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[unbuiltnautilus]

Very nice, although I suspect this is the last time it will look graceful

[raflaunches]

Very nice, although I suspect this is the last time it will look graceful

He he, she'll certainly be an ugly duckling when she's finished, at least she'll have a menacing presence on the water

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


Upper superstructure has been started, frames cut out and turret barbettes marked out. It's a lot narrower than I expected   

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


Photos of the superstructure and turret barbettes progression...

[Subculture]

Looking good. Shame it will never submerge (at least not intentionally).

[raflaunches]

Thanks Subculture 
It's got some amazing lines and my Dad is having to decipher the original drawings to create the superstructure and it's complex shape- not easy when the drawings are not particularly easy to read.
It'll be at The mayhem show at Wicksteed whether it's runnable or not!

[salmon]

There is a line where something is so ugly, it becomes beautiful and this sub qualifies for that. The look of the X-1 is just cool to me and like Andy said, pity it will not be a diving model. Following this thread is helpful for me to see what techniques are being used to create this one of a kind submarine.
Thank you for posting!
Peace,
tom

[raflaunches]

Thanks Tom


Dad will be getting a big head with all this praise
He gets very busy during the week and I have to catch him in the act of building to get a picture of the progress! Glad you find this thread helpful he certainly impresses me with his work!
Another update due this weekend 

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


Managed to get some photos for this weeks update.
He has built the conning tower from 1/32" (0.8mm) plywood wrapped around 1/16" (1.6mm) plywood base which is bolted to a flat piece of wood to hold it flat.
The brass tube on the side of the conning tower is the attack periscope base whilst the the brass socket at the fore end is the base for the fore mast which is retractable.

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


Some more pictures of the conning tower position, the window section being made from 0.75mm plastic card cut and filed to shape. The first attempt was made from 1/32" plywood but started to split in the corner of every window!

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


Time for an update!


After the mayhem weekend and visits to other shows, Dad is adding the hull detail using litho plate to create little vents and inspection panels, etc. he has also faired in the underside of the barbettes using 1/64" plywood and a bit of filler- a lot of swearing I heard from the boat shed whilst these were being fitted!

[unbuiltnautilus]

I think the swearing will be worth it in the end. Keep up the good work.

[salmon]

If you are not swearing, you aren't pushing yourself!

[raflaunches]

If you are not swearing, you aren't pushing yourself!

I think the swearing will be worth it in the end. Keep up the good work.

Thanks lads, I'll pass on the praise to my Dad! I must have learnt a few new words listening to him- and I work in the military!

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


I caught my Dad in the act once again and luckily I had a camera to hand!
This week he has been building the forward biplane hydroplanes and making them folding too. He has been using
brass sheet and tube, with his trusty blow torch, to create the hydroplane and the pivots. He has also built the slots to which they pass through but this is built sing 1/32" ply.
He has also built several other items over the past month, the sonar dome base and the horizontal stabilisers which were built from copper sheet and brass rod. He filled them up with body filler and then drilled out the centre as per the drawings. He also found some more vents and flush hatches which he had to make from litho plate!
And finally after some more profuse swearing (which was reported to me by my mum!!!) he has made the little steps on the superstructure from 1/32" plywood.

[raflaunches]

The forward hydroplanes are fitted, faired in, and painted.


Retracted...








Deployed...










The bow bull ring and fore flag pole fitting made from brass.







The rear bollard which doubles up as fastener for the rudder access hatch. And the two rear horizontal stabilisers.







The rear flag pole and the first aerial pole made from brass tube and rod.

[raflaunches]

I've been taunted by my dad tonight, he phoned me to tell me that he has started the turret bases and has even got as far as the gun mountings! But my dad being the type not to use technology to record his progress I'll have to get home early on Friday to catch him in the act before he builds the whole thing!
Promise to upload pictures as soon as I take them!

[raflaunches]

As promised here are the pictures of the turret bases firmly attached to a servo arm fitting.








The new forward flooding chamber inlets above the torpedo tube doors.





The conning tower had to be raised by 1/4" after another look by dad and comparing them to Fred the sailer!





And finally the rear rudder tiller hatch held in place with the new screw bollard.

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


I'm capturing pictures as he builds it at the moment! I think Dad is trying to have it completed before Ron Dean's open days in September 


The first picture is of the cover hatch which will hide and prevent water ingress into the turret servo (he hopes!) and the strange frame over the switch hatch is to support the voice pipes to the rear turret position.





The next is the stern light made from brass rod and tube filed to shape.





The conning tower and bridge rebuilt (again!) and this time you'll be able to see the basis for the director tower for the two twin 5.2in guns, the servo will be forever stuck inside the coning tower so if it ever breaks then... well you get the picture!





The starboard biplane hydroplanes are now faired too.





And now some random pictures from the bow area for viewing enjoyment!

[tugmad]

A brilliant thread I am really enjoying following it thanks   Geo

[kees de mol]

Amazing build of a very unusaly ship. 

[raflaunches]

Amazing build of a very unusaly ship. 

A brilliant thread I am really enjoying following it thanks   Geo

Glad you both are enjoying build so far too, I utterly amazed of his recent progress, he's actually wired everything up and is preparing for its initial light grey paint this weekend, I'll keep you all upto date as I find out!

[raflaunches]

Hi everyone


She is ready for painting the light Mediterranean grey on to the upper hull and superstructure, hopefully tomorrow once the grey is fully dry the black underside can be a painted on to.


Anyway some pictures out of the build shed and in to the garage for the paint application.

[unbuiltnautilus]

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

[cuppa]

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