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[raflaunches]

Remarkable work. Wish I had even one tenth of the skill needed for a project like this.

Its going to be a crying shame to stick those big ugly turrets on that hull, what a pretty thing

Thanks for the kind comments, I'll pass them on to his illustrious one!


Cuppa, don't worry about skill, we didn't have any when we started ten years ago and there are plenty of modellers on here and at the shows we admire for their skill and abilities. I only learnt how to do a decent deck two years ago with regards to planking. Between me and Dad we have built eleven models over ten years and with each one we have hopefully improved our abilities.


I'll post some pictures up when my proper internet connection returns but we've had a successful test of the turrets and the director. Many thanks to Dave M (Action) for supplying and talking us through his brilliant servo morph component. It works brilliantly 

[derekwarner]

A little off thread Nick B  .. but is that an old Rover motor vehicle?....... Derek

[raflaunches]

Hi Derek


Not at all, you caught me and my Dad's winter project!


You're close with Rover, the company was owned by British Leyland too, then by Rover.


She's a 1956 MG ZA Magnette, originally fitted with 1500cc BMC engine most were replaced with 1800cc MG B engines to get that bit extra from the car.


My Dad bought her in 1971 for £10 and a promise to do her up. He did and drove her for 14 years and was even his wedding car in 1979. But when I came along in 1984 the car wasn't big enough for the baby seat  so she was put in to storage in my Dad's garage. Two years ago he gave the car to me and we decided to do a full restoration by stripping the interior and engine/gearbox out so we can repair or apply any preventive methods. Hopefully she'll be finished in 3-4 years in between boat projects of course!

[Bob K]

Its going to be a crying shame to stick those big ugly turrets on that hull, what a pretty thing

There is nothing to fuel enthusiasm and imagination as much as planning a uniquely unusual project.
You can't get more uniquely unusual than a submarine with gun turrets     
Love this build. 

[raflaunches]

Hi Bob


You should see her now! I'll take some photos tomorrow morning for everyone to see but the model has been painted in Mediterranean grey and black undersides. She's drying as we type!
The 5.2" gun barrels are being made on a lathe this week, looking forward to seeing them complete.
How's your semi submersible going? Hope to see you at Ron Deans open days in a few weeks time.

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


As promised here are the pictures of the finished paint job.

[Netleyned]

Very impressive Nick
Looking forward to the launch.

Ned

[raflaunches]

So am I!!!
Dad is currently adding sealant around the removable part to create a decent seal, even though the water line is 25mm below it we don't want to tempt fate.

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone from the secret Skunkworks that bought you HMS Gnat and CMB 216...


Today at a top secret location, just located 1 mile off the A14 in Kettering, the controversial launch and maiden voyage of the un-named submarine only known as HMS X1 occurred. Cameras and media were told to stay away but these leaked images were sent to us!











Initial buoyancy checks proved that she was bow light so some extra ballast was added to correct the nose up altitude!






She has a good amount of speed to play with but planning is required to stop the sub before she rams the side. Turning is adequate but our usual twin stick method failed to get her to spin on a sixpence! With all her keel weight she is very stable and stays on station with the motors stopped. Turrets work really well with the servo morph from Action-many thanks to Dave M-and the battery life of the 12v 5amp/hr SLA battery which powers everything was about 1 hour. So a good mornings sailing.

[Bob K]

Nice to see her finally in her element.  Must admit I was concerned as to all that ballast being sealed into to structure based on what appeared to be purely calculations.

[salmon]

Fantastic workmanship and outstanding subject. That makes for one beautiful submarine! This has been a wonderful thread to follow. Thank you and congratulations!

[raflaunches]

I must admit there was an air of apprehension because we had never tried the superstructure in place for early ballast trials, and the superstructure weighs a fair bit, probably the weight of other model boat!
She looks very graceful on the water and the wake matches the photos almost perfectly, and an added bonus no water entered the hull!


Hope you all will continue watching this space, the barrels are complete-photos to come- I'm enjoying reporting upon this build as you enjoy reading it.
Many thanks for the kind comments 

[cuppa]

Wonderful work. It looks really great on the water - more pics please............


This is a really enjoyable and informative build to follow.

[raflaunches]

More pics as requested...


The complexity of the twin 5.2" turret in plan form.

[raflaunches]

And my Dad's start of his version of the turrets


The gun barrels made from aluminium solid rod machined on a lathe by my Grand-dad.

















Everything is made from aluminium.

[raflaunches]

Gun mounts and a trial fit of the barrel in the correct position. Fred the sailor inspecting the work so far, not very impressed with the giant clamp he told us!

[raflaunches]

Hot off the press!


The basis of the range finder and the director tower made from plastic down pipe and wooden dowel.

[profesorul]

I was follow the thread step by step and all I can say is to quote "salmon"
 

Fantastic workmanship and outstanding subject. That makes for one beautiful submarine! This has been a wonderful thread to follow. Thank you and congratulations!

"
 
and I can't say more . Congratulation once again .      
 
MARIUS

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


Time for more pictures, this time he's building the bases of the radio masts, attack periscope, search periscope, and range finder.

[raflaunches]

I was follow the thread step by step and all I can say is to quote "salmon"
 "
 
and I can't say more . Congratulation once again .      
 
MARIUS

Thanks Marius hope you are enjoying the build so far, Dad's having fun with the turrets so he's giving the conning tower a go whilst he recovers from making the aluminum brackets for the gun mounts.

[cdsc123]

You makend a boat who go unna da watta?    ees crazy   


X1 here in Gib;

[raflaunches]

You makend a boat who go unna da watta?    ees crazy   


X1 here in Gib;

He he
That's the colour scheme I believe Dad is going for, he likes Mediterranean warships, he's already got planned a tender for her which (you can guess) served in the Med!

[Davy1]

She looks great on the water!
I've been following this build with great interest and thanks for sharing it.

David

[raflaunches]

Hi David


Glad you like it, dad's going to start on her again next week after having two weeks off! Told him he needs to get a move on!

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


Dad has, as promised, continued with his build after his two weeks off! He has made the conning tower/spotting tower from 36mm down pipe with plastic card detail and carved the roof from wood blocks. All the masts/periscopes bases have been fitted and are various sizes of brass tube.
The ship's wheel has had its bracket built and fitted with table platform made form 1/64" ply. The roof has also been made from softwood carved to shape and scooped out to create the roof space. Fred the sailor will be fitted soon once the floor has been painted.








And finally the hand rails have been started to be marked out and temporarily fitted, these are from RB Fittings via Deans Marine. They are 21.5mm high two ball items and there will be almost 40 of them!