R/C Disney Nautilus

[Nemo]

Finished!

The soft, white resin that Lee uses drives me crazy, and made this a very challenging build. The fitment is not remotely what I was hoping for, but for an R/C model, which will typically be viewed from 10+ feet away, it is just fine! Of course, having to work with a very badly started static build didn't help matters either...

As the model is quite heavy, there is not a lot of freeboard in full surfaced trim, but definitely enough to make it look good. I am particularly impressed with the gimbaled prop assembly. Pitch control is very good. Rudder response is actually far better than I'd anticipated through the use of a clear plastic insert. For anyone with a Nautilus model, I highly recommend this modification, which should take mere minutes to perform and results in an enormous improvement in steering response. I would estimate that it brought this particular model from a 12' turning diameter to a 5' turning diameter!

Enjoy the video and photos!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1vUEmY1vSE

http://s1.postimage.org/dIGNA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/)

http://s1.postimage.org/dI_KJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/)

http://s1.postimage.org/dJeIA.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/)

http://s1.postimage.org/dJyFJ.jpg (http://www.postimage.org/)

[Bill Harris]

Beautiful! I considered the 31" Nautilus, but have decided to go for the biggie, the 66" 'glas fuse that Bob Martin sells. I've only wanted to build this boat since the 1950's., 90% of my life! That hull is quality, with a quality price, so I'm a-savin'.

I have a long-term scale scale aircraft project that I've been working on for 10 years, a 1/4 scale Frisch PZL Wilga. I need to see about passing that on-- I still fly scale, but have gotten more into smaller scale electrics and away from BIG gasoline models.

Did you use Merriman's home-brewed gimballed prop?

--Bill

[Sub culture]

Waterline looks okay to me, as per the original.

[patmat2350]

Looks great!
I just watched the 20K Leagues DVD yesterday (all remastered, zillions of stills in the bonus disk, etc., all very cool), and wondered just how much of the original source material had been documented and rolled into the various Nautilus models... Started to look into it, and Yowsers! I was able to uncover evidence of a huge fan/cult-base, with every detail of the sub examined, scrutinized from various angles, and argued ad infinitum. Had no idea.

Another boat on my long wish list...

[BGThomas]

Geeks are by no means restricted to any generation, even ours, Pat! :p