Building the french suffren sna

[Albacore 569]

The final thick-walled DDS done. Nautilus Dry docks magnets delivered today & inserted. They fit snug & a drop of CA glue secures them in DDS foundations designed in. I add the magnet to other when inserting magnet from its control rod plastic mount into frame assuring magnetic poles are oriented correctly. I will paint black tomorrow morning and mask the anti-echoic skirt a slightly off black (a Testors rubber black). I wanted to take these photos while still in primer gray, so details are clearer.

[Akula54]

The Suffren herself is so darn sleek

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I agree, one of my favorite french sub after Inflexible class ;)

[Albacore 569]

Printing it up. The DDS is thin; I am making a thicker walled version. The black 'landing tracked platform' (my term not sure of its correct name) for landing the French SWUV was made in the morning while the printer did its thing.

Made it the old-fashioned way using scrap printed resin parts, a disk sander, some brass tubing, Bondo and my hand piece with some added sheet styrene. It is hollow and free flooding too, both will be secured on deck eventually with some Magnets from Bob Martin's Nautilus works.

Comparing the French DDS to the American DDS, the US Navy doesn't seem to need a landing platform, the divers open the hatch and pullout a telescoping track on wheeled legs. But maybe the French one has more than it shows. Suspect the French DDS has telescoping tracks too still but connecting the landing platform to roll the SWUV in and out of the shelter..

The Suffren herself is so darn sleek, the DDS is a startling visual contrast that visually gives the model a sense of proportion and scale. The DDS will not be a standard item on the model, but a cool accessory once in a while at the pond. The French DDS around its skirt (the flat sided areas) contain anti echoic panels like the rest of the boat does.


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[Albacore 569]

Drafting by Randy Sanders for new French DDS for Suffren class. Printing now

[Albacore 569]

While DDS design finishes, completing the Suffern's swiveling pump jet. In the middle side view of propulsor with its stainless steel 4 mm shaft, this is more a reference photo for me so I can remember if I ever do maintenance I can reinstall the correct number of bearings and washer spacers. The large disk (washer) buts up against the stern and acts as a discrete pivoting thrust block. Simple, works great. Added a hole along bottom centerline to insert an Allen wrench to easily tighten prop to shaft.

To remove or attach, use allen wrench to pull the threaded allen pins from the rudder posts, detach the flexible coupling from the drive shaft, slide the shroud and prop off stern. Insert allen wrench loosen prop on shaft...gently slide the shaft partially out leaving a 1/4 inch extending like in photo, pull out shaft that extends into the tail cone. Tip the prop to remove around the lower rudder post. Reverse steps tio replace.

How the real pump jet actually really looks is unknown and don't care to know thank you very much. lol. I decided on 12 turning blades It probably has a primary number blade count likely on the real ones. Made blade tip clearances minimal. We are using a post swirl design instead of a pre Swirl design which the fixed stators are in front of the propulsor - like all known existing PJs around the world. (the Mk 48 Torpedo uses a post swirl). However, the pre swirl is excellent for facilitating the swivel function I desired and is simple and sturdy. In the water, It will still looks scale nuff.. Now the shroud doesn't restrain model turning but the reverse greatly enhancing it. Bob Martin has since made his own design with a swiveling PJ accessory for his 1/72 scale Virginia kits

[Albacore 569]

The French DDS for Suffern Class SSN (SNA) design progressing. Almost done.

[Albacore 569]

Printed a pair overnight, using my 'easy bake oven' produced these this morning - print time 8 hours 13 minutes. These printers never cease to amaze me. Looks like they need sanding? Nope! They will get their final UV sun bath as soon as the sun comes up.

All these propulsor evolutions have a hole for a hex locking nut. I will make a tiny discrete hole in the shroud along its bottom out of view for slim hex wrench. Will drill hole once propulsor final positioning finalized.

[Albacore 569]

I can't wait for the files to be available, this model is awesome !
(And I have an OTW WTC wich fit perfectly... )

I am using a OTW Dive module 3.5 inch also. Yes to JHapprich - Must be French Steam punk!

[Akula54]

I can't wait for the files to be available, this model is awesome !
(And I have an OTW WTC wich fit perfectly... )

[JHapprich]

I suspected it! They use a steam engine!

[Albacore 569]

Today, 11:25 PM
A new design evolution for Suffern Propulsor. Also beginning a French DDS for Suffern that will be attached with magnets as a display accessory. In 1/64 scale selected fore model (size of my car trunk) fortunately the PVC pipe at the hardware store and its 90-degree elbow joint (40 mm wide) is actually exact size for this DDS in 1/64 scale. This will form a basic shape, then will have designed door hinges and fairings blisters etc. in back and a base to be 3D printed around it.

H I Sutton - Covert Shores

[Albacore 569]

Lower hull, assembled, epoxied, puttied sanded primed. Same now for upper half. Putty drying. Now to seat and make all the index slots align and snug fit. making a clean straight separating line as close fitting as possible now. See the reactor cooling intake scoops aft? Flank arrays. If I can just stop pausing to stare at her ill work faster. lol.

[Albacore 569]

Hull assembly finally. The well-designed hull components by Randy Sanders all falls literally into place. Light tapping to slide in 3/16" x 48" carbon composite rods stingers for longitudinal stiffness down the long tube interconnected sections.

The rods ends cut surprisingly easy, like chalk. But are they strong. Wasn't in a hurry took my time, but assembling epoxying, puttying all took just 45 minutes or less because everything was so perfectly aligned from the computer drafting programing.

I suggested to Randy the X stern assembly have its own separate hull ring section. This To make the pump jet and internal clevises push rods access so easy now. It can all be preassembled and attached in a single unit











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[Albacore 569]

all the same weights shown above now in their final new forms

Lead ingots smelted and cast, glad that's over. scary stuff lead. heat gloves rubber gloves Face masks outside away from house. 2 casts - they weigh 2,4 and 3.2 lbs.

The Silicone mold was tough. The second cast I just melted the small ingots with torch in the mold itself.

That over, time to put the ballast aside till later and begin assembling the sections and putty sand now. Yay!

The two ridges inside on either side of the weights are structural and have holes through their sections the length of the boat for 3/16 Carbon composite 4-foot-long rods.

[Albacore 569]

Sizing up lead for keel ballast, lead given to me 20 years ago by a sub model buddy, finally will put to good use. Each photo shows 3 lbs. lead.

2 mm sheets and other photo small 1/4 once lozenge size weights. Will smelt later when closer to boat trim time for flexibility arranging.