1/32 Parallel 7ft RC model build
 

This kit was made back in the 80s and a good friend of mine Matt Thor sent it to me recently. It's partly built but has a long way to go. She will be fully detailed and a diving boat when finished. Now this is a good sized model. Finally. Without a doubt this is my favorite of all my boats. Can't wait to get started this weekend.

I'm trying to figure out now which boat to make her. She's a VIIC.

I'll update from time to time as I go along.

Steve

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C/P1030755.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C/P1030759.jpg

So many of the parts bags have never been opened in over 20 years.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C/P1030760.jpg

Opened the deck gun. All white metal castings like so many of the parts for this boat including the flak gun, hatches and net cutters.

I'm definitely following this thread! That is one cool looking model. Seven feet is huge for a model. It's too bad they don't make such a cool kit anymore. If I had that model I would probably model it after U-556 because that boat's history is sad and ironic.

Thank you. I'll look into that boat. An even better verson of the VIIC is avaible from my friend Bob at OTW designs in the UK. So yes you can still get a model of this size.

http://www.otwdesigns.com/Type7/type7.htm

Steve

Ditto:salute:. I'd love to build one, but I don't have the r/c building expierence/ the equipment.

I still want to build a simple kit.:hmmm:

It's too bad someone doesn't make one. A simple type 7 of some sort. But the numbers aren't there. Last I checked there's maybe 3000 people world wide that run subs or have an interest to do so. Many of those are the modern boats which have little interest for me. And most of the folks here too I would imagine.

Just picked up two motors for her and a 128 amp forward reverse ESC. Bit by bit.

Steve

I'd love to have an RC sub or even ship, but even if I had one I'd have no place to run it. :cry:

I completely agree. Part of my "dream collection" includes a 1/72 Type VII and Gato sub. It'll probably never happen though because it would cost quite a bit and I'm just not an artist like so many others on this forum. The talent on this forum is just amazing. :yep:

One thing that always amazes me about RC subs is that the radio frequency works underwater. I guess it's no different than modern subs getting alert messages underwater. That still amazes me. One thing I have always wondered is, what happens if you dive your sub too deep and out of frequency range? Does it have a failsafe to surface or does it go straight to the bottom?

I can answer this one

It all depends on what you were doing when it goes out of range, if it's on its way up, empty tanks, bloop, there it is, grab the boat and take it in closer. full tanks on the way down, thats one youre gonna have to grab the SCUBA gear for.

I'm sure i got that right...right?

Nope if you lose signal there is a slight delay and the fail safe blows ballast.

Steve

well, R/C tech has certainly improved since I last remember

Miles and miles it has.

That doesn't mean you can't lose them still. But I keep mine in the shallows where I can see it. Once you can't see them anymore it's scary.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C/P1030761.jpg

When I started the work that had been started over 25 years ago by it's original owner looked like this. I worked the 3 day weekend to correct all the warps and mis-alignments.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C/P1030768.jpg

Much better. Now I have to fix and drill out all the limber holes next. The ones he made are so off I made a tool to correct them and make sure all the rest are the same.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...hole_maker.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...ole_maker2.jpg

Tool goes into some Evercoat metal glaze putty and is removed.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...ole_maker3.jpg

Here you can see the one I corrected as a test. This will work well and take awhile. But that's a U-boat for you. Lots of detail which is why they are so much nicer than modern day boats. IMHO that is.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C/P1030779.jpg

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C/P1030776.jpg

Starting to look like a hull again.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C/P1030781.jpg

The other big pain was the warp along the hull where it meets the deck. It didn't! It was all over the map as it must have laid on it's side for years. But a heat gun and some formers and gloves got it back. All resins have a memory and heat alone will usually return it to it's original shape.

More this weekend.

Steve

I'm really following this, looks to be really interesting

Wow, thats a big submarine model.:up: Cant wait for the end product.:yep:

You and me both!

But thanks gentlemen. I'll get more done on Sunday. That day is mine for building. Next week I can do some work every night before rack time and I'll be at flank bell. Well, sort of. ;)

Steve

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l1...C/DSC00104.jpg

P.S. a friend of mine has and old sail from the boat that was finished but needs to be restored. It's on the way. It will save me a bit of time!

From an RC standpoint, how do you handle the diving trim?

That is such a cool model.

When you are finished, please film its operation so we can at least live through your efforts. :salute: