Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] New potential sinker

[Michael Holt <mholt@richmond.edu>]

Bob Teufel wrote:
> 
> I first got interested in subs when I read the history of "Alvin," Woods
> Hole Oceanagraphic Institute's deep sub.
> I love to engineer stuff, even though I am not that qualified, and have
> designed everything from odor-free cat boxes to self-screening camp coffee
> pots.  I have been hooked on subs ever since I read that book (I can't
> remember the name but I found it in a public library).

"Water Baby," by Victoria Kaharl?  That's dated 1990 -- I bet you're
younger than most here.  (Which brings up a question: how old are
we?)

Gadgets are fun.  Do you collect patents or otherwise research
ideas?  There are some great toys described in the Patent Office
Gazette. 

> In answer to your question about the hull, the Diamond PSE Hull will not be
> faceted.  I want to use a teardrop shaped steel hull and apply Syntactic or
> PVC foam to a mold that mates up with the hull like they did with "Alvin"
> the deep sea submersible.  So, if I can pull it off, it will have a rounded
> hull and an outer shell that is rounded on its inside but  faceted on its
> outer surfaces.

The outer hull is to be faceted; that's what I was seeing.  Do you
know about the W.A.R. airplanes?  As it was described to me, one
buys a single airframe and then sculpts the contours (of a PW190,
P-40, F4U, etc.) out of a foam.  I don't know any more than that. 

> Also, maybe I should have said new potential diver instead of sinker.  I can
> see where sinking alone might cause some serious problems!

I figure that if the sub just goes down and doesn't come up the
biggest problem for my family will be doing something with a 
library that is focused on stuff no one else understands.




Mike