The Ship Model Forum

Latest update
All the foam is now gone but now have a new problem. While the foam was in place the hull was quite strong but when I pulled out all the foam the ship almost folded in half. The hull between the bulkheads which is 2.7meters long has very little support. I have to put 2 layers of fiberglass on the inside before I can do anymore on the ship. The stringers I bought for the ship are not strong enough to hold the hull in place. Once these 2 things are done I have to save money for 4 shafts and props for my model.
Latest photo:

Anyway I can start to work on other parts of the ship. Maybe even give the superstructure a go.
I'm also working on a Russian Parchim 2 class corvette in 1/50. This is my learning boat so when I learn different things that can be applied to the Admiral.

I know the difficulties of having a 100% straight hull pretty well...I had my own issues with Yorktown, even with all those bulkheads.

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I think I may have an idea to keep the deck straight but I will only find out when I get closer to putting the deck on. If the hanger deck is straight then all should be well. Keeping my fingers crossed.
A few years back I was building a 1/350 Spurance model at a club and a person walked up to me, telling me what a crap model it was due to a warped deck. I told him to watch me glue my deck down in front of him. When it was done he couldn't believe how simple I made it look and yes it was DEAD straight! Mind you I stuffed up attaching my 1/350 deck to the Admiral Kuznetsov from Trumpeter, but managed to get it right in the end with a good twist.
Attaching a dead straight flight deck always going to make its own problems and in my case I also have a ski jump. So when I get there I will be very careful not to stuff it up since many people will be glad to point out a warped deck. I'm seriously thinking of having smaller decks locked together this way I hope to make it easier but that is a long way off. Many things can happen between now and then.

Mick
In 40 degrees C HOT SYDNEY

Ozpirate

May I make a small suggestion for stiffening Fibreglass?

Fix lengths of nylon rope - about 1/4 - where you want stiffness then resin in a layer of matting over the rope. Takes up hardly any room and follows any contour you want - try it on a little spare sheet

Paul bannon

Hiya all, well its been a while since my last posts here and if you remember I had a problem with a thin mid hull. I have kinda fixed this problem but in the process the stern bulkhead has a warp in the deck line.

I have fixed this problem by putting a false deck in place. (No pictures yet)
I've also done some work on the bow

A few days ago I bit the bullet so to speak and try to find out how much weight my model will need. I guessed about 150kgs about last December. As it turned out I had a friend sit in the model. He weighs 62kgs

What I realized is that I going to need heaps of weight to get it to sit on the water line. 3 days later I went back and put water containers into my model.

These 2 buckets held 120kgs between the 2 of them plus 2 of the black bucket poured into the bow section. Making a total weight of water about 180kgs.
I pushed the model out a few times and each time she seamed to turn one direction. Not sure if this will happen once the rudders are connected but if the problem still is there when the ship is under RC then I will put a false rudder (Kiel) near the bow to correct the problem.
While pushing the model out on the 3rd time the line broke with my model stuck in the middle of the lake. Lucky Joe and his tug arrived to push me in.

Hi Mick Do you intend to make use of water ballast when the model is completed?
Dave Wooley

Dave Wooley wrote:Hi Mick Do you intend to make use of water ballast when the model is completed?

I was wondering the same thing. It seems that you could keep the weight down by ballasting when you put her in the water and pumping out when you take her out.

You must remember I still have alot of building to do which intern will reduce the water needed. This was just a test in the water with NO batteries or motors. The weight of water should come down by maybe half (I hope), only time and building will tell. But it does look great on the water don't it.

Dave as for ballast for the ship I plan at this time to use water ballast but its still early in the build.

Well time for a little update. Finally have some money to continue the build of the Admiral Kuznetsov. Lately all I was able to was work on a few aircraft or other models. But back to the admiral, I have bought the propellers needed and the slots for the shafts have been cut. Putting the stringers to stabilize the sides early next week and then goes to get the shafts put in, finally!!! Then the work can continue with finishing of the basic hull. Then as I plan (If all goes well to that point) I will start putting on the sponsans. If this goes well work will proceed quite quickly.
Getting the stringers in place

Shaft cuttings in the hull - Still need to be lengthened.

Hi Mick good to see your Kuznetzov back on course .
Dave Wooley

Hi Mick

I am using 3 large batteries and a few shot filled bags for trim, to ballast the Bismarck.

116kg.

Philip

Thanks Dave for the comments, Kiwimedic your Bismark looks great but when I took my model down to the water and did a weight check I ended up with 180kgs. The weight I need to put into my model will change as the build continues. Just hope most is below the waterline or I will end up top heavy.

Big posting here, as can be seen by the new images here work is underway inside the boat getting walls in place and getting ready to install the shafts and motors. When these walls are in place I can finish smoothing the hull and correcting the shape of the hull where it was pulled in when I put the second coat of fiberglass on the inside of the ship. Hopefully bu the end of the year she will be operational in the water and then comes the rest of the ship.



Showing empty hull with new bulkheads and shaft positions


Showing bow section


Shart of Superstructure this is going to be a slow build


Showing a basic look of the inside walls


Walls upright


Closser view


Due to lenght I will have to put in a new bulkhead but this helps also since I can make it the full with with the flight deck. Should be interesting when installed sometime in September


Couldn't resist putting the basic superstructure on to show


Not even my work table was long enough for this bit of work but I managed anyway


Showing the shape of my inside walls befor instillation Lotts of clamps just to make sure it stayed straight.


Showing the bend I have to get rid of.


Showen in place but not glued in just yet




Again with island and now at the right height to the deck The island at this scale is bigger that the whole ship at 1/350






One word I'm glad for a big garage.

Hi Mick Taking shape well .I see what you mean with the superstructure , it's like the ship , really big. Question when do you intend to fit the running gear?
Dave Wooley

Dave Wooley wrote:Question when do you intend to fit the running gear? Dave Wooley

I'm booked in with a professional to install the running gear and fingers crossed sometime before October.

Any progress? Long time No post.... Hope it is going well...

Looking great!!
I like this scale too, makes it easier to detail the model and to make more things working.

Are there coming any RC-aircraft on board this vessel?
I think it should be do-able.

Greetings Josse

tweety777 wrote:Looking great!!
I like this scale too, makes it easier to detail the model and to make more things working.
Are there coming any RC-aircraft on board this vessel?
I think it should be do-able.
Greetings Josse

Hmmm working aircraft I have looked into this since these new toys have started to appear at the markets here but all at the moment are to big or wrong type, but if anyone out there spots a Russian type please get back to me. (MUST LOOK VERY CLOSE TO SCALE 1/72) I'm talking about these new flying helicopters.

Next major update will be coming very soon. After the 2 day model boat show on 7th and 8th November 2009.

Isn't it an option to buy a kit and put RC-gear into it to control them?
Tiny fan's or several props on 1 shaft would work as a jet-engine.

Greetings Josse

Latest update:
Since I last posted here I have added the inner walls where I plan to attach the side pontoons to. I have decided to make this part of the ship in Styrene plastic due to the ease of working with the material. Work to start as soon as the motors and shafts are in place. which will be any day now. The pictures of the motors will appear in the next update. The images below show the boat as is now with a flow coat over the hull which I'm currently making smooth. I have noticed a few problems in the hull and trying to rectify them before I get to far ahead. On the 8th November the model was at the Hubertus Model Boat show where many good comments were made. The last image shows a friends kid sitting inside my model. Guess I'm going to need a hell of a lot more for ballast.