Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Testing, One, Two...

Since I had the stand and the base handy I decided see how the boat looked in place. The images were only corrected for size so it looks a bit better in person. But we're definitely getting there. The bow-on shot looks appropriately sinister. Click on the images to see them full size.





I'm starting to think about primer and paint. But I'll probably tackle the wheelhouse lights next.
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Monday, November 24, 2008

Back to Base-ics

Following a work stopping benchtop accident in which I knocked the completed wheelhouse interior onto the floor I took some time off and tackled the display board for the stand. I cut a piece of red oak to size and routed the edge with a Roman ogee bit. I stained it with a dark mahogany from ZAR and sprayed several coats of clear lacquer to seal it. Light sanding with 1000 grit paper kept it smooth between coats. I'm very pleased with the results (note 1/72 Permit class project in the background).

With the display base looking good, the urge to work on the boat came back so I returned to the wheelhouse. The pieces that were knocked off were CA'd back in place. Then I fabbed a latching pin system to keep it in place on the hull.

First, a hole was drilled in the forward end through both the deck and exterior pieces, then the forward access hatch in the hull. This captured a pin that slides in to secure them all via friction.

To hold the aft end in place a brass rod was bent to slide into a hole cut in the upper hull. This captures the entire assembly and holds it down. The wheelhouse now fits snug and doesn't move yet is capable of being disassembled. This will allow replacement of D-cell batteries for the lights inside the hull.

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About Me

The first movie I saw in a theater was Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1971 re-release). The first grown-up book I read was "War Fish" by George Grider. Built hundreds of plastic kits growing up. Saw an article on The SubCommittee in the mid 90's and joined. Began first foray into radio controlled subs in 1998.

Current Projects

1/32 scale Disney Nautilus (Custom Replicas kit).
1/96 scale USS Helena (SSN-725) (ThorDesign kit).
1/72 scale USS Permit-class (HMK kit)

Completed Boats

1/96 scale Permit-class modeled as USS Thresher (SSN-593).
1/96 scale Los Angeles-class modeled as USS Jefferson City (SSN-759).

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