WTC for Skipjack and Type 9 1/72

[Ahoythere]

Hello all,

Santa(Wifey, believe it or not) was nice to me this year and gave me 2 X 1/72 submarine models. A Skipjack and a Type 9.

I am asking does anybody know who makes the water tight containers here in Australia and can they send me the details, please. Buying overseas will cost a kings ransom at the exchange rate at the moment.

I would like to do these when I need a break from Connie.

Regards

Pawly

[BsHvyCgn9]

G'day mate,

I have the Skipjack (USS Shark) with a Subdriver WTC and fittings kit in it and I would recommend getting it (even with the xchge rate) the customer service is the best I have ever come across....as an example I lost the bottom rudder during pond testing (never to be seen again) and Dave Merriman sent me out a bag of bits (spare screws, assorted fittings..the kind of stuff that wears out or gets dropped!) with the new rudder at no charge!

Cheers Bruce

[BsHvyCgn9]

Also I bought my fittings, wtc, ADF2 leveller and the ballast kit separately to spread the cost... and I got the battery (7.2 nimh 6800mah) off ebay for $24 shipped and bought other stuff locally like hitorque micro servos ($130 for 3! xpensive but quality metal geared ones), main power switch from local electronics shop.

Bruce

PS don't forget you need a radio in the Mhz range to be able to dive a sub.....

[Ahoythere]

Thanks Bruce,

I have ordered the fittings kit for the Skipjack, I am going to build USS Scorpion. Let's hope I never lose her.

I picked up a 36MHz with two receivers recently, this should do the job.

Regards

Pawly

[Ahoythere]

Well I have my sub driver and fittings kit, took a while but they are here now. All is looking good, I am following the various posts on how to build the Skipjack mainly following Mr Skipjack's Cabal report. I have drilled the various holes, added in one under the sail by mistake, where the control rod magnet comes through the hull. I do not think this will make much difference, may make the sub dive a little quicker, not sure.
I have cleaned all of the parts and sanded ready for priming. Now to get the sub driver in and all hooked up.
She will not have working torpedos.
Pictures to follow.........

[Ahoythere]

It's been a while but I may have final finished a vessel. Well if I had seated the schraeder valve before I went to test it I would have a finished sub. Anyhow here is a couple of pics of my Skipjack. When I repair my mishap I will send her out on missions The lovely wife is in the background of one, apparently I have enough rooms in the house already and I shouldn't need to use her area.

[littoralcombat]

Perfect, something to chase around the lake on ASW patrol. Best make sure you can 'Flood Q' and go deep quickly!

[BsHvyCgn9]

Nice mines at about same state of finish!! I still need to have a go at fiddling with ballast to get surface trim correct.....one day when I feel motivated.

Bruce B2

PS ya haven't painted prop yet!!

[Ahoythere]

I have decided to get a brass prop made. The guy I got to do Connie's prop does the Skipjack's as well. Waiting for a few more props needed to get them over here. $21.55 for a package under 4 pounds. $40 for a Skipjack prop. I will run with the White metal for now.
Will do the decals this weekend and work on the ballasting through next week.

[Ahoythere]

Decide do needed a auto level for the Scorpion. My driving is crap so I ordered an Engel SPC2. Would have liked to stick with Merrimans, but the wait would be longer due to the weather they had over there. It was going to make the wait longer. Anyhow, there have been good and bad reports on all levellers. The SPC2 seems to be on par with Merrimans , this is from the reviews that are online.
Now to install it and see for myself.
Stay tuned for more.

[Ahoythere]

Hello,

I have installed an SPC 2 in my submarine and set it up according to the instructions. Upon reenergising and bench testing I have an issue with the motor control. As I apply throttle the motor jerks on then returns back to where I have the throttle position. This happens in forward and astern.

I have a Mtroniks 15A marine TIO esc, radio set is a JR Propo X-378 transmitter and a R770 reciever. The antenna line is run the the connection point on the bulkhead of the SD. I have shortened all the cables for neatness apart from the esc cable. I have a CC 10A BEC, this cable was shortened as well. I use a lipo 3 cell battery.

Before the installation of the SPC2 I did not have this issue. When the SD electrics are not in the tube it all runs well. It is once electrics are installed that this issue occurs. I have checked all the wiring for any nicks or shorts, I have not found any.

Any ideas anybody?

Regards

​​​​​​​Pawly.

[MichaelB]

Peter,

I have shortened all the cables > I assume you haven't played with the receiver aerial at all.

Regards,

Michael

[Ahoythere]

I have shortened the ariel cable. I ran it without any issues as the ariel is attached to the SS screw at the aft bulkhead. I am going to remove the auto leveller this arvo and see if this issue is still present.

[Ahoythere]

Removed the auto leveller out of the circuit and the problem still exists.

[cootafleet]

try a new receiver
Bruce [B1]

[Ahoythere]

I have just noticed that the motor is going in fwd then reverse, not jerking/stuttering.

[Ahoythere]

Well, if I wasn't frustrated before I am now. I have changed the receiver, same issue in the tube and out of the tube. Found a loose red wire on the CC BEC, reterminated a new end and all works as it should outside the tube. Nice work I think to myself. Change back to the original receiver all working well outside the tube. Cable tie up the wires, etc, test again, all is going well.
Put it back in the tube and I am back to square one. When I throttle fwd, jerks fwd at speed then slows down no hunts around, when I throttle aft it jumps from fwd to aft, stutters. At this stage I power down.

So far I have tried
-remove the auto leveller from the circuit, no change
-changing the receiver, no change
-changed which port the throttle was in , no change
-repaired a loose wire, worked out of the tube but not installed in the tube

[MichaelB]

Could the tube be blocking the signal? Is the radio a 2.4ghz?

[Spartacus01]

I have several MTroniks ESC's. One or two of the more recent ones (TIOs) seem to prefer reverse instead of forward when setting them up. With a bit of perseverance you can get them to work correctly, but this should not happen. Every now and then you need to recalibrate them as they forget their set-up.
The older ones don't seem to be as problematical.

I do not use the BEC and prefer to have a separate power source for the Rx. Unlike with model aircraft I prefer reliability to weight saving. This has many benefits in my opinion.

I suggest trying another ESC, and also without the BEC.

My HMS Triumph submarine has an old variable speed resistor board, as there were no ESCs when I originally built it. It works well and you can see it working, as well as manually move it to test the motor when the cover is off.

The receiver would have been tuned to the original antenna length (approx 1m). It is not recommended to shorten this or fold it as these will reduce range.

[Ahoythere]

The issue turned out to be electrical noise, that old gremlin. I have installed a ferrite ring close to the ESC and the issue is now resolved.

[Ahoythere]

Have finally completed ballasting ops and am ready for sea trials. I will finish this post here and start a new post in general or projects for any issues I may have.
Sea trials will be this Sunday coming at Jackadder lake, Innaloo. All are welcome to see if I have built her well or she goes the same way as the full scale Scorpion.