Evening star., 1935-11-10
This Easily Made Submarine; Driuen
By Rubber Band Motor; Really Dives
Only Tools Required Are
a Jackknife and
Scissors.

NERHAPS, like all boys, you have
- longed for something unusual
in water toy, something
= which will add to your enjoy
ment because you can construct it
yourself. A simple toy to make is this
diving submarine driven by a rubber
band motor. The necessary material is
easily obtained, and the only tools you
will require are a jackknife and q
dull pair of scissors.
For the hull of the submarine you
will need piece of wood one-half
inch thick, about eight inches long,
and two inches wide. With your knife.
whittle this 10 the shape shown in
the illustration. Figure 2 is top
view to show the shape of the hull.
For the keel. which will help guide
the submarine along straight path
in the water, you will need two small
pieces Of wood one-fourth inch thick
and two and one-fourth inches long,
one on each side. Nail these to the
bottom Of the hull, driving the nails
straight from the top and leaving
space between them along the center
of the hull lengthwise. At the front
end of the hull. and from the bottom
side, drive small nail into position
so that you can hook the rubber band
around it.
MAKE the submarine propeller from
piece of tin, cutting it to the
shape Of a double-ended paddle as
shown in Figure 3. For the propeller
hub. use a small block of wood, and
fasten the propeller in position on the
block with two carpet tacks. Now
bend the blades Of the propeller so
they will churn the water. To do
this, hold the propeller vertical, with
the hub pointing toward the left
hand. Now twist the upper paddle
toward you, and the lower one in the
opposite direction.
To support the propeller at the rear
Of the hull, nail in position a block
of wood one-half inch wide, one-half
inch thick. and about one and one
fourth inches long. The propeller
shaft will be supported in this
bracket For the shaft you will need
a small threaded eyebolt of the type
usually employed for a screen door
hook Thread this eyebolt through the
propeller support bracket at the angle
indicated. A hole serves as a bearing
for the propeller. This hole can be
formed with a gimlct or small drill,
and it should be large enough so the
eyebolt will turn freely. Now pass the
eyebolt through the hole, holding the
propeller hub against the support
bracket. You will note the support
bracket must be whitfield at a slight
angle.
THE coming tower is made from
wood or cork and nailed to the
hull. A large nail serves as the
periscope. The power for driving the
submarine is obtained from a heavy
rubber band which may be cut from
an old inner tube. Fasten the band
in the eyebolt and stretch it to the
nail at the front of the hull
To operate the submarine. twist the
band tightly. holding the propeller by
the hub so that it cannot turn, and
then set the submarine in the water.
The boat will float for second or
two. and then dive until the power
stored in the twisted rubber band has
been spent. The ability to dive is
caused by the slope of the propeller,
which lifts the stern. 1t may be
necessary to weight the model until it
just floats. which can be done by
putting washers over the periscope.