1/72 Admiral Kuznetzov

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Mick That is one big hull and I'm looking forward to the moulding bit. What does the plug weigh ?
Dave Wooley

[ozpirate]

[ozpirate]

Hi Mick That is one big hull and I'm looking forward to the moulding bit. What does the plug weigh ?
Dave Wooley

At the moment I would guess around +/-50kgs But from the original foam hull I can already start to feel the weight come on the hull and when the fiberglass goes on it will need 2 people to move it until I get the inner foam and plaster out.
There is still a little sanding needed but overall its ready. If the weather holds out I will wax it over the next few days. Hope nothing goes wrong.
All I need is good warm weather for the next week.

Mick

[ozpirate]

OK for the people that have been waiting for it. FIBERGLASS TIME
Today at 11am for 2.5 hours I worked with 2 friends Joe and Lee to fiberglass the monster.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Mick.Elst/A ... 7220081008#





More will follow but give me time to start to sand the model.
Mick
Sydney Australia

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Mick Words fail me , this project is amazing . The size of the model really hits home .
Dave Wooley

[Joachim]

What a giant, my respect!!!!

[desron48]

mick.....looking good mate....tell me is this a ....ONE OFF....or are you making a mould for multple copys??...several members of the 48th fleet are thinking of doing a CVE in 1/48th scale...altho i'd like to do a ESSEX.... ....THAT WOULD BE HUGE...... ......JOE

[ozpirate]

mick.....gooking good mate....tell me is this a ....ONE OFF....or are yoy making a mould for multple copys??...several members of the 48th fleet are thinking of doing a CVE in 1/48th scale...altho i'd like to do a ESSEX.... ....THAT WOULD BE HUGE...... ......JOE

So far it's a one off but also I have been asked several times if I plan to make a mould to reproduce more. So far there is one of two that might be interested.
Last time I feel into a trap and everyone I asked wanted a copy of the Minck Carrier at 1/100. Made a mould (which is now gone) and ended up no interest. Wasted my time and money making the mould.
This is why I work this way making a fiberglass hull one off system.

Also why stop at Essex? My favorite quote is if you plan to go nuts don't stop half way.....
Build the NIMITZ at 1/48 NOW THAT WOULD STOP EVERYONE IN THERE TRACKS!!!

Mick

[desron48]

mick.....gooking good mate....tell me is this a ....ONE OFF....or are yoy making a mould for multple copys??...several members of the 48th fleet are thinking of doing a CVE in 1/48th scale...altho i'd like to do a ESSEX.... ....THAT WOULD BE HUGE...... ......JOE

So far it's a one off but also I have been asked several times if I plan to make a mould to reproduce more. So far there is one of two that might be interested.
Last time I feel into a trap and everyone I asked wanted a copy of the Minck Carrier at 1/100. Made a mould (which is now gone) and ended up no interest. Wasted my time and money making the mould.
This is why I work this way making a fiberglass hull one off system.

Also why stop at Essex? My favorite quote is if you plan to go nuts don't stop half way.....
Build the NIMITZ at 1/48 NOW THAT WOULD STOP EVERYONE IN THERE TRACKS!!!

Mick

yea i've had several people say yea i'll take a 1/48th scale sims class destroyer....that was a year ago.....to this date i'm still the only one in this free world to have a sims.....NIMITZ....nice idea but way to big ...way to modren....keep up the good work mick.... i'll be watching... ..joe

[Reid]

AWW MAN THAT THING IS AWESOME!!!!!

btw i like where your minds at joe!

[ingura]

...

[Reid]

WOW that is inspiration and motivation right there... good find Ingura

[ozpirate]

Today I started to dig out the foam near the bow only to be very surprised how easy it came out and clean too. Even though I only cleared out about 30cm near the bow just to test
I then started to sand back the fiberglass to make a smooth area, boy do I have some hard work ahead with the sanding but the heavy duty sanding tools I have should make quick work of it. (I HOPE!! I'll get back to you about that one.)
Anyway here are some pictures I took.
This shot shows me clearing out part of the bow showing the clear hull after the foam and plaster have been removed.


This image shows the heavy duty sander I used.


More images can be found at
http://picasaweb.google.com/Mick.Elst/A ... 7220080111#

The hulls weight with the foam + Plaster + Fiberglass = 35kgs so far!!! Wont break my back yet!!
Comments welcome and for those people who may have ideas or images to share all welcome.

Mick

[ingura]

...

[desron48]

hi mick.....question.....how many layers of matt.....what oz. matt....how many gallons of resin did you use??.......joe

[ozpirate]

Peter
I plan to start using a mask due to the amount of fiberglass dust being produced and boy there is heaps.
Also yes I really enjoy seeing it come to shape. This weekend is its first ever show if I can get it there. I will show the pictures next week if I get it there in one piece. Should be a show stopper just on the car along. Hanging over both ends of my car. When I get the side sponson on it will almost be as wide also, but that will be a while yet.
At the show there will also be the USS Enterprise at 4.75m, Me with my Kuznetsov at 4.2m and the small Italian, not sure on its size yet, all scale 1/72.

Joe
You ask about the fiberglass layers. Over 80% is 2 layers of 2oz in some places 3 layers for strength. I used about 15L of resin also and had 3 people including me also working for about 2.5 hours. While I'm currently sanding back I will keep an eye out if it gets to thin. Also total weight Foam+plaster+fiberglass=35kgs not to bad for its size don't you think.

Mick

[ozpirate]

Ok for those interested on the 18th and 19th October 2008 I attended the Sydney model Boat Show.
Now for everyone that wants to know officially the MODEL of the Admiral was started on the 11am on the 8th October 2008 prior to that I was working on the mould.
This was the first time The Admiral Kuznetsov traveled away from home.
First time on my car I was concerned if the model would travel well. It was a real surprise that on such a small car how well it traveled to the show.
While at the show I had many comments. Some comical and some serious. Some couldn't believe it can in on my car! Others Giving me words of encouragement, Others saying they would NEVER build or couldn't build something that size.
Late on Sunday I even took the model down to the water, also the first time for that. Well I have big problems here. I really have to sink this model. There is no way in hell I'm going to carry in my small car weight to sink this monster!!! At a guess it should carry with no worries over 200kgs!!!
Anyway here come the pictures or if you like follow the link.
http://picasaweb.google.com/Mick.Elst/2 ... lBoatShow#

On my car for transport


Its first time on display


Its first float test

[desron48]

looking good mick......did ya get a lot of people pointing and stairing on the road?? good to see it in the water......i'll be watching this progress.....joe

[ingura]

....

[ozpirate]

First Joe, yes I did have a lot of people with rubber necks. Especially people on buses and trucks. Actually kinda funny when you watch it happen.

Peter thanks for the info you gave me. The length of my ship currently is 4.2 meters but I still have the curved part near the bow to build so these sizes you gave look very good. I don't know about the draft since every time the model hull might not be an exactly as the real ship but will be close enough. It at least gives me a starting point.
Did I read that right 2 meters a sec for speed of model??? If this is correct its faster that some of the speed boats at my club!! Mind you over the weekend at the Sydney model show there was a toy aircraft carrier that had its bow out of the water when it went forward like a speed boat.

Mick