Newbie question about USS Halibut

[robert]

[color=#000000]Periodically I re-read Blind Mans Bluff for it's exciting stories of cold war sub-marine activities. Naturally the Halibut features heavily in any such discussion. Another hobby of mine is the Sealab experiements, which of course has significant crossover to the Halibut. The Halibut is fascinating to me because of the way it was setup to launch Regulus missiles from a large hanger. Plus it also had the fake DSRV welded on to support saturation diving. I wouldn't mind having a static display model of it, but there don't seem to be any reasonably priced kits. I did find a prebuilt version of the Halibut, with fake DSRV, on the 'bay, but the picture of the buildup looks suspect]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....me=WDVW[/url]

Was the diving chamber REALLY that far back on the hull, and was the front of the sub forward of the conning tower really that long?

BTW, does anyone make a kit of a DSRV?

Other bizarre factoids I'll toss about while I'm here]

[boatbuilder1]

Robert
there are several avenues open

Robert
there are several avenues open to you you can get tow differant resin models in 1/350 from pit road/combat subs last I checked they were still in stock
you can keep checking ebay but the solid wood models are expensive and rightly so think of all the labor to make it you comment on reasonable prices is not backed by any factoid
now if your interested I have a ton of Halibut info and pics
I am producing a 1/96 GRP model it includes two towers one as launched and the taller one for spec ops. and a fake DSRV saturation chamber
yes the sat-chamber was that far back and yes the distance from the bows to the tower is that long. the sharks mouth missile hanger doors are huge something like 22 feet across
chuck

[anonymous]

I wrote an article a

I wrote an article a few years back in the SubCommittee Report on the Halibut's role in the K-129 Golf recovery mission. The Halibut will also be mentioned in my article in the next (June) SCR on missile firing submarines. I built two models (from the above-mentioned Pitroad/Combat Subs resin kits) for the 2002 Halibut crew reunion; one Regulus missile version and one Special Ops with the "DSRV" simulator and extended sail. In addition to describing those builds in the SCR (late 2002-early 2003 issue, can't recall exactly), some of that material is posted here, along with a description of the modification of the model to the Special Ops version]http://www.steelnavy.com/CombatSubsHalibutTD.htm[/url]

The Halibut crew were kind enough to provide me with detailed drawing of the submarine for my work.
Tom

[robert]

Thanks for the info guys!

Thanks for the info guys! That's a beautiful buildup Tom. What a fascinating looking sub.

[robert]

Instead of using the word

Instead of using the word "reasonable" I should have used the word "inexpensive". I know that neither resin kits nor wood kits are unreasonably priced given the effort and materials that go into making them. Since I'm discussing linguistics I'll also note for the record the difference between "cheap" and "inexpensive".

[anonymous]

It depends on what your

It depends on what your definition of "inexpensive" is.... What price range do you have in mind?

The Combat Subs and Yankee Modelworks resin kits run around $60, plus or minus about $20 depending on the subject. Even most polystyrene kits run $20-30 these days. With some notable styrene exceptions, the resin kits are usually far more accurate. I scratchbuilt the details for the Spec Ops Halibut using plastic pieces from Plastruct. I make my own wood stands from short pieces of oak (Home Despot), which I cut & rout a decorative edge and use brass rods for mounting. I spend extra for some quality (Tamiya) masking tape and use an airbrush for painting. So, in the end, it might cost me $75-80 for the model. That's cheaper than the (incorrect sail) Halibut model on Ebay, and I put in extra details such as forward and starboard maneuvering thruster ports and other minor items.

What is "inexpensive"-how much do you want to spend on a hobby?

[stevel14]

Boatbuilder,

What are the details on

Boatbuilder,

What are the details on the 1/96 model you referred to? Is it a one off for yourself or are copies going to be available for purchase? I've always wanted to do Halibut, but am not up to scratchbuilding her.

Thanks.
Steve

[robert]

Sorry, I forgot that "inexpensive"

Sorry, I forgot that "inexpensive" is relative, particularly when compared across different areas of interest. The most expensive resin kit I've purchased was a bit over $300, but I won't be doing that again anytime soon .

Nowadays I find it very hard to pay even $100 for a resin kit. So for me I guess the pain threshold is somewhere between $50 and $100. Since I live in an apartment I prefer smaller kits so this works out well for me. Though I still find myself wishing I'd buy the $150 MiM 2' Seaview.

FWIW I'm currently a static-display only person.

[anonymous]

FWIW I'm currently a static-display

FWIW I'm currently a static-display only person.

Well, I'm also a static only person too, primarily because I have no interest in building a working submarine. My interests are more towards display models and technical history.

[boatbuilder1]

Boatbuilder,

What are the details on

Boatbuilder,

What are the details on the 1/96 model you referred to? Is it a one off for yourself or are copies going to be available for purchase? I've always wanted to do Halibut, but am not up to scratchbuilding her.

Thanks.
Steve

thanks for the interest in the halibut, the most un recognised boat in submarine histroy
the kit is 1/96 puts it at L 43.75 x B 3.75 x D 3.5
I am fin tuning the hull master in preporation of doing the intermeidiate GRP tooling which will then go to production tooling. the kit will include two part hull split at the demarcation line this will insure the deck details will not be left to the builder, two sails, one as commissioned and one as the taller sail that was done to make room for longer scopes and masts. the regulust missile hatch/sharks mouth/bat cave.
as a separete piece ans well as the saturation (dsrv) chamer
and lastly bow jet diverter as designed by Dr Caven. and finally the appendages
I am confindent that a 2.75" to 3" WTC will fit
I am still toying with the idea of the adition of the skids describined on " blind mans bluff". iff I getenough interest after the kit is released I will consider it. I plan to have the masters with me at the carmel run in july.
an initial run of hlaf dozen or so by years end. the major stumbling block farming out the production grp tooling. kit price will be 569.00 and I will post a message in the new products thread when the fist kit is out of the tools
chuck

[boatbuilder1]

sorry for the spelling errors

sorry for the spelling errors guys
I am heavily medicated vicadin gotta love it

chuck

[robert]

I've spent a couple hours

I've spent a couple hours hunting around the net trying to find someone who carries the Pit Road Halibut (the only commercially available Halibut kit?) with no luck. If anyone knows a reliable source, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

[anonymous]

Pacific Front Hobbies. Call Bill

Pacific Front Hobbies. Call Bill Gruner, the owner.
See]http://www.pacificfront.com/detail.....33;Kits[/url]

CS-07 is your kit.

[robert]

Woot! Thanks much, I've bookmarked

Woot! Thanks much, I've bookmarked that shop as it looks like a good one, and I have an email query in to see if he has one in stock.

[anonymous]

No, forget email; you will

No, forget email; you will be frustrated as he is swamped. Call on the telephone, talk to Bill.