Plastic submarine kits

[RichParticipant @rich]

Having had a bit of a rethink, I’m now drawn to converting a plastic kit submarine to full r/c operation instead of a non-scale submersible vessel, so I’m after information please as to which is the favourite kit to purchase? I’ve looked at a few on ebay but nothing really attracts me as yet.

Has anyone converted a plastic sub kit to r/c? Which kit was used and what scale? And most importantly, what success was achieved?

Any information more than gladly received…

Thanks,

Rich

Just found a 1/72nd scale Revell Gato class sub on ebay…would that be suitable for r/c conversion? Looks plenty big enough….

[Davie TaitParticipant @davietait54816]

Hello Rich, you can buy a full conversion kit for the Revell 1/72nd Gato class from http://www.caswellplating.com/models/ , they sell the Subdriver which is a full water tight cylinder complete with motors , ballast control , etc all you have to do to it is add your own receiver as far as I know. Their full package of kit , subdriver , fittings kit ( fore plane mechanism , cast propellers , aft planes and rudder , etc ) and DVD instructions work out at $634+shipping so i’d guess you would be looking at less than £400 with a minimum of a 4 channel 40Mhz TX unit on top to get into the water with a fully working model.

I’ve seen the Merriman "Cabal" reports on the development of this kit into a fully working static diving RC model and provided you follow his instructions this will work and would make a good first sub model for an experienced model builder.

Have a look at the Subpirates website ( http://www.subpirates.com ) or the SubCommittee site ( http://www.subcommittee.com ) , to view all the very detailed reports on converting subs on the subpirates you have to join and subscribe but the advice you will get will be second to non. 

 Davie

[RichParticipant @rich]

Excellent news and thanks for the information Davie, most kind of you. I’ll certainly go check out the websites you’ve mentioned. 

The girlfriend is a bit wary of me building another big boat in a small flat, so the Gato seems admirably suited. Apart from the Engel Patrick Henry, my last sub was over nine feet in length….

Thanks again,

Rich 

[Davie TaitParticipant @davietait54816]

You can convert the smaller 1/72nd VIIc/41 or VIIc Atlantic U-Boats using the D&E kit ( you can buy the fittings kit and water tight container through Caswell or you can buy the fittings kit from Caswell and buy an experminenters WTC kit from Big Dave http://www.frontiernet.net/~bwelch/ ).

Both Caswell and Big Dave can supply a WTC unit for the Trumpeter Kilo and Seawolf models ( Caswell has a fittings kit to make the Seawolf kit accurate and a similar fittings kit for the Kilo should be out soon if not already ) which are "pocket" sized static diving RC conversions.

Davie

[RichParticipant @rich]

The Type V11c was going to be first choice Davie, being that much smaller, but then I thought of trying to cram all that equipment into such a small space and decided to go for the Gato.

Thanks again for the information, it’s much appreciated.

Rich 

[RichParticipant @rich]

r/c conversions

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