Anyone Here Familiar With RC Subs from the 70's/80's?

[TouchConnors]

I have someone who wants to trade me an old school RC sub for one of my tanks. It's from the 70s or 80s and is fiberglass with balsa ribs/plates/reinforcing. Its also pretty big, about 55". Trade value he's putting on it is $650.

I read a long time ago that unless you know who built it, plan on it being a decorative item only because so much can go wrong in the build process. And if something needs to be fixed, you basically need to rebuild the boat. It does have the dive tanks installed and supposedly worked at some point. That said, its a really well done model and I'd probably be okay if it ends up just being a static piece, even at that price.

Any thoughts or suggestions on getting it or do you know of a good resource site?

Thanks!

[Jofaur86]

Good morning,
personally, for having practiced this discipline? I am worried about the presence of couples (I think?) in balsa, and fiberglass hull, if for static display? why not? but if you consider navigation? so the fear that a lot of worries depending on design? Is it a Static dive, or dynamic? What is the type of ballast, piston, infusion bag, filling by pump, or gas ballast? security, in the event of radio losses, and not 2.4 Ghz? does not go underwater. Since it is very old, I would say 27/41/72 Mhz. Afterwards to navigate, you need to know that if it currently works? any changes? even minimal, will systematically lead to a new adjustment of the balancing, to work. Conclusion without seeing it up close? I also forgot, how is the sealing of the technical compartment done? there is necessarily an opening and closing system, and if the battery is lead? (certainly out of order for a long time?) its replacement, as said above, will require rebalancing, like any battery. Hope to have answered your questions.
Link constructeur Allemand
German manufacturer link, quality material, guarantee, just need Nimh or Lipo batteries, 41 Mhz radio, rare these days? but can be found second hand

https://www.maximus-modellbau.de/English-

[Jofaur86]

Also in the US, site of a very good professional, and superb achievements
https://www.rc-submarine.com/shop

[TouchConnors]

Also in the US, site of a very good professional, and superb achievements
https://www.rc-submarine.com/shop

Thanks for reminding me how rudimentary my rudimentary knowledge on subs actually is. Its legit appreciated.

I had run across that site before, so it's nice to get a good reference for it.

I think I'll pass on the trade and just get something new. Thanks again!

[Pavel]

During the period of self-isolation, sitting at home, I assembled a Skipjack 1/72 from scrap materials, the body lay for a very long time, read how the masters make it and made my own version ....
For me, this was new, helicopters, airplanes, ships and tanks, road and off-road cars ...
And then I decided to make ...

[TouchConnors]

Very nice!

When I finally get a sub, I hope it'll make up for all this disappointing baking soda subs

[Pavel]

On the submarines website in Russia, there are also many interesting things, ready-made solutions for beginners, in principle this is correct.
Assembling yourself without skills is not easy, I am a modeler with a lot of experience and for me it was not difficult, having familiarized myself with the basics, to assemble the boat myself.
I participated in competitions where I was alone with a homemade ship, now the trend is, if you have a little money, then just buy an RTR kit and have no problems ....
If you do not like this direction - sell it ...
Yes, the most important thing is that this is a hobby for people well over 50, very far...