Today's building

[Albacore 569]

Starting a Thread on a New Project that's progressing very rapidly. Not calling it 'Todays work' very respectfully... "Thats da other gentlemen".

December 16 - 18, 2023

[RCSubGuy]

Watching with interest

[Albacore 569]

December 19th, 2023

[Albacore 569]

New Project choice made October 14, 2023. Research sent to Bob Martin. Funds sent.

By mid-November early December, 3D printing took 3-4 weeks. Parts delivered December 16. Some long lead time items already ordered delivered. Use existing transmitter WTC, for great cost savings. Off we go. 5-inch PVC pipe is main structural part, which outside diameter is 5.56 inches diameter. Diameter or beam then is EXACTLY 1/48 scale. PVC bayonet lock rings printed hold bow and stern with access hatches on bottom to access bow and stern plane magnetic connectors. Sent Bob a short sample of the PVC pipe to trail fit parts. The images here courtesy of Nautilus Dry Docks.

t

[wlambing]

Nice work!

[gantu]

looks like an Dolphin II class submarine

[Albacore 569]

LOL. Bingo! Hi Gathu! I deliberately didn't share name at first to see what would happen. having a little fun.

Yes have had drawings on these boats for years (the Dolphin 1 group). Bob Martin was able to fashion drawings nf a Dolphin 2 I was wishing. The Dolphin 1's amazingly are beginning to get old and maybe replaced believe it or not in about 5 years so the Dolphin 2 group (Tanin (trans. "Crocodile" or Tannin) & Rahav (trans. "Splendor" or Rahab).

I think the tragic Gaza war also sparked me into deciding what to build next. Wanted to show some light of these remarkable submarines built by HDW in Keil Germany. Plus, I love the cool camouflage schemes. I also save considerable money; I can use the same transmitter and same WTC by OTW/Nautilus used in the Argonaute in the Dolphin too!

These boats are partly paid for by Germany. A token or gift paying for the tragedies to Jews in WW2 . but wisely also - these boats-maintained continuity of production maintaining Germany's highly skilled specialty work force. Also, perhaps a bit humorously too, I remember the Jewish phrase 'Never buy retail - lol'. Guess this applies to submarine procurement too! LOL. These boats represent Israels most expensive military assets.

They are versatile boats, have AIP (air Independant propulsion) & perform reconnaissance, special operations, anti-ship and antisubmarine warfare, & nuclear deterrence maintaining a potent second-strike capability.

The Dolphin 3's likely will have vertical launch tubes in their longer sail. More are being ordered to replace the three older boats. Germany is now seems very busy, building the Dolphins 3, & a new larger size group of more advanced 212 for Germany and Norway.


The work by Bob Martin designing and printing the parts is excellent. And he delivered remarkably FAST! Thank you, Bob!

Discovered a few minor corrections needed that couldn't be really identified virtually reviewing the work ups together. I wlll enlarge slightly the 3d printed holes in the bow and stern sections for the control rods for the moveable control surfaces. From 3/32" brass rod to 1/8" to beef thm up. (there is room for them) for the control surfaces. The torpedo shutters are off and not enough Adding 4 more to make 10 shutters.

Making templates for the 10 torpedo tube shutters in the bow now.

The stern taper to the 12.5 mm diameter prop hub needed to be 1/4 longer to facilitate the smooth taper.

The bow planes roots int he bows need a small extension, so the moveable bow planes move up and down freely. Otherwise, the rest Bob designed is 'bang on' that I see. The corrections are minor and making these changes now. Impressive work courtesy of NAUTILUS DRY DOCKS.

Steve

[gantu]

Hello steve the scale should be around 1/48,67573371510379.

Gantu

[Albacore 569]

Hello steve the scale should be around 1/48,67573371510379.

Gantu

Thank you Ganthu. Yes 1/48 or very very close. (if that's the meaning of the above number).

Yesterday opened up the holes in bow and stern parts for the new larger brass control rods. 3/32 increasing diameter to 1/8 inch (4/32). Color tests of masts. I think tits very close if not exact.

