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[JohnG]

Sadly I am not able to make it this year as its my birthday on the 23rd and family want to do stuff (a superb model boat regatta isn't in their field of vision) etc. Maybe next year, perhaps I'll have completed something!!!

sorry to miss you at mayhem Ian - maybe another year - hopefully with your Monitor!

Yes this type of rudder is rather vulnerable, especially as it is printed. However you could add a bit of inconspicuous  protection when sailing by having two small diameter aft facing blind tubes set into the stern just below the waterline and insert a loop of piano wire into these to protect the rudder. It would effectively be invisible and would guard against hitting a vertical surface when going astern,


Colin

thanks for the comment Colin. i'll think about the piano wire - for the moment will just rely on careful steering and spares!


below is  a pic of the first 'bath test' a few days ago. I learned the hard way to do a bath test before 'sea trials' after my HMS Broke model sank mid-boating lake


 (- the sorry tale is told here:   https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,64903.75.html   [ reply 80] - enough to say i now know the exact depth of the Pool Park boating lake - and make sure i do a full  'bath test' before going anywhere deeper!  )


anyway the 'list to port' was before i added lead sheet to ballast and stabilise. Surprised how much lead it took compared with my other models of HMS Broke and SPS G42. Just goes to show the greater hull volume of Swift.


After adding the lead, she's far more stable - will add pics from the 'sea trial' in a swimming pool.

[Colin Bishop]

Yes, the bath test is essential if the model will fit, but it doesn't tell the whole story. With long thin models like destoyers, windage can be  significant and can even push the model over. An extreme example is my Revell R/C Queen Mary 2. I took a lot of care in keeping the weight low in the hull and was pleased to find that the model was initially positively stable in the bath. However, I soon discovered that the slightest pressure on the upperworks was enough to make it list very easily. At that point I couldn't add more weight as the model was nearly down to its marks. The only thing to do was to remove the small amount of ballast from inside the hull and add a false keel which gave a higher righting effect.

Colin

[JohnG]

Nice model Colin, and as you say there's a lot above the water to both catch wind, and add mass above the waterline.


Thankfully I think Swift is relatively stable - more so than my other 2 similar models(Broke and G42). It's partly because the ship and esp the hull volume is so much bigger than the others. The lead is right at the bottom of the hull, and it makes up a greater proportion of the total model weight.


Below is a pic from the first 'sea trials' in a pool. I uploaded a short video:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lCHrOK3C9CgdMnFMUV0tkgeKgfQiq2dI/view?usp=sharing


In first the part of the video (before I turned on the smoke) the rudder was turning the opposite way to the motors..  oops!  it would still turn, but not well - unsurprisingly.


Then after I got the rudder and motors sorted, and made the motor turning more aggressive, as seen in the part of the video 'with smoke', the handling is dramatically better. I'd assume the actual ship had to use the motors to turn too?


I'm using a raspberry pi pico as a mixer for the motors - as previously. Makes it quick to change the steering input to the motors. (  https://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,68314.0.html  )

[JohnG]

 here's the smoke generator. it's a couple of cheap untrasonic water vaporisers from ali express under each of the first 2 funnels, with a small fan to boost the flow.
The enclosure is 3d printed. Its top is push-fit. It slides into a 'base plate' mounted under the deck.


(actually with the vaporisers immediately below the funnels it would probably work ok without the fan)


there's a short video clip here:  https://youtu.be/OG4_oAE6K_E

[JohnG]

After a second 'sea trial' she's now much closer to being ready for the Mayhem weekend!
Rigging, and Stanchions added, plus some deck items.
( I like the John Haynes photo etch stanchions - slightly more solid than some, and the holes are consistent without needing to be drilled out )




Just for fun here's a comparison with the original ship
https://youtu.be/PNT4Qz35RkY


(the original ship clip is from the RN ww1 actual footage in 'The Empires Shield' - there's an online copy on the IWM site: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060023093 )

[JohnG]

Now with the ships boats in place (though I still need to add the cross bands that hold the boats onto the davits).


In passing, the paint finish below the waterline is becoming a snag.  I use Vallejo Air colours. I'd thought I'd seal it with Vallejo's acrylic satin varnish. Seems that was a mistake. The varnish is lifting when it gets wet - you can just see it on the pic. I'd previously used a Pledge Floor 'Revive it' Gloss/Sealant - seems I'll have to re-coat and go back to the old bottle of Pledge (thankfully there's plenty left!).

[steve mahoney]

Looks great. Hopefully the repaint goes smoothly.

[Colin Bishop]

If it looks OK once it has dried out then you could try Hycote matt lacquer which I have found provides a good protective coat over the Vallejo. I've not used Vallejo below the waterline though, I normallu use automotive red primer with the matt lacquer as a protective coat.

Colin

[JohnG]

If it looks OK once it has dried out then you could try Hycote matt lacquer which I have found provides a good protective coat over the Vallejo. I've not used Vallejo below the waterline though, I normallu use automotive red primer with the matt lacquer as a protective coat.

Colin

thanks Colin, unfortunately the acrylic varnish is lifting in patches, and looks poor when dry. well noted th hycote suggestion.  (it'll have to wait till after the mayhem weekend though! going to be sailed 'as is'... )

[ballastanksian]

Hi John,


Go with what you know. She looks fabulous and will add to the growing fleet of WW1 ships sailing this weekend. Have loads of fun and have a piece of cake for me!!

[JohnG]

a couple of pics on the water at the superb mayhem at wicksteed weekend - the second in company with a lovely model of HMS Pelorus (1897) at the same scale.


also a link to a short video clip on the water
https://youtu.be/uYVrlt6TD84?si=1HwheyUsHzfLgXJr

Go with what you know. She looks fabulous and will add to the growing fleet of WW1 ships sailing this weekend. Have loads of fun and have a piece of cake for me!!

Ian, hope you had a super birthday. Thought of you, and in the heat, had a cold drink rather than cake! see you next year?

[ballastanksian]

Many cool drinks I hope John!


Yes I had a lovely birthday do. I had a musical jam afternoon (like a ceilidh but with less guinness!) with family and friends.


She looked amazing on the water!!!!! I can't wit to see what you build next.