The British T Class 1:72 scale

[Kazzer]

I coated the inside of the mold and the plug with another coat of Release Wax



Next, I installed a piece of steel rod. Actually, it was one of those rods used in the garden for holding up flowers.

(The rod is hard to see as it's dark green, just to the left of the MMDF board)
Pouring the resin



Adding the sand


Pouring the mix into the mold



AND!!!!!! Ta!!! Daaaa!



It's done!!!!!!!

I rattled the mold on the table for a minute or so, to help the resin settle.

Until - tomorrow. Patience!

[Kazzer]

These long thin models are a real pain to photograph well.

On the left, I've screwed the MMDF board on, then caulked the joint to the hardboard. On top of the model is a 1/4" thick section of MDF contoured to fit the boat. I put a thin line of latex caulk on the underside to seal it. Then I ran a wet acid paintbrush over all the caulk to smooth it out. We'll let that set up tonight, then I'll do the MMDF end caps and - we're almost ready to pour!!!!!!!! Egg-ziting izn't it!

[Kazzer]

The hardboard gets all the edges along the plug filled in with clay. Then a coat of Wood Sealer.




A formed section of 1/4" MDF is sealed with Wood Sealer and then tacked into position atop the plug with latex caulk.



The MMDF board (laying flat) has been coated with wax. It will be screwed into its vertical position after sealing with PVA.

[oztruck]

The eyes of the world are upon you. Just luv the old pommy boats.

[Kazzer]

I've managed to do a little more to the plug. I guess the most difficult thing was trying to figure out exactly how I was going to make the molds. Seeing as my sand/epoxy molds idea seems to be a winner, then how to actually get this puppy done was a bit of a worry. i have a lot of money invested in the plug and I didn't really want to ruin the thing.

So, here is my 'cunning plan' (to quote Baldrick -Blackadder)



I cut a board of Melamine MDF (now referred to as MMDF in future) about 1" longer and wider than the plug. I already had a strip of MDF cut to the profile of the keel, so I hot glued that to the center-line of the MMDF, then mounted the plug on top. I secured it in place with wooden blocks cut 1/8" lower than the waterline, which ran parallel with the keel.
Then I shaped a strip of hardboard to the edge of the boat along the waterline and hot glued it on top of the blocks.

Next, comes the sealing of that joint with modelers clay, and the installation of the MDF board cut to go on top of the plug. This will hopefully give me the first quarter section of the four molds.

On reflection, I could have left those darned torpedo tubes on! Hindsight is a wonderful thing!

The plug has been waxed and sprayed with a couple of coats of PVA, but I intend to treat each section again, prior to pouring the epoxy slurry.

[Kazzer]

If I did my math right thats 46" long. Is that right?

274'/12 = 3288" 3288/72 =45.66"

[greenman407]

If I did my math right thats 46" long. Is that right?

[Rpmtech1]

OMG, what a glass layup nightmare making those hulls will be.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Mike,

I strongly suggest you make this tool with a rubber glove-mold. That deep draft area between tank top and external torpedo tube fairing is a sure point of entrapment should you go the hard-shell approach.

Concentrate on cleaning up the master then turn it over to me -- later this year after I've dug myself out of the current work-load -- for tool making. And by then you will have secured enough detail dope for me to detail the master with all the panel, weld lines, limber holes, and what-not's that a rubber tool can capture with exacting detail. Let's do this beauty justice.

I have spoken!


David,

[Kazzer]

I've asked the guys over at the Barrow-In-Furness Submariners site for any information they can help with on the T Class. Lofty was kind enough to offer up the following valuable information.

have look at http://www.rnsubs.co.uk/Dits/Articles/ds48.php

Section 4a HMS TABARD , there are plenty of GIII pics on the web, but this is an unusual one as it shows clearly the stern tubes with the doors open.

I seem to have got it from U-Boat net . Might be bigger there .

Also have a look at http://www.rnsubs.co.uk/Boats/BoatDB...416&flag=class

The DATA BASE for the T class on this web site.

Dorset S/ms gallery http://www.dorsetsubmariners.org.uk/gallery/album.php?album=T Boats

It's also interesting to see John Lambert's Submarine plans as he's documented the Slippery Ts.

[Kazzer]

The Plug progresses.



We're one step closer. Next, to make the molds.

[gunther]

p.s. if i had know that rick was building one of the "t" class i would have ordered that instead of the "kilo" i have coming down under..but still happy im getting a great sub"..

[gunther]

ur first photo of a "t" class is how i remember them. they would exercise with our navy down here in newzealand..(mid 50's)
after exercising, they would do ports of call, the one that was here the most was HMS TELEMACHUS.
my dad being ex navy would take me down and i would spend an hour or to playing up in the conning tower whilst he would be down below having a drink or two before taking some of the crew away for a rabbit shoot, which would be consumed that night along with more beer and whiskey at our place..

[Rpmtech1]

Well, I wish me and MR M were not so screwed in the time department. I think, and you know that we have enough to do!

Look forward to seeing this.

[Kazzer]

Holy smokes he's building a plug.... :)

Nope! Not me! I'm paying for it to be done. I am going to try to make the molds from the remaining model I have for the m1

Yes, there will be more than one - lots more hopefully.