DSCF5071

This is the first open-water test of a Thor 1/96 SEAWOLF r/c model submarine. I've built and sold two others previous to this one. I don't paint an r/c submarine until it's been trimmed out and all the bugs encountered in the water have been ironed out. What you're watching are this models initial 'sea trials', still in primer gray.

As with the other SEAWOLF's, this thing turns horribly! A twelve-or-so foot radius surfaced, a bit tighter submerged. Only fix for that is to build an un-scale big-ass lower rudder and to swap that out with the 'scale' lower rudder when going out to play.

I manufactured a new rotor for the pump-jet as the kit supplied rotor is worthless. The load presented to the motor by this higher pitch rotor was enough to drop the battery voltage below the fail-safe trip limit, and that automatically surfaced the boat -- necessitating bringing the boat back to reset the system. A pain. I'll fix that by doubling the battery capacity from three Ampere hours to six. Gotta love those Lithium-polymer batteries, a very, very dense energy source.

The speed of the boat underwater was frightening ... And that coming from a guy who drives SKIPJACK's for fun! The new rotor, in a propulsor that produces zero net torque, gave me that fastest rid I've ever experienced underwater. It shook me so bad that I immediately dialed the transmitter throttle end-points down to 30% each side. Even then, this boat was crazy fast underwater. Wow!

Depth control was easy. Stern planes were set at the transmitter and left alone, leaving it to the on-board ADC2 angle-keeper to maintain the bubble. I tended the bow planes from the transmitter. Worked great. I had no problem holding periscope depth, even in tight (cough) turns.

Post mission work revealed a few drops of water in the Sub-drivers after dry space. That was traced to a bad bow plane pushrod seal, which has been replaced.

Should have the model back for another round of trials later today.