Japanese Class A 1/16

[MFR1964]

Busy days, managed to get the tower netcutter build and made the netcutter on front of the boat, still have to add the details on some parts but the beginning is there,


Soldered all pieces together, giving you this, the basic layout of the tower netcutter.


Those curved parts need to be reenforced with some little bars between the curved parts, i will do that at a later stage.



The beginning of the front netcutter on the bow, it's pretty basic, only had to add the contruction which hold the upperpart.



Dryfitting the netcutter on the tower, all other parts of the tower have to be modified.


In the past i've builded the tower in such way that i can take all parts off by simply unscrewing two bolts.


Added the rivets which holds the netcutter to the tower, those rivets are glued tight from the inside of the tower, the rivets on the hull are only glued at one side, giving me the possibility to lift the tower without any problems.


The new configuration to the type B conversion, there's loads of work more, but i've got me a beginning.



The new netcutter on the bow, secured with 1 mm rivets and glued down, that new stringer pointing out will be a part of the new bowpart which protects the torpedo tubes.
For now i've got to add some details and start thinking how to build the new protector of the torpedo tubes, from what i've seen on the pictures this will be interesting to build.


Manfred.

[trout]

It already an interesting build. Great work Manfred!

[MFR1964]

Thanks Tom,
I have to change the rudders anyway, she steers like a pig with the old rudders, so rebuilding the boat to a B type, which has the new rudder configuration, is for me a no brainer, let's see if this will work out,
this weekend some udates on the progress, stay tuned

Manfred

[MFR1964]

Well it was refreshing talking about print technoligy, let's show what can be build by using some copper plate and the soldering iron,





Like the type A, the type B has a perosope protector, it's also used in conjuction with the front netcutter, those edges on the protector will support the cutting of the net.



Also placed the bars on the front net cutter, still have to bend it more into shape.



This one has a story, i made this as a test to see if i could use the remaining old stringers, on this moment SWMBO walked into the cave and started to laugh, giving me the comment, you can do better, she gave me the idea to make this work.



The idea she came up with was, use the curved parts of the front net cutter, and it worked, never tell the wife she has good idea's, so this was all made by using my brillaint brains.



In the end the nose part was build from 5 pieces, giving me a sound base to add details in the future.


I still had to come up with a other way to fasten the front part.


This way i can take the front part off, in the future it will be permanent fastened.



Made a make shift key to fasten the front part.



It was used to tighten the new screw part which will hold the front part.



Seen from the front, it will stay there permanently, now i can start researching which parts there will be placed at the front part, and what other changes i have to make to the hull if needed.

Manfred.

[MFR1964]

First total pictures of the change from the type A to the type B, still a long way to complete this.




Accourding to the pictures i have made the seperations with some copper plate, from that point i could start with those tiny claws which keep the protecting covers into it's place, placed one to see if i'm on the right track.



In total i had to make 8 claws, took some styrene and copper 1 mm rods bent into shape.



Placed all claws all around, next step will be adding the coverplates which will protect the claws, that will be a job for next time, adding those details takes time, but on the end she will stand out in the crowd


Manfred.

[MFR1964]

Finished up the frontpart, made preparations for attacking the rearpart with the Dremel



First batch of protecting plates, that book i bought some time ago gives me usefull information with pictures where to place them



From that book i found out there are long tubes (possible with wires inside) with a oval end, from what i understand, they are use to control the little claws around the protecting covers of the torpedo's, that plunger thing at the front is used for seperating both covers, which are linked by a chain, so when you want to use the torps, first free the claws and use the plunger to push off the covers, since they are linked by a chain, both covers will fall off, ready for using the torps.





Both sides completed, still need some sanding to clean up the soldering joints, then it will be ready to be treated with some etch primer.



This is where i stand with the rearpart, by using the book i've signed off the cuts i want to make, have to cut the upper and lower stabilisors and new openings for the rudders, from that point i can change the steering of the rudders, since the shaft steering the rudders shifts forward i've got to rebuild the steering mechanism inside the rearpart.


Manfred.

[MFR1964]

Done a lot this week, finished up the rearpart and sprayed some etchprimer today,


The first cut on the stabilisors, decided to leave some more meat, otherwise i will end with flimsy stabilisors.



Second cut, followed the outlining of the new rudders, it's starting to become something.



Drilled the new location of the shafts and placed the new rudders, used some clamps to keep them at position.



After making the new steeringcontrols and placing the reiinforcement bars i discovered the throw of the rudder was limited by the bars.



By making a 45 degrees bevel on top of the rudders i've got me some more room to move them.



The finished rearpart, it does like the real one, not exactly the same but close enough.



Found out that the front navigationlight was different, made this item and had to grind away some of the lower structure, by doing this, the light is visible from the front of the netcutter.



Took everything off from the model which i don't want to paint, time to use some primer.







Today i've got me a break in the weather, which means time to use some primer, all items are done, due to the weather it can dry, after that i can store the items 24 hrs for hardening.


Manfred.