Jake's SSN-591

[Davjacva]

Finishing prep-painting of the hull. Used a fiberglass brush along with McQuire's Fine Cut Cleaner which softens the applied paint in order to make a thick streaking effect. This was another of Dave's techniques that really worked out very well. Next a clear coat will be applied to save this stage of the work for the follow-on weathering to be applied.

[Davjacva]

Here the paint-work is being completed and unmasked. I also provided a photo of Dave's automotive clear coat kit. You can go gloss or add a flattening agent. Awesome stuff. Going to get some. Dave did some touch up work a few days later, then it was time to throw it in the water for surface/ submerged trimming. Now...the only thing coming out of this model prior to painting was some foam, and we went with a battery that wasn't even half the weight. So you figure you're going to be on the light side of things...we kept adding foam, more, more. Finally, Dave said something's up, we're getting water some where we don't want. Sub kept going to whatever version of Davy Jone's Locker is in that dunk tub. Sub came out, opened it up and it was dry as a bone. Perplexing, so we glued some in and tried it again and pretty much got it dialed in.

[Davjacva]

After four months of hull re-work and re-painting, finally got to dunk the sub in the lake. Had very few surprises, and just a few tweaks. The fairwaters weren't behaving with any kind of useful range, but Dave got them pretty ironed out after a couple times in the water. The trim was overall SAT, but heavy forward, light aft. I'll shift some foam this week and that'll take care of that. As you probably noticed, the paint job is from a commissioning one where the hull red is at the waterline, vice an operational one where is down at the centerline. Sometimes running the boat early on, I'd lose it, but then the red would stand out in the green water magnificently. Now I ran a 7.2vdc NIMH battery in it for about 2 hours of run time. When I took the battery out and check it on the meter to see how much juice was left, it still at 7.6vdc.

[Das Boot]

Very nice job.

[trout]

Congratulations Captain! Nice looking and a sweet running sub to boot. I always get nervous when a sub is trimmed one moment and then the next time it is not. I start going through a mental checklist. Is it leaking?, Is there air trapped?, Is the battery shifted?, Did I lose a weight/float? Because, for me, I fix something and then the next time I run the sub, I have to undo what I did. Gotta love this hobby. It keeps you on your toes!

[mike27283]

Jake (Chief) - when are you going to be over at Dave’s? Would love to stop by for a zone inspection of the Merriman spaces!

[RCSubGuy]

Loving it, Jake! Gorgeous little boat!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Jake (Chief) - when are you going to be over at Dave’s? Would love to stop by for a zone inspection of the Merriman spaces!

Oh, Great! Another white-glove house prostrate exam by the good Captain. I just have time to scrub the ****ters and put up the bunting...

Jake will be over late morning, sir. Come on over.

David

[wlambing]

Does Mike use that thicker A-cable grease to ease the entry of the white glove, or does he just go with a whopping good dollop of Prussian Blue so in the end everything looks way more festive????

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Does Mike use that thicker A-cable grease to ease the entry of the white glove, or does he just go with a whopping good dollop of Prussian Blue so in the end everything looks way more festive????

Neither. Course lapping compound.

[wlambing]

Nice! I bet that provides a very nice finish! Is Mike coming north, too, to perhaps see if he can stick his Type VII under the aerator piping again? All of the work being done is making it look very good!

[Davjacva]

Congratulations Captain! Nice looking and a sweet running sub to boot. I always get nervous when a sub is trimmed one moment and then the next time it is not. I start going through a mental checklist. Is it leaking?, Is there air trapped?, Is the battery shifted?, Did I lose a weight/float? Because, for me, I fix something and then the next time I run the sub, I have to undo what I did. Gotta love this hobby. It keeps you on your toes!

Tom, so many interfaces to have fun with and screw up right? ha ha It's the on-going science project. It's amazing at how something can get out of whack just sitting there.

[Davjacva]

Jake (Chief) - when are you going to be over at Dave’s? Would love to stop by for a zone inspection of the Merriman spaces!

Mike, he fails constantly, but...he doesn't care :)

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Mike, he fails constantly, but...he doesn't care :)

Just bring the coffee as directed, leave it in front of the door, knock three times, then get the **** outa my yard!

[mike27283]

Apologies for missing the jocularity on the thread - yeah…the health and comfort inspections are always met with a certain laissez-faire attitude by Dave…but the lube (and bunting) helps. Yes - that damn pipe!! Luckily Dave was the hero and pulled it out for me. Have the radio fixed now as well as a more robust bowplane connection to prevent PIO. Attached a photo of the man in action - classic!!