New Submarineworks Seawolf Build

[pirate]

I am beginning a new build of the newly retooled 1/96 scale Submarineworks Seawolf kit as the USS Connecticut. I’ll post images of the new kit shortly so all can see how it has been improved. The main thing is it now has the Mold-in-place anicoic coating that ended up on the boats after sea trials when it was commissioned into active duty.

[pirate]

Two-piece epoxy fiberglass hull.

[pirate]

This shows the edge of the MIP coating on the bottom.

[pirate]

Ballast vents

[pirate]

[pirate]

[salmon]

Respect. Amazing!

[pirate]

Where to begin?
With the super tedious process of cutting out all the ballast vents on the bottom of the hull.

[pirate]

This model kit is now available for order at Submarineworks.com.

[coryhenry]

Great looking model

[sam reichart]

looking forward to the build out on this model!

[pirate]

Making progress. Forward ballast tank vents opened up.
On the the stern vents.

[pirate]

Anyone know what the deal is with the site posting the images upside down or rotated?

[pirate]

I’ll show a little bit about my process for removing the material and cutting out the ballast vents.
I start with a small drill bit and drill out each corner of each vent.

Then I use a larger bit inside the edges of each vent to take out a little more.

Next I use a grinding bit in a Dremel to grind away from the center of each vent to get very close to the edges, careful not to get too close. You can easily file more material away, but if you go too far, that’s a whole different thing—not good.

Finally, I use some different size files to fit the hole and file away the last bits up to the edges creating a clean vent opening.

In this first photo you can see the small holes in the corners, two vents with the larger bit, one ground out to the edges, and the last step of filing to the final opening.



Here also is a photo of the tools.

[Ralph --- SSBN 598]

If you are taking photos with a smart phone, there are codes embedded that tell the photo which way to be displayed.

Open them up in a photo software and turn them the way you want them displayed.
Save tham as and they should display the way you want them.