I think it will be fine. Bis is very very light above the deck thanks to the foam rubber superstructure. The model is very stable with heavy top weight judging by the other Bismarck classes using Greg's high density rubber superstructure which is very heavy. The rod is hollowed out but very light however very strong. It took all my weight to bend it backwards at the top to level it for the platform. What I like about the height is I can see the stern guns hit targets along with the side mounts and you can see the entire enemy ship's length on either side of the model or 2 or 3 alongside. The structure will be bolted to the deck but is easily removable for transport and the holes on the forcastle can be plugged when not in use or I can hide it with a deck fitting. I may attach a mounting bracket to hold a spool of line attached to a float. This will be attached to the GO PRO armature mount so that if by some chance the bracket is knocked off or the armature it self is off the line will release a float to mark it's location for recovery. The line will be secured to the armature so that it can be pulled up for retrieval. The bbs wil have no effect on the mount if hit by them. I just need to avoid low hanging tree branches and when it sinks get it to shore in shallow water as quickly as possible. However if by some reason it sinks way out in the deep hopefully no deeper than 20ft then with luck both floats from the model will deploy to mark it's location. I was thinking of cutting out a small hatch with a section of styrofoam underneath and a 20ft line that will pop off when the model sinks. Never used floats before but seeing how cloudy the water can be I think I will have them setup.
Conron has some deeper spots and it is dark and murky below water. A good float is a great idea. I developed mine after I lost the Arizona for 40 minutes with 5 people diving on it. As far as the camera, try it out there but have a back up plan for it. It will make the ship tippy. Physics will prove that to you. Carlos suggested making a spot in the superstructure for it and using a mirror like a periscope. Out of sight and mounted lower. Perhaps that is the way I will go when I break down and get mine.
Shouldn't be tippy. With the wider than normal hull beam and very light weight of the camera this should shouldn't affect very much. We'll see though when I test it. Good thing is there are many options to mount but I have no place to mount it in the superstructure. Will be working on the armature today and tested it Friday see how it works. My oringal idea was to have the armature bend at the center like a firetruck's ladder where the center that bends is positoined behind the mainmast centering it over the ship for stability. If the Armature does make it tippy I can reduce the height to improve the stability.
Flags attached, some rigging replaced between the Masts, forward breakwater attached, and the Radar above the armoured conning tower is now a locator float. Lifeboats have been primer painted for now till fully painted up. One Anchor attached at the bow and another just at the stem of the bow. Got my other Co2 bottle back today.
I like it already, Make sure the locater float is big enough to pull the string out, even in a tangled mess. I see a lot that deploy 2 feet above the sunk ship. My superstructure idea was from Rich in Australia who battles in 20-40 foot deep ponds with his. He has to have something that works. The camera should be fine, you probably want it so you can get to it to turn it on anyway...
Your right. Got both Anchors secured and currently making the Captsains. More rigging added to the superstructure this time the lines that fold wings. Hoping for decent weather tomorrow for the float test.
The 2nd breakwater is installed. Lifeboats painted. Main and 2ndary turrets painted this time with a Nato Black color. Looks good so far.Painted the forward half on the non skid areas . Cleats at the Bow are installed. The Capstains are giving me a difficult time trying to make them like Bis`s but I have to settle for generics there. Weather is supposed to be lousy tomorrow but I am off Sunday so I hope to float test it then.
Update. Captains installed with anchor chains attached. The white stripes on the super has been repainted. , bollards are on deck and secured. 2nd breakwater attached and painted. Rigging repainted. Lifeboats interiors painted and exterrior repainted. Touch up the barrel sleeves on the AA guns. Camera mount is finished and installed on board the Forcastle between the Capstains. We almost lost the armature when on the last phase of drilling a hole out on a bracket midway up the mount the drill press drill bit caught the brackett and ripped it out of our hands and twitsted the steel bracket into a pretzel. It took an hour to straighten it and pound out the bends. Reinstalled the platform brackets and installed the bolts. The mount is bolted to the deck and the camera is bolted to the mount. Total height estimate about 14 inches above deck. We made a triangle rod to support the rear of the mount and the lower ends are secured through the deck of the forecastle. We tested it for vibration and shock by moving the hull around to simulate bumps and sudden stops. The mount and camera barely moved. We took 4 different pics starting from horizontal , then bridge looking downward, then B then A Turret downward view. The 2nd view looking at the bridge from the camera at the bow but at height gave the best view Nearly 170 degrees around the ship. Both A and B turret cannons can be clearly seen with plenty of range from them so bb splashes from them will be seen. The view also allows ships passing withn the stern to be seen and the rear cannon shots can be observed. Only thing to do now is to get it to the water for testing.
Float Tests results .... SUCCESSFUL!!!! Bismarck was finally floated today. Conditions were on the cool side temp wise but the water was like glass inshore with a mild breeze offshore. Skys blue and Sunny. Well the model was floated at full battle load first without the camera mount and camera attached and then with the camera and mount. No significant difference in how the model sat. Trim was perfect bow to stern and port to stbd. The model sat at the waterline. The model had perfect trim. The model was leaned to one side and let go to see how long it took to return to center. It right in only a few seconds and remained stable. We rocked it more with waves and banged the bow and stern and the sides to see how the camera mount held up. THe camera barely moved and the mount worked like a charm. Next came the engine startup main drive to see how the radio was affected. No jitters at all. Then the pump was activated. No jitters. Both motors simulatenoulsy and no jitters at close or long range. The TX was set for power down mode to reduce power and simulate low battery. 100 Paces were walked while operationg the servos to see when control was lost. I was more than 150 ft away before I had no control. That was in pwr down mode. At full power I was double the distance with no issue. Next we relaunced the model and started the Go Pro and drove the model around. The Model was super quiet and ran like a charm. The only issue was with the resistor it wa running around Big Gun Speed so the next trial will be without the resistor and timed over a course. The Cannons were test fired. They all fired well with minor spurts and the ranges were dead on to where I wanted them. All guns emptied out till I heard a POP! then escaping gas. The problem was traced to a clamp that had somehow cut into one of the large lines causing a breach in the hose. An easy fix. Other than that all systems worked flawlessly and well . I was very surprised to how all it went. It was like reuniting with an old friend. It was great to see my old ship cruising and firing it's weapons. Brought back good memories. The last time I actually operated this model was back in 2002 before it was sold in 03. Just some minor tweaking of the cannons and scotchcoat the antennae leads of the receivor, finish the detailing and get it repainted topside and touchups. Here are some pics ..enjoy...
