The Ship Model Forum

Hello All,

Thought I would post some photo's of my 1/96 scale scratch built USS Sumner in progress photos. She is remote controlled, with twin motors, rudders, and speed control.

How'd you do the hull?

(And moderator, delete my same question under Guest)

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Current build logs -
1/72 110' Subchasers as Rum Runners
1/96 Japanese 'Steel Truck'
1/96 12cm pre-Dreadnaught deck gun
1/124 CS Privateer 'Beauregard'
1/124 CS Blockade Runners Pevensey & Ella Warley
1/192 scale whaler PEQUOD

you can purchase a fiberglass hull from the scale ship yard which is just a hull with no detailing. which saves time in modeling. although you not only have to add all the details , running gear, etc to the hull. but you must cut a deck to fit with in this hull to build your structure upon. Or you can lay up foam the same way you would do a wooden bread and butter hull. then cut a wooden deck from 1/4 plywood and glue to the foam block. after the glue has dried and using the wooden deck as a guide cut the shape of the hull on a band saw. after it has been cut. mark your center line on the foam. and mark the bulkhead locations. then using a filet knife and sanding block along with templates cut to the shape of the bulkheads carve and sand the shape of the hull out of the foam.
once you are satisfied that it looks like the hull invert the hull upside down on a building board, using small blocks of wood like keel blocks only under the wooden deck and screw the hull from under the building board into the deck. mixing 50% water and 50% wood glue cut strips of news paper and paper mache the hull making sure to cover all the foam. at least 2 coats are needed. this acts like a shield to keep the fiberglass resin from eating the foam. once dry cover the hull with fiberglass cloth and resin. once fully dried cover the dried fiberglass hull with a coat of automotive body putty such as Bondo to fill in and holes in the resin. and sand the hull smooth. repeat the bondo and sand till you have a smooth hull. once cured and dry. remove the hull from the building board. cut access holes in the wooden deck and hollow out the foam where you want running gear, batteries, etc to go. and scratch build your model as you wish.

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-Steve L.

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