Lj's USS Texas(BB-35) SJS 3D Print complete Kit build

FIRST OFFICIAL BUILD POST.

Update
I just finished the body prep work to accept jb welding and feel more kid friendly on fingers. A couple of minor/ major parts came DOA. Will already shipped replacements. (Both Props and a lost tooth/peg on one of the gear box covers) no big deal. Nothing a 3d printer can’t fix. Unless you don’t use ABS.

Tomorrow
I will take pictures of it on my bro- in law work bench. This where it will live till it is completely finished being built.

My step one

I pre bent the rudder shaft onto the rudder so I will not be able to remove it easily. I got ahead of myself. Haha oops

Superstructure
I will buy brass tubing for the towers 6/32? I believe? Tubing for my pump exhaust (Will I don’t know the size I will need) and fake barrels which are 1/4 brass tubing.

Hull
I will put all screws on losely on the hull. fill gaps with jb weld. Tighten screws and zip tie. Let the hull dry overnight.

Start working on the Superstructure as the hull dries. Still figuring out how long and how much brass tubing I will need for the structures.

 

The pump outlet through the hull should be 9/16 OD .014 Wall brass to accept a 1/2" OD vinyl tube. The brass tube that goes into the pump body itself is 13/32 OD .014 wall brass, to be a tight fit inside of the 1/2" vinyl tube.

The superstructure rods/tubes/etc are all 1/4 or 3/16. If holes seem a little big, it's for clearance so the holes aren't too tight for easy assembly.

Edit: using the browser 3d view I sent you, you can hide parts to see inside and there is a measure option for you to check measurements on things

 

Todays accomplishment. We didn't quite know where to start, so we just went stern to bow. Are reasoning was we wanted to drill out the prop shafts and not have to work around the entire hull. We wanted to work with gravity and not fight with it.

 

First image is all acetone and sanded, ready to be JB Welded. I used JB Weld plastic bonder.

Second image done JB Welding it. So we started at 7:30 and finished at 9:00 and it was still tacky. We made sure it was equal parts as directed. Because we live in Utah and it doesn't know if its spring or winter so the environment is colder for now.

Third image is let not waste not. Used some JB Weld on the rudder shaft onto the rudder.

That's all for today. We are hoping for tomorrow we will accomplish:

1st Find brass tubing. 3/16, 1/4, 9/16, & 13/32 (I don't want to order online)
2nd Drill out 3/8 holes.
3rd JB Weld the entire hull. (Now that we kind'a have a plan of attack.)

 

Todays accomplishments

Hull
We drilled out the prop shafts and secured them before JB welding the entire hull together. The shafts, we split the difference between inboard from the outboard. Errored on about a 1/4”on the inboard. I ordered brass tubing. 3/16, 1/4, 9/16, & 13/32 (From Amazon)
We magnetized the hull because why not they aren’t in the way and one less thing to lose. I superglued them but I am thinking about going over all of them with epoxy. What do you guys think?

Superstructure
I superglued the first layer to the second layer and bolted the first layers together.
On one of the towers I completely assembled it and superglued it.
We looked at the cranes and weren’t really sure how to assemble them after reading the instructions. Wasn’t really clear because of no pictures.

Barbets and Turrets
We Didn’t know if we should have glued the barbets to the deck or not so we didn’t and pressed fit them. Then superglued the turrets to the barbets.

Tomorrow
We are taking a break from the hull. So I plan on getting the brass in and finish the superstructure.

 

The turrets are meant to magnet to the barbettes so you can access the cannons to load/adjust the tweak on the O rings.

 

Looking really good!

 

So what I mean is deck to barbet we didn’t glue it together it’s pressed fit. We magnetized barbet to turrets.

 

Thank you

 

This is what I was talking about. I made the base removable from the deck. If that’s a bad thing, I won’t continue using that method.

 

Today’s update.

I completed 95% of the superstructure with the brass I received. I have one more 1/4” piece to fill in on the little tower structure. The big structure is completely done. Ready for primer. I also laced the decking with epoxy to help keep the magnets in place more permanently.

So, the big superstructure is 1/4”. Get 3 x K&S 12”packs.
I made do with what I had but for future reference.

The small superstructure is 3/16” and a single 1/4” piece.

I used a small piece of 13/32 for the beige pump.

I’m not sure what the cranes are?
I have 13/32 and 9/16, neither work.

Tomorrow
My plan is:
First, get the hull ready for primer.
Second, attach the stringers.
Third, epoxy the magnets on the hull.

I’m not sure how to attach the superstructure to the deck and make a retrieval line?