Topic: HELP! Can anyone decipher this drawing? (Read 4932 times)

raflaunches · « **on:** January 04, 2014, 06:22:07 pm »

Hi everyone

As many of you who watching the HMS X1 build thread my Dad is building the hull for this colossal sub.
However, he has a problem...

The sheerline drawings and side profile do not show the torpedo tubes other than a straight line to indicate the centre of the tube...

But...The sections drawings show a slight bulge over the No1 bulkhead where the torpedo tube doors are...

He has made a block of wood to fit on the side of the hull as shown in the series of photos below...

The problem is- does this look right?

We are not sub experts and we can't find any pictures of X1 below the waterline at the bow, would a British sub have bulges like this or would they be flush with hull like a Type VII U boat?

Please help!

Subculture · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2014, 07:14:40 pm »

I don't know, but my thoughts are that if they did protrude slightly from the bow, each tube would have been faired in individually, rather than as a block.

If no one else turns up trumps, and as the X1 was Chatham built, I would definitely try enquiring with them. Yhey have a lot of plating bucks at Chatham for the boats that were built there, and may well have the one used for the X1, or they may be able to supply some photographs of the area you require for reference.

raflaunches · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2014, 07:17:39 pm »

Thanks for that Subculture

If no one else has any idea that will be the route we will go.

derekwarner · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2014, 09:02:13 pm »

Nick......I have ZERO knowledge of submarines....but as simplistic as the Drawings may be, the continuous vertical envelope that contains the 3 + 3 tubes is shown in the Drawing I have copied below

The 3 + 3 external [bow] doors are shown as inward opening.....just as they are shown as 3 + 3 internal doors in Frame 21

So ...if no alternate Drawings or detail alights.......your double block proposal is in accordance with Drawing detail you have........

It may be a parallax error

...but the block your Dad is holding appears to be a little too far FWD on the outer hull surface..... Derek

raflaunches · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2014, 09:09:26 pm »

Thanks Derek

Dad is studying his other drawings of the X1 but at the moment only the drawing you've highlighted really shows the bulge. Luckily it's something that can be added afterwards if it's really there, after all drawings aren't always what the vessel looked like in the end!

peter61_uk · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2014, 10:10:04 pm »

If you get no joy with anyone else .......... I could run them past one of the engineers I know works at Babcock Marine in their sub refit section. Maybe he could decipher them and give you a simple answer.

derekwarner · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2014, 10:38:06 pm »

Nick.......it is not uncommon with current & past drawing protocol not to clutter plan elevation & end elevation Drawings with absolute detail

This is to ensure that the clarity reduces any potential for misunderstanding & inaccuracy in building

We must also remember the Drawings are dated October 1926 & well before the facility of electronic AutoCAD

Imagine how complicated the sheerline frame drawing end/end view would be it would be to include all of the additional machinery detail

You have accurate detail of No1 bulkhead....go for it

.....

If the model were displayed at an exhibition it should be accompanied with some plastic laminated example drawings that you have used........Derek