OTW Designs – Radio controlled model submarines for the serious modeller

Video footage of the Naken model above courtesy of Martin Pryor.

The latest from OTW:

OTW is proud to announce our new kit, the Artful (our name for the Astute series British submarine) is available for order.

Our Models

German Submarines - WWII

The Volkswagen of submarines. If anyone has ever seen a photograph or movie showing a World War 2 U-boat then the Type 7 is probably what they have seen. Over 650 of these boats were built, a truly staggering number.

Weighing in at 258 metric tons submerged displacement and measuring 34.7 meters in length the type XXIII was a coastal submarine designed to operate in the Med and North Sea. It was armed with just two torpedoes – and no reloading was possible.

The type II U-boat was a series of small coastal U-boats that has its origin in a Clandestine Dutch engineering design company set up by the Germans after World War one.

Midgets

The Type XXVII Seehund, German for Seal, is considered the most successful of the miniature German submarines. Designed in 1944, it first saw active duty that December, and some 285 were commissioned into the Kriegsmarine.

The Hecht or Pike is the third of our German midgets produced in the latter stages of WW2. Only three of these boats where built so they did not progress much further than the prototype stage. They could carry a large mine in the detachable front section or a single torpedo. The craft was propelled only with electric motors.

The Molch (Salamander) was an electrically driven one man operated torpedo carrier. They were employed off Anzio and later off the coast of Holland. About 390 were built, but they were not very effective as they were too complicated to operate and their crews lacked proper training and support.

British Submarines

The world’s first Hunter Killer submarine, the ‘R Class’ built towards the close of WWI.

In all 63 ‘S’ class submarines were made and we decided some years ago after the introduction of our 1/32nd scale Type VII to build the contemporary ‘S’ class to complement our fleet of models.

Designed by Vickers at Barrow, the “Oberon” was arguably the finest class of conventional boats ever produced. Being almost silent at low speeds, they were the ideal vessels for patrolling, and attacking other submarines and surface targets. The class contained a total of 27 boats, which served under the flags of five nations.

OTW’s representation of the HMS Astute class of submarines. Called the Artful, for reasons we will go into…

Midget

The four X-51s were an unusual element in Britain’s post-WWII sub fleet. Emphasis was placed on countering the perceived growing Soviet threat. They incorporated a number of improvements on the XE-Craft of WWII. In July 1958 Stickleback was sold to Sweden and renamed Spiggen. It returned to the UK in 1977 where it is now on display at the Imperial War Museum at Duxford.

British Nuclear & Diesel Electric

The Valiant class was the first fully British Nuclcuar sumarine.

The Conqueror was part of the Vlaiant class that that sunk the Belgrano during the falklands war.

The Vanguard submarines were built by Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Limited. They are the largest submarines manufactured in the UK, displacing 15,900t submerged, twice the displacement of the Resolution class Polaris submarines which they replaced. The first of class, HMS Vanguard, was commissioned in 1993. Their home port is the Royal Naval Base at Faslane in Scotland.

Another British sub to win an accolade from Tom Clancy, who said “Quite simply, the best SSN ever built by the British…quick, quiet, and carries a substantial punch”. As far as we know, the Trafalgar was the first sub in service with the quiet pumpjet propulsion system. This propulsion system proved so successful that it is allegedly now being retrofitted to many British and American submarines.

Tom Clancy called the Upholder “… probably the finest Diesel-electric submarine in the world.” Despite this accolade, the Upholder saw service with the British Royal Navy for just 6 1/2 years (December 1986 to June 1993). Sold to Canada, they are now entering service as the Victoria class.

Other Navies

Sweden has always put great emphasis on the independence of their defense forces. So it is not surprising that they have their own submarines. They see their roles in coastal waters. The A-14 Nacken is a fine example of a Swedish coastal sub. It’s most visible distinguishing feature is the X tail “ruddervator.”

In the mid-late 1920s, the British built the “M” class range of Submarines with very large guns 12 inch plus and an on board aircraft.The Surcouf was the French equivalent submarine monitor and was commissioned in 1934.

Dive Systems

This system is built into a plexiglass tube. It comes completely assembled. All you need to supply is an FM radio receiver and three servos.

Control Systems

Auto-Leveller (Salcon).

Propellers and Propulsors

Hand built, one piece castings, supplied complete with prop shaft in stainless steel.

Customer reviews

“Service beyond what’s expected. A vendor that stands behind his products… I highly recommend OTW Designs to all.”

Don Prince, Georgia USA.

“Bob’s top shelf; no two ways about it. His customer service is excellent, and his products are awesome.”

Sam Reichart

“He takes great pride in his products, and is by far one of the best vendors in this hobby. Looking forward to getting his Type XXIII as my next boat!”

Kurt Moller

All prices quoted exclude shipping and insurance – contact us to discuss your requirements.

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