Forking this off of my 3d Design thread as I build the actual ship for myself. This will be a short build thread for my BB-49 class ship, which I've chosen to call USS Indiana to hopefully prevent a little confusion. Yes, I know there is a BB-58 Indiana, but this should hopefully distance a little from calling it a South Dakota. 3d model picture dump: I've already started assembly of the physical prototype as well: Left to right: Colorado, BB-50 Indiana, QE More random pictures of assembly process: Prop/Rudder alignment came out good. 6.5 unit rudder is big. 1.75 props/drag discs. Rudder is servocity chain drive on my sliding mount. Starting to install stringer rods. Test fitting internal components to get an idea. Weight as of this picture was 17lb 11oz. Target weight is 34lb. Internal components include my 12.8v 31AH BFB, 12oz tank, 1250kv inrunner drive motors, 2400 and 2600kv pumps.
Not a ton of work time yesterday, but the decks are done and fit. Need to clean them up a bit. Need to finish up superstructure drawings so I can get that all printed and mounted.
Some more small progress. Bus bar made. QS-8 main power connector for the BFB. Installing stainless steel stringer rods.
Worked on guns and gun mounting today. Stern guns have so much room it's silly. Recovery float serves double duty as a quick access hatch to load stern guns. Bow is a bit more cramped, as per usual. Had to get creative on dual bow up tubes and such to make sure they'd clear the oversized 12oz tank. Do I need a 12oz tank? Nope. But if it fits why not. Guns are direct solenoid mount, 1/4 tube breech bypass feed, drilled pistons, 1/4 tube magazine feed. No tanks or check valves this time around as she's mainly a single sidemount style boat and one of the bow guns will probably spend it's life pinned.
Did you 3d print the little mounts that hold up the magazines and the barrels? I am always struggling to properly mount cannons.
Yep. I actually uploaded those files yesterday. Going to upload a revision with some more taller ones. You can take the single tallest magazine mount, sand the bottom at an angle and now all of a sudden you have a haymaker barrel mount.
Well, I wasn't going to be able to keep this under wraps forever. Need to find the actual water line mark it and then touch up the paint. USS Indiana is quickly approaching ready for her first battle in Georgia in a few weeks.
The 3d modeling work makes the actual building of the ship a lot easier/faster. You trade time in the garage/shop for time in front of the computer. Considering I can do the computer work while I'm at work in between projects, it helps me out with my more limited "in the shop" time. There are still some "normal" boat construction pains, like why the hell does this deck not fit now that there's 4lb of spaghetti strapped under it. But all told I fully believe if you had all of the components ready to go, all the materials, etc, you could assemble one of my 3d printed hulls to a fully functional ship in a weekend. (This is using time wisely...not staring at the boat smoking a cigar drinking a beer while you wait for the varnish to dry on the decks)
Updates. Did buttons on the radio today, in addition to "most" of the wiring. Nothing is properly loomed or routed yet, so its a bit of a mess.
I gotta doubletap on this. Right now I work as a gap-filler for my Agency, and I spend about 2/3 of my time living in hotels and working in remote locations, and only get about 6 days home per month. when I get home, I *MUST* spend every second in my shop wisely. I'm trying to build a fiberglass boat right now but it's an arduous process the supply chain issues alone mean that if a part package arrives a day late, I'm screwed. But, in all of this, I get a huge amount of time at the hotel, just hanging out with Jack else to do. so I crank out boats. My brother printed a few convoy/campaign boats for me last time I was home and sure enough I had them both part of the way together in a matter of hours. it's fantastic.
Indiana is basically complete. Missing some servo extensions, waterline, etc. "Component complete" weight is looking right about 31lb. She'll need just a touch of ballast to hit the design target weight of 34lb.
Yeah, that waterline looks like she could stand to gain a few pounds. Maybe you should ask Tom Palmer how much his weighs. Maybe I should. Or something.
Oh the waterline pictured is just so I could slap paint on it. Not at all correct. I need to adjust the red upward once the actual waterline is found.
FYI, I've posted the Kaiser superstructure in the resources section. Yay! (No hurries, it's cold here, and I just felt like knocking it out for giggles.)
Revised the dual bow gun mount: So far these two have been balancing for about....1600 minutes according to the charger. Should've drained the individual cells to a common voltage before building the packs...rookie mistake, but then again, this is the first time I've ever done this. Did a hull leak test. Found 1 small spot back by the starboard side drag disc that needed some attention with some CA. Feel like theres always at least 1 spot. Put my 1/8 NPT air purge button into a 1/4 PTC -> 1/8 NPT female fitting for a push connect air bleed, then glued a magnet under the deck step and a matching magnet to the air purge and now my air purge stows up under the deck and safely away from anything that might inadvertently set it off in the boat when I don't want to set it off. And to wrap it up, one random picture of the front superstructure:
Looking good! I really want to come see it in Georgia, but considering as we're iced in here, and nobody's going to work this week, I'm not sure if skipping out in a few weeks is going to work out for me. (sigh) Bummer.
