Calling all USS Albacore AGSS-569 fans

[D-Boy]

Blue Ridge Models announced today the release of their 1:350 USS Albacore, AGSS-569, a precedent-setting boat in the development of US submarine design and technology. The perfect prompt for a new thread here!

Here's the link to the the box art: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=109821

The kit appears to be a circa 1960 conversion that added X-configuration control surfaces at the stern, reinstated a dorsal fin on the saild, and added hull-mounted dive breaks. Also hinted at in the box art is the contra-rotating propellers that were incorporated in 1962.

A quick summary of the boat's influence from the Historic Naval Ships Association website:

"USS Albacore holds a place in history as the first U.S. Navy-designed vessel with a true submarine hull form, in which surface characteristics were subordinated to underwater performance. She possessed no weapon systems; her sole function was to conduct experiments. During her early trials, she set a new underwater speed record with improved control. From 1955 to 1971, Albacore served in five distinct phases of experimentation, carrying out tests of speed, depth changes and underwater maneuvering. Through a series of configurations, she provided the model for all future U.S. Navy and many foreign submarines that followed.

U.S. Navy scientists used Albacore as a floating laboratory to test sonar devices, hydrophones, diving brakes and emergency escape systems. She also served as a high-speed, almost noiseless target for anti-submarine warfare. In 1966, she again set a new submerged speed record, earning a reputation as the world's fastest submarine. Albacore was retired from service in 1972, and transferred to the Portsmouth Submarine Memorial Association in 1984. She was placed in a permanent dry berth and opened to the public in October 1985.

USS Albacore is a National Historic Landmark and a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark."

Now a museum ship in Portsmouth, NH, the boat's technical achievements and reconfigurations are detailed here: http://www.ussalbacore.org/html/albacore_story.html

And for sub modelers looking for some color on their display shelf, with appropriate backdating, you can model the Albacore as of 3 specific days in the summer of 1959: http://www.ussalbacore.org/html/flotsam ... arine.html

- D-Boy

[Tom Dougherty]

The many modifications of the USS Albacore, AGSS 589. Phases I, II, III and IV.
Praenuntius futuri

[D-Boy]

Freetime Hobbies now taking pre-orders on the Albacore: http://www.freetimehobbies.com/added8132012.aspx

[Peter O]

I've just ordered my Albacore from FreeTime Hobbies. I live about 20 miles from the Albacore Museum in Portsmouth, so I'll have to take a trip over for some new photos.

The orange version is neat... very tempting!

Peter

[Fritz]

Some pics of the preliminary casting are up in the manufacturers forum. Expected release at the end of the month.

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=114074

[D-Boy]

Albacore has been shipping - my two models arrived today. A sweet little kit. Will post pictures and write a quick review over the Thanksgiving holiday. Hull profile and details look spot-on.

[mike_espo]

Just ordered mine from the folks at the Albacore Museum. They have a few on hand from Blue Ridge Models.

Can't wait!

[Peter O]

Are there any drawings or good photos of the as-launched stern and bow diving planes? I'd like to convert the Mikro-Mir kit to the Phase I configuration. I have the Jim Christley drawings shown above, but the shape of the upper rudder doesn't quite match the photos I've seen.



This photo from "U.S.S. Albacore: Forerunner of the Future" by Largess and Mandelbatt shows that the rudders have larger protrusions than the drawing above, and it appears that the forward edges of the rudders are not vertical, but tapered so the hull ends are narrower than the skeg ends, especially on the lower rudder. Unfortunately the printing is very contrasty, so it's difficult to tell what are the sub and what are shadows. It also shows the stern planes have no protrusions beyond the skegs, and are most likely not tapered. The inside shape of the fins also looks more angular than the drawing.

So far, I haven't found any drawing or photo that shows the extended bow planes.

Thanks for any information!

Peter

[Vepr157]

Yeah, Christley's drawings of the Albacore aren't very accurate; I think he was just eyeballing the different phases. His Phase II drawing in particular is totally wrong. Fig. 2-17 in Part II of this report has an outline of Phase I:

https://authors.library.caltech.edu/records/rg4zb-h2009

Note that the report covers SST Scheme IV, the final preliminary design of the Albacore, and the "prototype," the Albacore herself. Also note that the sail and dorsal rudder were quite a bit different than Phase II and later:

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6931408

As for the bow planes, they were mounted on shafts that were inclined 45 degrees to the vertical plane. When rigged in the bow planes (themselves mounted to the shafts with a 45 degree offset) were vertical and to rig them out the shafts were rotated 180 degrees. This was the only axis of movement: to control depth the shafts were rotated.

Jacob

[Peter O]

Thanks, Jacob! The drawing and photos in the report are very helpful. I had no idea the bow planes worked that way either.

I have also contacted the Albacore Museum. They are checking their archives to see what they have. I'll be back up in NH in a couple of weeks, so hopefully I can stop by and pick up some info.

Peter

[Peter O]

I've overlaid the Christley drawing and the Free-Body Modeling report Fig. 2-17. If the figure is an accurate drawing of Albacore as built, there's quite a discrepancy.



Peter