Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Navy - Military - Battleships: => Topic started by: Arjan on April 29, 2025, 10:13:03 am
-
For this conversion I used the same small and light brushless drone motors . The Italeri MAS model is a small but also rather heavy model which means I had to do my utmost to save weight. Especially the deck and hull sides are made of thick plastic whose thickness can be reduced by grinding with a Dremel tool. The drone motors are ideal because they are small, light and energy efficient. Apart from the weight issue, the position of the rudder also makes this conversion slightly complicated.
Weight saving measures, the floor and walls of the steering house were cut away :
(https://i.imgur.com/OBo9mog.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YRKQSi3.jpg)
Grind away, cut off redundant plastic material and drill lightening holes wherever possible :
(https://i.imgur.com/JPDMT6D.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3QdROoM.jpg)
In real life the rudder was operated by cables running along the deck from the rudder to the steering position. I solved this problem by connecting a tiller to the rudder running through a slit in the transom :
(https://i.imgur.com/QxP692D.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/4UsLdEG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/eUQVWdu.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/RxWuHt9.jpg)
Propshafts, props and motors :
(https://i.imgur.com/BQOLxfA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/aCOzgen.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7IZNAMe.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/f4YFAvm.jpg)
Assembly :
(https://i.imgur.com/16uLCjY.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/WsUO6eQ.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/fwZJ1xU.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Yb0GdXa.jpg)
[size=78%](https://i.imgur.com/jhBVA0z.jpg)[/size]
(https://i.imgur.com/yYkZjJE.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/bfepGcw.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/oznSw8l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/IsX8zla.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XwOZZWn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SEHU54S.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/iuFejR2.jpg)
Arjan
-
HI SIR love your ideas on how you have built this boat as regards to them drone motors never seen them before an your qaint rudder idea AS I CANNOT SEE HOW YOU HAVE ATCHED THEM TO THE SCREWS that true modelin sir very well done
CHEERS
:-)) CHRISB
-
Hi
Crews are well done, superb.! :-)) O0
-
Thanks gentlemen ! This is what the transom of a real MAS 500 looks like :
(https://i.imgur.com/zDPsOFL.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JgCNeHY.jpg)
The transom of my model :
(https://i.imgur.com/4XOTzrc.jpg)
What I forgot to mention is that the entire deck of my model can be lifted off. It's fastened with 3mm neodymium magnets. The figures are by Italeri but I used different arms and swapped the awful Italeri heads by bald Hornet ones. I also sculpted some woolen winter caps. Since I'm an obsessive "weight watcher" I always drill out my figures. The additional advantage of this is that they remain afloat when they fall overboard :-) . Last year I was able to rescue a crew member from one of my PT boats who had suffered this fate.
By the way, I really don't understand why the letters I'm typing have become so small ? I must say this is an annoying feature of this board that has happened to me before.
Regards,
Arjan
-
Some background info on the deployment of the Italian MAS boats in WWII. They were used on the Mediterranean, Black Sea and Lake Ladoga. The Germans also used some after the Italian surrender in 1943. I opted to model one used in the Black Sea area. The Italians had two bases in the Crimea, Yalta :
(https://i.imgur.com/Br3TLJ9.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/YTCX2OB.png)
Ivan Baba :
(https://i.imgur.com/YTjSre8.jpg)
Ivan Baba was also used as a base for German Schnellboote :
(https://i.imgur.com/ej2yPWf.jpg)
MAS in the Crimea :
(https://i.imgur.com/tdGjptl.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/QB1nRd5.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/0FKDHqo.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/qqprk9c.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/J6R29W4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Z6PptNn.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/uzrb21z.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/9RHnlCg.jpg)
Arjan