The Ship Model Forum

Hi John Good to see you and the Yamato in fine form . I notice that the Swans are taking a real interest in your model. It seems to be a big problem around the ponds and lakes in our area. It's superb having a large model but there is always the thorny issue of ballast .
Dave Wooley

Hello gang Thanks for the kind words or encouagement.

I was very very happy with the results of her "Sea Trials" it went better than expected but I was very surprised that the ship sat so high in the water. Im looking into ballast but since anything that I would put in would have to come out for transport to and from the Pond Im kinda looking into some sort of sand bags, loosely packed they will be able to settle..

Anyone got an opinion

Thanks
John John

Irish Yamato wrote:Hello gang Thanks for the kind words or encouagement.

I was very very happy with the results of her "Sea Trials" it went better than expected but I was very surprised that the ship sat so high in the water. Im looking into ballast but since anything that I would put in would have to come out for transport to and from the Pond Im kinda looking into some sort of sand bags, loosely packed they will be able to settle..

Anyone got an opinion

Thanks
John John

Hi John Have you given water ballast any more thoughts . Could be the answer?
Dave Wooley

Sealing off sections in the hull and allowing them to flood?

Its murderous to lift it empty in and out of the water as is..Its a thought...any pics of such a set up available?

=John John

Have you considered lead bars?
Picking the weights at a fishing shop, and melting them into form?
Alternatively, a usual brick?

how about tire balance wieghts. many shops throw away the old ones when rebalancing tires.My dad would even melt them with a torch and allow the drops to go into a bucket of water to make small teardrop bb's of lead.

Have a look at lead flashing, as used in roofing.
It is available in various sized rolls from Builders Merchants, and some DIY shops.
This can simply be unrolled, and then folded into a 'brick', to suit the space you have available in the hull.
I have used this, it is effective, and simple to work with.

Peter

Irish Yamato wrote:Sealing off sections in the hull and allowing them to flood?

Its murderous to lift it empty in and out of the water as is..Its a thought...any pics of such a set up available?

=John John

Hi John The idea that's been adopted by a number of modellers is to construct internal tanks [ with baffles} using a pump which can be bought from "Motors Direct" and pump water in or out in just a few minutes. John Hollis used this sort of system for hid huge HMS Devastation. Then again you can free flood the tanks and use pumps to remove the water when finished. This way you are only lifting the hull not the ballast as well . Howie Baker constructed tanks for his 1:100 SMS Scharnhorst using this system .I'll dig out some pictures, I think ARH also has pictures of Paul Youds Gold Rover using flood tanks
Dave Wooley

hi i have been building this model on and off for a few years now
i have needed 26 kg of ballast, i have cast iron weights inside concrete shapes to sit in the various areas of the hull which are easilly removable for transport.
Ian

Keep in mind that when you use the internal water ballast tanks, what ever crud is in the water your running in....it is coming home with you. It is far better to carry extra batteries and then large lead weights then have your model banished to the garage because your other half does not appreciate the gentle aroma of duck poop in the living room