Volunteers?

[Nemo]

Hi!

Do we have any divers on the Big Island who will volunteer to support operations of the Nautilus Minisub and our 20K diving gear in the next year?

No pay, hard work, and all you get is a t-shirt. If that sounds like fun to you, let me know. I'm making a list.

Thanks,

Pat

E me

Vulcania Submarine Website

[Aquala1]

Not on the Big Island, but put me on that list.

[Nemo]

Apr 28, 2019 8:56:22 GMT -8 Aquala1 said:

Not on the Big Island, but put me on that list.

LOL! Thanks Ty, but that's automatic; you know that.

Hey! I know you've been following the Nautilus Minisub refit at VSC. I haven't posted this but we've decided to use our swimming pool as a testing tank and sub pilot trainer. (It's bigger than the one you dived the Leagues rig in: 32 x 16 x 4.5 feet.) I can put the boat in the water with the forklift; use the forks as a platform to get in and out of the boat; rig a "dog run" cable lengthwise and we can drive forward and back about 10 feet safely; and with some foam rubber "boots" on the keel we can bottom it on ballast. This will give us the opportunity to test things like weight and balance, leaks, and system functionality right in our own back yard and without having to drive to a launch ramp. With this, I can also train someone else to pilot the Nautilus. Might want to do that so I can focus on photography when it's in the water again; at least some of the time.

But you know me; it's all for fun. Besides being a great Nautilus Minisub training simulator; it's going to be the most outrageous backyard pool toy in existence or history!! LOL!

Can't wait. Working my arse off to get there and feeling optimistic.

Haven't shipped you the green suit yet because... no excuse. Just so deep into what I'm doing I forget to package it and I don't go down the hill much these days. Got some other vintage stuff to send you I think you'll like, too. I just gotta get it together and do it. Sorry for the procrastination.

Anyway, we won't put the boat into the ocean until next Summer; but that doesn't mean this Summer won't have some good things going on with the sub and suits. Not to worry; there will be plenty of advanced warning for our Vulcania Volunteers. Thank you!

VBR,

Pat

[Nemo]

Apr 29, 2019 10:57:39 GMT -8 Nemo said:

Apr 28, 2019 8:56:22 GMT -8 Aquala1 said:

Not on the Big Island, but put me on that list.

LOL! Thanks Ty, but that's automatic; you know that.

Hey! I know you've been following the Nautilus Minisub refit at VSC. I haven't posted this but we've decided to use our swimming pool as a testing tank and sub pilot trainer. (It's bigger than the one you dived the Leagues rig in: 32 x 16 x 4.5 feet.) I can put the boat in the water with the forklift; use the forks as a platform to get in and out of the boat; rig a "dog run" cable lengthwise and we can drive forward and back about 10 feet safely; and with some foam rubber "boots" on the keel we can bottom it on ballast. This will give us the opportunity to test things like weight and balance, leaks, and system functionality right in our own back yard and without having to drive to a launch ramp. With this, I can also train someone else to pilot the Nautilus. Might want to do that so I can focus on photography when it's in the water again; at least some of the time.

But you know me; it's all for fun. Besides being a great Nautilus Minisub training simulator; it's going to be the most outrageous backyard pool toy in existence or history!! LOL!

Can't wait. Working my arse off to get there and feeling optimistic.

Haven't shipped you the green suit yet because... no excuse. Just so deep into what I'm doing I forget to package it and I don't go down the hill much these days. Got some other vintage stuff to send you I think you'll like, too. I just gotta get it together and do it. Sorry for the procrastination.

Anyway, we won't put the boat into the ocean until next Summer; but that doesn't mean this Summer won't have some good things going on with the sub and suits. Not to worry; there will be plenty of advanced warning for our Vulcania Volunteers. Thank you!

VBR,

Pat

Here's a look at the new design for our crew t-shirt.  :-)

"The Original" VULCANIA VOLUNTEERS

[Aquala1]

The new shirt design looks good. 👍

[Nemo]

Some replies have gone to the VSC email; this is the one to use. And put VULCANIA VOLUNTEERS LIST in the subject box, please. Thanks!

VULCANIA VOLUNTEERS LIST

[Nemo]

Friends,

A lot has happened since I joined this Forum in the first week of its existence and I haven't been active here in longer than I can remember but that doesn't mean we imploded.

Among other things, we built a new workshop and the refit of the Nautilus Minisub is proceeding nicely:

REFURBISHING THE NAUTILUS MINISUB

When it's done it will look and perform better than ever. I've been successfully bench-testing the new drivetrain and am ready to install it in the pressure hull. Should be faster than any other homemade submersible in its class; and the professionally-built ones, too.

I also have three more Leagues helmets in process but haven't done a page about them yet.

Speaking of pages at VSC: I also haven't done one yet about OPERATION UNDERSEA II: the 20K diving event Vulcania and Aquala conducted in 2007!  Shame on me! no excuse. I want to but there's always something else to do. Gonna be some great pics and info there when I get it done, though. Keep an eye peeled for that!

I've continued collecting vintage gear and now have several of the original Rene USD PST tanks with the concave "winebottle" base; perfect for making authentic Leagues duals.

Picked up a few green and blue label Broxton shop DA's, too.  I think I have six or seven now.

AND, a few years ago I bought an authentic EARLY Aquala dry-suit (in pristine condition) from a famous California pioneer SCUBA diver who shall remain nameless.  Still in the original bag with original repair kit and talc.   

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea did much to inspire the post WW-II and baby-boomer interest in SCUBA diving, and retains an international, trans-generational fan base to this very day.

When we get the Nautilus Minisub and our 20,000 Leagues rigs in the water here in Hawaii, it is going to be one of the coolest vintage SCUBA events of all time; guaranteed.

I keep thinking of the video and stills we're going to be able to shoot and it motivates me! I was sweating like a hotdog in a pressure cooker today; working my buns off in the shop on this hot day but loving every minute of it!

(I do take time during the day for a quick dive in the pool; but other than that I am giving the shop my maximum effort.)

My wife retires in six more months and then we are free to travel. I foresee the day when we load the Nautilus and all our gear into our 40-foot container and take it to Florida. They have some beautifully clear dive sites there, and my friend Leon Lyons wants to see the boat and hats.

And Ricou Browning's family said they are willing to film it! You might remember them. Creature from the Black Lagoon? Ivan Tors Productions? Sea Hunt? Flipper? Thunderball? Baywatch? Yep, the Brownings are vintage SCUBA motion picture royalty and I can't say how happy and grateful I am they they've taken an interest in VSC.

But then, that's only natural because, after portraying The Creature, Ricou was one of the Disney Stunt Divers who performed the underwater scenes for Disney's 20,000 Leagues. Small world!

RICOU BROWNING BIO PAGE AT VSC

So anyway, there ya go. That's what we're up to these days. Life is good, the future looks bright, and we hope you are all having a great time.  We sure are!   

VBR,

Pat

[Nemo]

Great things happening with my screenplay and the Browning family. Film at eleven. :-)