RE: nikko seawolf
All of the ones I am aware of are on 27 MHz, with several different bands available (I think 6). I also think that some later models had interchangeable crystals. These subs have a proprietary "all-in-one" electronics boards so it would not be easy to change out the RX. It is a fun RTR sub. But keep in mind that there are no more spare parts available, at least from Nikko.
Posted on: 7/1/2010 11:09 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9839680

RE: nikko seawolf
Remote, The original charger (which I still have) was a trickle-only type that put out a whopping 200 mA (and, interestingly, the label also specifies an output of 9 volts). It would charge a set of 1980s NiCd batteries overnight (8-12 hours), but it would take far longer to charge any modern capacity battery (2500 to 5000 mA). Plus there is no cutoff or other battery protection. But hey, it was state of the art back then.[:D] If I ever get NiMH C cells for my Nikko sub, I am considering making an attachment for my Tenergy charger with the proper plug so that I can charge up the batteries while still in the sub as before. I no longer have my manual. As noted, the seals are no longer available from Nikko. My only suggestion is to keep yours out of the heat as my first replacement one got warped. I am sure you can make a decent stand - try using PVC, it is cheap and waterproof. Good luck with your sub! Greg
Posted on: 6/25/2010 7:02 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9826901

RE: The Manta Ray Sub Its about Time!!
Dave, I am very interested in this sub, but I read an online review that gives me some concern. You can find it [link=http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/06/review-swim-ways-rc-cyber-ray/]here.[/link] The reviewer had two negative points: The short range (which you fixed by uncoiling the antenna) and the sub leaning or listing to the left side. Could the leaning have been caused by a water leak? Or maybe by one of the pods being out of adjustment? I also have another question. You mention above that the propellor speed is variable, but is the angle of the pods also variable or are they just three-position (up, center, down)? If it is not variable, how do you keep the sub at a constant depth? I realize that it is built more for stunts but can it cruise as well? I bet this sub would have more power and better range with high-capacity NiMH AA batteries, plus an even longer run time. Finally, I want to say that the videos from Devil's Den are much better than the promotional one. The promo hardly showed it diving at all and had way too many cuts. Thanks for your help - Greg
Posted on: 6/17/2010 12:04 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9809104

RE: Pirate Ships
How about converting a Playmobil pirate ship to RC? It has been done before. It would require some hull modification but at least the "modeling" part is done. You might be able to find a used Playmobil boat on Craigslist or eBay for less than full price, also 2 channel RC gear can sometimes be found on eBay for a discount. It would not be a boat for rough seas (but then neither was the Aquacraft KR).
Posted on: 11/2/2009 1:06 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Boats General Discussion"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9222621

RE: HPI Firebolt 15T Motor
No, actually an RTR RC boat that I am modifying! Thanks for the help!
Posted on: 10/4/2009 6:28 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Electric On-Road vehicles, race cars and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9146361

HPI Firebolt 15T Motor
Can this motor run on an 8.4v battery (NiMH)? I would assume so but I can't find any voltage specs on it, just that the trucks that come equipped with it use a 7.2v battery. Thanks, Greg
Posted on: 10/4/2009 6:06 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Electric On-Road vehicles, race cars and more"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9146311

RE: NQD Boats
Check out the Harbor Freight speedboat for $50 (less on sale). Unlike NQD boats, it actually has proportional speed control. Maybe not too exciting to look at but it has gotten decent reviews (for what it is) on this forum.
Posted on: 8/11/2009 12:39 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Boats General Discussion"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9007695

RE: My Nikko Sub Mod's.
I was running my Nikko sub in my mother's pool tonight and I went ahead and did the rear fin mod by cutting off the upswept fins with a coping saw. I then found out one of the reasons for these fins: They keep the prop underwater when running on the surface. I corrected for this by adding two extra small weights to the rear compartment of the sub (where the prop/driveshaft is located). This kept the prop just below the surface just about all the time. Surface speed was definitely increased. "Porpoising" while diving was reduced somewhat. My next plans are to replace the prop with something larger and possibly modify the fins on the sail to be angled down. The idea would be to give the sub a tendency to dive as soon as these fin are submerged. I would like to make them adjustable to find the best angle. A much more ambitious mod is to replace the radio system with a Traxxas TQ 3 channel. This would keep proportional speed and steering (yes I would need an ESC) and the third channel can be modified to work a single speed reversible switch/speed control. Range and response time should be improved.
Posted on: 7/16/2009 6:08 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8927941

