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David Merriman's 57" Seaview
part 9 |
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Well, here we are. Part-9, the concluding installment of the SEAVIEW article. Finally! Time to wrap up and prepare to launch
into another multi-installment article … that upcoming piece dealing with a build-up of the Rick Teskey FLYING SUBMARINE (FS-1) kit.
I've taught you how to take the fine DeBoer Hulls fifty-seven
inch long SEAVIEW kit and improve it - turning it not only into a stunning display piece, but also a reasonably well running practical model r/c submarine. Now that we're near the end of this saga it's
time to tie up the loose ends. We'll look at the practical design shortcomings unique to the SEAVIEW; the pre-operating, operating, and post- operating tasks demanded by such a model; and a quick peep at
the principles of operation of a practical submarine.
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I take care to perform the initial sea-trials at a lake site I know and am comfortable with. That means water I've walked
through to neck height. A site that I've surveyed for weeds and sunken items that would present an entrapment hazard. You might be surprised at what's laying on the bottom, just out of sight beneath the
surface: I've found shopping carts, tires, ten-speed bicycles, entire rolls of carpeting, etc., Items that could damage and/or entrap a submerged model submarine.
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I search for launching and recovery sites that are sandy, no significant rocks protruding that might scare the bottom of the
model submarine. R/c submarines are heavy – a submerged submarine contains not only the structure and equipment needed to make it work, but also the water that fills the unused portions of the open hull.
That means the model has a great deal of inertia – it won't come gently to a stop when it hits something. No. When it hits something, it keeps plowing into the obstacle, suffering extensive hull scaring.
Site selection is critical. Not just any body of fresh water will do.
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PRE-OPERATING, OPERATING, AND POST OPERATING TASKS
During those initial outings to the lake, as I rung out
the SEAVIEW during sea-trials, I took pains to develop a three-part maintenance and adjustment methodology that would insure that the SEAVIEW would receive all the preservation, maintenance, and
replenishment services needed to keep the vehicle in top operating condition. I devised three specific documents: the pre-mission, mission, and post-mission maintenance checklists. Each was a
chronological listing of the procedures, list of tools, consumables, and safety cautions needing to be performed and observed. One checklist prior to taking the model to the lake, one checklist to be
performed at the lake, and another checklist dealing with those preservation and safeing steps performed once the model had been returned to the shop after a days play. I think it instructive here to
summarize each checklist:
Pre-mission The WTC and battery are checked first, before integration with the hull. The battery is taken off charge and its Voltage measured (being a lead/acid type battery, the gel-cell units I use are kept on constant 'trickle charge'). The WTC cylinder is opened up by popping off the after bulkhead that mounts all the mechanicals that drive and operate the vehicle. The bulkheads sealing o-ring is checked clean, and then lubricated with silicon grease. The push rod and drive shaft cup-seals are lubricated with light machine oil, as are the two gear reduction drives. All mechanical and electrical connections are checked tight.
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The SEAVIEW and the two major components that make it operational, the WTC and gel-cell battery. The rest of the models interior
is free flooding. A 'wet-hull' type r/c submarine model like this is relatively light of weight out of the water as opposed to a comparable dry-hull type r/c submarine. Out of water weight is low because
of the free-flooding interior.
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Only after the submarine is placed in the water and water is permitted to fill the interior, does it take on the same weight as
a dry-hull type counterpart. Wet-hull type r/c submarines are easier for we older folk to schlep around between shop, van, and launching site. That's old-age talking, people.
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The on-board gas bottle within the WTC's ballast tank is charged with liquid 'Propel' (air-brush propellant). It is the release
of Propel gas that empties the ballast tank of water when the 'blow' command is sent from the transmitter (or the on-board safety circuit if it detects a 'loss of signal').
The motor bulkhead is
then re-inserted into the after end of the clear Lexan watertight cylinder. After waiting five-minutes the pressure-relief valve, mounted on the face of the motor bulkhead, is opened. As I do that I
listen for an audible rush of escaping air (slightly compressed as the bulkhead was pressed into place against the cylinder). That sound indicates that the cylinder is indeed, 'watertight'. The
transmitter is turned on, the WTC is connected to the gel-cell battery, and all systems are checked for correct operation (rudder, stern plane, sailplane, ballast system, and throttle).
The battery and WTC are set aside.
Mission Thankfully, the at-the-lake maintenance chores were found to be no more involved than for any other r/c submarine – just the occasional battery change and re-charging of the ballast systems on-board gas bottle. During these periodic servicing chores, I invert the model and inspect the WTC for any water that may have crept into the cylinder.
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The client for this turnkey job (I was commissioned to build this SEAVIEW, it's not part of my personal fleet, Damit!) built and
provided a display stand for his SEAVIEW. When not at the lake terrorizing the local duck population this submarine model will be found on display within the customer's house. Note the devices and
support equipment on the bench under the model.
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The SEAVIEW is taken off its display stand, mounted onto its work-stand, opened up, and the two pump-jet rotors way back in the
stern are given a drop of light machine oil at their bearing points. The control linkage clevises also receive a drop of oil while working back there. Control surfaces are checked by hand for unbinding
operation.
Upon satisfactory testing of the WTC, battery, and inspection of the SEAVIEW interior, the three units are united. The battery and WTC are installed within the SEAVIEW hull, each
sitting upon a foundation and secured with rubber bands. The two drive shafts and three control surface push rods are made up to the WTC. Powered up once again, at the transmitter I check for correct
motion and unobstructed rotation of sailplanes, stern planes, rudders, and pump-jet rotors, on the lookout for any binding of the various linkages and drive shafts. The running lights (bow, sail, and
Cadillac fins) are operated to check for burned bulbs.
With all pre-mission checks successfully completed, the WTC is disconnected from the battery, the transmitter turned off, The superstructure
of the SEAVIEW attached to the hull, the field box outfitted, and everything is staged into the family van for the trip to the lake.
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Here is the SEAVIEW model, the upper superstructure with the attached sail removed for servicing. This shot was taken while I
and other model boater's put on a show at the Mariner's Museum, Newport News, Virginia. Normal at-site maintenance and checkout chores (mission tasks) are accomplished after removing the superstructure
piece, accessing the interior to work on the WTC or replace the gel-cell type propulsion/control battery.
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If need be, further access is afford (usually only in the workshop) by removing the stern section of the model, accessing the
stern control surface linkages and pump-jet units.
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Post-mission Post-mission maintenance with the SEAVIEW, like other r/c submarines, is the most time consuming and important in-shop task. It is during this session that preventive maintenance and structure preservation chores occupy the careful builder/operator: The WTC and battery are removed, the interior of the SEAVIEW hosed out with fresh water, dried with low pressure air, and the lights briefly hooked up to assure no bulbs burned out. Oil is dropped onto all control surface bell cranks and bearing points, and the pump-jet rotor bearings get another squirt of lubricant. The empty SEAVIEW hull is then assembled and put back on its display base and put back on exhibit.
The battery is made up to the WTC and a complete systems check conducted – any problems are addressed. Any water leaks that developed during operation are identified and fixed. The battery is
disconnected and (along with replacement batteries) put on charge. The ballast tank on-board bottle is vented off, and the WTC is put into safe storage.
No, r/c submarines are not plug-and-play
type items; dusted off and played with on a whim; these are not playthings for the inattentive. A day's fun at the lake is accompanied by a systematic, careful, time-consuming checkout period, before,
during, and after use.
Part 9 continues
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