FN Beaver (Suffren class Heavy Cruiser)

Discussion in 'Warship Builds' started by AdmiralBangerBang, Feb 7, 2018.

  1. AdmiralBangerBang

    AdmiralBangerBang Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2018
    Posts:
    180
    Location:
    Long Island
    What about Lion?
     
  2. buttsakauf

    buttsakauf Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2010
    Posts:
    695
    Location:
    Waycross, GA
    As it has been mentioned before it is a decidedly mediocre battling boat. Nothing about it is exceptionally hard to build. Building something you are passionate about keeps you excited and engaged when the frustrating mistakes happen. As long as you are having fun with this... you are doing it right. All, of course, in my humble opinion.

    Edit: I would personally continue down the path of building a Suffern. It is cheaper, elicits more thought in design, and most of all you have a resource who has built and battled it recently who has shown willingness to help. That last attribute is probably the most valuable of all. It also has battling attributes that are more forgiving for a new captain in my estimation.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2018
    aleMI likes this.
  3. NickMyers

    NickMyers Admin RCWC Staff

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2007
    Posts:
    4,404
    Location:
    Federal Way, WA
    my major concern for you with buying a hull is that you're going to be fiscally tapped out, and then basically sitting there with a hull, no tools, no other supplies, and no money. Buying a hull IS the faster and easier way to get going in this hobby, but honestly, time is sort of the one thing you have in abundance. If you can get to Barry's or somewhere else to get help with building it, it may be a good choice, if its just going to sit at home gathering dust, hurrying to buy it may not be.
     
    aleMI and rcaircraftnut like this.
  4. AdmiralBangerBang

    AdmiralBangerBang Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2018
    Posts:
    180
    Location:
    Long Island
    Strike also carries a Northampton hull. What about that? Also, Beaver and Barry said that Lion was an OK starter boat.
     
  5. aleMI

    aleMI Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2017
    Posts:
    93
    Location:
    Inland Empire, California
    Yes, as others and I mentioned in a previous thread, Lion is OK as a starter boat. Build it if you like it. A class 4 ship won't be too complicated, and has a roomy hull to fit everything in.

    Ask yourself these questions:

    -Have you already bought the wood for the Suffren? If so, I would proceed with the Suffren build, as you already started on the project. Yes, fiberglass is easier and quicker to work with, but it sounds like money is your limiting factor rather than time. And you have Beaver and Barry to help you. Also you mentioned your dad is buying the wood. That's more money you can save to spend on other parts of your build.

    -If you decide to not proceed with the Suffren, then you address the question of how much money exactly do you have to spend to get a ship operational. On strikemodels, a Northampton battle kit costs $658, and that doesn't even include batteries, radio, building supplies. Buying a hull is $125; you still need to come up with the other $533+. NOTE THE PLUS SIGN at the end. You can spread your spending over months or a year but it is still money you have to spend eventually. As Nick mentioned, buying a hull and having no funds to fill it is a waste.

    -Do you prefer the Northampton or Lion? Northampton is a cruiser, which will be somewhat cheaper and easier build.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2018
  6. AdmiralBangerBang

    AdmiralBangerBang Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2018
    Posts:
    180
    Location:
    Long Island
    I haven't bought wood, and if Lion isn't that great, I saw a Seydlitz hull on BC. How's she?
     
  7. aleMI

    aleMI Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2017
    Posts:
    93
    Location:
    Inland Empire, California
    I have neither driven nor fought against the Seydlitz, but the Von Der Tann is also a class 4 bc and is usually touted as the better boat for newcomers. Actually the Von Der Tann is a good boat. Charley at Battler's himself recommended the Von Der Tann to me when I was starting out. The Seydlitz has .5 more units and is faster at 24 seconds, but is longer and has inline rudders, both which will hurt turning ability. Probably comes down to battling style. A better turning ship vs a faster and slightly better armed one.

    You still haven't answered the question about your budget. If you buy a $140 fiberglass hull, will you realistically have enough money over the next year or 2 to get a combat ship on the water? $140 is enough to get you a cannon kit for your Suffren.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2018
  8. AdmiralBangerBang

    AdmiralBangerBang Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2018
    Posts:
    180
    Location:
    Long Island
    I have around 200 right now, and I can get around 10 dollars a week, with some extra now and then.
     
