1/96 Ohio SSBN/SSGN build underway

[steveuk]

I see, thanks Pete. It

I see, thanks Pete. It is a fascinating way of building. (My Nautilus plug was made using Balsa and plaster). To date I have only seen fibre glass used in the mould making part of the operation. The idea to use it on the construction of the plug itself is new to me, and the fact that you used it over foam core just leads my mind to wander about making my future hulls this way. Then I could just chop out the foam core at the end. I could use car body filler paste as replacement of the plaster stage.

Why am I thinking this way??....because I hate working with fibreglass (the fumes, the prickly hands...) .

So your method would reduce the fibre glassing operation to just once. This is a great idea, especially for me to build just one-off hulls.

[pirate]

SteveUK,

Just remember, this will only

SteveUK,

Just remember, this will only work with epoxy resin, so no smell, otherwise it will eat up the foam underneath.

You could use polyester resin if you paint or coat your foam with something the resin won't eat, though. This could make more work and smaell, but costs less money. I think the monetary trade off to use epoxy is worth it.

Also, I haven't posted lately because I've been working on the repairs to the main hull after damaging it while using it to form the missile deck. Nothing too exciting here to see. If any of you are interested in this part, let me know and I'll post some of the steps.

Pete

[steveuk]

Just remember, this will only

Just remember, this will only work with epoxy resin, so no smell, otherwise it will eat up the foam underneath.

You could use polyester resin if you paint or coat your foam with something the resin won't eat, though. This could make more work and smaell, but costs less money. I think the monetary trade off to use epoxy is worth it.

Oh, thanks for the heads up on that. So Polyester resin will melt through the foam unless protected. Gotcha.

[jeffrey j]

...

hi Steve,
Using polyester on a foam plug, you can do this to protect the foam, wrap the entire plug with duct tape, or cover the foam plug with 5 layers of laytex paint. I have done both and they both work, the paint is better, these are good for 1 off hulls. Jeff Jones

[steveuk]

Thanks Jeff, good advice. http://www.subcommittee.com/forum/icon_wink.gif

Thanks Jeff, good advice.

It occured to me today - this method could work if I can't find a wtc in the diameter I want ...I could make my own GRP tube using this method. Find a suitable plug first (eg kitchen rolling pin), make sure it is nice and smooth or covered in tape, (use plenty of release agent) and lay the glass around that. It should end up smooth and round on the inside, ready to recieve an end cap with O ring.

[crazy ivan]

One thing to keep in

One thing to keep in mind about polyester resin, Steve; it shrinks a fair amount as it cures. When hardened, it will grip your rolling pin like grim death. You may find it near impossible to slide your plug out, even with a release agent, unless you take precautions. Been there, done that. You might try wrapping the plug in a sheet of mylar or something similar beforehand.

[steveuk]

Been there, done that.

I

Been there, done that.

I do so like this - the sound of experience.

Hmm thanks for that, George. So I won't have to go down that same road and get my plug stuck solid.
Actually now that you mention it I do remember having difficulty getting my sub hull parts out of the mould ..and that was a two part mould! I put it down to the fact it was my first try at fibre glassing. Even so I did give the mould plenty of waxing and polishing, and a relaease agent. Yes this stuff can grip alright!!

[Rogue Sub]

So are you going to

So are you going to build the sail next pete?

[anonymous]

Steve,
I used plastic wrap as

Steve,
I used plastic wrap as a mold release when I made a tube for one of my projects. Worked well, cheap as you can get.
Chris

ps. Sorry Pete, didn't mean to hijack. Now back to our regularly scheduled programming....

[steveuk]

Steve,
I used plastic wrap as

Steve,
I used plastic wrap as a mold release when I made a tube for one of my projects. Worked well, cheap as you can get.
Chris

Good idea Chris, thanks. So.. I'm not the first to make a pressure tube this way then .

[boss subfixer]

So are you going to

So are you going to build the sail and bow planes next pete?

Nuke power,
Bow planes???
Don

[pirate]

Sorry guys. Still repairing bottom

Sorry guys. Still repairing bottom of hull.

I think I should make the attachments for the stern planes and the indications for the rudder shaft holes. To do this I will probably need to do the planes and rudders first.

I've been preparing the missile deck to accept the towed array fairing. Pictures to come.

[Rogue Sub]

So are you going to

So are you going to build the sail and bow planes next pete?

Nuke power,
Bow planes???
Don

YEAH YEAH YEAH My hands wrote before my brain thought about it!!

[boss subfixer]

Boss subfixer wrote]


Thanks for taking

[quote]Boss subfixer wrote]


Thanks for taking my comment the way it was intended, just having some fun. And thanks for the good chuckle, I needed it.
Don

[wayne frey]

A question to the masses

A question to the masses that can accurately answer....
What diameter is the Ohio screw, and what rpm speed is considered max?
Anyone know?
Write my email if you feel better answering it there. If you dont know, dont guess, please