Build thread for Scharnhorst. This ship has been on my list for a long time. Will be including much of the build in the videos posted, so this thread will be lighter than normal. This boat gets a bad reputation so I'm interested to see how she does. Going to try a few new things out, will be a mini test platform for an eventual Bismarck build. I also want to build a non-optimal Axis boat. Planning for either 20V 775 drive or brushless since motor reversal time will be less critical. Traditional gun setup with everything focused on triples. Hull cut out Starting internal layout planning, shaft/motor mount install
Are you going to run it like a cruiser with trips and a sidemount. Maybe even a rotate? Or go with three sidemounts. Going with one big prop or three smaller ones packed together? We have had a couple here in MN but haven’t had anyone try out the three sidemounts yet.
Yes plan is trips, full and half unit sidemount forward. should do great against allied billboards. Will build it with 50 and 75rd mags in front, maybe also an alternative stern deck with a sidemount for smaller battles. Jury is still out on the outboard shafts. I ordered a 2” Kessler prop from shapeways that will be main drive. My hope is to make the outboard shafts both powered and capable of supporting a full-size drag disc so I can test each combo out. Might be tough with the narrow stern. Looks like stern will be crowded with the accumulation tanks. Might end up with one outboard shaft powered, counter rotating to the main prop, and the other one as a drag disc (need to check the rule I wrote). Goal is to get this boat together quickly since I expect a fair amount of tuning to get it set, as opposed to the fuso which I expect to hit the water pretty close to ideal since it will be a copy of Agincourt
I am very interested in the results of this build. I absolutely love the Scharnhorst (have had two of them so far) and plan to build one as my next project. The last one I had was originally built with only the outboard shafts, but was converted to center shaft only before I got it. It never accelerated or turned well, but I think that's due to using a single 550 on a 2.5" prop more than anything else.
Internal layout, trying to get everything in the center, balancing on center of flotation . The stern will be cramped with accumulation tanks and 3 motors. Moving motors more forward to give space for tanks and solenoids. Playing with idea of 3x battery packs. Also going to try to get the bottle in the center. If it doesn't work out I'll be able to move it to the bow. Working on drivetrain. Probably going with brushless on this one, better torque through turning and reversal time will be less critical, and partially mitigated by brushed outboard shafts. I tapped the motor plate holes so I can swap it out to fit a 775 if necessary. using a larger gear because I had it from a previous project Outboard drive motors, 755’s I think. Using aluminum bracket through the hull. Waiting on flex collet couplers from China. Will glass the aluminum brackets in from underneath, them smooth them in. Once the couplers arrive then will hook up the shafts and then glass those in to get the alignment right fiberglassed in the main drive
Yeah...I'm trying to not settle for 'good enough' on this build, which is my typical philosophy. In this case, I think straight reverse is important so I decided to give the outboard shafts a shot. If it doesn't work out then I can shift to traditional drag discs without moving the shafts.
Have you figured out the space where all the support bits for the triple will fit alongside the extra space taken up by the reverse drive?
Great question haha, that has certainly been on my mind. I think I positioned the outboard motors, and the main drive, far enough forward to allow room for the solenoids/accumulation tanks/check valves to fit between the motors and the gun T’s. Planning to lay solenoids in their side and stack two of them basically this
Mine is completely stuffed back there. I had to split the solenoids and tanks. 1 tank/valve combo on each side of the drive and one right against the armor in the stern between the rudder servo and the gun Ts. That left just enough room for the hoses to nest back there too. My tank feed hoses run right through where you've got the reverse motors.
Hey so, just have to ask for clarity here, but doing the three sidemounts thing would basically make her an Alaska with two pumps. There's no other way to do that, right? Just..... two pumps on an Alaska. three sidemounts just doesn't *feel* worth it. but who knows. a slasher that can take bow shots and keep running may be interesting. I do really like the direction you're going with your build, Kevin. I built a TON of flexibility into Idaho, like you're doing here, and it paid dividends when I did my tweaking and optimization refit here last week.
yeah I expect it to be cramped. Hoses should still run in the outboards fine. Vertical real estate will be at a premium with hoses and the magazines. Similar to Alaska in gun layout but much different in maneuvering from different prop/rudder layout I’m doubting that I’ll put time into making the second aft deck this season, also will not plan for a second pump. The focus on this build is performance vice flexibility. Not that flexibility is bad, almost all my boats have extra things. It feels nice to be spending some time and making progress on it. Made the prop fit glassed the outboard motor mounts in. Probably first of four epoxy jobs for those shafts Next step will be fairing in the outboard portion of the mount, also will probably go after the rudder mount. Hoping to build in 4 different pivot points to try out, will see how it goes
I've toyed with the concept and have an alternate stern deck cut for the purpose. My issue is that while it sounds good on paper, the aft turret isn't in a great spot to make a killer haymaker. At least not compared to the Japanese options. It's cool, unusual and you'll need the second pump if you want to use her as a sidemount ship. I'd rather work to make the triples rock as she does have a good setup there. Nice flat low guns. A trio of Scharnys lit up my Colorado (on 5) back in 2003 at the MWCI Nats. It was a long narrow pond and they positioned themselves as a toll gate and blasted allied shipping as it passed. Had to choose between accepting the strafing as I passed or getting into a turning battle with the Axis Nagatos. I ate 55 Ons on that side alone. Don't recall the aboves or belows anymore but I was lucky to survive.
yeah, it just seems like the juice ain't worth the squeeze on the second deck, because you'd have to do way more work than just have the alternate deck, and the compromises you'd have to make in internal layout to make both work would reduce efficiency. Doing Triple sterns and purely sticking with them just make more sense for the balance of combat power and overall efficiency. *plus, THIS*
Batteries are 15Ah LiFe cylinderical cells https://www.batteryspace.com/lifepo...h-with-6m-screw-terminal---un38-3-passed.aspx Got some work in this evening. Flex collect couplers arrived. Bending motor plates was easier than I expected, just a minor tweak. Couplers also have more give than I expected Need to tuck the props in a little Close up on motors. I should have positioned the bolt holes at 3 and 9 o'clock on plate, bottom screw will be harder to access I've been concerned about downangle on the outboards. I think I will be able to vary the RPM low enough to prevent sucking the stern down in reverse. Struts Aft view
Kevin. what type of tape did you use to seal the bottom of the hull where your shafts come though? Almost looks like 33 electrical tape
Yeah yeah, trying out plumber’s putty more often. The underside is regular electrical tape, it holds well and comes off without residue
