CSS Hunley 1/8

[Pablo]

First of all, I did some research on internet to get all available information, the most interesting was Michael Crisafulli web site where I got the "real" Hunley drawings which have been done after the wreck salvage & study :

http://www.vernianera.com/Hunley/

CSS Hunley PDF Plan is available at 1/24 scale and has to be printed on 4 letter paper sheets. First job was to make the same drawing at 1/8 scale.

Then, "real" construction was able to begin. The project was to build a 100% scratch model in metal sheets as close as I can to the real one. Hull will be in Zinc, rudder, diving planes, hatches, schnorkell, rivets and accessories in copper & brass.

First I had to build a wooden "master" of the model where the hull zinc sheets will be bended, cut and put in place.

[Pablo]

Then I began to built some small parts of the hull to become more familiar with zinc work.
On the bow wood master I placed the zinc sheets cut and bent then I welded the parts together :



Same process for the keell :



All other parts as stern, hatches, propeller turbine, schnorkel box, etc have been built on the same scheme...

[Pablo]

Lower half hull built on the wood "master" :

[Pablo]

Upper half hull

Upper half hull built as the lower one :

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Excellent work on that 1/8 HUNLEY.

Here's my work on a contemporary of that boat, the USS ALLIGATOR:

http://www.vabiz.com/d&e/alligator/

Same time structures and assembly techniques simulated, but with different substrates and fabrication techniques.

David,

[Pablo]

Hi Merriman !
I'm glad you like my work, yours is nice too. I like these old subs which have been imagined and built by a single man, not by these big navy engineer teams...
Pre WW1 subs are really fascinating, every sub is unique and a real piece of genius...

[Pablo]

The hull is now quite finished...
Hatches and top, diving planes, rudder, propeller, schnorkel, portholes, spar, torpedo and 3,000 rivets are still to be fitted.

-Diving planes :

[Pablo]

Rudder & propeller :

Rudder is built according to the real Hunley design.
Propeller is home made too

[Pablo]

Spar & "Torpedo", motorized schnorkel, hatches, portholes and 3,000 real brass rivets fitted on the hull :

[Pablo]

Hull detail :

[Pablo]

Hull details :

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Pablo,

A truly amazing piece of engineering and fabrication on your part. I see how the internal lap-ribs work to grab much of the solder during plate assembly -- the jig you built to hold the frames (and hence the plates) in correct position is a work of art in itself.

This is one of the best built articles I've seen to date -- most informative. Keep it up, please.

David,

[Rpmtech1]

^^^ I agree as well. I first saw your build on RCG, and its really refreshing to see the craftsmanship, no less in a "exotic" material for most models. It has a great authentic look to it. Nice job man. And I dont say that often to people.

[Pablo]

Thank you for your nice comments, I'm really happy you like my model.
Next chapter, waterproof hull.
The hull is made of epoxy resin and fiberglass spreaded in a half cylinder mold (thickness : 2mm)
Hull upper deck is epoxy resin & fiberglass too molded between to glass shelves to have a flat & nice surface (thickness 4 mm)
Opening of the hull consists in 2 polycarbonate rectangular trapdoors bolted on the upper deck.

[Pablo]

Last week-end I participated in a sub regatta in Köln (germany), CSS hunley sailed well, here are 2 pics of her underwater.

More pics of the event here :

http://www.sousmarin.kart-thiais.com/Cologne2010_update.htm

and here :

http://www.sousmarin.kart-thiais.com/Cologne2010_2_update.htm

hope you like the pics.