Topic: Anyone built this?- without the power source! (Read 3540 times)

Brian60 · « **on:** July 25, 2014, 12:48:49 pm »

I've never thought about it before, but even today this would be quite revolutionary never mind half a century ago!

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28439159

Even today the NS Savannah makes sense compared to the way fossil fuels keep rising in price.

TheLongBuild · « **Reply #1 on:** July 25, 2014, 01:27:32 pm »

Quote from: Brian56 on July 25, 2014, 12:48:49 pm

I've never thought about it before, but even today this would be quite revolutionary never mind half a century ago!

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28439159

Even today the NS Savannah makes sense compared to the way fossil fuels keep rising in price.

Great looking ship , however not sure if it really makes sense looking at the issues they had..

Brian60 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 25, 2014, 01:39:34 pm »

Maybe so but you have to remember-

Yesterday's issues have todays solutions! The U.S seems to have no problem with nuclear powered surface warships surely the technology would bleed across in 50 years.

TheLongBuild · « **Reply #3 on:** July 25, 2014, 03:29:19 pm »

Would they tell us if they did

plastic · « **Reply #4 on:** July 25, 2014, 04:48:16 pm »

Nuclear power is ideal for ships - endless cooling water and miles deep if things go really wrong!

The Savannah was built as a technology demonstrator but these days, imagine some Sudanese pirates wanting to ransom the world with a few tons of fissile material. At least the military can defend their reactors!

The new PRISM reactors can be configured to burn Plutonium - and the UK has enough of it 'kicking around' (from decommissioning our spare warheads) to power the entire national grid for the next 500 years!

As an added bonus, the plutonium gets converted into stuff that's easier to deal with - win-win.

The US Navy is investing in Fusion reactors - probably a version of a Polywell - they reckon it's do-able with current technology.

warspite · « **Reply #5 on:** July 25, 2014, 05:39:58 pm »

Didn't Heller, do a plastic kit of this years ago, like the shell coastal tanker.

plastic · « **Reply #6 on:** July 25, 2014, 05:43:12 pm »

Revell made a version - just about big enough to RC - they're always around on eBay for about £15

All you need is an old X-ray machine and you can make a Nuclear flash-boiler!

warspite · « **Reply #7 on:** July 25, 2014, 05:48:29 pm »

just checked there is a vintage UPC version on fleabay US and a guy had a build thread for a Glencoe version as well.

DavieTait · « **Reply #8 on:** July 25, 2014, 05:51:10 pm »

http://youtu.be/_rBZWvT0CTk

http://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php?detail=5810&page=789&soldarchive=llastsoldarchive

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/How-to-Build-4-039-N-S-SAVANNAH-RC-MODEL-SHIP-PLANS-1st-NUCLEAR-MERCHANTMAN-/230952081289

dreadnought72 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 25, 2014, 06:10:41 pm »

Why not the power source? 4.5kg of Plutonium-238 will give you around 160W of electricity when used in an RTG for decades.

Imagine never having to charge batteries! Saving yourself the cost of lead ballast!

(The H&S paperwork might be a bit time-consuming, though...)

Andy

plastic · « **Reply #10 on:** July 25, 2014, 06:15:17 pm »

You'll need some shielding to protect the electronics - but you could always put the fuel into a deep keel - then the water will provide the shielding to protect you.

warspite · « **Reply #11 on:** July 25, 2014, 06:43:18 pm »

that's alright for the boat - what about the transmitter - getting approval for running that on the same power source could be a little tricky - unless of course you run the system in reverse like deans marines litho system, which is take the 7v battery out of the boat and charge it off the transmitter - in this case take the battery out of the transmitter and charge it off the boat.

although if there was an accident - I don't think most club ponds are deep enough to cool the reactor for long

, uumm some serious landscaping problems if it all went pear shaped - and I have had first hand knowledge of what happens when people don't look where their going with their boats.

plastic · « **Reply #12 on:** July 25, 2014, 07:06:07 pm »

Quote from: warspite on July 25, 2014, 06:43:18 pm

that's alright for the boat - what about the transmitter - getting approval for running that on the same power source could be a little tricky - unless of course you run the system in reverse like deans marines litho system, which is take the 7v battery out of the boat and charge it off the transmitter - in this case take the battery out of the transmitter and charge it off the boat.

although if there was an accident - I don't think most club ponds are deep enough to cool the reactor for long , uumm some serious landscaping problems if it all went pear shaped - and I have had first hand knowledge of what happens when people don't look where their going with their boats.

You don't have a reactor - the fuel is just really hot on its own - like a stone in a camp fire - you either convert the heat to electricity directly or use the heat to boil water - it's stable on its own. (like in the old days - you could buy Radium corsets to keep your bad back nice and warm

)

There's no chance of a melt-down or explosion - it's totally 'safe'.

tony52 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 25, 2014, 08:12:31 pm »

Virtual reality tour of the ship here -

http://www.hnsa.org/savannah/index.php

CyberBOB · « **Reply #14 on:** July 26, 2014, 02:35:17 am »

This company makes remote controlled vehicles that work in radioactive environments, so the shielding technology is there.

http://www.inuktun.com

Didn't look like they had any boats though. Wonder if they are hiring?

vnkiwi · « **Reply #15 on:** July 26, 2014, 04:09:33 am »

Yep, I made the Revell model, back when they first came out.
Very nice to put together, and looked nice to.
Even had a seperate reactor, which you could take out and display
Wish I still had it.
One on german E-bay now with a buy now of 40 euro
cheers
vnkiwi

roycv · « **Reply #16 on:** July 26, 2014, 08:27:38 am »

Hi, our previous Secretary built a scratch version about 3 feet loa and complete with crew, I will see if I have a photo of it.
It was such nice model that when he sailed it in the lake we took our boats out of the water! Must be nearly 30 years ago, makes a very nice model.
regards Roy

imsinking · « **Reply #17 on:** July 26, 2014, 09:32:58 am »

Yes indeed, one of the Wallasey Model Boat Society members built this a couple of years ago . . .

and. . .

Really goes at it does Barry, even has THE ORIGINAL FOGHORN sound in a sound unit , I think there's a build log on the WMBC website . . .
He's also done a Radio Caroline 2 model , pics on the club forum I think.

Bill

CyberBOB · « **Reply #18 on:** July 26, 2014, 05:33:23 pm »

That's quite the sheerline for a ship. Looks like it was taken from a yacht. Too bad they don't make many ships with curves anymore.

Beautiful model.

tony52 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 27, 2014, 09:36:43 am »

Here is my offering of the Revell kit. Although this model is static, it is well worth converting to miniature r/c, as earlier in this thread.

Barrie Freeman's model of the Radio Caroline ship Ross Revenge was featured in Model Boats magazine some time ago. The item can still be read on the Model Boats site -
http://www.modelboats.co.uk/news/article/ross-revenge/4470

imsinking · « **Reply #20 on:** July 27, 2014, 07:42:16 pm »

Barry doesn't build many models , but puts a lot of research into those he does, and the Savannah build is on . . . .
http://wallaseymodelboatsociety.co.uk/
open 'members and their stories' second line down (under the 'Sealord' bridge) and the lead story is Barry . . . plenty of construction photos here too . . .
build logs section only has a CORVETTE and the ARK ROYAL logs at the moment , well worth a look tho' . . .

Bill

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Author Topic: Anyone built this?- without the power source! (Read 3540 times)