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[Jonty]

  If it's not a submarine - has anyone asked that? -the only thing I can think of with those proprtions is a Great Lakes freighter.

[Jonty]

  Or, and more probably your sort of thing, a spar torpedo boat like the CSS David.

[raflaunches]

  If it's not a submarine - has anyone asked that?

Jonty has hit it on the nail! But a very special submarine, if I said it was the submarine version of the TSR2?


There is a big clue in the title to this thread for those who like cryptic crosswords!

[Jonty]

  XI or X-1?

[raflaunches]

  XI or X-1?

Most certainly correct! HMS X1


There were some close answers such 'cruiser' as she was the British submarine cruiser, armed with two twin 5.2 inch guns in a semi enclosed mounts, HMS X1 was the biggest, most heavily armed, and the deepest diving submarine in the world until the first nuclear submarines were built after the war.
She was controversial at the time (hence the TSR2 reference) being launched without the government's knowledge or permission! Given a bad reputation and false reports of poor sea keeping and diving were announced despite being a fast crash diver and being quite controllable (she did break down a lot though!) to prevent foreign powers becoming interested in the Submarine cruiser as they would be more devastating to the British merchant navy fleet than any other foreign merchant force.


The model is being built to 1/48 scale making her 7.5 ft long, 7.5 inches wide, 7.5 inches draught and will weigh approx 56lbs! She will however be a surface runner only whilst the water at Wicksteed is deep enough to make her disappear she was a surface raider that could submerge.


We chose this subject after reading the latest book about the X1 The Royal Navy's mystery submarine, a fascinating story about the German U-cruisers of WW1 to the creation of the X1 and the French Surcouf, A big powerful submarine that British government didn't want the world to know about!

[raflaunches]

A picture of what the model will eventually look like. He hopes

[Stavros]

I Know EXACTLY what it is
 
A STRAIGHT RUNNER
 
 
Dave

[raflaunches]

I Know EXACTLY what it is
 
A STRAIGHT RUNNER
 
 
Dave

Brilliant Stavros, absolutely brilliant idea, even if it doesn't go in a straight line you'll never be able to tell or not, Phil would be fuming! 

[Allnightin]

I have just got that book too - were you using the plans in there which are rather indistinct or splashing out on a set from the NMM?

[raflaunches]

Hi Allnightin


I bought the NMM plans for my Dad as an early birthday present, interestingly they show two different bows, one with the single forward hydroplane, and the other with the biplane hydroplane. At 1/48 scale it's a pretty big plan!

[Netleyned]

NMM Plans
Must be well paid in the Service to splash out on those
There again Dads are worth it

Ned

[raflaunches]

NMM Plans
Must be well paid in the Service to splash out on those
There again Dads are worth it

Ned

Sshh or everybody will be joining up! 

[pugwash]

Nick you did forget one a bit heavier and certainly better armed - the French
Surcouf with its twin 8 inch guns and 2 x 37 mm AA guns,  but I do think X1 makes a far
more interesting looking model
Geoff

[raflaunches]

Hi Geoff


It certainly does, I have a 1/350 scale model of Surcouf and unfortunately it seems to lack that 'something' that the X1 has!
You are correct that Surcouf had twin 8inch guns so she had the bigger diameter/calibre gun compared to X1, but from what I have read in the book X1 had semi automatic guns that could (in theory!) fire 6 rounds per minute per gun! The book also said that the Surcouf could only in reality fire one gun at once, so I think that the book means that the X1 had the heaviest broadside/fire rate compared to any other submarine cruiser? Not sure my self but that's what the book said, mind you compared to the M class M1 they both had tiny guns! 

[Jonty]

  Ah! The M1, now there's a project... whether with the gun or the seaplane.

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


Since the discovery of the name and project my Dad has gone into overdrive! Inbetween repairing his van and other jobs he has cut out the centre section outer hull/watertank shapes from 1/8" plywood, all 20 of them!!!
He is creating them in pairs, measuring off the plans and marking onto the plywood, he cuts out one side on the band saw and draws around it on to the other piece of wood, cuts the second one out and files them up together- creating to identical pieces.
He is creating a 'lip' to seal the upper hull/superstructure to sit and seal on, the keel will be removeable at the moment (he might change his mind again!) and will be made from a wooden section filled with lead.


Below are some photos of the plans sections and stern to give you an idea of the shape of the hull and its armament.


You could almost believe that its a nuclear submarine from this picture!










The 'biplane' hydroplanes, the only submarine to have this arrangement!





The twin 5.2 inch semi-automatic guns in their semi-open mounts!





The port bulkhead/frames sitting in place to give an idea of the shape of the hull.





The 'lip' being glued into position.





The frames sitting in place against the 'lip'.





The trial piece of wood laying on the frames to see if the shape is consistent.





If the moderators would like to move this build log to the submarine section of the forum, I would be most grateful.

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

Project now identified and  YES  it is  Submarine

Ken

[gingyer]

I saw in a magazine that seaforth had published
A book on the X1.
Is this going to be a surface model or shall it be a diving submarine?

[raflaunches]

Hi Gingyer


Its going to be a surface runner, primarily because the lack of internal space when being built from scratch, even at 1/48 scale the inside area is only just wide enough to get my hand in (my hands are much smaller than my Dad's). The second reason is that it looks fantastic on the surface!
Dad did work out the internal space that could be made floodable and it wasn't worth attempting to get it to submerge. It might be able to dynamic dive though! 

[tobyker]

I should imagine that getting it to turn will be more difficult than getting it to dive!

[Subculture]

Is this going to be a one-off wooden hull, or are you making a master to pull a GRP tool from?

[raflaunches]

Hi Subculture


Its going to be a one-off wooden hull, primarily for ease of making the model. My dad prefers to use wood and metal to build from. We were offered by Ron Dean to use it as a master but the mould would be in either four or six parts to get a clean hull.


Hi Tobyker


My dad studied the plans when I bought them back in April and he agrees with you, he will be making a larger rudder, and since its square shaped it wouldn't look too far out of place. We will be using our trusty Robbe F14 Twinstick to assist with the turning too! 

[raflaunches]

Some more pictures of the build so far, to give a sense of how long she is the hull section my Dad is holding is only half the length of the overall model!    My Dad looking as intelligent as ever! 











A menacing photo of the X1 at sea, we will have to choose which colour scheme to paint her in as there was approx five different versions!

[raflaunches]

Dad is certainly getting a move on, I think he's trying to finish it before Warwick! 
Some more pictures...














Sorry about the distorted pictures, they were taken on my iPad and don't seem to like being uploaded properly. 

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


Dad is definitely going on a build quest, the aft section is being built which means that the overall length has been achieved, all 90.5 inches!!!


 





The bows at the moment look remarkable like the K class steam submarine bows but the upper section is very different.





The stern pieces have been attached and the structure is being built around it, a piece of soft wood has been temporary placed at the stern to create the rudder/rear hydroplane block.





Dad is measuring up the prop shafts so he can start to work out the stern area motor mounts and associated equipment. They will be different lengths because the motors have to be staggered.





Its hard to believe that there is another 60mm to go on top of what currently exists! Then there is the superstructure and and gun mounts on top of that!


Mum is threatening to hit him on the head with it if he spends too much time on it!!!


We will be taking the hull as it is (or probably more complete ) to the Deans Marine Open Days, she will be on display on the Saturday.