Charlie's Fleet boat build

[g2tiger]

Hey,

Anyone have nay thoughts on

Hey,

Anyone have nay thoughts on replacement props (brass) and new shafts for the boat? Size and mfg would help.

Thanks,

Charlie

[g2tiger]

More on the Tower conversion
http://www.postimage.org/PqnxSo0.jpg

http://www.postimage.org/aVndcy0.jpg

http://www.postimage.org/gxlecNA.jpg

http://www.postimage.org/aVndmwA.jpg

http://www.postimage.org/Pqnybl9.jpg

More on the Tower conversion

[crazy ivan]

Anyone have nay thoughts on

Anyone have nay thoughts on replacement props (brass) and new shafts for the boat? Size and mfg would help.

Charlie,

I made my Gato shafts from 1/8 brass rod, tin plated to simulate steel. My props are Raboesch 35mm Type A four blade from Engel. They worked out well.

[g2tiger]

I was considering some 30

I was considering some 30 mm from Loyalhann Dockyard and some threaded shafts that fit. Don tells me the shafts would be 1/8th inch and fit.

I have concerns about the metal in the Merriman kits because I'm a little rough on models. I ordered some SS shafts from Caswell today to get back on track and I can always change out the props and shafts later. But I will go to brass when the cash is there...

[Rogue Sub]

wow you tined those whole

wow you tined those whole things. Still dont get why you didnt just do SS.

[crazy ivan]

Because I didn't have any

Because I didn't have any 1/8 SS on hand Kevin, but I did have plenty of 1/8 brass rod and 5 gallons of electroless tin plating solution handy. Thirty seconds in the tin bath does the trick very nicely. Good Lord, man! You didn't think I tinned those shafts with a soldering iron, did you?


BTW Charlie, I don't know about right now with the falling $ and all, but a couple years back I believe I paid just over $25 for the pair of props, including shipping over the Pond.

[g2tiger]

I ordered some ss 1/8

I ordered some ss 1/8 shaft from Caswell Monday. I'll make my own for now and use the Merriman props. BTW I am in contact with Rick Nelson and he has said he would do what he can to help me with my Ct conversion.

[Rogue Sub]

Because I didn't have any

Because I didn't have any 1/8 SS on hand Kevin, but I did have plenty of 1/8 brass rod and 5 gallons of electroless tin plating solution handy. Thirty seconds in the tin bath does the trick very nicely. Good Lord, man! You didn't think I tinned those shafts with a soldering iron, did you?


BTW Charlie, I don't know about right now with the falling $ and all, but a couple years back I believe I paid just over $25 for the pair of props, including shipping over the Pond.

Uhh yeah i did...you win george

[g2tiger]

Kevin,

What ever did you do

Kevin,

What ever did you do with that Kilo I sent you home with?

[Rogue Sub]

Well it is currently standing

Well it is currently standing fast, whats up?

[g2tiger]

More tower work to report.

More tower work to report. It isn't perfect but I think it will pass. I had to re-do some things based upon my emails with Rick Nelson and the USS Cod museum book that I purchased. I had to fabricate the braces for the radar mast and also rebuild some items. I built and installed some pieces to make the tower support legs look like steel beams and I also did the same around the scope braces.

[g2tiger]

Spent Saturday at the lake

Spent Saturday at the lake with Warren Wilson, Stuart T and Jack running the boats. Well they ran their boats and I ran my mouth

So I spent Sunday working on the 1/72nd scale model of the USS Cod. I did get the hull together. This required getting the aft prop struts aligned and once done I glued the bow and stern on. Then I glued on the deck pieces. I also worked on the tower. I ground off the molded in ammo cans and made new ones then attached the new units to match the photos in the USS Cod museum book. I also added the extra wide decking around the aft 40 and filled in the square door edges so they could be made round again. And I added the TBT and compass.

What do you think? Looking good, huh?

[g2tiger]

Here are the latest photos

Here are the latest photos of the soon to be USS Cod.

The first photos is is my attempt to use evercoat to fill the gap. the stuff did not stick to the hull and peeled off like a rubber gasket. i could not get the evercoat to harden even with CA applied to suite me. I ended up using baking soda and Ca to fill the gap.

The next photos are of my initial placement of the tabs prior to gluing to the hulls. The next is a mast comparison followed by a fair water comparison. the last shots are of the filler putty prior to sanding.

[Rogue Sub]

dang charlie. How long till

dang charlie. How long till it hits the water.

[g2tiger]

Nuke,

Seams like it's taking FOREVER!

Nuke,

Seams like it's taking FOREVER! I have just about everything lined up but need to put it all together. Servos and Radio may be a problem as well as connectors for the control of the planes and rudder etc. I don't really know what voltage the Merriman/Caswell WTC requires. I think 7VDC will work.

I still need a few deck pieces such as a 5inch deck gun, a second 40mm, and I was hoping to switch to brass props from Loyalhanna dockyard.

I am saving up some cash for a second Gato to use the tower on the Marlin as well.

What sort of prices and will a tracker radio work?

Charlie