USS Canberra --Baltimore class Heavy Cruiser Construction

I recently received the hull of a Baltimore class Heavy Cruiser. I have done some work to her, but ran out of supplies. I will keep this thread updated as much as I could so everyone can see the process of her build. This will be my first R/C battling Warship construction, so please be patient.

 

I would add pictures but it won't allow me to. For some odd reason it won't bring up the give me the choice.

 

I assume you're using the File Manager. I find it hard to use. I prefer to use Photobucket. It's quite simple, you just upload your photos to it (make sure they're resized to 800Pxls wide), click the IMG link (which automatically copies it), and post it here. There are some extra words and symbols on the beginning that you can remove to make the picture prettier, but that's the simplified version of it.

Looking forward to the build. Though I'm not a fan of the Baltimore class, I love to see new ships come together.

Good luck,

 

Alright so after working on the pictures and getting them right, here they are. s1281.photobucket.com/user/misguided-1/media/9bc4cf51-ffd4-43fb-b8b3-169f86a543a5_zps31bdfd75.jpg.html?sort=3&o=4 I started placing small pieces of wood on the bow in order to shape the bow. It's still a work in progress. s1281.photobucket.com/user/misguided-1/media/DSCF6121_zpsc25fced0.jpg.html?sort=3&o=5 I pulled the planking strips off of the keel and planning on using thin plywood along with fiberglass. I can't upload the photos just yet, so i'm just gonna add the link.

 

Awesome! I assume that is one of RCENGR's kits? If you mentioned before,forgive me but what format are you building for? for the bottom are you going to bend plywood to cover or use the balsa block method?
Edit: looking back I saw you did mention using the plywood method. My appologies.

 

My only issue is trying to figure out if I should go top to bottom or bow to stern for the rest of the hull. I'm thinking more of bow to stern that way there's more then one place it's attached. I can't wait tip I get more funding from the SecNav (me, lol) to continue with the construction.

 

ah one of the other skippers on this forum with more knowledge on that will have to speak up on best course of action. I attempted the ply method and fail miserably so I instead used the balsa block method and found great success with it. All about personal preference.

 

Has anyone tried building up individual layers of veneer on a hull, epoxied together in a crossed pattern, similar to fullscale WW2 PT boat construction?

 

It's called cold-molded construction. My Dumas Chris Craft Cobra kit is built this way but only with two layers. The first is angled strips of thin ply and the outer is the fore and aft mahogany strips.

 

I'll add that it took a couple of coats to build up, but yes it did work pretty well. It took a while due to drying time but the total time in the shop was minimal.

 

I do not want to get this thread off topic but was there ever a thread detailing that process? it seems it would be far easier and less time consuming then the other methods.

 

I'll try to post something about it when I get home in a few weeks.

 

Alright y'all, im in need of some ideas. I've been racking my brain over the materials to use to build the superstructure. I found some items that with a little jimmyrigging I should be able to make work, but some parts of my superstructure calls form 1/16th of an inch, I have some material that's an 1/8th of an inch, do y'all think this size will work, if not what materials do you recommend?

 

My Baltimore, also named the Canberra by the way has a super structure made of ABS plastic sheet. Easy to work with and shape. Its about 1/16" thick, used it cut into strips and welded together with solvent cement for the levels and larger pieces for the decks. Check out the "working with ABS" in the construction articles on www.portpolarbear.com. I am also using pvc for the stacks, thats been heated and shaped. Light weight and preety battle damage resistan.

 

Rigid foam insulation boards (3/4" or 1" thick) makes for easy and lightweight supers. Trace super onto foam, cut out using a coping saw or similar, assemble & coat w/ a few layers of epoxy for bb protection. Done. 3/4" = 9 feet in our scale (approx height of one deck) or 1"=12 feet for taller ones. One sheet of "the pink stuff" from Home depot 3/4"x24"x94" is <$10 and is enough to do two boats easily