In between combat today I finished populating the WTB. Unfortunately the receiver I used had a dead throttle channel. I was able to mix the throttle to the unused aileron channel and get around the problem, but now I don't have an extra channel for the gun elevate. The valve servo in the WTB is modified to continuously rotate, providing a shot every 0.5 seconds to comply with Treaty rules. Gun tests were very successful, although I need to narrow the servo arm so that the actuation period is shorter - too much blow through with each shot. Here's an interior shot of the WTB in its final form.
I finally got the Bogue on the water for speed trials this afternoon. The first run was made with it very light, just to see if the motor and rudder were functioning OK. It ran like a speed boat. I had re-worked the motor mount last night because the drive dog was making a lot of noise. With a better angle between the motor and the shaft it was much quieter. After battling was done, I took it out again and added some ballast to get the proper waterline. I had fun playing around with it once I had the speed dialed in - but it handles like a loaded cargo ship: it doesn't turn sharply, and it takes some space to stop. Except for the field expedient deck hold downs, it looks great in the water. Tonight I'll work on getting it ready for combat tomorrow, and then later on I'll pretty it up and add the sponsons and the rest of the details. Oh, the ballast needed to get the right waterline? About 4.5 lbs, or one unopened container of 6000 BBs!
Hey, were you still looking at making a kit for this ship? My wife is actually interested in one of the Brit versions as well. I was thinking I would just scratch build one, but if there is a kit, I might just go that route...
Yes, the kit is still in work. I worked on updating the CAD file last night, I'll finish it tonight and send it off for another prototype. Assuming there are no issues with the new parts, I should have kits before the end of July.
Holy sh**!! That is above and beyond awesome. Will those come with the kit or will they be an additional add-in?
Holy sheet of plywood, batman! That is incredible! Out of curiousity, is there any chance you might do a laser-cut C3 kit? I know they share the same basic hull as the Bogue.
Wow.... Just wow.... Ok, I will need to get me one of those. How much does it cost to have a kit like that laser cut anyway?
I have not got a final price on the carrier yet, but should have one soon since I have ordered the first set of kits. I expect the kit to be less than $100, more than $60. I'll set the final price when I get the kits and the bill from the laser cutter. The accessories will be available separately from the carrier kit for less than $10 each. The door card has something like 45 doors, there are 36 20mm guns to a card, and the last card has 4 36" searchlights, 4 boat davits, 5 large vents and 9 small vents. These are also on order and I hope to have them by the end of the week. i don't know anything about the C3, so I'll have to do some research and get back to you.
OK, it looks like the kit will cover any of the carriers based on the C3 hull, even the HMS Archer which looks like the first one. I do not plan to redo the flight deck to make an earlier version, since the flight deck took most of the design time and initiated most the headaches I had to deal with. However, I think it would be fairly easy to modify the kit to open up the hanger deck and build a different configuration. In addition to the other American built escort carriers, there is a French carrier with the same hull, and the hull can also be used to build most ships that used the C3 hull (492' OA, ~465' WL x 70' wide), including some seaplane tenders and T3 tankers. I found a picture of a seaplane carrier with what looks like a Mars flying boat on the back that got me thinking I may want to make a different version myself... I may have to offer the hull as a separate kit.
I made the body in the picture from a Burger King straw so that I could insert LEDs inside. For a standard searchlight, a 1/4" dowel will work great.
The HMS Queen left the dry dock today after completing fitting out. With a squadron of new Grumman Wildcats on board, the shakedown cruise was successfully completed. The crew is looking forward to their deployment in the Med.
I do have some of the Bogue CVE kits available now. I only have two left of my initial run and I'm going to hold on to them until the Treaty Nationals in two weeks, but after that they will be available. They are $65 plus $15 shipping. I have a geared motor and motor mount for another $10. Contact me if you are interested.
