![]() ![]() ![]() This model submerges on a perfectly even keel, and I am very happy with how it turned out.įinal testing and her maiden voyage should take place this week, at which time I will post more photos and video of her in action. Along with that modification, I also added a remote switch for the lights, added a safety catch for the front latch, and secured the salon window bezels more securely with additional magnets and metal. I have completed work on the emergency buoy system for this model, which consists of a timer module hooked up to a solenoid that pulls a pin after 45 minutes, releasing the foam-filled skiff which is tethered to the model via 20 feet of fishing line. The final trimming of the Nautilus took place last night in my pool. Preliminary wet testing went extremely well, and I look forward to putting the model in the nearby lake where I can really open her up and see what she can do. The Nautilus is reaching her maiden voyage within a week! I had a business trip that took me to Canada and New Zealand for a month, however I am now back and just finishing up final trimming of the boat. The model will be running off a 14.4V NiMh battery with 4.5Ah capacity housed in the forward WTC section. A custom build emergency buoy system consisting of the model's skiff (hollowed out and filled with foam), a solenoid and an electronic timer will provide emergency backup in case of catastrophic failure or loss. A remote filler hose makes refueling the ballast system a snap without needing to take the model from the water at all. A brass propel tank was custom built for this model, and should hold sufficient liquid gas for over ten full blow cycles of the ballast tank. It works great, and I'm very excited to see how it hold up in actual use. The manufacturer is Valterra, and most RV stores online carry the product line. The WTC was constructed from clear polycarbonate tubing and endcaps used in the sewage system for RV campers. The mesh floor of the wheelhouse is actually stainless steel mesh. I've selected a bunch of photos taken during the construction phase for viewing below. I would put this model at about 14 days from completion, depending on any unforseen circumstances. Where has the time gone! Things have progressed very well, and I apologize for the lack of updates here. Next step is to fiberglass the two hull halves together and install a reinforcement around the opening of the lower hull so that the lid is good and tight when installed. The two hull halves required no prep work for such a tight fit. Notice the precise fitment of the two hull pieces on some of the closeup shots. Remember, the law of subs is "weight low and flotation high"! The lower keel is hollow, which allows for this weight to be nice and low in the model to help give it a great, natural static stability. Lead ballast has been placed in the lower access hatch. I've also taken the big stem of splitting the lower hull for access to the WTC and linkages and I've CA'd the hull halves together. The build has commenced! The lower hull details have been started on this model. The kit arrived in superb packaging an nothing was missing or damaged. Note the amazing details that Custom Replicas put into this model. The buildup for this model will commence within a few weeks, but in the meantime, here are a few photos of the crate that the model arrived in as well as some of the pieces that come with it. You can order your very own kit by visiting. The kit from Custom Replicas is of superb quality and suits R/C conversion very well. The WTC is scratchbuilt and the model is slated for a full lighting system. This buildup is being undertaken for a Nautilus-lover here in Florida, and will be built to his specifications with my guidance. These kits are 66.5" in length and feature amazing details. ![]() This page is dedicated to the construction and buildup of a 1/32 scale Disney Nautilus kit from Custom Replicas. ![]()
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