Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Navy - Military - Battleships: => Topic started by: Antipodes on April 28, 2013, 11:15:35 am
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The story started during our major club (http://"http://omes.org.nz/index.htm") event of the year in early February. Myself and another club and forum member (delboyandrodney) were chatting away about what we would do for ANZAC Day, roughly 10 weeks away. Traditionally the club sails warships on the pond on this day, which commemorates the landing of Australian and New Zealand troops on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915.
Neither of us had any warships ready for sailing. Delboy has a half completed scratch build of the offshore patrol vessel HMNZS Otago but that wouldn't be ready in time. At the same time I had been looking at the simple girder like plans often seen in Model Boat magazine from the likes of Glyn Guest and Eris kennedy.
A plan was soon hatched to build the never built Type 24 frigate based on Glyn Guest's Paladin plan. As one of our club members had previously built the Arleigh Burke design there was much discussion around the pond on the stability of such narrow vessels. This particular member had found his to be very unstable and had to add about 50 mm to the keel to make it stable. We decided to err on the side of caution and add 30 mm to the depth of our keels - mine eneded up being about 40 mm as I used 9 mm balsa for the deck and keel.
Now to set the scene this was the first ever boat I had built - not even a kit had been attempted before. Delboy has completed a couple of kit builds before and has some experience with scratch building. Ten weeks seemed like quite a long time - no worries. The kitchen table was the shipyard for the start of the build. SWMBO didn't seem to mind and only on a couple of occasions was the build required to be moved to make way for domestic activities like eating at the dining table. Our six year old was much more curious and during the first stages - at least until painting sent the build to the garage - would wake up and cast his eyes over the previous nights endeavours.
This was a fun build and we swapped notes and would send sms pictures via smart phones as we progressed through the various stages. There was the odd bit of friendly rivalry that went on as well - for instance when delboy announced that he had upgraded to a brass 5 blade prop I just had to do the same. Of course there are some variations in our two ships - but I'll let the photos tell that story.
The fun part was trying to decide on the names of our two ships. As they were never actually built we had quite a bit of leeway in choosing names. Here wikipedia and the history of Royal Navy frigates was invaluable. We spent one night trawling through old names of frigates trying to find something suitable. In the end we settled on the Type 15 frigates of 1950-1970's. I chose HMS Troubridge as I remember the radio series with which it is associated while delboy chose HMS Relentless. (I'll let delboy explain the different pennant number).
The ships were completed on time and on budget (well maybe). Troubridge had sailing trials in the 6yo's bath while Relentless managed to get some seatrials in the pond before ANZAC Day. It had been raining for about a week before ANZAC Day so were a little worried about the weather - the drizzle of the dawn service turned to a nice afternoon and a great afternoon sailing was had.
I'll post some of the 'built' photos with this post and add some more of the construction photos over the next few days.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/8688671474_9bed287f2a.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688671474/)
In Company (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688671474/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/8687552259_905d44e0e8.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687552259/)
IMG_7524 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687552259/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/8688673424_28da784b8c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688673424/)
IMG_7507 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688673424/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/8687556615_71ea86fef8.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687556615/)
IMG_7506 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687556615/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/8687558389_214717bc59.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687558389/)
IMG_7500 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687558389/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/8688697786_3f651ac050.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688697786/)
IMG_7495 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688697786/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/8687577545_56778e902b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687577545/)
IMG_7480 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687577545/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/8687576169_4cb275efac.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687576169/)
IMG_7475 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687576169/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/8687574745_7d0902b0e8.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687574745/)
IMG_7473 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687574745/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/8688692020_cbe1dc17cb.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688692020/)
IMG_7466 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688692020/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/8687571879_d63b06e3a0.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687571879/)
IMG_7457 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687571879/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/8687570165_5aa13cff1c.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687570165/)
IMG_7455 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687570165/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7045/8688687174_00bbd2f569.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688687174/)
IMG_7449 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688687174/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/8688685622_15908295f7.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688685622/)
IMG_7429 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688685622/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7046/8687565231_6ce2fec01b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687565231/)
IMG_7405 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687565231/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7043/8687563447_11e20e2917.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687563447/)
IMG_7400 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687563447/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7050/8687561611_79df2f1a76.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687561611/)
IMG_7399 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687561611/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/8688678602_7d33812e03.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688678602/)
IMG_7370 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688678602/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
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The first step was to add to the plans our additional depth and then work out how much bigger the bulkheads were going to be.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7056/8688841154_733b180e56_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688841154/)
Plan 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688841154/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7045/8687721863_d2d5f027d7_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687721863/)
Plan 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687721863/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/8687727541_995c9d1403_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687727541/)
Plan 3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687727541/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
