New Hull Projects?

warspiteIRC · Dec 14, 2013

Hey, Bob;

Make plans to attend the IRC Nationals at Greenbriar State Park nr. Hagerstown, Md on the third week of June.

Marty

Bob Pottle · Dec 14, 2013

Hi Marty,
Thanks for the invitation but I doubt I'll be able to attend NATS again until I retire from full time work (2017). Kim would not be happy if I spent 1/4 of my yearly vacation at NATS instead of at the cottage or somewhere more exotic!
Bob

CURT · Dec 19, 2013

John Coffill built the Mogami I think Jay.

Bob Pottle · Dec 20, 2013

John did build a Mogami Class CA but he did the version with a flight deck for seaplanes aft. It was sold at one of the last Shearwater Museum model shows we attended but hasn't been seen since.
Good news from my accountants 2 days ago. I can retire in 2 years versus 4 so may be back to NATS earlier than expected!

CURT · Dec 20, 2013

Excellent news there Bob.

Tugboat · Dec 20, 2013

Nice!

crzyhawk · Apr 22, 2014

Posted By Bob Pottle on 30 Nov 2013 08:17 PM
Strange, I posted a reply yesterday, editted it and it vanished. I'm putting Royal Oak on the back burner while I make some cruiser hull plugs.
I've looked at the Java Class again and they're not as small as I thought, 510' LOA and a 5.5 lb model, before the extra displacement allowed by IRCWCC rules. I was surprised to see they're 2.5 unit models, same as the larger De Ruyter. Any preferences for Java vs De Ruyter? Plans for both are available in 1/144 from Profile Morskie.
The Java is only 10' shorter than the Profintern Class, but lighter and doesn't have the many armament installation options Profintern has (6 main armament casemate guns - 4 forward, 2 aft, 4 guns on side sponsons and 5 deck guns).
I'm improving the Profintern plug (and mold) I commissioned several years ago. There were too many errors for me to put the hull into production - the original mold will be scrapped after the plug is redone. So far the bow has been re-shaped to match the plans and the erroneously shaped side sponsons have been cut off and replaced. Tomorrow I'll start correcting a slight asymmetry between the width of the port and starboard bow embrasures. I expect to finish the plug in 3-4 weeks and it should be available in 2014 (not from me).
I envisioned the Profintern as a specialist model for IRCWCC Convoy battles. It can carry 4 x 1/2 unit spurt guns (40 BBs total) in the 4 bow casemates close to the waterline. In that configuration it would be a threat to battleships stopped while shooting at magnetic shore targets. Profintern could be armed with a mix of 1/2 unit spurt and normal BB cannons, or 4 standard 1/2 unit BB cannons (all in casemates). Potentially a versatile model with high speed, short length and two rudders.
I've decided my next hull will be the Frobisher Class CAs. They were 605' long so get a 50% larger rudder under IRCWCC rules. I like the two in-line single quarterdeck guns, which I would depress as far as possible and train 15 degrees to port and starboard. That should allow some close range hits low on an opponents hull, versus the usual cruiser twin stern guns. This class had amidships main armament sponson guns too, like the Profintern. The aft guns are at about the same height above waterline as the Profintern's casemate guns. 1/144 scale plans are en route from Profile Morskie.
I think the Frobisher hull plug will be done by April, then I want to make another CL plug. Options so far are: Java, De Ruyter, LIbertad (Spanish), Ajax, and Almirante Brown (Argentina).
Click to expand...

I prefer the Java to the De Ruyter. They have superior options for laying out the guns, and 3 shafts as oppsoed to 2, so it should turn much better as well.

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New Hull Projects?

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