Akula 1/144 Scratch built

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Good looking stuff, Bart!

M

[bwi 971]

Ok guy’s I’ have done some more work on my tooling.

As previous stated I have three tools for the sub, all three are finished now, the finish is not what I wanted to be but I’m forced to be left handed for the moment.

N°1: The towed array pod tool is a straight forward the wax is in place

N°2: The small parts tools for vacuum casting, this tool is a little special as it’s is a pocked tool what I mean with that is that three of outer edges of one of the tool halves was not sprayed with release agent and consequently both halves are permanent fixed together at those places. The tool only can open were the castings are positioned in order to get them out.

N°3: The third one is the largest tool I made so far. I have dimensioned it so it will just fit my pressure pot. I had some trouble to get both halves of the tool leak free when I squeezed them together. (YES I ALWAYS TEST MY TOOLING USING WATER AND YES I’M CRAZY BUT SPILS ARE EXPENSIVE). I normally used David’s way by applying rubber bands bud it failed I could not reach enough pressure to prevent water pouring out in some areas.

As space is very limited in the pressure pot I fabricated some clamps that, when in place, just fitted in the pressure pot. The clamps made out of some wood leftovers and 4mm threaded studs. The test was OK now no more leaks.

Grtz,
Bart

First halves finished



Ready for second halves


All finished


Clamps in place



Perfect fit in the pressure pot

[bwi 971]

Almost the same post as DM’s nautilus…..opening the flood holes.
Used 2mm ball nose end mill & diamond needle files.

• Pic 1 Different stages in the process
• Pic 2 Used tools
• Pic 3 Also opened up and fitted the reactor outlet gratings

Grtz,
Bart

[bwi 971]

I'm back....more scribing today I used autoCAT as a support.......the hull is almost finished now......will apply air-dry putty next week to touch up paint damages/chips from scribing.

Grtz,
Bart

[bwi 971]

Thks David
Grtz,
Bart

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Manfred's right. Back to you, Bart. I'm very much enjoying watching you work.

And so sorry to hear that the Flu has hit your house ... Ellie and I just got over ours, took over a month to shake it off. Wish you and your bride a much, much quicker recovery, Bart.

M

[bwi 971]

Thks.........but progress will be neglectable next week(s)......the flue is in the house......the strong lady of the house is laying ill in bed.......household is on me.

Grtz,
Bart

[MFR1964]

Ouch!!!!, rubbing more salt into the wound, should have asked big bucks for my idea's, but now more serious, let's stop trolling Bart's WIP, and enjoy his wonderfull work.<br />
Bart, your call!!!!<br />
<br />
Manfred.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

LOL.

Gotcha!

(high praise indeed, Manfred ... by the way, the SAS has a lot of your stuff in there. I steal from only the best).

M

[MFR1964]

Gates are closed and the bridges are up sir!!, but i do think we have a bit of a problem, poking with a stick at David is the same as pulling a grizzly at his tail, be aware!!!<br />
Anyway, he allready has me addicted to his SD's , we're screwed!!!!<br />
<br />
Manfred.

[bwi 971]

What a deal Sir......then I have two SD's and no sub......something tells me this will turn out bad.

Wait a moment……..........you just want your modified SD back aren’t you.

Manfred close the gate!!!!! it’s a Trojan Horse, don’t let it in our European fortress.

grtz,
Bart

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

THANK YOU SIR......... but It's a “one ping only” project David......It's my first sub for god's sake and my first scratch build......are you trying to kill me?

And if I had two I would sent it to you without compensation.....this is your knowledge in my hands Sir, I can never pay you back for all the stuff I learned from you.

Grtz,
Bart

Flattery? FLATTERY???!!!!!.....

Nice try, pal. How about a hostage exchange: one of the SD's of your choice for that kit????

(Pretty please!)

M

[bwi 971]

Bart! I want one of those kits. Let's work out a trade or somth'n!

M

THANK YOU SIR......... but It's a “one ping only” project David......It's my first sub for god's sake and my first scratch build......are you trying to kill me?

And if I had two I would sent it to you without compensation.....this is your knowledge in my hands Sir, I can never pay you back for all the stuff I learned from you.

Grtz,
Bart

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!, finish your Nautilus!!!!

*******!

M

[bwi 971]

Bart,

Did you made those copper templates yourself?

Manfred.

Yes I did Manfred.....took me around two months to make them.....I do not want to be reminded on the part where I transfer all the 2d shapes of the drawings into a shell expansion that I could use to make the stencils.

Start laughing this is what I did......I enlarged the plans on my computer till they match the dimensions of my model, transferred the shapes onto a circle that I had drawn to a piece of paper, now I had the real dimensions needed to transfer them to the brass sheet. (the drawings that I have are printed on A4 and glued together, and do not meet the scale).

Believe me the opening up was the easy part I use d the milling machine and a handful of 1mm mills. Did I mention that they are EXPENCIVE......so every time I broke one I used all my engine room vocabulary to express my feelings about the event.

Grtz,
Bart