I have been beavering away inside the hull.I have come to the conclusion that both the developement of the internal structure and the integration of the many working functions together with how these tie in with the F14 expansion modules is probably more work than the topsides.
Many things have taken place that don't show in any pics.Firstly the model was rigged up and placed in the test tank after the main battery tray was fitted in front of the moonpool.The model was very light at the stern.This allows me to run a fourth lead acid battery in the stern.This gives me a total of 2 12v lead acid batteries and 2 6v batteries.Each battery will be connected to it's own action electronics distribution board with digital voltage display so charge status can be monitored.The mounts for these boards and voltage displays are fitted and can be seen in the pics.
I have started and tested a simple circuit board for the endpoint control of crane movements.This uses microswitches and Schottky diodes.The Graupner wiring diagram used both the normally open and closed terminals,my system just uses the normally closed contacts.
The bowden outer fitted is for the rope that will raise and lower the diving bell.I gave up coming up with a design whereas the winch for this would be close to the moonpool,just too much to cram in the rear of the boat.
You will notice the mounts under the rear battery tray.These take two high torque servos to operate the working moonpool doors that are under construction.I have bought a y lead that reverses one of the servos allowing these doors to open and close in tandem.
The moonpool is becoming a project on it's own.The kit version does suffer from looking bland very much like the inside of a heating oil tank.The ribbing fitted will take an outer skin that is perforated with various holes to provide the baffling effect.I have fitted pockets to take dummy hydraulic rams for the moonpool doors.All these details while most probably fictitious on the original have been researched on the websites of companies that currently fabricate the real ones. Comes in handy the web.Just a shame Seabex was built before the advent of the internet otherwise there would be many more pics of her about.Yes I know there are a few of her in more modern guises but both her and her sister have both been chopped about several times.
The anchor pockets are also in.These will both work independently.
One point for anyone using an expanded F14 with futaba's 2.4 GHZ module.I spent ages last weekend testing the crane rotation circuit coupled up to the radio gear.I was baffled why it wouldn't work.The k no's on the decoder pins do not marry up on 2.4ghz.I moved the connector to a different pin and hey presto it worked.
The wire loops bonded in are to take cable ties.Trying to keep this tidy as I envisage many,many meters of cabling in this model
As if this project wasn't enough,I have ordered the xbow Oceanic Vega hull from Mobile Marine Models
Brian showed me this at Doncaster show last year,it is awesome.It has taken me 18 months to source the Ulstein GA drawings.Now I have them,I feel I have enough info to build this as MMM don't supply any drawings.
Anyway a few pics,and yes I am now going to brush paint the insides.Spraying would be virtually impossible
Kind Regards
Nigel