As if I don't have enough projects - 1/76th Ohio'ish sub

[RCJetDude]

I have always liked the Ohio class subs so decided to try my hand at something that is a total hybrid. I never intended this to be completly scale but just close. Based on a piece of 6" schedule 40 PVC pipe it nets out at a little under 7-1/2' long. I designed and 3D printed the nose, tail cone and deck sections out of PETG. I will be making silicone molds to cast the stern control surfaces and fairwater planes out of resin while the deck to hull transitions and sail will be epoxy fiberglass. My intention is to install a modular sub system on a slide out tray of G10 with the bow and stern being removable. In the end it is a big experiment.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

OK, putting on my Bos'n Buzz-Kill hat:

Look up the coefficient of expansion/contraction on those materials.

As this menagerie of unlike materials is subjected to sudden temperature changes -- hot July sun to cold water -- the unions between superstructure, hull, and the transition pieces will creep significantly.

Crack city!

The bow and stern sections, being removable, will stress unload on their own. That missile deck 'missile break' at the bottom of the superstructure will not.

You can sheave everything in a layer of ten-ounce fiberglass cloth, that should mitigate such cracking to a significant degree, but over time you're going to see cracked-sidewalk-effects.

Endeavor to make your model from one or two substrates of well known physical properties.

Turn that thing into a master and make a quick and dirty GRP tool from which you produce all GRP hull pieces.

David
Ducking For Cover

[RCJetDude]

I hear ya. I haven't yet decided where I am taking this. It could easily be the basis for a set of molds. Undecided on that at the moment. If I had better CAD skills I would make the sail, transitions and control surfaces out of PETG as well. It is pretty stable stuff even in the sun. The way I designed the missile deck it could easily be secured to the PVC hull in a way that would allow it to "float" so to speak. Certainly need to take it all into consideration.

[eckloss]

I give it a cool factor of 9.5.... Ohio boats are sexy, and bigger is always better imho

[ffr2608]

Ultracal 30 plaster molds. About 30 bucks for a 100# bag.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Ultracal 30 plaster molds. About 30 bucks for a 100# bag.

Darrin made a believer out of me as to the utility of that plaster and burlap. Don't discount it just because its old-school. That guy is one hell of a model-builder and knows about what he speaks.

Here's a tool he made a few decades ago:



David

[HvyCGN9]

Nice !! A club mate of mine who produces detailed 1/72 ship hulls is thinking of doing an Ohio class in 1/72 one day...it will be super detailed too, with possibly two versions of the missile deck one with opening hatches, and a cheaper version without.....but it is a fair way down on his list of hulls at the moment!!

Bruce