NIKKO Sea Wolf Submarine

[Ricomon]

I have a Nikko Sea Wolf sub that I've repainted to look like a real skipjack. I have a ball patroling my pool. I also have a Lindberg Gato that I converted to R/C. I tried to attach a picture; I hope it shows up.

Both of these subs are quite a lot of fun, but I want one that looks like a WWII sub, but maneuver like the Sea Wolf. I know that one of the big ones (like the Dumas Bluefish or the Robbe U-boat) would be perfect, but the cost is prohibitively high. I was thinking about building a semi-scale U-boat shell around the mechanicals from a Nikko Sea Wolf.

I'm wondering if the U-boat hull will be too unstable for the limited control available with the Nikko sub. Has anybody tried such a project?

I'm looking for a cheap, used Nikko submarine if anybody has one. (It was also sold as the Sea Explorer, the Sea Star, and the Shark Hunter.) The sub doesn't have to look good, but I would like it to work.

I looked for one on "the big auction site", but they all sell for more than I can afford. I want to use the water tight compartment, motors, and part of the hull for this project.

Thanks for helping with my U-boat project,
Rick

[JIMJAM]

I once bought 10 Nikko Seastars from an auction for $30 a piece. I planeed to MOD them and make them better. The signal reception is horrible so I was going to replace the electronics but once I started ripping one apart I realized I would never see a profit. I ended up painting them scale as you did and selling them. I own a little Sea Tiger but again the radio reception is crap. Ive owned over a dozen 40 inch and larger complex gas ballast subs most I fixed up and sold. This is my personal VIIC 83 inch U-Boat. Full ballast system,failsafe,lights,sound,snorkel that raises and lowers ect ect. Good Luck with your project.

[JIMJAM]

2

[JIMJAM]

The GOV drasically lowered Lake Murrey to work on the dam so my place of choice to run my sub is dry. Rock bottom cove with an average 5 ft vis and better.

[Ricomon]

Wow! That's a real beauty. I'm not looking for all the bells and whistles (well, not yet, anyway), but the Sea Wolf sort of sounds like a diesel when it's on the surface. I couldn't seem to post a picture of mine, but they pale in comparison to yours.

I don't know of any sub clubs in SC. Do you run with a pack? ...or are there any local regattas? I'd love to see yours in action.

I've actually had pretty good luck with the transmitting range of my Sea Wolf. I've tried it in three pools. My small, round above ground pool seems to have a dead spot in the very middle, but I've run it in two larger in-ground pools that had no dead spots. I've assumed that the dead spot has something to do with the metal structure of my pool, but I could be wrong.

I've never tried mine in any of the lakes around Charleston. I'm afraid of gators. A gator might not eat the sub, but he could still do a fair amount of damage.

Hopefully, I'll figure out how to attach a picture by the time my U-boat.

[Ricomon]

OK, I think I have the picture thing figured out. This should be my tiny Lindberg Gato.

[JIMJAM]

I ran some in the lake and at depth of 5 feet. I put a cork on the end of the antenna to make it stretch upwards and put the radio antenna in the water. Water in pools cuts the reception by 1/2 with all the chemicals. I liked the seawolf setup for a small,close in submarine operating in small pools. The vertical prop to pull it down is a good idea. I was going to rob the electronics out but they are a once piece unit and I was not able to add a better speed contoller or reciever. I figured I would be better off making one on my own.

[Ricomon]

I pulled the guts out of a couple of the new micro subs for the Gato, but they offer very limited control. You either dive when you're under way, or cou cruise the surface, but not both in one patrol. That's why I like the Sea Wolf. That vertical prop seems so much easier than ballast tanks in a small model. I doubt if I could build a static diving system small enough for a two or three foot U-boat.

[Tungi]

Do you know if there is any static sub that fits on the seawolf, like dress.
It will be very cool to have a cheap sub that looks like a real sub

[Ricomon]

Tungi,

Well, unfortunately, I don't know of a U-boat model which would go on the Nikko sub. I was planning to make one out of aluminum flashing from Lowes. That's how I made this U-boat.
I bought the twenty dollar R/C MotorWorks USS Dallas from WalMart, cut the original conning tower off, made a bow, stern, and conning tower from the thin aluminum, and attached it to the Dallas. I also had to add little more foam to offset the weight of the aluminum. A little paint, and I was ready to hit the North Atlantic. It looks like she's been on patrol a bit too long. The overdone rust actually looks OK in real life.
I took one of these pictures with decks awash. That sub has excellent depth control. Unfortunately she turns only when stopped.
The other shot was taken immediately after an emergency blow. With her listing to starboard, you can really see the bow profile.
This customization took a Saturday afternoon and cost about five bucks including some cheap paint. Obviously I'd take my time on the big one. If anybody else wants to make one of these, I could tell you some of my mistakes. (Have you ever seen a sub do an axial roll?) I made quite a few 'rescues' before she was ready for combat.

[junglelord]

Seaview polarlights fits nice on top of the dallas/chicago from walmart. wish i had a picture to show everyone :mad:
it is so cool to see the Seaview in action once again. :D
i left the bottom piece off except for about 2 inches at the front. ;)
a little cutting off of the rudder at the right angle and volia :rolleyes:
my own modification and idea (with the initial spark from your Uboat) :cool:

[byzcol]

I am really interested to see a Seaview hull on a walmart sub.....

Byron

[CaptainNemo12]

Ricomon, is the Lindberg Gato RC? If so, I've seen a couple of people who tried RCing this kit, the thin hull was a challenge.