Ping Project Details

exterior

• The rear bumper is missing and the chrome front bumper is ugly. We need marine-looking bumpers (for when the sub isn’t sporting its nose and tail) that won’t interfere with the nose and tail mounting.

• Fully functional optical periscope. Slides up and down in larger tube mounted in conning tower. Handle includes button for "firing" laser at whatever is being looked at.

• Vertical fin-like structure made of aluminum sheet. At least 3.25" wide to accommodate periscope.

• Removable lightweight structure mounted to the front of the van.
• Provides the proper profile without (too much) blocking the driver’s view.
• Full width of the van (tapering to blunt point) below the windshield.
• In front of windshield, it’s simply a vertical sheet so that visibility is maintained.
• Perhaps a hood-like structure can be built from the van to about a foot forward of the van to hide the windshield glass — kind of like horse blinders.
• Frame made of thin aluminum rod or tube.
• Skin made of aluminum sheet or plastic or vinyl or airfoil cloth.

• Removable, lightweight structure mounted to the rear of the van.
• Main structure is 4 or 6 lightweight aluminum poles salvaged from hang gliders.
• Each pole mounts to a corner on the back of the van.
• Each pole ends in an aluminum plate on which is mounted the propeller.
• Vertical rudder fins are mounted top and bottom near the back.
• Horizontal diving planes are mounted on the sides near the back.

• Industrial fan in wire cage (for safety).
• Perhaps substitute 12V motor.
• Perhaps outline each blade with EL wire.

• Welded steel tube railing around entire perimeter of roof.
• High enough so people can sit on the roof with their legs dangling down through the railing.

• Wooden-slat decking mounted to roof, similar to the teak decking found on WWII-era subs.
• Removable section above sunroof
• I’m not sure there is need or space for this.

• Horizontal row of dim green circular lights on each side of van, evocative of portholes.
• EL wire?

interior

• For squirting water at high pressure/velocity out a number of nozzles around the van.
• Stream about the size of that from a Super Soaker.
• 5-gallon(?) tank with water, pressurized by an automatic 12V air compressor.
• Main water hose from tank goes to bank of trigger handles on dashboard (passenger side).
• Nozzles:
• front left and right
• left and right straight to the side
• straight back
• mounted to top of periscope(?)

• Large professional PA system for playing music and submarine sound effects, eg: "ping"
• Self-amplified speakers mounted in nose and tail(?)

• Must provide 120VAC for sound system and maybe propeller and sustained 12VDC.
• Generator?
• Inverter?
• Secondary batteries?

• platform (redo?)
• cabinetry
• table(s)