MMB LA class

Just finished off my LA class, thought you'd all like to see it

Got a couple of bit left, just the linkages and fixing the shaft in, then it'll be ready to go...

Hasn't got one mate, just dynamic. Was gonna be the Sheerline system but was going to end up so tight I didn't bother.

It's just got a piece of 65mm waste pipe, I turned up the end caps from laminating resin, and it's powered by a 555 with a 60mm 7 blader.

Looks very nice.

I'm sure it will be fine as a dynamic diver.

Ballasted to have decks nearly awash. Plenty of grunt from the motor and that battery.

Hello Andy,

It looks very nice indeed. I've been thinking about this kit myself and making it a dynamic diver with a homemade WTC like your very neat looking design. Even buying this very reasonably priced hull would be pushing it financially for me, so a scratch built WTC would be essential. Any help you might be able to give about building this sub would be much appreciated.

All the best
Simon

very nice when i finish my sub sonic will save upfor one of these =)

can i have a link to your buld i cant find it

also does anyone know of a way to build a budget type 7 u boat

Richard(Admin) wrote:Hi Simon,

Andy isn't a member here any longer, he sort of...left us.

I take it that you are like me and several others..financially strapped for cash. I also guess you want to build a sub for as little as possible financial outlay? If so...read on.

What sort of subs interest you? WW1...WW2..modern day? DSRV's are my particular favourite, you can buy a styrene hull for a Deep Quest for around £25 or so, a watertight box for around £15, and with a bit of fiddling and a lot of bad language it all goes together well and makes a nice boat. Check out my build log on Deep Quest...

Hello Richard,

Many thanks for your helpful reply! By the way, I just joined this excellent looking forum this evening. In answer to your question; I am most interested in the classic US submarine designs such as the LA, Sturgeon, Blueback, etc. Basically any sub with the dive planes on the sail (to me, the classic submarine look). Like you say, I am really strapped for the old folding, and feel like I've got interested in the wrong hobby as a result! I've wanted an rc sub for ages but have always found the expense rather off putting and have tried to find alternatives to the usual fibre glass kits - much as I'd love one. I'm not keen on the Trumpeter Seawolf or Kilo submarines which many have suggested to me elsewhere. What I want is something like the ones I've mentioned above. Size doesn't bother me; in fact, the smaller the better in many ways. Any help or advice would be fantastic! The MMB LA class is about the very upper limit of my stretched budget and even that is too much really.

All the best
Simon

It's certainly a thought to convert the Seawolf into something else; the thing that puts me off the model is the odd shaped bow cone which seems too elongated and not blunt and bulbous enough for the Seawolf. I'm not sure how you could correct that except by making a new bow from wood or something. I quite like the Seawolf as a prototype, just not Trumpeter's take on it.

I'm interested to hear about the floating problems with the MMB kit; what happened exactly? And did you sell it on?

Cheers
Simon

Hi Simon,

How about having a go at subs based on PVC sewer pipe? They have a long pedigree for the "cash strapped" in the AMS including me.

Modern Nukes are straight forward - cylindrical section with bow and stern cones. WW2 types are also possible see the uUPVC thread on here for a U Class.

David

Cheers David for the suggestion. Yes this is a possibility but I think as my first time model I'd like something less involved, just to get me into the way of things. Certainly in the future this would be a great idea.

All the best
Simon