What is R/C Naval Combat? That is a good question. A long time ago a few people decided to try putting working guns on their R/C ships and shoot at other things. This progressed until ships were firing at each other in mock battles. The hobby has evolved to the point now where people are building ships and battling them throughout the world.
How does this work? Another good question. People make bb cannons and mount them where the guns go on the ship. Some clubs use ball bearings. The projectiles are fired by remote control using some form of gas. In the early days freon was used but most clubs today use CO2 and paintball gun tanks. The boats manuver around and try to shoot holes in the sides of the other ships. When enough water is let in, they sink.
How do the bb's get into the ship? Ships in the hobby are built with cutouts in the sides. About 85% of the ship side is designed to be "penetrable" The sides are then covered up with thin sheets of balsa wood or other woods depending on the club you are with. The bb's have enough energy to go through the sides. The wood is sealed so water doesn't get in until there are holes.
What happens after a sink? Does it ruin the ship is the first question I always hear. In the early days, water damage was harder to control. With today's technology and modern electronics, most components are unharmed after sinking. A good ship captain can usually sink, patch his boat and have it in the next battle in 30 minutes. We have extensive waterproofing methods and all components are designed with submersion in mind.
How much does it cost? A fully functioning battleship can cost about $1000 dollars. The smaller ships are less. Most of the things you buy are used for multiple ships. Radio transmitters and recievers are necessary as are ships. Some tools are required as any hobby. Think of it like R/C Cars or Planes. You need some basic things for all the models and then each one gets special components. The other thing is most of the systems that run the ships and make the guns fire can be hand built if you have the talent, keeping costs down. They also can go from one boat to the next making them a retrievable investment.
How do I join? The first thing to do is find people around you that are involved in the hobby or want to be. It is always better to find someone established to help you along. Build what they battle near you. Building a ship in a format that nobody around you battles means you will have no friends on the water. Ask questions and the people of this forum and others will be glad to answer. We always want to get more people involved.
Thanks for reading and I hope this has piqued your interest in joining one of the coolest R/C hobbies out there!
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