Hello All,
After completing the re-tooling of the Resolution a couple of months ago, I have had the idea to embark on yet another boat. I can't help myself. Also every time I look at this forum I see fantastic models and skill on display and I think to myself that I can do better. After producing the tooling for both the resolution and the Mike I have had time to think back on what has worked well and what can be done better. I have some ideas about what I can do differently and how there are some better ways of doing some of the things I will need to do.
I have through that the next design would be bigger. A larger boat, as this would allow more options for cylinders and configurations and would probably also be more appealing as a potential offering. I considered building a model of the Project 661 "Papa" class twin screw boat. I have always wanted to do a twin screw boat but don't have a twin shaft cylinder , nor the drive as yet to build one. I did also consider the Victor III.
I finally came around to looking at the Project 955 Borei class SSBN. I have known about this boat for several years, but it didn't really dawn on me just how big it is. It's as big as the Ohio and as long as the Typhoon but of course not as wide. Both Mike and Resolution are at 1/120 scale. I printed off some plans of the 955 at this scale and it was huge. It wouldn't fit in my car. I have made the decision to therefore reduce the size of the boat by reducing the scale. I have made it at 1/140 scale. At this size the boat is still longer than the resolution and will only just fit into the back of my car.
Now building the boat is probably going to anger some people. Firstly I will probably annoy John Slater. For months he has been advising that I should build bigger, build bigger. Sorry John, I am building slightly bigger! I will probably annoy HWSNBN as he will see in the photos I have turned the rear end and the front end in pine and scrap wood. He will probably berate me for using that "junk lumber" .Renshape for some reason in this country is rediculously expensive. Finally my wife will probably not be happy , 'don't tell me you're building another submarine?"
I have a feeling this boat, although bigger will be more straightforward than Resolution. Resolution has very subtle and gradual shape evolution. Borei has more abrupt and distinctive shape changes along the hull. Straight forward round hull and distinctive missile deck. What is really distinctive is the unusual Fin / Sail. This fin is so un hydrodynamic. It is boxy and punctuated by the distinctive forward rake.
Once again I have gone with the turned ends and the PVC Pipe mid section. At 1/140 scale however the beam is slightly greater than the beam of both Resolution and mike so using the standard 90mm wide pipe would be not quite scale like. I have found that the 100mm pipe was a little too big for the scale so have decided to go in between. I have bought two lengths of 90mm pipe and split one down the middle. I then slide the other one inside and glued it. There is a gap of about 10 mm running along the top but now the diameter is 95mm.
I then glued up several blocks of wood at school and mounted them on a face plate and screwed it to the lathe in order to turn it. I then turned it down to the right profile for the rear section of the hull and once sanded back to the right profile I gave a coating of polyester resin. I have not resin coated the rear hull section before whilst at such an early stage but I decided that much more early on it would give a much smoother surface much more quickly and accurately. After sanding back with wet and dry it hase given a beautifully smooth surface.
I think I will be taking this build at a slower pace. I may not have weekly instalments.
Anyway , enough for now
David H
After completing the re-tooling of the Resolution a couple of months ago, I have had the idea to embark on yet another boat. I can't help myself. Also every time I look at this forum I see fantastic models and skill on display and I think to myself that I can do better. After producing the tooling for both the resolution and the Mike I have had time to think back on what has worked well and what can be done better. I have some ideas about what I can do differently and how there are some better ways of doing some of the things I will need to do.
I have through that the next design would be bigger. A larger boat, as this would allow more options for cylinders and configurations and would probably also be more appealing as a potential offering. I considered building a model of the Project 661 "Papa" class twin screw boat. I have always wanted to do a twin screw boat but don't have a twin shaft cylinder , nor the drive as yet to build one. I did also consider the Victor III.
I finally came around to looking at the Project 955 Borei class SSBN. I have known about this boat for several years, but it didn't really dawn on me just how big it is. It's as big as the Ohio and as long as the Typhoon but of course not as wide. Both Mike and Resolution are at 1/120 scale. I printed off some plans of the 955 at this scale and it was huge. It wouldn't fit in my car. I have made the decision to therefore reduce the size of the boat by reducing the scale. I have made it at 1/140 scale. At this size the boat is still longer than the resolution and will only just fit into the back of my car.
Now building the boat is probably going to anger some people. Firstly I will probably annoy John Slater. For months he has been advising that I should build bigger, build bigger. Sorry John, I am building slightly bigger! I will probably annoy HWSNBN as he will see in the photos I have turned the rear end and the front end in pine and scrap wood. He will probably berate me for using that "junk lumber" .Renshape for some reason in this country is rediculously expensive. Finally my wife will probably not be happy , 'don't tell me you're building another submarine?"
I have a feeling this boat, although bigger will be more straightforward than Resolution. Resolution has very subtle and gradual shape evolution. Borei has more abrupt and distinctive shape changes along the hull. Straight forward round hull and distinctive missile deck. What is really distinctive is the unusual Fin / Sail. This fin is so un hydrodynamic. It is boxy and punctuated by the distinctive forward rake.
Once again I have gone with the turned ends and the PVC Pipe mid section. At 1/140 scale however the beam is slightly greater than the beam of both Resolution and mike so using the standard 90mm wide pipe would be not quite scale like. I have found that the 100mm pipe was a little too big for the scale so have decided to go in between. I have bought two lengths of 90mm pipe and split one down the middle. I then slide the other one inside and glued it. There is a gap of about 10 mm running along the top but now the diameter is 95mm.
I then glued up several blocks of wood at school and mounted them on a face plate and screwed it to the lathe in order to turn it. I then turned it down to the right profile for the rear section of the hull and once sanded back to the right profile I gave a coating of polyester resin. I have not resin coated the rear hull section before whilst at such an early stage but I decided that much more early on it would give a much smoother surface much more quickly and accurately. After sanding back with wet and dry it hase given a beautifully smooth surface.
I think I will be taking this build at a slower pace. I may not have weekly instalments.
Anyway , enough for now
David H
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