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Here is the latest update from The Wizard.
It never goes as fast as I want, but I did make progress over the weekend on the Type-7 masters:
After three failed attempts I finally came up with the production version of the means by which we will access the interior of the hull. It's a system of five removable deck frames. These are removed to install or pull out the SD. The removable frames work by pushing the two hull halves apart the right distance so the single deck piece can be fit on the flange lips provided within the hull. Holding the deck down on the hull is accomplished with little disc magnets, five secured on the bottom of the deck, the other five in their respective removable deck frame.
Slicker than snot, Mike. Tonight/this morning I make the first half of the production tool that will produce the kit parts.
Below is a narrative with the pictures on how this crazy thing works:
David,
Access to the inside of the hull is through the removable deck -- the entire deck, comprising three pieces, when removed, gives complete access to the models interior for SD, torpedo tube, and all control surface linkages. The trick is the use of five removable deck frames that contain magnets that attract magnets glued to the bottom of the deck. No screws or other fasteners needed.
What you see here are the prototype and production masters of the removable deck frames. A cavity at the center of a frame accepts a disc magnet. These frames serve to push the two hull halves out to the point where the deck will fit properly and be held down, the deck magnets attracted to the magnets set in the frames.
The removable deck frames in place. Note the magnet in the center of each. Just plunk the deck down (it's upside-down here so you can see it's magnets) and 'snap', the deck is in place upon the hull. Neat! Of course, the deck frames are removed to pull the SD out of there. Indexing tabs glued within the hull halves secures each frame in place.
Here you can see a removable deck frame and its associated indexing tabs set into the hull. The production version of the indexing tabs will be much neater looking. The tabs keep the frame from dropping into the hull or being pulled out of it. Exerting a little force on the hull springs the two halves open enough to insert the frame.
The natural state of the assembled hull places the two hull halves much closer together than required to fit the deck, thus the need to push the halves apart with the frames -- which serve double-duty as also being the means by which the deck is magnetically pulled down tight upon the hull flange lip.
Demonstrating the flexibility of the single-piece hull (glued together from three pieces). Just line the deck up and plop it down in place ... the magnets do the rest of the work.
We have complete access to the interior, which will make life easier when we finally are ready to install torpedo tubes!
It never goes as fast as I want, but I did make progress over the weekend on the Type-7 masters:
After three failed attempts I finally came up with the production version of the means by which we will access the interior of the hull. It's a system of five removable deck frames. These are removed to install or pull out the SD. The removable frames work by pushing the two hull halves apart the right distance so the single deck piece can be fit on the flange lips provided within the hull. Holding the deck down on the hull is accomplished with little disc magnets, five secured on the bottom of the deck, the other five in their respective removable deck frame.
Slicker than snot, Mike. Tonight/this morning I make the first half of the production tool that will produce the kit parts.
Below is a narrative with the pictures on how this crazy thing works:
David,
Access to the inside of the hull is through the removable deck -- the entire deck, comprising three pieces, when removed, gives complete access to the models interior for SD, torpedo tube, and all control surface linkages. The trick is the use of five removable deck frames that contain magnets that attract magnets glued to the bottom of the deck. No screws or other fasteners needed.
What you see here are the prototype and production masters of the removable deck frames. A cavity at the center of a frame accepts a disc magnet. These frames serve to push the two hull halves out to the point where the deck will fit properly and be held down, the deck magnets attracted to the magnets set in the frames.
The removable deck frames in place. Note the magnet in the center of each. Just plunk the deck down (it's upside-down here so you can see it's magnets) and 'snap', the deck is in place upon the hull. Neat! Of course, the deck frames are removed to pull the SD out of there. Indexing tabs glued within the hull halves secures each frame in place.
Here you can see a removable deck frame and its associated indexing tabs set into the hull. The production version of the indexing tabs will be much neater looking. The tabs keep the frame from dropping into the hull or being pulled out of it. Exerting a little force on the hull springs the two halves open enough to insert the frame.
The natural state of the assembled hull places the two hull halves much closer together than required to fit the deck, thus the need to push the halves apart with the frames -- which serve double-duty as also being the means by which the deck is magnetically pulled down tight upon the hull flange lip.
Demonstrating the flexibility of the single-piece hull (glued together from three pieces). Just line the deck up and plop it down in place ... the magnets do the rest of the work.
We have complete access to the interior, which will make life easier when we finally are ready to install torpedo tubes!
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