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Author Topic: "Colossus" class Aircraft Carrier  (Read 4166 times)

GG

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"Colossus" class Aircraft Carrier
« on: January 10, 2012, 04:56:42 pm »

Having built a couple of escort carriers from the WW2 period, I was hankering after building a "proper" carrier.  Even at my favoured 1/144 scale the large Fleet carriers would have been to big for convenient storage and transport.  The Light Fleet carriers of this class were a more suitable size and still had that unmistakable RN style.
The model is now more or less complete and has just had its first run on the local canal.  It is about 48 inches (1.2m) in length and weighs in at around 12 pounds (5.5kg) so launching and recovery are quite manageable.  Powered by a single 55turn 500 type motor and a 6 Volt 10AH battery, it has way over scale speed and more than adequate duration.  Handling was good, I had thought about adding a discrete bow thruster but suspect that it really isn't needed for general sailing.
The aircraft proved to be the most difficult part of this models construction.  I really wanted to depict the model in the Korean War period so Hawker Sea Furies were needed.  I had started to collect plastic kits of Hawker Tempest models (from which the Fury was developed) but was not looking forward their conversion.  Then a Japanese kit manufacturer came to my rescue when they issued 1/144 kits of the Sea Fury.  The only problem being that these kits were sold in randomly packed boxes of 10 kits along with two other carrier aircraft types.  I ordered 3 boxes hoping for 10 Fury kits but was lucky to end up with 11!  A fair bit of repainting was still needed to produce a homogeneous set of RN aircraft.  Three USN Marine Corsairs were added as they also served in the Korean War and touch of "cross deck" operation did not seem unrealistic.
Quite a few problems to solve whilst building this model but the sight of it sailing, especially when I learn how to operate the "planeguard" destroyer at the same time, is a great reward.  It's also nice that half of the planes will spin their propellers when sailing into a breeze!
Glynn Guest





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carlmt

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Re: "Colossus" class Aircraft Carrier
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2012, 05:10:54 pm »

This looks great Glyn - most realistic  :-)) :-))

Can we look forward to a build article in the mag soon??????
Hope so - would love to add this to my collection of GG warships!!!!
Mick Tunnicliffe
(as dictated to his son Carl..........cos he cannot use a computer  %) %))

GG

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Re: "Colossus" class Aircraft Carrier
« Reply #2 on: January 12, 2012, 11:54:38 am »

Carlmt,
          Must get started on drawing up the plans whilst the wind and rain stop me sailing the damn thing.  Also got to learn not to knock the details off! So far I've been lucky and repairs only needed a spot of glue.
Glynn Guest
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Patrick Henry

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Re: "Colossus" class Aircraft Carrier
« Reply #3 on: January 12, 2012, 01:18:55 pm »

That's very nice GG, very impressive looking boat...I like carriers, they have a 'presence' on the water. Apart from my Tamiya Enterprise...it kept wanting to fall over.   >:-o



Rich
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vernon

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Re: "Colossus" class Aircraft Carrier
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2013, 02:53:52 pm »

Glynn, Thanks for the great designs you have published.
Having retired I am doing something I always wanted to have a go at. Having finished the vosper mtb for my eldest grandson I am embarking on the 'goliath'.
I have built the hull and water tested it in my pond with the appropriate ballast and have started the decking. Having researched the class I found that Vengeance was posted to the pacific near the end of the war and carried a squadron of Corsairs. These are made by Revell in 1/144 scale and you can get the decals in RAF pacific colours.
I am proposing to use a 540LN (5 pole) motor which should be similar to the rock crawler you describe, and also use a 12v 7Ah battery as I have 2 of these.In order to control the speed I will be using a buck DC-DC converter which can be adjusted from 3V upwards. The RC being powered separately.
In your article you mention propellers and not wishing to buy a number can you advise what you used to give me a starting point.
Thanks again for your great articles.
 
Alan Francis
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GG

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Re: "Colossus" class Aircraft Carrier
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2013, 05:27:24 pm »

Alan,
     The magazine article stated that with the 55 turn motor and a six volt battery, a 40 mm diameter plastic two blade propeller (with a pitch/diameter ratio of about 0.85) was found to be ideal.  As each model/motor/battery combination with be unique, some degree of experimentation is best.  This is usually nothing more than measuring the speed and current drawn with different propellers.  As these plastic propellers are relatively cheap this is no problem.
As for your plans to use a 12 volt battery and control the speed with a "buck DC-DC converter" I will confess total ignorance of such a method.  I try to use a battery with a voltage appropriate for the motor(s) and a good commercial ESC.
Good luck with your build.
Glynn Guest
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