RE: RC Shark
Now instead of something "jumping the shark" it can be the other way 'round![:D]
Posted on: 7/14/2009 12:05 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8932348

RE: My Nikko Sub Mod's.
Deathwish, How did you remove the prop, and have you found a replacement yet? And are you doing anything to boost range also (like using an 8-cell pack for the transmitter)? Regarding post 5, I always thought the upswept horizontal planes were to help the sub to surface when moving forward. But I do agree they are an automatic source of drag. Thanks - Greg
Posted on: 7/4/2009 11:40 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8907131

RE: Mysterious submarine-speedboat-thing in Radio Shack
This looks like an alternate version of the Fast Lane Sea Shadow that was sold by Toys R Us. Once you switch it on, it is always moving forward at a set speed and your control is limited to steering and diving/surfacing. The RS version looks like it may have less drag and it looks a littler more "sub-like" (or maybe just less like a jet fighter plane?). It may have potential for modification. Here are a [link=http://www.rcmania.com/fast-lane-sea-shadow/]review[/link] from RCMania and a [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=867400&highlight=sea+shadow]thread[/link] from RCGroups.
Posted on: 6/30/2009 4:50 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8894676

RE: havoc heli rocking
Try the "Rotor Stability Mod" listed on www.piccoztoolbox.no-ip.com under Hop-ups, PicooZ / Havoc, Rotor Mods. It basically puts a bend in the two connecting rods between the main and stabilizing rotors. It worked wonders for my Havoc Apache. Good luck - Greg
Posted on: 4/21/2009 11:28 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "Electric Indoor & Micro RC Flight"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=8703913

RE: Yacht
The Glen Marine sport fisherman is a design for a full size boat, not a model or kit (as far as I can tell). You would need to scratch build it yourself from photos or plans. When it comes to kits, it seems your options in the smaller size range are somewhat limited. Good luck - Greg
Posted on: 7/20/2008 5:04 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "Speed - Electric"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7752251

RE: Yacht
The [link=http://www.mackproductsrc.com/70811_sport_fish.htm]Lindberg Chris Craft Sport Fisherman[/link] is only 30" long, that's 19" shorter than the Donzi.
Posted on: 7/18/2008 12:40 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "Speed - Electric"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7745114

RE: toys-r-us sea shadow
jjp, have you had a chance to test the Sea Shadow yet? It looks pretty cool, how does it perform? Greg
Posted on: 4/24/2008 1:06 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7414019

RE: Great Orange Navel Race
Would having the boat follow the outside wall of the fountain violate the rule of "no string or line-based guidance systems"? You could mount horizontal wheels on the side of the boat facing the wall and have it follow the wall around the course. Umi's cam idea was the first one I thought of. However, this does not allow for course corrections based on water currents from the fountain or from other boats. Also, the timing of the turn based on the cam will be critical with this approach. I also wonder about the statment that separate starting gates will be assigned at random upon check-in. If they are in different locations then that could affect how far the boat has to go before it turns. A fixed shallow turn may work as well as any of these ideas.
Posted on: 2/5/2008 12:30 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Boats General Discussion"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=7027941

RE: NQD boats
Commissar, I believe Peter's comment was largely due to the fact that there is nothing modular about these boats. So, if you want to replace one part of the radio system you have to replace it all. A Hitec tx is proportional by design and the boat's rx is not. I do not think that they would be compatible even on the same frequency. I cannot say for sure, but I seriously doubt that these boats use FM since they are meant to be low-cost and only need 2 channels. This boat has also been sold previously as the "Flying Fish" and here is a [link=http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_4317920/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm]thread[/link] on it. The first few posts discuss the boat as stock, and the rest are about upgrading. I am sure there are other threads on it too. Hope this helps - Greg
Posted on: 1/30/2008 6:13 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "Speed - Electric"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6997938

