Scratch build Skipjack-conversion : Project 1710 Beluga in 1/63 scale

[JHapprich]

Final filling and sanding of the conning:



Imperfections on the limber holes and the gap between docking ring and hull were filled ad brought to shape too.

The propeller hub received the vortex attenuator, made from 1mm brass, again using the proxxon installation:

[JHapprich]

The prop installed into the stern. Stern taper has been further narrowed by hand. Will remove some more material with the machine as the massive grp cone is quite tough!

[JHapprich]

Put the model on the milling table and ground the stern to shape. Found an air bubble that was filled with ca and carbon powder. Finalized with wet sanding and the screeding tool. The product is well worth that time consumpting process!

[JHapprich]

Hi again!

Basic scribing of the conning has been re-done. Worked on the safety tracks from styrene rod and tried my approach of an external antenna. Antenna's beeing plugged into the stern endcap, hull halves then closed up. Antenna forms the aft starboard track, reenters the hull at the conning, forms an loop upwards under the conning's ceilling, crosses to starbord and forms the forward port track. To be CA'd down and fixed with epoxy permanently yet.

[rwtdiver]

Hi Jorg,

Very interesting method of doing your receiver antenna! And looking at the final photo showing your WTC can one assume that your ballast system is forward of your electronics WTC? It is really a joy to see others step outside of the so called box and trying different methods of doing there submarine models. Your Beluga is looking great!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat."

[JHapprich]

Thank you! Yes, its a sheerline high pressure system, distributed by David Hughes of ZERO BUBBLE MODEL DESIGN. ZB-1 with numerous modifications.

[Davidh]

Nice work Mate.

This Beluga is going to be superb!

Dave.

[JHapprich]

Thank you, David! The Beluga's lines are special! Will see how it will perform with the refitted ZB!

Time for surgery!



Safety tracks are installed, will receive a coat of epoxy after filling and sanding.

Jörg

[SSBN659]

Your workbench looks a lot cleaner and better organized than mine. I'm very impressed with your work on this boat.

Will Rogers
SSBN659

[rwtdiver]

Jorg,

I am still fascinated by what you did with your receiver antenna! Running it outside the boat and utilizing it as a safety tract. I commend you on your forward thinking and ingenuity! As a side note I want to let you know how much I appreciate dentists!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat."

[JHapprich]

Thank you both! no, this is not my workbench (using two and both are messy) in those last pictures but our kitchentable! That antenna installation is my approch to avoid signal blocking from the carbon hull. We'll see how much of the details are still visible after final priming. I expect more re-scribing. Personally, the propeller is the part i am most happy about. Unbelievable, that not so long ago that hull lay dorment in shards in a box!

Jörg

[JHapprich]

Update: The antenna has been coated with epoxy resin.



The driveshaft has been installed. A sterntube with bearings on both ends was glued into the stern cone, ending just after the plane's axis. As the propeller will be permanently fixed to the primary shaft, slots were cut into the underside of the stern to acces the locking collar and the set screw of the universal joint. An intermediate shaft then connects the prop to the engine shaft.



By employing the ZB-1, installation of the dive cylinder was performed similarly to the setup at the MIKE model. However this time, i used a brass standoff spacer to screw down the cradle from PP tube. A socket from resin and glass was formed around it. The stern endcap is secured by two bolts through L-profiles, which were glued in place with an epoxy-carbon powder composite.


The application of adfitional carbon powder prevented the composite from flowing off the brass bars.

For the pushrods on this and future models, i made an universal master to cast magnetic couplers, based on an old pen's tip. The mold was made from silicone putty. The casting body is large enough to implement a 2mm bore locking collar with set screw into the resin (if needed) as well as using spacers of different diameter for both thicker and thinner neodym magnets. The first urethane part looks promising!



Jörg

[JHapprich]

In order to lower someones ,unnamed, blood-pressure, some more "decent" model building:

Took the beluga from the shelf and will finally paint it.

The hull has been prepared with brushing, soap-washing and rinsing, rinsing with alcohol and applying grey primer. Afterwards, spraying the first coats of lower hull red and upper hull black to check for proper look and to detect the (numerous) spots on the hull that need cleanup, filling and detailing.Figured some scribelines needing to be cut deeper. All done with rattlecans, the "real" paintjob will be performed with thinned colors and the Airbrush.

[JHapprich]

More paint work done:

All the gaps from the spray paint were closed with said paint and the airbrush. Added a clean white waterline afterwards, which can be found at least in early shots of S-533. After curing, mixed up a basic scum shade and sprayed over, covering the waterline. After removing of the tape, i cleaned up the waterline with 1200' grit paper to make it visible, though wheatered, again. Some cleanup on the surface black, too. Black portion will receive final paint after some sanding of foulty spots and highlighting the scribework with oil paint. Final scum line and some rust will follow, too. So far, i like it!

[JHapprich]

Tried wiping in aluminum oil paint to the sonar window and the conning railing