Akula 1/144 Scratch built

[bwi 971]

Yep........I will do some more scribing today Tom,.....when all scribing is finished I go around with the red glazing putty :-)

Grtz,
Bart

[bwi 971]

YES scribing is all done.......left the most difficult for the last the fwd sonar dome. I spent quite some time on that thing. Needed all my skills to get the job done. Curved lines to show up as straight lines, tight radiuses on curves surfaces.

Used tools,the stencil (most left) is made of 0.15mm brass sheet and cut with exacto knife.



Work in progress



Sonar dome all scribed, the seem of the lower hull is integrated in the scribing lines of the sonar dome. yes I planned it like that when I made the cut, eand I think it worked out fine.










Red glazing putty here I come,
Grtz,
Bart

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Well done, sir!

M

[bwi 971]

Well done, sir!

M

Thank you sir


Did some work on the towed array pod.

• Touched up all deficiencies with red glazing putty,
• Recessed the vent gratings
• Made the hole to take the light (diameter 2.2 mm ; 5/64")
• Glued the fwd acces hatch in place (brass diameter 4.5mm)

I’m very pleased with the look of the gratings, It is all worth the work I put into making them. Will I do it again? Yes I would.








Grtz,
Bart

[bwi 971]

I'm adding the detail bits and pieces to the hull.

The gratings are all in place now, glued with CA.

The single action airbrush for painting is ordered ( wider patterns of up to 1-1/2 inches)
The sub will be ready for painting when the airbrush arrives from the USofA.

Grtz,
Bart

[greenman407]

This project looks like its good enough for filming "RED OCTOBER 2". Good Job Bart!

[bwi 971]

Don't they have grub screws wher you live!

I received 100 pc of M2 grub screw today....I hate you.

Grtz,
Bart

[bwi 971]

Casting

I gave it a thought while making the molds for the small stuff, and some of you will have thought the same and were too polite to tell me (you’re getting soft HWSNBN).....IT WILL BE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE THE PARTS FROM THE BIG ASS FOUNDATION (I have been told this is the appropriate name for it).

Well I was right about it and so were you……...............so I did the molts all over….........and now they are perfect ......…..damn I’m getting good @ this stuff.

I made stand-off pieces for all the parts so I can snap them off from the big ass foundation easily after casting.
The trick and exercise is to design them so they do not affect the quality of your cast……you need the part to come out perfect not with deficiencies (air bubbles, partly casted,…..).

Below you see the difference between old and new and some overall pictures.

Grtz,
Bart




Picture below: on the right you see the mould for the lights in curing process.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Excellent presentation, Bart. Showing the screw-up gives perfect context to the 'improved' tool. Great photography and the call-outs makes the discussion crystal clear. Good stuff, sir (I now secure from nice-mode, and run to the kitchen to kick the cat).



M

[bwi 971]

Some minor touch up to do......but she looks FANTASTIC already……now a little more modest I think she looks OK.......F*CK IT.......she looks FANTASTIC, INCREDIBLE, AWESOME,......

Grtz,
Bart

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I agree with you completely -- stunning work. God, it looks like it's doing 40 knots just sitting there. Those appendages (so many pointy thingies) really do a lot to enhance the 'menace' and purpose of the boat.

I want one! Who do I have to kill to get a kit of this thing?

M

[bwi 971]

first I cona make you a Beluga project 1710

Beluga

scale

72

LOA x Beam

889

x

125

mm

35,0

x

4,9

inch

the SD is fantastic David I had it in the water yesterday
Some lead and foam required to get the Akula stable in the water (top heavy)…….but the SD is giving me plenty buoyancy to play with.
The SD alone is laying in the the water at almost even keel.

Grtz,
Bart

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

first I cona make you a Beluga project 1710

Beluga

scale

72

LOA x Beam

889

x

125

mm

35,0

x

4,9

inch

the SD is fantastic David I had it in the water yesterday
Some lead and foam required to get the Akula stable in the water (top heavy)…….but the SD is giving me plenty buoyancy to play with.
The SD alone is laying in the the water at almost even keel.

Grtz,
Bart

I want to play too!!!!!

How about I do the propeller master for you, as well as the tool and some cast white-metal propellers? And any other appendage parts you may entrust to me to make -- when done I'll send you back the master(s), tool(s), and some parts.

Send me the documents relevant, and I'll get to work.

BELUGA?!!! ... I like it! Be the perfect companion to my 1/60 ALBACORE.







M

[bwi 971]

That will be GREAT David, looking fwd to it!!

I'm finishing on the research.......I'm struggling (lack of info) with the underwater part of the sub......but I'm getting there......I will assume flood holes would have been ALFA wise.

Is Wayne Frey still around? If so can how can I contact him?

Grtz,
Bart

[greenman407]

I agree with you completely -- stunning work. God, it looks like it's doing 40 knots just sitting there. Those appendages (so many pointy thingies) really do a lot to enhance the 'menace' and purpose of the boat.

I want one! Who do I have to kill to get a kit of this thing?

M

Im in complete agreement with David. It doesnt look scratchbuilt..........it looks machine made! I am very impressed Bart!