Drilling holes

[adriaticsea]

Hi All,

I'm building my first RC submarine, a ThorDesign 1/96 Permit (great kit!!). Well,I primed the boat, installed the conning tower and filed the flooding holes of the hull.
I'm installing the sternplanes, but here I have a problem]http://www.subcommittee.com/forum/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] but drilling holes with a hand held electric drill is REALLY difficult for me.
I'm still an unexperienced beginner, and these mistakes are bad, mainly because Matt Thor's kit are exceptionally well done and the online innstruction are a big plus.
Now, my plan is to fill the bad holes completely with epoxy and try again, but wich type of drilling device should I use?
My uncle has a drill column(don't know if this is the correct word...I guess you understand what I'm talking about), maybe I can use this?
I'd like to learn these basics so that I'll avoid future mistakes.
BEST REGARDS MAURO

[PaulC]

Hi Mauro,

In drilling out the

Hi Mauro,

In drilling out the stern plane holes they usually do come out a little off in alignment.

Run a brass rod through the two stern plane bushings to align them properly in the holes (carefully file out the holes if the alignment needs to be adjusted). Then tack the bushings in place with CA or epoxy.

Then apply a fillet of epoxy/micro-balloons around the bushings on the inside of the hull to fix them in place securely.

This is what I had to do when I built my Permit.

[adriaticsea]

Hi Paul,

thanks for the tip,

[color=#000000]Hi Paul,

thanks for the tip, but my problem is different]

[wayne frey]

Boy I can answer the

Boy I can answer the question on filling holes. I have changed virtually every hole on my Alfa kit, Filling 88 holes and moving many of them!!
Cut out wax paper in small squares and lay them over the hole to be filled on the outside.Then cover the wax paper with masking tape. Again, this is all on the outside of the hull.
Next roll the hull so that you are looking at the inside,placing you hole to be filled at the bottom,so that gravity helps.Then mix the samllest amount of epoxy resin you can with micro-balloons mixed in. After drying,remove the tape and it should be near perfect.If there are any air pockets that remained, they can be easily filled with another mini batch of epoxy and ballons.Just touch up and sand down. Then, if it has to be smooth to the hull for other places,you can put a little nitro stan over everything and wet sand it.Then prime.It will come out great!

[adriaticsea]

Hi Wayne,

thanks for the tip!!

[color=#000000]Hi Wayne,

thanks for the tip!! I'll surely use it when I'll fill my holes!
Now, I see on your member webpage that you've built Matt Thor's nice Alfa]



Edited By AdriaticSea on 1078510328

[wayne frey]

Yes, I have some advise.
MODEL

Yes, I have some advise.
MODEL WITHOUT FEAR!
Anything you do wrong can be corrected.Belive me , been there, done that. I use a simple flexable ruler and pencil (which works well on a primed hull), and a metal ruler wit ha cork back(so it does not slip).
Really, though, don't be afraid to work on it, and there is a lot of support here for questions. I have pestered Matt Thor , David Merriman , Paul Crozier , Gail Phillips , and many others. Everyone has been patient and answered my questions. A better bunch of guys you could not ask for. I have seen Paul Crozier's Permit. It is a fine boat. Follow his lead adn you will do well. Of course, I will help any way I can. In fact, I will be installing the stern planes on my Alfa this weekend,so we are near the same point.
I have some pictures of his boat underwater pictures of his boat.If you want to see them, e-mail me.
Wayne

[adriaticsea]

Hi Wayne,

thanks for the reply

[color=#000000]Hi Wayne,

thanks for the reply and mainly for the psychological support! It was just what I was needing!! So, I again ask to PaulC]



Edited By AdriaticSea on 1078521041

[wayne frey]

Mario,
You have mail.
One more

Mario,
You have mail.
One more thing on filling holes.Just in case someone follows my track on this, I forgot to mention something. On the inside of the hull, as you fill the hole with epoxy/micro balloon mix, lay a small square of fiberglass matte cloth across the back of the hole. Then depress it slightly in the hole to set. Be sure to saturate the cloth. When it dries everything can come out pretty good.

[PaulC]

Hi Mauro,

Unless the holes are

Hi Mauro,

Unless the holes are really out of alignment (3/32 or more) then I'd go ahead and work from where you are. File them out until a length of 3/32 brass rod inserted through the hull lines up properly. Then insert the stern plane assembly and mark the hull for the stern plane tab slot.

When drilling these holes (especially with a hand held drill) they are usually a little off. But you can make up for that by carefully filing them out and gluing the bushings in the proper place. Remember]http://www.subcommittee.com/forum/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[adriaticsea]

Hi PaulC,

thanks for the adivice!!While

[color=#000000]Hi PaulC,

thanks for the adivice!!While one of the holes is quite ok, the other is really out of alignment]

[wayne frey]

I have used cling-wrap plastic,

I have used cling-wrap plastic, like the kind used for sealing food.Pull tight to eliminate wrinkles, then sprayed with Pam,a cooking item used for non stick frying. The idea is to have a surface the resin does not readily stick to. If you use vasoline, it should work. Just be sure to get all residule off before painting or bonding.
I sent many pictures to your inbox,but most were returned because your inbox was full.

[adriaticsea]

Hi Wayne,

thanks for the advice!!

Hi Wayne,

thanks for the advice!! Now I can try to fill the holes. I cleaned my mailbox (there was a bunc of old e-mails) and now you should be able to send more pics.
Can't wait to see them!!
BEST REGARDS MAURO



Edited By AdriaticSea on 1078584555

[thierryc]

When I need to fill

[color=#000000]When I need to fill holes, I just use masking tape as backing, pour in the resin, let it dry and then peel the masking tape off. For some reason the resin doesn't stick to the sticking chemical of the masking tape. Pretty much any kind of tape works]

[adriaticsea]

Hi Thierry,

thanks for the tip,

Hi Thierry,

thanks for the tip, I'll put it in my library
BEST REGARDS MAURO

[adriaticsea]

Hi All,

just to let everyone

[color=#000000]Hi All,

just to let everyone know, I filled one of my sternplanes holes with epoxy/microballoons mix using the method described by Wayne Frey...well, the hole came out perfect!!! I reinforced the interior of the hole with a very small square of fiberglass tape and put a small piece of vaseline-covered paper held in place by some masking tape]