SMS Viribus Unitis - IRCWCC

Discussion in 'Warship Builds' started by McSpuds, Apr 12, 2015.

  1. McSpuds

    McSpuds Vendor

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2011
    Posts:
    814
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    The older fiberglass hull I had was tossed into the trash, the hull was so off measurements and shape...

    I decided to build a wood hull from some plans I have that are 1/100. They are from a detailed plans book by Ing. Prasky.

    A quick trip to the print shop and the plans are 1/144. Just to be sure, I used the graphics program I have to resize and print off the hull lines. I used the plans from the print shop for the placements of the hull ribs ect.. By using both thte computer and the printed files, I have a very nice hull.

    I did decide to not model in the casements... too much crap to deal with. Maybe a second build later will have them. There is a nice template of the casements in the plans.


    The ribs and all the stringer pieces, along with the keel and casement stringers are ready to piece together.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Everything fits...
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Now the gluing begins
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Putting in the 1/2" balsa bottom for water channel.
    [​IMG]
     
    Tugboat likes this.
  2. Cannonman

    Cannonman Ultimate Hero :P -->> C T D <<--

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    Posts:
    879
    Location:
    Hermitage, Tn
    Wow, great work so far, looks real nice. :)
     
  3. irnuke

    irnuke -->> C T D <<--

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2011
    Posts:
    1,079
    Location:
    York, SC
    Something about a wood boat that just says.....







    Shoot me here. :laugh:
     
    Tugboat likes this.
  4. Lou

    Lou It's just toy boats -->> C T D <<-- Admiral (Supporter)

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2008
    Posts:
    2,092
    Location:
    Smyrna, Georgia
    Looks great!
     
  5. McSpuds

    McSpuds Vendor

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2011
    Posts:
    814
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    Some more updates.... trying to get this boat ready for May battle and then NATS.


    The mini plane is awesome for getting the balsa wood down to shape...

    [​IMG]


    A little sandpaper

    PS, those ribs you see in the water channel are being removed after the glass is applied!
    [​IMG]

    and she is ready for glassing
    [​IMG]

    Missed the shots for skinning it with thin balsa wood and then outside when it was wet.... but here is the finished hull... just need to clean the edges and re drill out the prop shaft holes..
    [​IMG]

    Putting a stringer at the bottom of the pen area was a big plus... I will always do this from now on.. gives the edges of the skinning something solid to glue to before wetting it out.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Tugboat and rcengr like this.
  6. Lou

    Lou It's just toy boats -->> C T D <<-- Admiral (Supporter)

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2008
    Posts:
    2,092
    Location:
    Smyrna, Georgia
    Very Nice! Going to do the "tuggy mod" for superstructure?[​IMG]
     
    Tugboat and NickMyers like this.
  7. NickMyers

    NickMyers Admin RCWC Staff

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2007
    Posts:
    4,404
    Location:
    Federal Way, WA
    Don't forget some Charmin stacks!
     
  8. McSpuds

    McSpuds Vendor

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2011
    Posts:
    814
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    Last pics of the night...


    Ready to mark and cut the top plate...
    [​IMG]

    Fits like a charm....
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Also cut out the ribs in the water channel....
    [​IMG]

    I have a paper due so off to my studies...
     
  9. McSpuds

    McSpuds Vendor

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2011
    Posts:
    814
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    Update pics....

    Top cap going on...

    [​IMG]


    Deck lids done and barbetts done...

    I need to thin the deck by 1/8" above each casement area where the stringers are two between ribs... that is fore and aft.. the rules only allow me to have 1/2" total thickness, and in those spots I am over by 1/8".
    [​IMG]

    The leveling/holding bracket for the stern guns.. the inserts are fastened to the deck just past the aft turret. The screws are permanently held onto the bar by soldered nuts underneath. This way when I turn the screws, the guns raise or lower... Using two screws to stabilize the set up. On the IJN Mustu the single post was just a little unstable...
    [​IMG]
     
    Tugboat likes this.
  10. McSpuds

    McSpuds Vendor

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2011
    Posts:
    814
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    Getting her done... will be installing Kips and wiring this week...

    So far...

    I so luv this system of using wheels and a wire.... you see fishing line right now. This will be replaced with some tough stainless wire this week... the wire wraps around each spindle and runs through two holes in each one to prevent slippage. This is a very nice, tight set up for rudders, and can be used for single, double, or more...

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The turrets are done as well... need to be trimmed just a little on the bottom..

    [​IMG]

    The trips fit!

    [​IMG]

    All gear in place but the kips... they will mounted in the stern just forward of the rudder servo by using removable tray.

    [​IMG]

    a fiberglass turret for the trips..

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Tugboat likes this.
  11. Lou

    Lou It's just toy boats -->> C T D <<-- Admiral (Supporter)

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2008
    Posts:
    2,092
    Location:
    Smyrna, Georgia
    Looking great!
    Question on your fiberglass turret. Did you make an undersized master then lay the cloth on top? Or did you create a mold?
     
  12. McSpuds

    McSpuds Vendor

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2011
    Posts:
    814
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    Made a plug, then a mold.
     
  13. CURT

    CURT Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2006
    Posts:
    5,751
    Location:
    St. John's Newfoundland , Canada
    Nice internal layout. What are those batteries?
     
  14. jch72

    jch72 Active Member

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2009
    Posts:
    448
    Location:
    Greensboro, North Carolina, United States
    Those are LiFePO4 3.2Volt 20Ah Batteries Curt. They weigh 1.65 lbs (750g) each.
     
  15. McSpuds

    McSpuds Vendor

    Joined:
    Aug 22, 2011
    Posts:
    814
    Location:
    Louisville, Ky
    Yepper, and I luv 'em