I don't know. I'm not a sub guy, so I'm not sure of the terminology. No chambers or air systems involved, this was from spares and stash.

I had all the guttywuts (brick, motor and aileron servos) from a 2 cell foam microplane. I had a Revell 1/144 Type VII/41, so I figured I'd have some fun (which was why I brought it up, hobbies are about the fun).

So I bought 6 AA NiMH cells and soldered them together into a string in the hull bottom, installed everything else, building stuffing boxes for both the prop shaft, rudder and dive planes and sealed the entire thing up with an external switch and charging port. It was trimmed to sit low in the water and I figured the planes would push it under, release them and it would rise and since it was positively buoyant, when it went under 6 inches and lost signal, it would pop up.

It all worked better than I could have hoped. We were having too much fun to really work out control, it needed a good bit of momentum to dive, then it's lose signal and pop back up stern first. It dove real fast in reverse. I could set travel adjust, expo to get more subtle control on the dive able, but I didn't bring the multimeter and wasn't sure how much run time to expect off a 1800 mAh since the motor is design to drive a big AC prop on lipo. I didn't want a LVC blackout 100 feet offshore.

On the way to the car after the session, we heard the water inside, a very small amount, but still distrubing since there is no way to get it out. I assumed it was getting in through the shaft since we were doing some hard reversing, but while shaking it, there was a drip from the conning tower. That turned out to be the whole problem, what I thought was a solid piece where the flak guns would attach, was actually a shallow opening, so the twenty minutes or so it spent underwater it took on a few ounces of water.

Once it dries out, I'll seal it up again, put the detail parts on, paintit and have more fun. I definitely see a serious sub build in my future, with real systems in a 1/72 VII or IX.

Or maybe I should just go over to the sub forum and rant about how much they suck and I spent $15 on batteries for a wet plastic model and all you guys can go...

Soooooo, what are you going to do with the sub

Is there any way you can get to use an old HENG LONG 27 mHz Radio, it being a lower frequency the signal would penetrate deeper?
shaun.

Circling? Sweet.

Shaun, this is all Spektrum DSM hard wired into the chip. I have a few Futaba 75mhz systems that I'll use when I try this for real, but for now the 2.4 is fine. I wasn't planning on really going deeper than periscope depth, which 2.4 reaches. It's just the lack of driver skills to keep it going straight once it skimmed below the surface instead of continuing on an arc down.

We built an old Lindberg destroyer as RC with sound, etc and put the sub together as a target.

To all
I don’t want to violate protocol by hi-jacking this thread. After all it was started by Darkearth 74. I originally posted as an afterthought because I could understand the frustration in the comment made, and thought it was my last post. I was not intending to agree with the specifics just the frustration and the fact that I was done.

I was surprised to get any response. As a matter of fact, I would have not come back to the forum again but I left the auto response on by accident and my e-mail kept telling me I had a response. I figured it was for Darkearth 74 not me but then I got 5 or 6 alerts and was curious. I thought if some were a response to me they would basically tell me to “go pound sand” which is fair because my thought would be “back at you”. No big deal.

However, that was far from what I got. I was offered assistance and thoughtful comments that I could not agree with more. Thank you all for responding.

Maybe I will take some good advice given here and go to my other hobbies for a while. If I want to take another run at it, I will start a thread and go into detail on what I am trying to accomplish with my interest in RC tanks.

Thanks to all
JMS

JMS, take a break go play with some other toys, watch Fury, Kelly's Heros and Tank and get the juices flowing and come on back next year.

I can relate to the need for taking a break from even an enjoyable hobby. I cannot work on anything from sun up to sun down every day; probably why it takes me years to finish anything if at all. I probably have more tank/ tank related projects than I'll live long enough to finish although I like to think the upcoming retirement might offer opportunities to catch up. But still, even in retirement I don't plan on staying in my shop until I look like a Morlock....

