Interested in how to make a DIY submarine model? In our article you will find instructions that describe each construction stage in great detail. In addition, there will be a list of necessary materials and tools that may be needed for the job. This information will be useful to anyone who decides to get into modeling or just wants to know more information about the design of submarines.
Buy a model in a store or make your own?
Did you decide to make a model of a radio-controlled submarine with your own hands? Such an occupation will take quite a lot of time, and will also require a huge supply of patience from the master. Perhaps it is easier to buy a ready-made toy in a special store? They also provide a guarantee for the product. For a person who does not like to do something on their own and is not used to counting money, such a decision will seem quite justified. However, not everyone has the opportunity to spend several thousand on a model,the cost of which is a couple of hundred, because for modeling submarines one of the most budgetary materials is usually used - wood.
In addition, do not forget that during the manufacturing process you will experience a sea of unforgettable impressions, especially if you are doing this process for the first time. Creating a work of art from a rough material is the lot of true masters who can cope with absolutely any task. Well, if you decide to make a submarine model with your own hands as a gift to another person, then you can be sure that the birthday person will remember this day for a long time and will keep your present with special care. It may even become a family heirloom and be passed down from generation to generation.
If your childhood was in the nineties of the last century, then you probably remember that there were quite a few toys in the post-Soviet space. For any child, a radio-controlled car seemed like a real treasure, since such a product could only be found on sale in large cities. But almost everywhere, DIY nabobs were sold, with the help of which it was possible to make models of aircraft, cars, motorcycles, ships, and so on. Just according to the instructions from one such set, we offer our readers to make a model of a submarine.
List of required materials
Making a model of a submarine with your own hands is a rather long and painstakinga process that will require a huge amount of patience and skills in handling classical instruments from the master. In addition, you will also need to stock up on some building materials that will make up the future model:
- a sheet of plywood 3 mm thick and 210x55 mm in size;
- rubber band at least 400 millimeters long (can be bought at a pharmacy);
- lead in the amount of 5 grams or a regular weight for a fishing rod;
- tin from a tin can or other metal object;
- waterproof paint (acrylic, oil or nitro enamel).
If you want to add some element to your model that is not taken into account by our instructions, you should include a few additional items in the list of materials in advance so as not to be distracted during the work. By the way, all the necessary components that cannot be found at home are best purchased at a construction base (paint, plywood, tin), since the prices for products there are much lower than in a regular hardware store.
What tools do you need for the job?
To make a model of a submarine or a ship with your own hands, you will have to use some tools, without which you will not be able to properly process the material. By the way, it is strongly not recommended to use alternative options for those tools that cannot be found on the farm, since the quality of the future model may suffer from this. best borrowmissing items from friends or buy them in the store. Here is a small list of basic tools you may need in the process:
- manual or electric jigsaw - for working with wood and plywood;
- any waterproof glue - needed for gluing wood;
- pliers - for unbending a can;
- brushes are indispensable for painting.
Of course, this list can be significantly expanded depending on the materials you decide to use to make the submarine. For example, if you decide to attach a small RC motor to the model, you will need to use a lot of connecting wires and insulation. Well, in the event that the master decides to make a 3D model of a submarine, then this will require even more different tools that will allow you to cut the base from a full-fledged piece of wood.
Creating blueprints for a submarine
Despite the fact that the Shark submarine model, the instructions for creating which you will find in the following sections, does not differ in complex details, it is worth leaving the drawings on a piece of paper in advance so that you always have an image of the future model in front of your eyes. Remember that even the slightest mistake in the calculations can lead to the fact that the parts, in the end, do not fit together, and time will be wasted. The same goes for those cases if you decide to make a 3D model of a German submarine or any other submarine. A competent drawing is already half of successful work.
By the way, it is recommended for a novice master to start with 2D models, since you do not need to have serious skills to make them. It will be enough to transfer the drawing to a sheet of plywood, and then carefully cut the workpiece with a jigsaw. If you have a printer, you can use the picture above. Just print out the drawing on a sheet of paper, then carefully cut out the base of the submarine with scissors and attach the resulting drawing to the plywood in order to circle it with a pencil. In this case, the main part of the work will be almost done.
