Gwen's Arkmodel 1/48 scale RC Type VIIC build log

[Gwenydd]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

You work fast, it's looking really good. What's the status, model 75%, R/C ..% ?

Great work!

I'm not really moving all that fast. I would say the model build is maybe 50 percent complete right now. The decks are just fitted on the top of the hull for now and I still need to add a set of magnets to hold them in place. I have to finish the torpedo door opening mechanism, glue the forward hull section together and then I need to fill cracks and seams, final sanding and cleanup, and then paint work. I'm probably forgetting a few things along the way... I am still trying to locate a 75 mhz 6 channel receiver but the WTC and electronics build is otherwise 90% finished.

I didn't mention this before but RC subs require low frequency radios to function under water. Modern 2.4 ghz signals won't penetrate the water. So I have to use what would now be considered "antique" radio gear for the u-boat. The 75 mhz frequency band is the FCC authorized range for "surface" vehicles which also includes boats and submarines. Sadly, nobody makes 75 mhz RC radios any more... so I pretty much have to scour ebay for them.

[Gwenydd]

Here's a tip for modelers: if you need to add rigging/wires/cables that need to stay stretched tight try using stretchy bracelet maker's cord. It's made of silicone rubber or something similar, is pretty strong, and nice and stretchy. It's also pretty cheap.

[Gwenydd]

Today I worked on what has to be the trickiest and most difficult part of the build. First I had to trim out 4 bulkheads inside the hull (2 at the forward end of the center section and 2 at the forward end of the aft section) to make room to install the WTC into the hull in the proper position. That was the easy part.

Here you can see where I ground out the two bulkheads on the aft section:


The difficult part was grinding down the inside of the hull right in front of the exit point for the two drive shafts. I had to do this to make clearance for the universal joints on the drive shafts so that I could shorten the shafts enough to make the turn to connect to the gearbox on the WTC.

Here is where I had to grind out clearance for the U-Joints:


And here you can see the drive shafts installed in their proper positions:


I replaced the delrin bushings for the drive shafts with brass tubes because the delrin was sticky and didn't allow the shafts to turn smoothly.



And here you can see the finished rudder control mechanism.

[Onkel Neal]

Wow, tiny U-joints.