Just For The RecordI had no intention of continuing with this thread due to the high volume of inappropriate jokes at my expense. However, despite the still continuing ‘humorous’ digs, I should state that Polyphemus remains fully complete and operational.
As reported before, the failure of a water pressure joint to a ballast tank resulted in water being pumped into the hull. All pressure joints were remade with barbed joints and security wire locking. Inter-compartment wiring at top of bulkheads sealed with silicone sealant. Bilge warning sensors in every compartment with bright flashing warning lights fore and aft.
A slight problem with stability at Black Park was due to my going a bit O.T.T. on the detailing, adding 400 gm topside more than allowed for.
After running extensive tests on expansion ratios of two-part buoyancy foam, the hull was placed on each end and carefully measured quantities injected via the vent holes using a syringe. This is to reduce ballast capacity by 40% and provide additional reserve buoyancy.
OK, it doesn’t trim right down to ‘almost awash’, but is stable and with a little more minimum freeboard. This has been a massive long project, but I have been determined that the numerous technical challenges should not beat me. Bear in mind the original only had 200 tons of buoyancy when trimmed down in attack mode, so with an 11kg model design limits were close.
Anyone with a sense of humour would do well to first try designing a working semi-submersible themselves. END OF BUILD THREAD