Costs would rise considerably in 3d printing I expect and might make it more likely limiting the available 3 d printers to make the same parts if in 1/32 , the same as the Argonaute which is in 1/32. Most important, it will still fit in the car transporting to the pond. 1/32 Dolphin 2 = 84.37 inches long, (2,143.0mm) 1/48 the scale chosen is 56.25 inches overall. (1,428.8 mm)


Long methodical tests of colors for hte Dolphin occurred in the 3-4 weeks as the parts were being 3 D printed.

[Albacore 569]

Adding styrene extensions to bow plane 'wing roots'. Color test on masts. Color Rust- oleum 'Vintage Teal'. Isn't Bobs mast detail beautiful?

[Albacore 569]

Getting the stern taper down. Adjusted 3 D printed defuser length.

[Albacore 569]

Today more parts arrived from Bob and McMaster Carr. Aluminum 43 mm outside diameter spacers from McMaster ordered Christmas day. Finally arrived. Bob's float value for Dolphin sail & low-pressure bow system arrived as promised too. Thanks Bob.

Adjusting the bow plane roots with styrene and Bondo putty. The photo shows still original location of forward deck hatch. New location will be 5 inches roughly after between bow planes and leading edge of sail. Using the spacer rings out lined area to counter sink grinding away with hand piece. Will putty and level the slightly lower forward part printed and once dry shape area. Then will add aluminum rings for DSRV McCann rescue Bell flat pad around the new forward hatch location. The aluminum t will make a sharp clear line for the pad at edges of roll down of deck and be flush with deck down centerline portion. Studying all available photos, seems the docking skirt flush ring is only present on the forward hatch. Some internet drawings on Dolphin1 group shows two. But studying those too, there seems to be only one around forward casing hatch. Bit still a hatch for scribing in for the aft casing around the engineering spaces.

The other feature different is a shark's tooth WLR-9 (or WLR- like) sonar present on casing forward on the Dolphin 1's but absent on the Dolphin 2's, the subject of building thread.

I don't like McMaster Carr. they are steep in price and slow in delivery. But if its the only place that has the part I need, I guess I have to swallow hard.

Steve

[Albacore 569]

Hull printed in various sections as you can see. Finishing shaping bow plane 'wing roots.'. Adding new forward escape main deck hatch. The hard aluminum will make a sharp defined guide sanding, Made scribing pattern for two hatches. Puttied her up. inserted styrene scribed hatch before CA gluing to deck. Reporting here as the putty dries. The drawn forward arrows keeps each part oriented which way things are to go. (old guy here) Puttied up original 212 sub hatch.

Bow area has some uneven ness in 3D printing from removing a bow mine sonar fairing since the program of a German 212 was the basis of this Dolphin hull.

The torpedo tube shutters will all be re done too. 10 tubes! The shutters are same symmetrical port and starboard. The starboard 26-inch tubes (four) show in drawings the same size shutters as the other 6 -21-inch tubes.

She is armed to the teeth. Popeye and Harpoon missiles, probably a anti helicopter missile too - a naval variant of an Israeli Iron Dome small point defense missile? Atlas Elektronik DM2A3 torpedoes. Decoys and remote autonomous vehicles.

Steve

[Albacore 569]

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Todays stuff. Ordered Dry traansfers. Calle could not print said too small draft numbers.

PLATON GRAPHICS
143 N. Stanford Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90059 Ph:
(310) 227-8027
FAX: (310) 227-8026
Email: info@platongraphics.com P


One color light gray Draft and no tug hul markings about $100.00





Always make extras for mistakes.

[Albacore 569]

Three of four packages arrived today.
Delivered were the new dry Transfers from Rigo (draft numbers and 'no tug' hull markings. An air line connector (looks like an IV line connector) from Bob Martin, And a new template for scribing in the new Torpedo tube Shutters.

Correcting mistakes or making adjustments to parts printed. The Dolphin 2's have rectangular doors in their sails for some of the masts and need to corrected accordingly. Its enjoyable working with the model parts.

Make the changes, place soldered brass parts ca glue - align, Bondo, warm dinner, watch Star Trek TNG and sand in the morning when dry overnight. Life is good.