Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Children's author needs expert advice

[djackson99@aol.com]

Hello Barbara

My wife Kay is a children's non-fiction writer that knows submarines fairly well.  I'd be happy to put you in touch with her or you can write her at nf4kids@aol.com .   http://www.submarineboat.com/school_visits.htm

A sub that could be moved by hand would have to be a wet sub so scuba would be needed, and that makes it much more complex.

I'll be chastised for saying it here, but a kid could build a sub like Simon Lake's Argonaut Jr. in a barn.
See http://www.simonlake.com/html/argonauts.html
The materials are wood planks, canvas, tar, pig iron, and air tanks from a drug store soda fountain.   He'd just need a mule team to pull it down to the water.

Perhaps all your fictional kid would need to do is visit the library and read a non-fiction book.  ;)

Best of Luck
Doug Jackson
www.submarineboat.com

Have A Nice Day.

-----Original Message-----
From: Barbara O'Connor <oconnor.barbara@gmail.com>
To: personal_submersibles@psubs.org
Sent: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:19 am
Subject: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Children's author needs expert advice

I write books for children aged 8 to 12.

I am currently beginning a book that centers around a 10 or 11 year old boy who finds a submarine kit (it was in a crate that fell off a train).

I need some advice from the experts:

Would it be believable that a young boy could build a small submarine from a kit?

Could the kit be very simple - something like the Silent Runner?

Would he have access to all the tools and parts needed?

Where would he have to build it - a barn? a garage?

Once built, could he maneuver it (on a wagon or cart?) to a nearby pond or lake?

Any ideas or suggestions welcome and appreciated.

Barbara O'Connor

www.barboconnor.com