Clearly, this was a TOP-SECRET refit that was listed on only a few plans (beautiful scale) I could tell you what it is but, then I would **** ** **** *** .
Super is complete! All major fabrication is done. Sheeting, paint, and stuffing the electronics inside is all that's left. ...
On a related note Paul Allen found Juneau on the 17. I've only seen one photo of the wreck but I am sure there will be more.
Stuck this scale feature back on. Lets see how many battles till it gets blown off. Also started painting the SS and deck then I realized I didn't sand the deck first. Latex paint does not stick to this red FG sheet without first sanding it, so off comes the paint. ...
Reminds me of some REAL LIFE NAVY painting incidents Wrong paint used on anntenas, not adhering non skid
Had a snow imposed telecommute day yesterday so I was able to get some work done on the Atlanta. Sheeting! For the new guys, sheeting is the process of prepping and installing 1/32" thick balsa wood to your combat model. The balsa is prepped by gluing 00 weight silkspan paper to one side of the balsa. The balsa is then glued to the model with the silkspan side inwards. Once dried, the balsa is then trimmed and a layer of silkspan is then applied to the outside of the balsa sheet. The silkspan is applied to both sides of the balsa to hopefully keep the balsa from shredding when taking hits. Glues used in this process vary from builder to builder. Lets start! Two lengths of 1/32" balsa is laid out on wax paper that is taped to the bench. To stick the silkspan paper to the balsa I'm using Titebond II glue thinned with water. I had purchased some Minwax lacquer that I wanted to try (a popular choice with other builders) but the Admiral had a snow day also. I had to keep the fumes down in the house hence the odorless Titebond method. Other glues that can be used are aircraft dope, the lacquer already mentioned, and some guys have used thinned contact adhesive. Whatever chemicals you use, the finished product will have to pass penetration testing mandated by whatever rule set you are building under. Lay the silkspan on the balsa and wet out, working from the center to the ends. Keep working the paper with the brush to get any wrinkles out. Two sheets wetted out. Takes about an hour to dry using the Titebond mixture. Need three sheets to do the Atlanta I use E6000 adhesive to stick the balsa to the model. Other options are contact adhesive and super glue. E6000 has worked well for me. Here a bead of E6000 is run around the windows. The rough trimmed panel of balsa is position on the model and pulled back off. This transfers E6000 to the balsa. I spread the E6000 around on the model and balsa to ensure good coverage. I add extra glue wherever required. Let the panel tack for a bit and then position on the model. The E6000 when used this way is a contact adhesive but it doesn't have the instant grab the true contact adhesive has so I used clamps and tape wherever required to ensure good bonding. Note the yoga foam under the clamps. This foam makes an excellent conformable clamp pad for the frame areas. The first panel installed. This is the longest piece (36") that I've attempted to do in one shot. It was a bit squirrely but I got it on. It helps that the BC Atlanta hull is relatively flat the first two thirds from the bow. The first piece was a simple straight sheet that didn't need much in the way of shaping. The aft third is a bit more difficult. Here I'm using the masking tape template method to pull the shape of the panel off the hull. Masking tape is used to build up the shape of the sheet. The template is pulled off, stuck on the balsa, and then the piece is cut to shape. Works great! The balsa after after the silkspan glue up can develop a reverse curve that can make it difficult to get it to lay easily on the hull. To address this, I place the sheet on the hull and weight it down with a wet rag. After a few minutes, the sheet better conforms to the hull. The aft end on these smaller models always have some wicked bends to them so extra clamping and taping is usually required. That's were I'm at as of this writing. Till next time. ...
