Revell 1/72 Skipjack class USS Shark SSN591

[greenman407]

AH GOOD! Plenty of surface action! Be sure to sink at least one of the SCUM before ya leave! Make em think twice before coming back in dem dar waters again! OH..........Parden me. That's not any way to get on is it?

[HvyCGN9]

Packed up the work van with my Fleet a week or so ago for our TF72 Annual Regatta this years was in Narracorte 390km or so South eastward. USS Shark was semi ready as I haven't had a chance to work on her in a few months, still having ballasting issues but a long talk with Slats at the pond side gave me some ideas.... hopefully have some pics of her running at the regatta soon!!

Her are a some of the surface runners.....
my dock facility early on the Sat morn.
HMS Malaya ( you would not believe how long Nick took to build this!)
USS Long Beach, USS California, INS Mumbai, USS Gettysburg, and HMAS ANZAC

[HvyCGN9]

I got so used to driving around in my youth I don,t often consider our distance issues to those from overseas. My latest road trip for the Canberra regatta I clocked around 3000km all up with the stop over in Sydney included. Plus a 19 hour drive on the way there with road works and a multi vehicle pileup cause several hours delay with that alone. Even so there is still noway I'd fly and let the airlines handle the several thousand of dollars of subs etc... I am so glad the next sub day is here in Brisbane next month.

BTW your sub looks great Bruce.

Thx mate,

Going to do the TF72 20th Anniverary regatta next year in Wentworth Falls (in New South Wales, near Sydney) that will be a good road trip around 1800km one way...

I haven't done much since Wagga (still need to paint the new rudder but temps are too cold for painting at the moment), ran SHARK again recently got a couple of good runs in still getting a little bit of water in motor compartment (not sure where from yet...) one run was completely dry , next one had a thimble or so of water in it....
The simple periscope setup I did seems to work reasonably well just needs a drop of oil on the tubes to work a little more freely. Now need to fit the upgraded snorkel float and see if the periscope float interferes with it....(If so then it might be back to the drawing board for the scope float!!)
need a new tx battery pack current one doesn't last very long.

Bruce

[alad61]

I got so used to driving around in my youth I don,t often consider our distance issues to those from overseas. My latest road trip for the Canberra regatta I clocked around 3000km all up with the stop over in Sydney included. Plus a 19 hour drive on the way there with road works and a multi vehicle pileup cause several hours delay with that alone. Even so there is still noway I'd fly and let the airlines handle the several thousand of dollars of subs etc... I am so glad the next sub day is here in Brisbane next month.

BTW your sub looks great Bruce.

[Albion]

Man! .... when you people travel, you don't **** around!

M

It's a big place. I was staying with friends in Brisbane ( Queensland) and had to be in Townsville ( Queensland) by 7pm on a certain day. I looked at the map, toyed with idea of hiring a car in one place and spending the day driving up and drop the car off in Townsville. All one state! Also looked at flight option, which worked out cheaper. Then noticed it was a 2.5 hour flight, checked the distance and quality of roads. Crapola I need the flight and Townsville isn't even even the furthest point in quEensland.

[HvyCGN9]

Looking really good. May I ask, what motor did you use in place of the Caswell supplied motor?

I used a POISON brand Truck motor I had sitting on the shelf its a 5 pole hi torque/ lower rpm type used in 1/10th offroaders. only changed it when I was having throttle jitters earlier(later determined to be BEC brown out)

there were only two other subs there a robbe seawolf and a Oberon (surface runner) the o boat liked to do vertical dives if the stern planes come out of the water!! It was freaky Steve is thinking of making it a proper diver....
Bruce

[greenman407]

Looking really good. May I ask, what motor did you use in place of the Caswell supplied motor?

[trout]

I also like seeing pictures, different reason than David I am sure, but still there is something about it. Great photos and it sounds like you had a wonderful time!

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

My pleasure, sir!

It tickles me pink to see my stuff actually used.

Man! .... when you people travel, you don't **** around!

M

[HvyCGN9]

Big thanks to Dave for the spares package that arrived today with the replacement rudder, improved snorkel float and assorted useful goodies.

Spent the weekend (a long weekend here...) over the border in a town called Wagga Wagga for the TF72 Carriers and Escorts run. A short road trip of 942km each way..... took USS LONG BEACH CGN9 and USS SHARK SSN591. I drove over on Friday in convoy with some clubmates and got up early Sat morning to head to the event location the Oasis swimming centres outside pool which is an Olympic length pool(50m) but 2 lanes wider.....normally pool is clean (its not used during the winter as its to cold) but this year had a green tinge and some algae on the bottom....you could still see the bottom so still better than my home pond down the road!!

****** had a detailed account of the Saturday's events written and the damn forum logged me out and only saved the above section.......ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH......try again.....

Shark had a couple of runs with the second one being the longest and only cut short by the Tx battery pack running down. The first run was marred by some setup errors when someone had the airlines to the float valve around wrong way.....The second run later in the day was good with a couple of good deep dives once I have the ballast sorted out she will be a sweet runner. Due to the different motor (lower rpm more torque) I changed the throttle EP to 80% by end of the run this gave a good speed underwater without being uncontrollable.

Here are some pix....


and CGN9 with CG64 Gettysburg and HMS Invincible

[HvyCGN9]

Sorry about the Hijack Bruce!

Myron

No worries.....I used my holesaw to cut some circular foam bits for a plug for a 1/72 mk71 8" turret I started to make up (it sits with some other unfinished stuff on the bench) I had no trouble using my variable speed drill on very slow and my hole saw was fairly fine bladed too....

Bruce

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

steak-knife.

M

[vital.spark]

David,

How do you cut the circles in your pink foam? I've tried hole saw's which didn't work as they just tore up the foam! I use a small band saw for the strait cuts finishing off with a sanding block but the circle cuts elude me.

Sorry about the Hijack Bruce!

Myron

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Thanks mate,

I am going to make up a temporary rudder till my replacement one gets here (Thx DM!!!) and do some more ballasting on the weekend. I was feeling very frustrated earlier in the week but have calmed down now!! I want to get it running reliably then I will add the decals and some weathering. I have knocked up a sort of F shaped floating wharf for Shark to tie up at out of some timber (with some neoprene foam strips to prevent damage) just need to paint it and add some white foam for bouyancy. Also working on a transport/storage box so the Shark doesn't get damaged on trips (or in storage).

[ATTACH=CONFIG]27735[/ATTACH]
the long wharves are about 1m(ish) long and should be wide enough for two Nuke subs to tie up between em' and with space on the outer sides for either two more subs or corvette sized ships. This pic was before all the bollards went on...

Cheers Bruce

Some thought-starters for you, Bruce:

[trout]

Bruce,
That dock looks great! Please post more on it.
Peace,
tom