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Revell Gato build Empty

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Today at 6:34 pm by geofrancis

» UHF radio control for submarines (openLRS, LoRa, FSK etc. on 458Mhz and 433Mhz )
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Fri Sep 24, 2021 12:45 pm by geofrancis

» WW2 mini sub build
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Mon Sep 20, 2021 4:17 pm by Tom(ADMIN)

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» Update on the New Israeli INS DRAGON submarine
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Wed Sep 08, 2021 7:05 am by gp100man

» New Game changer. AIP submarine SLBM
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» Bluewater Parkway, Model Sub Weekend, Chantry Model Boat Club ,Greenhithe
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Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°1

Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Wed Dec 29, 2010 2:42 pm

I decided that my next build would be a bit bigger than the Dragonfish, so I've made a start on my Revell Gato. At 53" oal, it's the biggest boat I can accomodate and transport within my present circumstances.

I'm following Paul Cook's build of his Gato with regards to the hull cut, but I decided to remove a lot of material from the inner deck instead of just drilling holes to remove material and top weight.

Pic shows the hull cut before cleaning up.

Revell Gato build Dsci0071

Revell Gato build Dsci0071

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°2

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Wed Dec 29, 2010 4:38 pm

And the freshly cut WTC laid in the hull...460mm x 76mm (internal diameter) x 83mm (outside diameter) acrylic tube.
I'll be asking Mark from MMB to make me up the end caps, central dividers and motor mounts for it.

Next job is make up the saddles to support the cylinder in position.

Revell Gato build Dsci0072

Revell Gato build Dsci0072

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°3

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Thu Dec 30, 2010 10:33 am

The beginnings of the ballast tank, I'm using a screenwash pump run by an esc to fill/empty the tank, which will be vented via a silicone hose up through the conning tower.

Revell Gato build Dsci0073

Revell Gato build Dsci0073

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°4

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Sat Jan 01, 2011 9:33 am

I decided to install the two drive motors in their own little wtc at the stern of the boat, so last evening I made up a small cylinder, the motors press fit into it nicely as you'll see in the photo below.

Revell Gato build Dsci0074

Revell Gato build Dsci0074

I had a pair of end caps, so I test fitted them, and all was well...or so I thought.

An hour or so later I was eating my dinner when there was an almighty bang...the cylinder had burst at one end. I've never seen or heard of this happening before...any of you had this happen? It frightened the life out of me!

Revell Gato build Dsci0075

Revell Gato build Dsci0075

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°5

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Sat Jan 01, 2011 3:23 pm

Just wanted to see what she's going to look like, so I laid some of the decking and the sail in place...(ignore the name on the stand)

Revell Gato build Dsci0076

Revell Gato build Dsci0076

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°6

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:46 am

Disaster has struck the Gato build up...just checked the bow planes in preparation to making up the linkages, and they are seized solid. I'm guessing that somehow, despite my best efforts, the superglue has run where it's not supposed to be, glueing the whole lot solid. Nothing moves at all, when I tried gentle persuasion the support arm snapped off completely...so now I'm faced with two choices:

(1)Try and cut the bow planes off and somehow drill new holes for the arms, and then make up new arms somehow...drill out the now glued in arms from the bow section somehow(a lot of somehow's in here)without doing too much damage somehow, fill and sand the existing planes and try and re-use them and hope that I can make a half decent job of it, or..

(2)Smack it into small pieces with a big hammer and consign it to the wheelie bin downstairs.

As Her Majesty once said...'we are not amused.'

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°7

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:55 am

Another choice I guess, would be to cut the bow planes off and tidy up the edges with wet n' dry, and glue them into the folded up position...that would save a lot of work, possible damage and loss of temper, and would be an easier solution.

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°8

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:46 am

Well, I decided to tidy up the damage and made two supports from alloy bar, and with a drop of superglue(VERY carefully applied)secured them in position. They don't look too bad, not a scale fitting, but with a coat of paint later on and some heavy weathering they'll look ok.

Revell Gato build Dsci0077

Revell Gato build Dsci0077

Revell Gato build Dsci0078

david f: AMS Treasurer; Posts : 2180
Join date : 2010-11-10
Age : 71
Location : Cumbria

Post n°9

Re: Revell Gato build

david f Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:41 am

Coming along nicely, Richard.

That crack in the WTC is very concerning though. Is that Acrylic tube the same material as Perspex?

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°10

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:48 am

It made me jump when it cracked...I wonder if it was because the air pressure built up in the cylinder due to it being in a warm room? I've never had anything happen like that before though..the end caps weren't a particularly tight fit, I'd greased the O rings and just pushed the caps into the cylinder, no force needed or used.

I'm sure that acrylic is a different material to perspex...acrylic cracks, whereas perspex shatters.

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°11

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:16 am

Having fitted the deck parts now, I thought it best to check the fit after making 'the long cut'...I'm happy with the way the top section fits onto the bottom hull, just a light sanding needed here and there. I've seen much more expensive boats with worse fitting sections than this...