RE: Walmart boat upgrade
My New Bright boat was practically free as well ($5 in raffle tickets). Would probably not have picked this one for myself but the hull has lots of room and some potential for speed plus I think it looks as good or better than other RTRs in the $100-$140 price range.
Posted on: 1/11/2008 12:11 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "Speed - Electric"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6890343

RE: nikko atlantis
I have never heard of a Nikko Atlantis except in another post on this forum. To my knowledge Nikko has only made two subs, the large older style that has had several names (the ones I know of are Exploration Submarine, Shark Hunter, Sea Star, and Sea Wolf), and the newer Sea Tiger mini-sub. Atlantis could be a past name for the Sea Wolf. Greg
Posted on: 1/10/2008 12:26 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6885217

RE: Walmart boat upgrade
I don't have this boat, but I have a larger New Bright wakeboard boat that I have converted to full RC. If the prop is cavitating at all (spins a lot but does not seem to bite the water) then you may need to move the center of gravity towards the back of the boat. You could also reduce weight and drag by removing the wakeboard tower. Other than those, the quickest mod I can think of for speed would be to add more power. If this boat uses AA or C cells then good NiMh rechargeables (like 2500 ma) will probably give a power boost without increasing voltage. If it uses a proprietary rechargeable then there is not much you can do without rewiring. But if it has a rechargeable pack with a standard Tamiya connector, then you have some options in upgrading the battery. Just be careful in increasing voltage cause it may burn out other components. If you can get good access to the interior, it makes upgrading much easier. On my boat, the entire deck lifts off so access is a breeze. To get proportional control, at minimum you will need to get a new radio, servo, and speed control, and Hitec bundles these together for about $75 which is a good deal as long as the ESC meets your needs (check Tower Hobbies, it's a Hitec Agressor AM radio). For performance upgrades you will need to budget for a new motor, and possibly a new battery and prop. Overall performance will need to be a balance between weight, hull size and design, and power, and you will need to make sure the motor, battery, and ESC are matched for voltage and amp ratings. You may also need to add motor and/or ESC cooling. The biggest limiting factor will be how much speed the Malibu hull can handle. There are many threads on this forum and other RC forums about these topics. The Supervee mentioned earlier is about $280. For the price you would spend to upgrade this boat, a more comparable RTR would be the EP Hammer, which is $125 w/o batteries, so figure another $50 for batteries and charger for the boat and TX - so you're up to $175. You should be able to upgrade your boat for around $150 (possibly less). If you go this route, good luck and have fun!
Posted on: 1/9/2008 1:19 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "Speed - Electric"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6879975

RE: heard of a GT or george turner? mini?
You can check the George Turner Models [link=http://www.georgeturnermodels.com/]website[/link], but he doesn't have a hull like either picture listed. Closest thing is the F400 prototype. His stuff is "limited-run" so these may be old models. -Greg
Posted on: 11/21/2007 11:52 AM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "Speed - Electric"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6654259

RE: Know nothing about boat I just purchased
I know this is an old thread, but it is possible to upgrade the New Bright 29" Mastercraft. I won one in a raffle last year for $5 and have spent about $120 in parts to upgrade it. New radio (Hitec Ranger), speed controller (Electronize 43HX, which is no longer made), and prop (Octura 1450 plastic prop that is same size as original but more efficient). I had to build a new stuffing tube and prop shaft to use the new prop. I also water-cooled the motor. And I removed the tower, I think it looks better w/o it. My last mod will probably to swap stock motor for a Traxxas Titan Marine. I am still using original batteries since we found extra ones them for like $5 at Wal-Mart (with 1 hour quick charger included!). So even if they last only a few minutes I can swap them out. One cheap and easy mod to do is to unscrew the radio box/batt holder and move it back. This will give you some more speed because it will help the prop work better. I used Velcro to hold it down. The antenna wire will only let you move it so far so I lengthened the antenna wire when I did this (before the more extensive upgrades). Here is a [link=http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=642672&highlight=sea+ray]thread[/link] from RC Groups about a "sister" boat. It includes some details on how to refit. The hull and superstructure are different but it's mechanically the same. Hope this helps - Greg
Posted on: 11/19/2007 6:02 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "Speed - Electric"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6646332