The first piece cut was the foredeck.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/8687724747_a1b7487ab5_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687724747/)
Build 1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687724747/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Here you can see the first variation from the plan as a result of the extra keel depth. I have made a much longer stem piece so that it will have more surface area for adhesion to the keel. From memory the first bulkhead that joins the stem piece was cut rather rough and sanded to fit.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7055/8687724223_7b2b676534_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687724223/)
Build 2 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8687724223/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Basic hull completed - I don't think the aft keel section is glued in this and the next photo as the transom is still not fitted.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7045/8688842234_b854ae92f1_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688842234/)
Build 3 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688842234/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Alongside an Australian Customs Vessel 'Ethel' at the same stage.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7047/8688841690_c0053f2e0d_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688841690/)
Build 4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8688841690/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
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Just a note to say that the photos of the two ships sailing on the pond were also taken be delboyandrodney!! :-)) ok2
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Motor installation. Both ships have MFA 385 motors driving 5 blade 30mm Raboesch props.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8122/8692421900_0cf4515fc6_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692421900/)
Build 5 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692421900/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Prop alignment - Milliput was used on both sides of the keel to seal the propshaft. Crikey that stuff goes hard, but more about that later!!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8394/8691303451_d46848473f_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691303451/)
Build 6 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691303451/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
This photo shows the prop shaft and rudder. I'm not happy about this part. As you can see the prop shaft is too close to the bottom of the hull. During intial motor running in the test tank water was coming up the rudder post, most probably being driven up by the prop being so close.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8126/8692423054_34a5ea2524_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692423054/)
Build 7 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692423054/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
In hindsight I should have made a better support for the rudder.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8395/8691304509_c44bb3d8d6_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691304509/)
Build 8 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691304509/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8691305143_52a8146a83_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691305143/)
Build 9 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691305143/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Rudder servo is an Eurgle 16-02A. The receiver is is also an Eurgle 3 channel bound to a Turnigy 9X transmitter.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8534/8691306325_e1a8332d44_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691306325/)
Build 11 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691306325/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8546/8692425854_2be28b3f4a_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692425854/)
Build 12 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692425854/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Things didn't always go to plan. At one point I got a bit too agressive with the sanding prior to putting the sides on. A quick patch with a bit of balsa - some gentle sanding and it was as good as new.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8255/8691307659_de8f66acf7_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691307659/)
Build 13 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691307659/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8398/8691308079_e2538f4de8_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691308079/)
Build 14 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691308079/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Like I said before - that Milliput goes really hard - felt like forever sanding before I got this part right.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8545/8691308647_1af75c0ecd_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691308647/)
Build 15 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691308647/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
A bit of coaming added.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8402/8692428042_3a46d6fd7b_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692428042/)
Build 16 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692428042/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Another mistake - apparently there is a reason dope comes in glass bottles. Most of the dope was able to be saved!!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8117/8692428668_20c9c0773a_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692428668/)
Build 17 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692428668/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Here is another point where we differed from the 'plan'. Instead of balsa sides we both skinned the sides of the hulls with 2mm plywood. Port side done!!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8535/8692429376_5155c588a6_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692429376/)
Build 18 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692429376/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
I was never happy with the rudder support - thankfully delboy just keep pushing me on when I got frustrated with it.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8400/8691311137_f40e1a8837_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691311137/)
Build 19 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691311137/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8260/8691311731_b1c226cbfd_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691311731/)
Build 20 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691311731/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Another deviation was to fiberglass the whole hull. I'd never done any fibre glassing prior to this. Here is how to apply just the right amout of weight to the overhanging cloth.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8536/8691312343_40464a018b_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691312343/)
Build 21 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691312343/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
I wasn't happy with the stem. Message from delboy - use more epoxy!!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8257/8692432506_61a1f3cde5_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692432506/)
Build 23 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692432506/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Completed hull.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8253/8692421348_07e829b7d6_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692421348/)
Build 24 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8692421348/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr
Now lets see if it leaks!!
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8541/8691314369_7aef4faae6_n.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691314369/)
Build 25 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelo-milne/8691314369/) by White Anglia (http://www.flickr.com/people/marcelo-milne/), on Flickr