Revell Gato build Gap110

Revell Gato build Gap110

Revell Gato build Gap210

Revell Gato build Img01610

That's not a gap you can see at the stern, it's a thin sliver of black styrene sheet just to level things up.

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°12

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Wed Jan 05, 2011 10:20 am

Paul H has made me up a pair of clear acrylic end caps for the main wtc, these should be here tomorrow. Thanks Paul!

Revell Gato build 16839610

Revell Gato build 16839610

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°13

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:06 am

Here's the modified rear planes...I cut away the plastic rod between the planes, substituted a short length of brass rod cut to the same size with another short length of brass rod as the operating arm, and then epoxied the whole ensemble together.

The rudder I modified as per Paul C's article.

Revell Gato build Dsci0023

Revell Gato build Dsci0023

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°14

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Sat Jan 08, 2011 1:05 pm

Rear planes and rudder now installed with assistance from Paul C's magazine article, so it's onto the WTC fit out.

Made up a motor mount to take the two 385 motors, this will be siliconed into the cylinder, the motors will have two short stub shafts exiting through the end cap, then via a pair of couplings to the main prop shafts.

The end caps haven't arrived as yet, and neither has the styrene sheet I bought for the equipment trays, so I've ground to halt with the WTC...so, I'll be making a start on the conning tower build.

Revell Gato build Dsci0024

Revell Gato build Dsci0024

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°15

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Sat Jan 08, 2011 4:32 pm

Thanks to the generosity of Al Nuci from SubPirates, a brand new set of front planes for the Gato are en route from the States, so it's back to having operating front planes again. The superglue will kept well under control this time...

Thanks Al..!

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°16

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Sun Jan 09, 2011 4:16 pm

Whilst waiting for the end caps and the styrene sheet for the tech rack tray to arrive, I thought I'd make a start on the conning tower. I decided to build a late war version with the cut down conning tower, to my mind it looks a lot better.

Revell Gato build Dsci0025

Revell Gato build Dsci0025

Revell Gato build Dsci0026

Revell Gato build Dsci0027

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°17

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Tue Jan 11, 2011 2:50 pm

Now the end caps have arrived, I made a start on building up the wtc...for a tray(still no styrene sheet arrived)I used a length of plexiglass I found in my odds and ends drawer.

So far, I've installed the two drive motors, bow plane servo, rudder and rear plane servo and the ballast pump. Next up is to install the esc for the motors, another esc for the pump, and the receiver. I also have to get a fail safe for the ballast pump and the auto leveller. I plan on using a bladder for the ballast tank, it will fit under the equipment tray, nicely out of the way.

Also got the drain holes drilled in the bottom of the hull.

Revell Gato build Dsci0028

Revell Gato build Dsci0028

Revell Gato build Dsci0029

Revell Gato build Dsci0030

mr t: Guest; Posts : 8
Join date : 2011-01-17
Age : 60
Location : sittingbourne kent

Post n°18

new owner

mr t Mon Jan 17, 2011 12:54 pm

so thats what its meant to look like! having now taken ownerSHIP of this model after making targets for you all, its time for a change.

Pete

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°19

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:07 pm

Gentlemen...this is Pete, he's taken on the task of building the Gato after years of target building.

Good luck mate, let's hope she's soon patrol ready.

profesorul: Guest; Posts : 386
Join date : 2011-07-03
Age : 56
Location : Bucuresti, ROMANIA

Post n°20

Re: Revell Gato build

profesorul Thu Aug 18, 2011 12:54 pm

HI,
RICHARD you never told as if you finish the Ravel Gato.You didn't update as about it!.So how is going?.In my dreams I wish to build some day such things like you did!.
REGADS
MARIUS.

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°21

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Thu Aug 18, 2011 12:57 pm

Hi Marius,

I sold the Gato as part built to Pete(Mr T), never heard any more about it. I don't know how he's getting on the building of it.

profesorul: Guest; Posts : 386
Join date : 2011-07-03
Age : 56
Location : Bucuresti, ROMANIA

Post n°22

Re: Revell Gato build

profesorul Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:41 pm

It was a long time ago?.
If I may ask: what was their price to sold?.
MARIUS

Tom(ADMIN): AMS Forum Owner; Posts : 3004
Join date : 2010-11-05
Age : 61
Location : Nevada, USA

Post n°23

Re: Revell Gato build

Tom(ADMIN) Thu Aug 18, 2011 2:45 pm

I think it was around £65 GBP, Marius...

mr t: Guest; Posts : 8
Join date : 2011-01-17
Age : 60
Location : sittingbourne kent

Post n°24

revel gato build

mr t Thu Aug 18, 2011 7:29 pm

hi, ive still not got around to finishing this off!!! so may targets and not much time, mind you the sail has been finished!

profesorul: Guest; Posts : 386
Join date : 2011-07-03
Age : 56
Location : Bucuresti, ROMANIA

Post n°25

Re: Revell Gato build

profesorul Thu Aug 18, 2011 9:25 pm

Mybe is much better for the sub to sel them to me and I wheel fish him!!!.(ha ha ha)
Is guest an ideea.What are You seing?.
MARIUS

Current date/time is Mon Sep 27, 2021 11:53 pm