What is your opinion of the translation?
Doesn't the Chinese version say that they had already figured out the arrangement or design before they got hand on the model?
The article (in Chinese) said "玩具模型" and your translation was rightly "toy model". If I am supposed to take the article seriously, I would also take its own wording seriously, that is a "toy".
Not only the story of toy model being suspicious (the rest of the article and as a whole is pretty believable), but the whole idea of US actually produced and sold such (useful for engineering reference) toy modeled after their (and world) first nuclear sub in an open market is more than suspicious IMO. I would believe it when someone shows me something like that.
They might have their own design but it doesn't mean they have the CORRECT design It is most likely a preliminary design that doesn't lead to anything. In my experience early design is good as useless They just point of reference in any engineering cycle design evolve
What he meant is not literal toy! It could be model
So the fact that they have blueprint ready doesn't say anything!
Well you can buy submarine mode from any model maker just check amazon
As I said before plastic model is used widely before the advance of computer I personally done it and it is not as outrageous as you think I don't know how old you are
But go to Galveston excellent offshore museum They have huge plastic model of offshore platform I think Equation can attest to that
Go to any big engineering firm in Houston and check their lobby they have huge plastic model of their plant
I dont think it is shameful to use model For me using Abacus to do engineering calculation is just if not more ridiculous How they do log calc or trigonometry using abacus But they did it
I don't make fun or condescending far from it I tip my hat for those pioneer they did superhuman job
There is no reason for him to lie or embellish his record it is for posterity to show how backward China then and yet with all the handicap they are facing they struggle and win. so it uplifting and model to emulate never fear hardship and keep straight forward. With hardwork and steely will you will overcome any obstacle.