Workpiece processing and fine detail work
Starting to make a model of a submarine with your own hands from wood. As soon as the workpiece is sawn using the technology described in the previous section, it is necessary to carefully process the saw cuts, since they can easily be injured in case of careless handling. This can be done with medium grit sandpaper. Smooth all edges especially well and remove burrs.
If you pay attention to the drawing, you can see several cuts in the submarine model. They are made so that the master can then insert steering blades into them, which are also cut out of a sheet of plywood and well processed with sandpaper. The steering wheel should be rubbed with special care so that a part with a rounded front is formed. This will make the submarine look even more realistic.
It is necessary to glue the steering wheel using the usualwater repellent adhesive. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging during this process! Remember that for the connection of two parts, squeezing strength is important, not duration. It will be enough to properly fix the parts in one place and press them well against each other. The glue will then do the rest of the work.
What to make a propeller shaft from?
Any submarine must have propellers that ensure its movement through the sea. Even if you make another model of a submarine - "Stars", for example - then this element must be present on the submarine without fail. You can make it from an ordinary pharmacy tourniquet, and attach it with a pin that has a ring-shaped needle at the end. A thread for the future rubber motor is passed through this very ring, and a propeller is attached to the opposite end. The easiest way to do this is with glue.
As for the hole for the shaft, you can make it with the help of hot iron on fire. For example, you can heat the same pin so that the hole is perfectly sized for the motor. However, do not rush, because any sailor knows that the sailing ability of the boat depends on the correct location of the propellers. Alternatively, you can use a conventional screwdriver or drill with a thin drill for fastening.
It may happen that after burning or drilling, the stern of the submarine becomes less durable than its bow. Toto prevent breakage, it is recommended to additionally wrap the structure with strong threads dipped in water-repellent glue. Don't worry that this will give the submarine an unnatural look as the model will be covered in multiple layers of paint.
Paint work
Did you decide to make your own "Pike" - a model of a radio-controlled submarine? Such a design will look pretty solid, but you are unlikely to be able to convey its aesthetic appearance if you do not paint the tree with the right paint. It is best to use acrylic paints for this purpose, since they dry fairly quickly and repel water well. Although, if we are talking about a 2D model, and you have several tubes of oil paints lying around, you can use them too. The advantage of quality compounds is that they are quite durable, so you do not have to repaint the submarine every year.
As for the color of the paint, his choice is strictly individual. If you decide to make a model that will simply show off on a shelf with books, then it will be enough to paint the boat in classic black so that it is as close to its natural appearance as possible. However, if you want to make a model that will float on water, then it is best to paint it in some bright color so that the submarine is in front of you at all times. It will also be very useful to impregnate the structure before painting with hot drying oil in order to give itdurability.
When using acrylic paints, it is necessary to treat the entire surface with them, leaving no areas without paint. After polymerization, such a composition becomes resistant to water, so you can feel free to lower your model into the water. You can not be afraid that the plywood will get wet and swell, especially if you worked well on the corner parts with sandpaper before painting.
Manufacture of engine propellers
To make your own radio-controlled model submarine, you will need to use high-quality material for propellers, since the running characteristics of your submarine will depend on this. As a material, ordinary tin is suitable, attached to the main part with three small washers, in front of which you can additionally put a small glass bead, which will act as a bearing. In this way, you can not only reduce friction, but also greatly facilitate the rotation of the shaft.
If you are making a submarine model for some important competitions or simply do not want to bother with making a propeller, then you can purchase a ready-made engine in a specialized store. However, it is best to do this in advance, so that later there will be no problems with attaching the purchased element to the finished structure. Such engines differ among themselves not only in power, but also in appearance. But you should not pay attention to the number of propellers, because the driving characteristics depend mostly on their rotation speed.
Also on the driving performance of the submarineaffects the angle at which the engine propellers are bent. A model with a well-bent tin will sink into the water in a matter of seconds, and will also develop a maximum speed quite quickly. Therefore, pay special attention to the manufacture of screws. But you should not bend the blades too much (40° will be more than enough). In order to find the optimal propeller location, it is recommended to conduct several test runs and see in which case the boat sinks to depth faster. You can use a stopwatch for this.
