These are some of the photos of the boat as it appears today. Based on the old 32nd Parallel kit it was greatly modified and scratch built. It ran for many years and now resides on the shelf. Perhaps I'll re-commission it someday, but for now I have too much on my plate. Next, I'll post some construction pictures.
USS Balao 1/32 Fleetboat
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As can be seen, the hull required major modifications to get it to the correct shape. All the other details such as fittings, 5" gun, props, tower, radar where all scratch made. Understand that this boat predates the major influx of PE parts and the WTC was in its infancy. Much input was rendered by HWSNBN, and without such this project would not have been as successful as it turned out. I couldn't put a WTC of that size anyway. It was powered by two Astro 40 geared motors. CO2 pneumatics to actuate the periscopes, shutter doors, torpedo release mechanisms. It fired all ten tubes. I had four 12v 7a cells for the electrics and an Ansul fire hood CO2 bottle for the pneumatics. The screws are hand made brass and plated copper. I could go on and on. Suffice to say I cut my teeth on this thing and learned one valuable lesson......build smaller.The Titanic" The smoker you drink, the player you get"Comment
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What Gene is too kind to mention is that I almost killed him via a CO2 bomb:
When working out the CO2 gas system (CO2 at room temperature presents a gas pressure of around 800 PSI). I suggested sources for plumbing, gas regulator (the perfect Williams single-stage unit used by NASCAR pit crews), and on-board pressure bottle. What I failed to do was insure that we incorporated a blow-out plug into the neck of the on-board bottle.
I'll let Gene present the pictures of the shop explosion aftermath. But for the grace of God, Gene was not killed or maimed! To this day I get the shakes just thinking about it.
MWho is John Galt?Comment
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Here's the culprit of which HWSNBN speaks. I was indeed very fortunate. I could have lost the boat....I would have healed, but not the boat. It would still be in the depths of Mt. Trashmore, 25' down. That's 800 scale feet. Certainty beyond my diving limits. I had pre-charged the bottle in anticipation of going out to the lake and went out to run an errand. When I returned the work shop was a total mess. The largest piece of the Rubber Maid tool box which held the bottle and all my stuff measure no more then a few inches. The tools were at either end of the place and the bottle in the photo, which was at the bottom of the box under two trays of tools, was deeply imbedded into the ceiling. CO2 systems are cool, but must be treated with the upmost of respect. I didn't and I nearly paid a steep price for it. At the end of the day the system did prove to be complicated and extremely finicky and I would do it much differently today. Lessons learned....I blame HWSNBN....of course. Wouldn't you?The Titanic" The smoker you drink, the player you get"Comment
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Yes, that's right. I won't soon forget though.....Forgive me if I don't know your "call sign" ? I'm fairly new to the forum and am trying to catch up to new and old friends. I'll figure it all out eventually....Sam.Last edited by GBerger; 07-08-2013, 10:50 PM.The Titanic" The smoker you drink, the player you get"Comment
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Hey, I had to leave the IPMS show early; how did you make out at the end of the day?
-SamComment
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Am a newbie and just read this thread and viewed the pics.
CRAFTSMANSHIP at its very best! Wow!
Tommienautilusreproductions.comComment
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