The British X Craft WWII Submarine

[Kazzer]

Here's the model of the X Craft we are going to produce in the next few months. Big, isn't it!

[oztruck]

Just the rite size to fit into the family car. What scale is it?

[Kazzer]

Here are some photos of the finished model, courtesy Alan Poole (UK)

[Subculture]

Not Alan's x-craft, that one was built by Nigel Edmonds, but using Alan's moulds.

Alan's has smaller rivet detail and is located at Gosport adjacent to the 1:1 x-craft exhibit.

The model pictured has now been sold on. Bill, who now owns it made an interesting modification- a clip on rudder , which is fixed on using zip ties through the holes in the exisiting control surfaces. it doesn't win any prizes for elegance, but my goodness it makes a huge difference to the turning radius of this boat.

[Rpmtech1]

Whats this here waiting patiently next to the MD-80 ;)

[Slats]

Its a darn nice model, but I think I'll be going a bit smaller with my one off. Just got to get the time off work and get stuck in.
Is the kit going to come with side cargoes?

J

[Rpmtech1]

If i can get pictures of them, they could be an add-on option.

[Slats]

There are plans showing the side cargoes
I have the plans that were included in this book

http://www.caswellplating.com/models/books.html

J

[Slats]

...... Bill, who now owns it made an interesting modification- a clip on rudder , which is fixed on using zip ties through the holes in the exisiting control surfaces. it doesn't win any prizes for elegance, but my goodness it makes a huge difference to the turning radius of this boat.

Andy I would have thought this single screw Sub, with control surfaces directly behind the propeller, would be quite a good turning vessel. Is that not the case?
I think I can see the hole in the aft end of the upper rudder that is used for the rudder extension?
J

[Subculture]

It's not as agile as you'd expect. It's better than any other Brit boat of that era, but a Seehund would have it on toast. The holes you see are not for the rudder extension, they're part of the original boat. I've been told that they were to reduce the load on the controls, which didn't make sense to me. From what I've seen, the control surfaces on the 1:1 boat were hollow, and I think these were to allow free-flooding.

Andy

[Slats]

It's not as agile as you'd expect. It's better than any other Brit boat of that era, but a Seehund would have it on toast. The holes you see are not for the rudder extension, they're part of the original boat. I've been told that they were to reduce the load on the controls, which didn't make sense to me. From what I've seen, the control surfaces on the 1:1 boat were hollow, and I think these were to allow free-flooding.

Andy

Hi Andy
Could it be a weight problem - i.e he just built it too heavy and therefore this particular model has a mass momentum issue? or is it the dynamics of the hull shape?
Any photos of the rudder extensions?
Thanks
J

[Rpmtech1]

One thing that might help is to move the rudders closer to the propellers centerline, and make them a little bigger. And get rid of those stupid holes. Thise do nothing but make the rudder effectivness worse and add drag. I can make recesses for scale looks, but just not clear through holes. Anyway thats an easy option, if someone insists on the through hole, than they can drill em' out.

I have no issues deviating a little from scale if it makes the boat perform better. I usually make my rudders and planes a bit larger than scale on everything. Nobody really notices.

[Rpmtech1]

Seehunds are probably the tightest turning boats around, this side of thrusters anyway! My little one can turn in like 3 feet submerged.

[tsenecal]

And get rid of those stupid holes.

perhaps make the rudders two piece, and sandwich a piece of clear plastic between them, effectively giving the illusion of holes, but in reality the rudder is solid.

[Slats]

perhaps make the rudders two piece, and sandwich a piece of clear plastic between them, effectively giving the illusion of holes, but in reality the rudder is solid.

Perhaps -but might be a bit hard as you need space for the planes operation that runs between them.

J