Moebius Skipjack

Ok boys, I can now reveal what's going on here:

With grateful thanks to Andy Lawrence, I now have a 1/72nd scale Moebius Skipjack kit. Andy hunted high and low for one, found one and after a bit of haggling, I bought it.

And again, with grateful thanks to Ron P, he has designed and is building a very special twin piston tank module for the boat. One tank forward, one tank aft, both individually controlled by two electronic controllers. The module will also have the last of Ron's SALCONs installed to control the rear planes, the front planes will be seperately controlled by a mini servo in it's own little watertight chamber.

The Skipjack is an injection moulded plastic kit, 40" x 5", and looks to be a superb kit, and quite easy to convert to r/c.

For those of you who don't know what a SALCON is...Submarine Automatic Level Controller. Pictures below show what's what.








Image above shows what a SALCON looks like.


This is the story so far...more to follow, boys. Stay tuned...

Hi Richard,
Congratulations on the new acquisition !
That is a very nice model and lots of models submariners will be sailing them, soon.
That is an interesting looking WTC module. Can you post more images of it?
The YouTube link was in error when I tried to look at it.
Also wanted to mention that HiTec now has a water-proof servo. I have seen these used on the www.rcboot.de forum with success.
This build should liven up the forum and stimulate more to build this model.
Here is an interesting video :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goS-oszbjcg&sns=em

Good luck,
Giovanni

Latest updates on the Skipjack...according to the tracking number sent to me by the chap I bought it from, the kit is somewhere across the Atlantic at this minute. I'm watching every aircraft that flies over my home...

The custom designed and built module is well under construction now, I've posted a couple of pictures of progress so far.



This picture shows the exact same module fitted into Ron's Alpha, it gives a good general impression of how it's built.



This picture shows the stern section of the equipment tray under construction.

My poor flexible friend has just been seriously flexed at Sussex Model Centre, a Fusion FS-02 electronic fail safe, Mtroniks Viper 15 esc, and three Etronix ES028 digital standard size servos are on the way. Overkill...well, maybe, but seeing as how this will probably be the last boat I'll build, I wanted to install items that would last.

Both piston tanks are wired in unision, and controlled by the tried and tested 'two microswitches on a servo' method, it worked perfectly well in my Patrick Henry, so I've decided to stick with it for this boat. (I can hear Nigel and John Robinson crying from here...sorry guys, but I'm a firm believer in the old adage K.I.S.S. (keep it simple, stupid). )

have one of Ron's salcon's in the back of the workshop in the scrap bin

A large parcel has just this minute arrived at Huggett Hall...no extra charges at all, no damage anywhere. I'm like a kid at Christmas...

you lucky bugger so i take it there will be lots of sleepless nights , because i bet when you start this you wont be able to put her down

Richard,
Your Skipjack build will be very interesting to follow.
I'm very excited about seeing photos of the build.
I'm planning to build a 1/48th scale all metal model. I will be starting the project next spring.
I am collecting the copper sheets now.

Best of luck to you Richard, take your time and post many pictures so we can enjoy along with you!
you lucky, lucky man.
(ps if you have one too many salcons, I would love to get one to try out)

Just an overview of what's in the box before I make a start...



The hull sections.



Small fittings and the instruction sheet



The bag containing clear items and the etched gratings.



And finally the electronic parts which arrived this morning from Sussex Model Centre...3 servos, Mtroniks esc and the tiny Etronix fail safe unit. This will be hooked up to the ballast tank control switches, so in the event of a problem, the servo will activate the controller and blow ballast.

Just been looking at the Skipjack...I'm surprised at how big the thing is. 42" x 4" plus whatever the propellor adds when it's fitted. Pictures show the basic hull laid alongside my Neptune for comparision.

Further comparision: my Engel Lafayette measured 51" x 4" at 1/100th scale. The Skipjack is 1/72nd scale.

[quote="salmon"]Best of luck to you Richard, take your time and post many pictures so we can enjoy along with you!
you lucky, lucky man.
Subscribe to what @salmon said!.

Please take Your time and make as many pictures as you can and make an activity report!!!.

MARIUS.

get started next week who you kidding mate bet you've done most of it allready and your sat there with your feet up and a scotch in your hand lol

Having given the matter some serious thought, and going from past experience with the Dragonfish, this is how I've decided to split the hull on the Skipjack.

is that all you've done rich god you are taking this build easy come on pull your finger out

Rich,
Don't be afraid to cut it up ! LOL !

Hope you get well, soon.
Myself, at 62, has those kind of days, too.
Here in San Francisco we use iPads and medical cannabis to cope with life.
I'm on my iPad, now.
Kind regards,
Giovanni

This is what one of my hands looks like...looks like a great big cane toad on the end of my arm sometimes.

It begins.

The first ten flood holes opened up and brass rims fitted.