The Ship Model Forum

Hi Ron
I would like to see the tanker also .Its amazing these things could run over 18 knots .

Hope you are getting better .

Here she is after the sixth and final coat of primer.



Now we will sand her down to 1000 grit then polish .

She's very much near my interest of tankers and merchant ships, but since you have already 10 guys giving comments on the topic I wasn't planning to post till later on. However, now I have to make a comment! It looks brilliant, and constructed at such a pace! Really sharp building there, keep it going, I'll be following. I'm a little sad though, she'll be sold and probably we won't see the end product of this excellent hull I hope you'll build one more or even construct a model out of the plug is she's not destroyed in the process!

Richard that is one magnificent plug . You sure produce the very best. Also that is one amazing picture of a T3 bow submerged .
Dave Wooley

i love this hull and buildings. thanks for share Richard.
i love tankers too and i have one in my shipyard waiting for one day your building.
for you Neptune i would like you visit it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/diarioportuario/
is full of tankers and ships of brazilian navy and tankers aporting here in our harbours

Neptune wrote:She's very much near my interest of tankers and merchant ships, but since you have already 10 guys giving comments on the topic I wasn't planning to post till later on. However, now I have to make a comment! It looks brilliant, and constructed at such a pace! Really sharp building there, keep it going, I'll be following. I'm a little sad though, she'll be sold and probably we won't see the end product of this excellent hull I hope you'll build one more or even construct a model out of the plug is she's not destroyed in the process!

Hi Neptune
Thank you for your comments . Bob will be building AO-22 Cimarron with the first hull .He is in the photo with the plug .I have sold five hulls already and I know for sure that two will be Sangamon class CVE's.
I will be posting the work that Bob does .He has purchased some of the deck gear .

Dave Wooley wrote:Richard that is one magnificent plug . You sure produce the very best. Also that is one amazing picture of a T3 bow submerged .
Dave Wooley

Hi Dave
Thank you for your overly kind words .I loved that picture and couldn't wait for a chance to put it in .
Hi Norbert
Thank you for the link .I have become interested in tankers and work vessels .

a bit of color in the image

Now its time to make the dam.

Back again
Before a mold can be made we have to polish the plug to a class "A" finish .I use a fine ,extra fine and a glaze .


This is how she turned out .










Now is the time to put on six layers of a hi-temp mold release wax .You have to waite a hour between coats .

Richard That is what I call a plug , I am looking and learning , more please
Dave Wooley

Thanks for your support Dave .

Hi All
My arms are giving out .Hand rubbing the mold release wax .The stuff dosen't like to polish by hand .The wax gets into all the surface impefections and fills them in thus reducing surface tension when you seperate the mold .Used the bright light to be sure all the wax was polished before the next coat .





Good news for tanker fans .Charles Huet is making a superstructure kit for a T3 . Not all T3's were armed the same . Bob will be making the version with the four 5in guns .

hi richard,that is a very nice looking hull,looking forward to seeing the mould and the first hull to be popped out

Thanks Russ
I have been watching your build with much interest.
I have finished the waxing and started the dam that goes around the sheer line .Because of the curved bulwarks I needed to use alum flashing .The rest of the dam will be formica .



Tomorrow I will start the mold .Stand by Bob .

hI Richard
i am watching this superb build
i like the use of you do like formica and others.
your hull is very good too - is borning a gret model ship from you

Thanks Norbert
I have started a ship for myself and will be using some of you your build to help me .
I installed the dam this time with clay in between.Used the alum slab to weigh it down while trimming the clay .Put on a few coats of PVA but it got to late to start with the gel coat .As Bill would say ,lets take a look .





Today is gel coat day and one layer of matt .

wow
i am learning about lamination seeing this superb hull plug.
i will waiting for more of this work
very very good

Hi Norbert
Thank for watching .Sprayed on coats of PVA and let dry .Then three 8mil layers of tooling gel coat .The mold will last alot longer if tooling gel coat is used instead of regular gel coat .Each coat has to get tacky before appling the next .Ofter the last coat is tacky the first layer of matt is installed .You have to put on the matt before the gel coat dries or it might shrink .Her she is .




It will take about six layers of matt .Stand by

hi richard,i don't fully understand the process of making a plug ,but it sure seems to be a job that takes lots of skill and dedication.everything has to be super smooth ,and have no blemishs.i now this from making resin casting moulds,any imperfectons show up on the casting.keep up the good work and i am looking forward to seeing nagato again.

Looking very good.

Richard,

I am watching with fascination. I have never made a hull plug/mold before so I am learning.

You have me scratching my head with the dam. I understand the centerline part around the bow and down the keel, but the transverse section aft of midships is puzzling. Are you making fore and aft halves because of the propeller shaft fairings at the aft end? I was wondering how you would make a mold - actually get the part out of the mold - with such complex features.

Phil