I fear painting and weathering are always going to be tasks not joys because I'm good at neither and with my glow fuel powered models I have the additional problem of locating paint that is fuel proof on top of it all( mercifully I recently glommed onto a new to me product line that is promising).

As for the original poster all I can say is look within to understand what you came to the hobby for. The hobby remains what it was when you started, you changed not it. I understand budgets, my own approach is to take care of all my financial obligations first and hobbies come after; I have a lot but I've been in this now more than 40 years; if I let the frustrations get me I would have quit long ago. Talk about frustrating; you should have tried this when I started, when Bandai ruled the roost...

Everyone should take a break now and again. Put your toys away, take a breath, go on a hike, kiss a pretty woman, see another country, listen to classical music, grab some suds.

Above all pay attention, if it's no longer fun stop doing whatever it is you're doing and figure out what is.
Exit if that's the right course of action gracefully and graciously - hobbies are generally kind places so treat them so...

jerry

JMS Hi, This hobby seems to attract two different kinds of people, those who like the Idea of driving and generally using a Tank,
And the other type of person is the "BUILDER",
The former usually does not last the course whereas the "BUILDER" is in for the long haul.
So which are you?
shaun.

From the perspective of those of us who have not quit, rage quitting is kind of funny. It seems needless, if you are not having fun in our sandbox, move on and find one you have fun in. No hard feelings here, we just offer one, out of the many hobby opportunities this world has. No need to get mad at us, we are just trying to help. If you want to move on, please do so with grace. You were funny though.

All hobbies cost money, indeed it’s like my dad said many years ago. “If it has wheels, a propeller, or wears a skirt, it will cost you money, it will frustrate you, and it will only give you true pleasure a few minutes out of every month.” Radio control tanks have wheels…. some even wear skirts.

In my life only skiing breaks this rule. Skis don’t have wheels, a propeller, or wear skirts, but try outfitting the family with ski gear and ski passes and tanks look pretty cheap.

No truer words were ever spoken....

I may have spent a considerable fortune on my hobby over the years but one thing it has never done is say those famous words: "...not now Honey...."

Jerry

I agree with all who said we sometimes need a brake from tanks, along with everything else. But, I don't know the thread starter or what he has posted about in the past. What I do know is this forum would be a lot better if build threads got the attention this one is getting.
Tanque, I don't know if this helps, but there are some very informative blogs out there these days about painting and weathering any AFV. If you want any information let me know and I'll be happy to point you in the right direction. I myself just bought an amazing book by Adam Wilder about painting and weathering models. he covers every possible aspect in there and it is a great addition to my growing collection on the subject. Along with this, there are also DVD's available which are very helpful. I got into this hobby not even knowing how to use an airbrush, and everything I read led me to more questions. How do you properly thin paints? How do you use pigments? What the hell is a filter and a wash? That's NOT REAL MUD??? How the hell did he do that??? I know of the frustration, but I read and watched videos and watched the forum back when people actually posted builds here. I learned from all of these things and try to help pass on what I continue to learn about it. Ok...I'm done rambling now.

Good point Joe. Lately this forum has taken a "look what I bought" tone , and less about look what I built. There is room for both, but I too am amazed how a build thread will get little activity or comment.

Got to agree guys..Ive been in the hobby a long time and sometimes it gets to the point you just need to take a step back and chill for a while...and yes I agree Dan sometimes it seems to be he who can buy the most expensive add-ons is regarded as the better modeller...

I think there is more going on on the build threads than can be seen. I know several people have watched my build threads with the intent to use my ideas, which is why i put the effort into the thread, i tend to do unconventinal modeling, which creats headaches. Sometimes i fear it seems Im tooting my own horn, but i try not to come off that way and stick to presenting the work I do as trial and error and instructural.

Let me start by saying that you are one of the extremely talented modelers here. But, just having the ability to buy parts to add to these tanks shows the hobby is expanding. Not everyone has the time/ability to make these works of art, and most would prefer to just have a running tank that requires little to no modification.

