Just got my new class 2.5 unit Duca from Strike models, looks very nice, will be a really quick build looks like, since he already did most of the hard stuff. This comes as one piece. Took a few pictures, was a little worried about the front hatch size, but a bottle/reg fits just fine, only getting the armour in up front will be a bit harder than usual. Why I went with this one, one of the largest class 2, and being Italian, can flip to either side as needed.
Covered with too much junk, I really need to clean it up. Just a cheap Harbor freight workbench, but I went to a woodworking shop here in Orlando, and ordered a 1 3/4" maple bench top from Michigan, so it would be wider and longer, and attached it over the original top. It cost about twice what the HF workbench cost, but gave me about 50% more work area.
Saw the Duca the other week over at Stephens. Was tempted to start throwing money at him for one, then remembered all the other projects I had going... Nice looking hull though. I like the integrated subdeck, barbettes, etc
In the water at 11 pounds, just a little low, so I think I will go with a final weight around 10 pounds. After I measured the distance, it is quite close to 1/2 inch in the picture, so I will go with 10 1/2 pounds max weight.
Got 1 side cut out, was surprised at how thick it is. Averages about 1/4 inch. What ever it is made out of was clogging the cutting bit. Found a Rotozip plunge cutting drill bit was the way to go, cut it like butter. Just be very carefull if you use one of these type of bits, it will slice right through your finger. I can see it now, Clark in the ER, posting how he cut his pinkie finger off. Water is only 82, little to cold to swim in today.
The complete weight before I cut on it was 2 1/2 pounds. With the one side cut out it lost 6 ounces, down to 2.2 now, once I cut the other side, it will be 1 3/4 pounds, so not too bad. The stern is the thickest at 1/4 inch, the rest is 1/8, getting thicker in the last foot towards the stern, I had guessed at 1/4, was a little off. It's not fiberglass, some kind of plastic. Stephen said they used rotational molding, same as a kayak is made. Before he cuts the decks out, you could see the single injection hole dead center of the middle deck. From the step down, back to the stern turret it has a armour belt molded in 3/8 inch high.
Got the other side cut out this evening, weight is 1 pound 14 ounces. So I got around 7 pounds to add, I think 9 pounds it will float better.
i think so, you could contact them and check if you're interested in one, i think he had a couple on hand.
