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1.
Do radio signals penetrate
water? 2. Do I need to run my antenna outside my model submarine? 4.
What kind
of batteries do they use? 5.
How long
doe 6.
What are
submarine hulls made of? 7. How do model submarines submerge? 8.
How
do you see it when it’s underwater? 9. Are
R/C submarines hard to build? 10. What kind of submarine should I build? 12.
Where can I find
out more about R/C submarines?
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| 1.
Do radio
signals penetrate water? YES. The radio signals from standard off-the-shelf R/C units will penetrate fresh water, but will not penetrate salt water. |
| 2.
Do I need
to run my antenna outside my model submarine? No. The receiver inside your model will receive radio signals from a standard R/C transmitter. Simply run the antenna along the inside of the hull. |
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All the way to the bottom! But seriously, the operational depth of the model depends on its internal construction. Most model submarines have an operational depth of between 2 and 8 feet. |
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4.
What kind
of batteries do they use? R/C submarines can use Ni-cad, Ni-mh or sealed lead-acid batteries. The kind of battery used is usually dependant on the size of the model. Small model submarines generally use Ni-cad or Ni-Mh batteries. Larger models tend to use sealed lead-acid batteries. |
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5.
How long
doe Battery life in model submarines can vary: 30 - 120 minutes for Ni-cad or Ni-mh batteries. 90 – 180 minutes for lead-acid batteries (Based on the same current draw.) |
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6.
What are
submarine hulls made of? Most model submarine hulls are made of fiberglass. However, more model kits are being made of ABS or Styrene plastic because of the reduced cost and ease of consturction. |
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7.
How do
model submarines submerge? Model submarines use 2 different methods to submerge. The first is called dynamic diving. This means that the model is always slightly buoyant and behaves much like a normal surface model. The model is driven underwater by applying full throttle and angling down on the dive planes. The advantage to this kind of model is that if you stop the motor it will raise quickly to the surface. On the other hand, the model must be operated a high speeds in order to keep it underwater. The second method is called static diving. Model submarines that use this method are equipped with ballast tanks. The use of a ballast tank allows the operator to change the amount of buoyancy in the model. Ballast systems in model submarines use either compressed gas or pumps. Compressed gas is the most common system used in model submarines. In the case of a compressed gas system, a small supply of gas is carried onboard the model and is used to expel the water from the ballast tank. In the case of a pump system, a pump is used to move water in or out of the ballast tank. Both systems have limitations. Pump systems need a source of air to draw into the tank when the water is pumped out. This means that the boat must be driven to the surface so air can be drawn into the ballast tank. If the model is submerged and cannot get to the surface then you’re going for a swim. In a compressed gas system, the boat does not need to be driven to the surface for air, because it carries it’s own supply. The draw back is that when you run out of this onboard air, the model might not be able to be driven to the surface. |
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1.
8.
How
do you see it when it’s underwater? R/C submarines are like R/C airplanes in many respects. One of them is, that you don’t drive your sub where you can’t see it. Responsible R/C pilots never fly their planes into the clouds… Therefore, if the water in your pond is cloudy, you keep the boat at periscope depth and you keep it close to you. If you’re lucky enough to run where the water is clear, then you can operate your model deeper. |
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2.
9. Are
R/C submarines hard to build? Not any more! Submarine kits now come with many pre-fabricated parts making their assembly easier than ever before. Even a beginner can build the entry level ALBACORE. And for the more adventurous, with a higher level of building ability, the 1:72 scale Los Angeles would be a good choice. If you’ve built a scale surface ship or fast electric boat, you can build a submarine. |
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3.
10.
What kind of
submarine should I build? The first rule of sub building is that you must like the model you’re building. Second, keep it simple! Too many first time submarine builders start with projects that are too complicated. Remember, you had to learn to walk, before you could run! (Although some parents out there might disagree with me on this point.) The same applies to building R/C submarines. Keep your first model simple, usually a “nuke” style submarine. You can always build that dream WWII U.S. Fleet Boat or German U-Boat later. |
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Like anything else in life, the more elaborate the toy, the higher the price tag. Remember, a Porsche will always cost more than a Chevy. An example of this would be: Dumas Boats, markets a very simple R/C submarine for around $200. On the other end of the scale, a 1:32nd scale WWII Fleet boat from 32nd Parallel will run about $3,000. A beginner, starting from scratch, can expect to invest $600 to $800 in order to get started in this hobby. This would include the model itself, the radio system, batteries, chargers, misc. building supplies, and all the electronics specific to an R/C submarine. While R/C submarines may seem expensive when compared to an R/C airplane or even a helicopter, you will never need to re-kit* your submarine. * Buy another one after you crash it. |
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5.
12.
Where can I find
out more about R/C submarines? The SubCommittee would be a good place to start. Visit: www.subcommittee.com on the web. The SubCommittee is a worldwide group of submarine enthusiasts. Many of the SubCommittee’s members are avid R/C submariners. The website is free and is open to the public. Yearly membership (including 4 quarterly magazines) to The SubCommittee is only $26 a year! This is a real bargain considering the tremendous amount of information contained in each of the quarterly issues of the SCR (SubCommittee Report). |
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These two devices perform 2 entirely different functions. The APC-4 is an automatic level control. Once properly installed in your model submarine, it will control the stern dive planes to keep the model level. It can also be configured to operate independently of the radio, meaning it does not need to be connected to your receiver to function. The ADC-1 is an automatic depth control. It uses a water pressure sensor to control the dive planes. You set the ADC-1 to a specific depth that you want your model to operate at. The ADC-1 then controls the dive planes (fore or aft) to control the model’s depth. The ADC is most useful in models over 60” long. |
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A drive reduction is used in a model submarine to reduce the load on the motor, thus increasing battery life (running time). It also increases the torque at the propeller, allowing for the possibility of either a larger propeller or a smaller one with a greater amount of pitch (angle) on the blades. |
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Not effectively. Most wireless micro video cameras operate in the 1 or 2 GHz radio rage. This frequency is too high to readily penetrate water. In other words the antenna must be above the water at all times to receive a signal from the camera. These systems are ideal for cars, boats or aircraft, because they were designed for these kinds of applications. While there has been some “experimentation” with adapting these systems to model submarines, the majority of these systems are limited to surface operation only . |
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You can not use a brushless motor in the majority of model submarines because their controllers are not set up to operate in reverse. Also, the RPM on these motors is too high for use in model submarines, even with the use of a drive reduction. In addition, brushless motors and the special speed controls they require are noticeably more expensive then their brushed counterparts. |
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Li-Po batteries, while providing very high power to weight ratios are extremely sensitive to over charging and discharging as well as being very delicate (structurally). Li-Po batteries require special charging and balancing stations to avoid the danger of explosion and fire. Another drawback is their need to have voltage limiters built into the speed controls attached to them. These speed controls limit the low voltage on each cell in the battery to around 3.2 volts per cell. Drawing Li-Po batteries down below this point will cause permanent damage to the battery pack. Normally, R/C submarines are low amperage draw models; therefore the need for a high output battery does not apply the same way it would in a model aircraft. The drawbacks to these batteries out weigh the advantages. |
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