My 3D Printed HL-Hunley Build

[Groot689]

Wow. The Hunley is really coming along beautifully. Your 3D print quality is terrific.

[RCSubGuy]

Loving this. What a cool build!

Bob

[rwtdiver]

Today I finished up the most of the stern structure. The rudder assembly, rudder linkage, and the propeller ring bracing struts.





I still have some clean up work to do on the brass work. Filing, sanding, and some screw and bolt head fillers to help simulate a rivet and make it look as close to the hull rivets as possible! My main reason for all this extra brass structure was to enhance and reinforce the stern components for RC operation!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"
"Perfection is our goal. Excellence will be tolerated"

[rwtdiver]

Very nice brasswork, Rob! Looking very clean so far! The brackets look a tad oversized, but they'll be rock-solid for RC application. No problem with that!

Bob

Thanks Bob!

Ounce I get the design functional, I will take the brass work apart and trim off and clean up as much excess materials as I can! I have been studying both your YouTubes that you have on the Hunley build as well as the hundreds of photos on line to help design the stern of that boat, trying to keep it as true to the original design, and yet make it functional for RC operation! This boat has been a real challenge! (For me)

Then comes the finish work!! If I get through this boat, and it operates, and looks anything as good as your boat finished out! I will be happy!!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"
"Perfection is our goal. Excellence will be tolerated" Great words to live by, not so easy to achieve!!

[RCSubGuy]

Very nice brasswork, Rob! Looking very clean so far! The brackets look a tad oversized, but they'll be rock-solid for RC application. No problem with that!

Bob

[rwtdiver]

Making progress on the Hunley stern!



This shows the method I have chosen to install the rudder. More coming!!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"
"Perfection is our goal. Excellence will be tolerated"

[rwtdiver]

Today I started on the propeller ring bracing structure. I am using brass and some copper tubing to fabricate this structure.





I am going to use small brass and stainless nuts, bolts, and screws. I will fill in the heads and file down to simulate rivets.

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"
"Perfection is our goal. Excellence will be tolerated"

[rwtdiver]

Now that the printing process is complete I can begin work on the upper hull section. Before I start gluing the sections together I want to do all the mechanics involved in the stern section!



I have the two brass sleeves installed for the propeller shaft and the rudder control arm. As stated above there is going to be a lot of metal structure attached to the stern to mount the propeller ring and the rudder itself. The printed parts are fine for a static model, but not for the mechanical function for in water operation.

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"
"Perfection is our goal. Excellence will be tolerated"

[rwtdiver]

The Hunley 3D printing is complete! Today I finished up all the smaller parts required for the build.



These files as printed are good for great looking static model! Since I am going to put this machine in the water as a full RC submarine, some of the smaller parts will be replaced using brass and copper. Attaching the prop ring, workable linkage material for the rudder and the forward dive planes will all require a much stronger foundation.

That's no problem, I think the more rustic looking metal parts will enhance not only the appearance of the model, but it's overall ability to operate in the water environment.

Moving on with construction!!!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"
"Perfection is our goal. Excellence will be tolerated"

[rwtdiver]

Today I am working on fitting the keel to the bottom of the Hunley.



I had to 3D print a smaller 2.5" long section of keel to make up for the bottom hull section that I needed for the installation of the MSD!



Just need to clean up the pieces then the keel can be attached to the hull

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"
"Perfection is our goal. Excellence will be tolerated"

[rwtdiver]

Robart quick connect. They're awesome.

WOW! Thanks Bob!

How soon we forget! I used the Robart air retract system on a couple of my 1/4 scale RC air planes in the day, a Corsair, and P-51! Thanks for shaking the cob webs loose!
Thanks again for the link-up!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"
"Perfection is our goal. Excellence will be tolerated"

[RCSubGuy]

Robart quick connect. They're awesome.

[rwtdiver]

Today I started the print out on the accessories needed for the Hunley.



The items you see in the photo above are the forward dive planes, the snorkel box, the two hatches with the covers, and the keel plates. I have also cut some brass tubing for the snorkels.



I do have a question about the ballast 1/8" tubing going up to the snorkel! The photo on the left shows Bob Martin showing the quick connect that he used to tie the snorkel tube to the ballast tube. I have looked everywhere and have not been able to find these. I could use a brass tube and just pull it apart, but a nice connector would be better.

I would appreciate any possible ideas that you guys might have on this! Thanks!!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"

[rwtdiver]

The hull sections are complete and ready to be joined up! The overall length turned out to be 43" (1002.20 mm) as mention before I had to add an addition 2.5" (63.50 mm) section to the length to accommodate the MSD I am using! All in all I am quite pleased with the printed structure at this point!



Now I can move onto the rest of the smaller components to complete the build up.

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

OK! Thank you so much David! That MSD that you gave is finally going to be put to use! I very much appreciate not only your generous gift, but the time and your expertise to make operate! If the Hunley turns out like I hope it will (thanks to you) I might be able to lose the newbie label!!:-)) NAH! I still have so much more to learn!!

Thank you again David!

Rob
"Firemen can stand the heat"

We're all newbie's in this game, Rob.