RE: My sub stopped
Take it back to Wally World! Even if it's past warranty you never know, they may agree to exchange it (or give you store credit if they are out of stock). In that case go buy an RC surfer on sale.... [:D]
Posted on: 10/11/2007 11:54 AM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6477178

RE: homemade sub
I don't know why someone is selling these plans. Pretty much all the info you need is available for free from [link=http://web.ticino.com/Submarine/]here[/link]. Although, the section on the blowtank is somewhat limited. This design is an interesting concept but of course as shown it's not a scale model of anything. I suppose you could add details (windows, hatches, etc) to make it look more "real". For detailed info on how to build a pump ballast system, one place to look is on Art Broder's MSN page. His approach uses the pump from a drug-store blood pressure cuff. Also check out all of the info on the Subcommittee web site. Good luck!
Posted on: 9/21/2007 12:35 AM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6395346

RE: Harbor Freight's #95641 R/C electric boat
It's an interesting design and seems like a step up from the standard NQD High Wind type boat, but when I downloaded the manual I noticed two things. Even though it has a speed control, turning is still done with the props (no rudder), so speed will likely drop in the turns. Also, it does not have reverse, which I believe the Reef Racer and Zig Zag do. The warnings in the manual are rather amusing. Many are reworded power tool warnings, like this one: "Carrying this R/C Electric Racing Boat with your finger on the Power Switch invites accidents." It is also missing the valid warning I have seen in several Aquacraft manuals - Never swim for a stalled boat! Since there are known drownings from folks attempting this very feat, that is quite an oversight.
Posted on: 9/13/2007 1:14 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Boats General Discussion"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6363000

RE: nikko seawolf
It should be a good airtight seal, kind of like when you close a Tupperware lid. For your first run, try cruising on the surface and checking your trim. If it stays trimmed at the same level, try diving to the antenna depth. After a while, take the sub out and open it up and check for water behind the seal. If it stays dry you can try a deeper dive, then check again for water inside. If it takes on water, then limit future dives to the antenna depth. I recommend doing all of this in a pool with a long-handled recovery net handy. I also recommend not storing the seal on the sub to keep it from getting stretched out. Good luck!
Posted on: 8/22/2007 1:39 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6272342

RE: nikko seawolf
[quote]I'm looking for a pdf. of the manual for this sub.[/quote] I thought I had seen this somewhere. Try this link - this is for the newer version without the built-in charger and some of it is in English: [link=http://www.geocities.jp/ejiri_takahiro/S_7002.html]Japanese Sea Wolf Instructions[/link]
Posted on: 8/16/2007 10:43 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6248234

RE: Nikko Ocean Explorer
Be careful... The first link looks like the instructions for the Megatech Ocean Explorer (or maybe the Nikko Sea Tiger), basically a sub with dual propellers mounted on pods that can be adjusted for the dive angle. If your sub is the same as the Nikko Sea Star or Sea Wolf, do NOT get the transmitter wet as it is not waterproof![sm=omg_smile.gif] Hop on over to the Nikko Sea Wolf thread for lots of info on this type of sub. If this does not give you what you need, you can post any questions you have on how the sub works. One of the frequent posters there such as Gulfstream1 or Akula97 may also be able to send you a copy of the instructions (I have one of this type of sub but no longer have the instructions). Or you may be able to order them directly from Nikko. Good luck - Greg
Posted on: 8/11/2007 3:27 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6224982

RE: Walmart Submarine = Cool ! Part II
The Nikko setup has a spring connected which I believe helps to keep it centered. Basically, two opposing springs. See page 1 of the Nikko Sea Wolf thread. Don't know if you could incorporate this into your design. Once you perfect it I think you should market it to Motorworks to incorporate into next version of the Wally sub![:D]
Posted on: 8/4/2007 12:09 AM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6194610

RE: Walmart Submarine = Cool ! Part II
Very innovative! This is the same steering method used by the Nikko "Sea Wolf" class, except the Nikko sub has proportional steering. But in either case it will allow the sub to be steered while under way, which I understand the old thruster method did not provide.
Posted on: 8/3/2007 5:00 PM by Author "Glvincent" in the forum "RC Submarines"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=6193048