atic: 1:35 Bronco XXIII with interior

[DrSchmidt]

Back home I also continue the work on the XXIII. Installed the toilet. The XXIII had a modern one that could be used when the boat was submerged but that was dangerous to use as one had to sit right next to the rotating propeller axis. If your trousers got cought in the axis....well.

[DrSchmidt]

No idea if they would be interested….

[Das Boot]

Absolutely incredible. Are you going to donate it to the Hamburg museum?

[goshawk823]

spectacular work. enjoy your well deserved holiday.

[DrSchmidt]

So, last update before my holiday. I prepared the belt drive that connected the creeper motor to the drive train. The belts ran over a wheel that at the same time was the casing of a friction clutch that allowed to connect and disconnect the creeper motor. To protect the crew, the belt drive was hidden behind a sheet metal casing. To see how everything lines up I mocked -up the belt drive, the thrust bearing ad the stuffing box. Looks good. And then some work on the brink of going nuts --> The hand wheels of the cooling water circuit are installed (in green).

[DrSchmidt]

I continued working on the drive train of the XXIII. After the diesel came a manually operated friction clutch and the the main electric motor. The submariners were protected from the rotating clutch by a sheet metal fender that also carried a signaling device showing the position of the clutch. The main electric motor was coupled to a reducing gear that also held the lube oil pump. The reducing gear also provided lateral offset of the axis to get it centered midship (Diesel an main e-motor were off centered to the port side). A second friction clutch was coupled to the reducing gear. A bearing pedestal provided additional support. Next will be the belt drive of the creeper motor with its own clutch and then the drive train will end in the main thrust bearing and the outboard stuffing box.

[DrSchmidt]

I also found out, that I had the clutch design for the belt drive wrong. I did some research about the Diesel engine and the belt drive clutches. Found this little article:

https://cybra.lodz.pl/Content/5939/D...gineClutch.pdf

and this drawing of a XXIII belt drive clutch:

https://uboatarchive.net/Design/Desi...PlateIIS43.jpg

Both, the Diesel and the belt drive clutch operate the same way. You have a sliding ring that actuate toggle joints that press the couplings against the clutch housing when the ring is pressed towards the clutch. When released (ring slides out), the clutch opens.

The belt drive clutch and the clutch of the main electric motor were mechanically interlocked, so that the e-motor clutch is open when the belt drive is engaged and vice versa. I had this wrong in my original layout, where both sliding rings would have moved in the same direction. So I changed the pivot point of the lever (light blue color) actuating the belt drive clutch and now it works contrary to the clutch of the main electric motor. Looks better too...

[Das Boot]

Dr. I think you’re a genius or insane. In any case, good job.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Thanks folks...I'm very happy with the result, too. The next steps are pretty much straightforward....Diesel clutch, electric motor, reducing gear, e-motor clutch. What will be more challenging then will be the belt drive to the creep motor, as this will have to be perfectly aligned with the motor that is suspended from the machine room roof. Lots of ways to get that wrong....

Strips of Electrician's tape would be OK stand-ins for the belts.

[DrSchmidt]

Thanks folks...I'm very happy with the result, too. The next steps are pretty much straightforward....Diesel clutch, electric motor, reducing gear, e-motor clutch. What will be more challenging then will be the belt drive to the creep motor, as this will have to be perfectly aligned with the motor that is suspended from the machine room roof. Lots of ways to get that wrong....

[trout]

What notes? I am throwing my hands up in the air thinking this is magic and pixie dust.

[goshawk823]

The Diesel firmly sits on its foundation and the cooling water pump, the respective piping, and the manual emergency pump are in their places as well. Everything fits with less than 1/10th of a millimeter tolerance. I'm so happy. I also installed the platform beneath the door to the control room that also acts as cover for the open tube pit below. Also a tight fit....I'm happy.

Cheers Andreas

this level of detail and fit is insane. I can't wait to see the whole boat completed. out of this world stuff.

[DrSchmidt]

Thanks Davis....that's a big compliment.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Jaw dropping stuff on display here, Doctor. I'm taking notes.

David

[DrSchmidt]

The Diesel firmly sits on its foundation and the cooling water pump, the respective piping, and the manual emergency pump are in their places as well. Everything fits with less than 1/10th of a millimeter tolerance. I'm so happy. I also installed the platform beneath the door to the control room that also acts as cover for the open tube pit below. Also a tight fit....I'm happy.

Cheers Andreas