Ballast installation
The last step in making a radio-controlled model of a submarine with your own hands is the installation of a ballast. If you plan to place the submarine as a decoration item for your home, then you can skip this step, since the weight is only needed to make the model sink faster under water. It is necessary to install the ballast on a special keel beam, which can be found on the drawing left by us earlier. As for lead, it is best to use it in the form of a plate measuring 12x22 mm, but the thickness should not exceed 1 mm, otherwise the mass of the submarine will be too large to keep it afloat.
The strip must be bent in the form of a bracket to form an even letter "P", after which it remains only to fix the ballast on the keel rail, which is located approximately under the submarine's cannon. By moving the weight, you can easily adjust the center of gravity of the submarine, forcing the stern or bow of the submarine to rise to the top. In order not to be mistaken with the location, it is recommended to conduct several test dives, securing the ballast with ordinary tape. Only after a well-chosen position can glue be used to attach the lead to the boat tightly.
Integrate the radio control sensor
If you want a wooden submarine model to be controlled by you from a long distance, then you will need to build a special radio transmitter into it, which can be removed from any old toy or purchased at a specialized store. The last option is best for those. who is not particularly versed in the electronics device or does not want to delve into the wires. It will be enough just to attach the sensor to the left and right motors, and then test the submarine's movement on the water.
You can adjust the trajectory of the submarine using the intensity of rotation of the right and left engines. As a rule, there are two levers on the radio control panel, each of which is responsible for its own engine. If you slow down the right engine and speed up the left, the submarine will turn right. Therefore, for convenience, you should swap the contacts on the control panel so as not to get confused in the process. If a joystick from an old typewriter was used, then first you have to figure it out a bit in order to adjust the intensity of pressing a certain button under the force of rotation of a certain engine.
Installation of decorative elements
Going to the decorative stage of making a submarine modelhandmade from wood. If you want your submarine to look as realistic as possible, then you will have to attach various small elements to it, which you can make yourself or purchase from a toy store. In the first case, it is best to use ordinary wood as a material, since it is relatively light in weight and can be processed well. However, be extremely careful while working, because the smaller the part, the more difficult it is to make. As for toys, they are usually made of plastic and are more durable than wood. However, only buy items that really fit your model in terms of appearance and size.
So what can be attached to a submarine to make it look nice? If you decide to make a model of a nuclear submarine, then you can purchase several stickers that will talk about the radioactive element on board the submarine. Also, several torpedoes can be attached to the submarine on the sides, which indicate the readiness of the submarine for battle. Well, if your model also has a deck for fighters, then you can buy some beautiful toy airplanes and put them on the very top. Of course, all of the above can be made with your own hands. For example, a radiation icon can be easily painted with acrylic paint, and torpedoes can be carved from wood.
It is worth noting that the decorative elements attached to the model adversely affect its runningcharacteristics, so their use is justified only if the submarine is planned to be placed on a stand in the future and used only as a decorative element for an apartment. However, if you really want to decorate your submarine, which will have to participate in various competitions, then do it wisely. First, do not hang up the ballast until all decorative elements are installed, otherwise it will lead to overload. Secondly, try to make all torpedoes, fighters and other decorative items removable, as you risk losing them during the dive, even if they are firmly fixed.
Video and conclusion
As you can see, making a model of a submarine with your own hands is not such a difficult task as it seems at first glance. You should be patient and carefully study all possible options for the execution of a particular element, after which it will not be difficult to make your dream come true. If you still have any questions about the progress of work or the information from our article seemed not enough to you, then we strongly recommend that you watch a short video in which the author shows in detail how to make the simplest radio-controlled submarine model from ordinary plastic bottles. For some masters, such an action will seem ridiculous, but this guy has a lot to learn. For example, you can use the same engine system, but already on a wooden submarine.
What do you think about what else you canto make a model of a radio-controlled submarine with your own hands? Perhaps you have some thoughts about this that you would like to express? Share them with readers. You may even be able to help one of the aspiring inventors build their own submarine based on your idea. Isn't it nice to know that you helped some stranger who is several thousand kilometers away from you?
We hope our article will help you make a model of a submarine with your own hands. For bonding, it is best to use a good water-repellent adhesive, as conventional compounds can lose their strength over time. However, if you do not plan to submerge the submarine under water, then everything is much simpler. Let your imagination run wild and don't be afraid to experiment. Of course, it is unlikely that it will be possible to make an ideal sample for the first time, but you should not give up. Over time, you will become a true master of your craft and will make submarines that have no equal.