  9. aleMI

    aleMI Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2017
    Posts:
    93
    Location:
    Inland Empire, California
    If your income is guaranteed, then it looks like you could feasibly get a ship on the water in a year and a half, which is a decent time frame. A battler near me says to budget $1200 for a class 4 ship, but cheaper is certainly doable. The biggest thing then becomes commitment, which goes back to build what you really want to build so you stick with it.

    EDIT: Just remembered Kevin P on this site has built a Seydlitz. You can ask him how his ship is.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2018
  10. AdmiralBangerBang

    AdmiralBangerBang Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2018
    Posts:
    180
    Location:
    Long Island
    Well, the things that I really want to build aren't beginner friendly, since I want to build Iowa, North Carolina, South Dakota, Tirpitz, Kongo, and Nagato.
     
  11. aleMI

    aleMI Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2017
    Posts:
    93
    Location:
    Inland Empire, California
    Then I modify my statement to build what you want that is around a class 3-4. Building giants as your first ship is best left to people like rcaircraftnut who have been builders their whole lives.

    Also take a look at this:
    http://ircwcc.com/main/shiplist/

    Use Ctrl+F to look for a ship your interested in, and note ship length, shaft number, rudder layout, and speed. With these parameters you can get a general idea of the ship's characteristics.

    You would have to look at actual pictures of the ship to get an idea of turret layout and difficulty of making the superstructure. Ships from the WW1 era generally have less superstructure.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2018
    rcaircraftnut likes this.
  12. rcaircraftnut

    rcaircraftnut Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2016
    Posts:
    1,520
    Location:
    Oklahoma
    I am going to suggest that you put that $200 you have into buying a used ship. I have seen and purchased them in the past for less than that. It will be much cheaper and faster in the long run for you to refit a ship than to build one from scratch. Keep your eye on the classifieds. I would keep saving untill something decent comes avail. This will be your most cost effective option.
     
    Beaver and aleMI like this.
  13. aleMI

    aleMI Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2017
    Posts:
    93
    Location:
    Inland Empire, California
    That would be my first choice too, and that's what I did when I bought my USS Helena; we suggested this route to him before.
     
  14. rcaircraftnut

    rcaircraftnut Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2016
    Posts:
    1,520
    Location:
    Oklahoma
    Matter of fact I recently made a deal on an Iowa for $150 I just need to go pick it up. Shipping becomes an obsticle for the larger ships so keep that in mind. I am willing to relay a ship to you but that takes time as I cant always get loads where I want to go rite away.
     
  15. rcaircraftnut

    rcaircraftnut Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2016
    Posts:
    1,520
    Location:
    Oklahoma
    I started out with a DKM Scharnhorst. It was not the recommended ship to start woth. I did well however, as stated above I have been building and opperating rc since the age of 12. I am 40. Thats litterally almost 30 yrs of exp. The only thing I needed help with really was tactics. I already had a working knowledge of the tools, techniques, and systems used in our models. So I am deffinatly the exception to the rule. You seen like a brite young man, a bit resistant to guidance, lol, but you seem capable of aquiring the skills to do this.
     
  16. Beaver

    Beaver 2020 Rookie of the Year Admiral (Supporter)

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2013
    Posts:
    3,674
    Location:
    Central PA
    There is an HMAS Austrailia for $235 + shipping
     
  17. AdmiralBangerBang

    AdmiralBangerBang Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2018
    Posts:
    180
    Location:
    Long Island
  18. Beaver

    Beaver 2020 Rookie of the Year Admiral (Supporter)

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2013
    Posts:
    3,674
    Location:
    Central PA
    Well, that's your choice. I though you didn't like the Seydlitz and Moltke's with their wing turrets?
     
  19. AdmiralBangerBang

    AdmiralBangerBang Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2018
    Posts:
    180
    Location:
    Long Island
    Yeah, but they have superfiring ass guns, and on BC and Strike they looked pretty sexy, so I'm fine with them. Not British ones though
     
  20. AdmiralBangerBang

    AdmiralBangerBang Active Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2018
    Posts:
    180
    Location:
    Long Island
    Also, how does IRCWCC ramming work? I understand that it is illegal, but what are the penalties?