As a newish tanker, I find these build threads to be the most helpful. And, I try to keep my threads that way. Sometimes, explaining HOW you did something, is inferior to WHY you did it that way.

Dont get me wrong..the way the hobby has progressed with the availability of not just tanks but parts is fantastic..Im sure theres still a few guys that can remember when if you wanted a HL all you had to choose from was the Tiger Pershing or Pantiger....

I think the Bulldog was in there somewhere too. Yes this hobby has come a long way.

Now thats funny

I used to buy upgrades without a second thought, until one day I needed a "Cable Support Bracket" I looked on the usual sites NOTHING, and that was when I decided to make my own,
Now I almost always make all or part of my needs without reverting to dealers,
You have to try it to know the satisfaction that comes from being a real BUILDER!!
A for instance being my Early Tunisian Tiger 1,
I have yet to find any dealer who sells all the parts needed for an authentic early Tiger, so I made the Proper exhaust shrouds and the Proper Rear Fenders and so much more,
I look at that Tank knowing It is unique
shaun.

There is nothing wrong with making parts, but remember that in order for the hobby to grow, vendors need to stay active in business. They are our suppliers, so without them the hobby will eventually be gone. As with anything else. My point was when I got into this hobby about 9 years ago or so, there were build threads all the time. Everyday we could look forward to seeing what Dan, or Streetsquid, or Fyn, or Sevoblast, and a number of many other great builders on this forum were working on. They always shared the work in progress photos and how-to's on here which is how I learned most of what I now know. I remember building my King Tiger and Tiger 1 and wanting to add all the photo etch parts to them. If not for guys like Sev, I'd never have attempted it. But I did and the outcome was great. Watching Squid paint a tank was something I always looked forward to. Fyn building a Sherman and Rex building...well, anything is always a pleasure to watch. Dan always has a way of making use of things in these tanks which gives great ideas to everyone. I honestly feel it has become more of a place to show what guys have purchased or just a place for new guys to ask questions about what tank to buy, which is fine. We always were a tight community and willing to help new guys in the hobby. I just miss the interaction when the threads were filled with building a tank. I have slowed down with posting builds because of the little interest. I find it more fun to share on forums where guys still enjoy these threads.

I hear ya Joe. And the earlier comments too.

I haven't been around for a while due to that myself. RC tankers are an odd bunch compared to the static modeling world and the larger RC world. I do a lot of static modeling too and honestly, if I post progress on a build online, I'll get tons of comments and questions and it makes the effort of posting worth it.

A few months back a new guy posted photos of his Tammy Tiger which was fantastic. He was doing everything right, build a beautiful tank. He wasn't asking any questions and obviously had it under control. He got maybe one other comment besides mine. Hundreds of views, no comments. He hasn't posted more photos since, why would he? He could post the same build elsewhere and get the attention it deserved.

Build threads take effort. I finally got around to converting the Eduard Schwimm. It's using 6 servos, 2 esc and is fully water ready, just need to work out the animation on the driver and MG gunner (yes, they're skeletons).

I didn't stop to photograph during the build, just when I was doing stuff for the static world. I did grab a shot of it kicking up a wake in testing:

Here's the Revell U-Boat if anyone is interested, before the water testing:

I have a feeling the OP of this thread also never gets laid either, not with that attitude in general.

Don't see the point of his post. I have changed many hobbies over the years, I get real interested in something, usually spend a lot of money, grow bore, sell off everything, and start on something new.

I have only been into R/C tanks since September, so obviously a newbie, and I still love it. Even when I don't have time to play with my Taigen Metal Early Tiger, I just enjoy looking at it. Every one I have shown it to, is totally amazed at how well it looks and runs, and most had never seen a R/C tank before.

I wouldn't think of coming here and trashing the hobby to the rest of the members, kind of a dumb move, IMO.

I would consider selling my first born at this point...lol Those evil teasers and sons of female dogs at Hooben had both and alas, it was vaporware...