. I hear about people who are happy with theirs, but seriously I think they spend more time playing with the sub than posting on bulletin boards (except the SubCommittee--www.subcommittee.com). Last I looked, their subs started around $800; maybe you'd end up with $1000 or $1200 if you had to buy the tx additional. Supposedly you can get them in the water with just a weekend of painting and other prep. They seem like good middle-of-the-road builders. [link=http://www.geocities.com/smallworldmodels/]Small World[/link]

Mike's Sub Works has some cheaper, more entry-level sub model kits, like the Albacore. The Albacore used to start at about $500 (without the transmitter). [link=http://www.mikessubworks.com/page1.html]Mike's Sub Works[/link]

I think Mike may sell more parts; Small World seems more kit-oriented for those who don't want to mess with building so much.

High-end craftsmanship--Dave Merriman (D&E Miniatures) might sell a "turnkey" sub for a couple thousand $$$. He's an ex-Navy submariner. [link=http://www.vabiz.com/d&e/default.htm]D & E Miniatures[/link]

North Seas Fleet--they make them as bare-bones as they can to sell at an affordable price. Sometimes the guy is overwhelmed with orders, at least my friend across the pond says of the European outlet. They have a US outlet too.

There are two kinds of subs, though--I mention in case you want something cheaper. The ones I've mentioned above are static divers (generally, subs with ballast tanks). Dynamic divers like mine--which dive by fins or thrusters--are simpler and cheaper.

Standard advice is you have to have 3 channels minimum; but since I only have snippets of time available, I operate the "lunch-break sub" which I take downhill to the lake on many a lunch break from the office; lately I use 2 channels and it's less to maintain.

If you want really cheap and no assembly required, Wal-Mart usually sells footlong dynamic divers each summer for $20.