R/C Naval Combat

Hey, folks.  A while ago I started cleaning up a set of plans for the Free Plans collection on this website, and identified a number of errors.  I believe I have identified and corrected all of the errors, and to confirm this I am building a full-scale cardboard mock-up of the pre-dreadnought battleship Mikasa using the materials and tools I have access too in my dorm.  The mock-up is about 1/3 done now, and I'm starting to think about what comes next.  Several possibilities have come to mind, including turning the mock-up into a plug for a fiberglass hull, or turning the mock-up into a pattern set for a fine wooden hull.  I can do one or the other, but not both.  Both options are intriguing, and I have several questions.

1) Is it possible to build a plug for a fiberglass mold using cardboard ribs?  If so, what additional materials are needed?  foam?  plaster?  planking?

2) If I do build a plug for the Mikasa, are people interested in it?  If I make a pattern set for a wooden hull, would people be interested in it?

3) one of my goals is for the Mikasa to use the standard Big Gun cannons from BDE, now Strike Models, without any modifications to the cannons.  Unfortunately this requires approximately 1/8" extra depth more than true scale.  Do the various fast gun clubs (IRCWCC, MWC, Treaty) allow extra depth for a 15,140 ton, 36 inch long predreadnought battleship?

I don't see any other ships listed anywhere in that class. So far, Mikasa looks like a one-off. By some rules, it would be legal because it was in service during the correct period.

Rob

Posted By Bob on 21 Feb 2010 12:48 PM
I think 1 of that class was launched after the "leagal" date. You'd need to do some more chekcing.
You can easily turn the mock up into patterns for a wood hull. You seam to know how to do that.
I have seen a how to someplace, maybe here, on using carboard ribs as the skeleton for a plug. Next step was to fill in the spaces with pink foam and sand to shape. Then cover everything with sheetrock mud, final sand that, then I think they sealed it with something, maybe it was just mold release wax. I've also heard people skip the sheetrock mud and cover the ship with plastic food wrap. After the fiberglass mold is made the burn the plug to get it out of the mold.
The best way to make a plug is with a big wood block. That's how BC & Strike get their new hulls. But that takes a lot more money, about $850 per plug. Lots of tools and skills are needed. At some point your mold will get old or break, then you'd like to still have that plug to make another.

Posted By absolutek on 21 Feb 2010 11:36 PM
I think it would be nice if you made a pattern set and made it available in PDF format.

--Chase

I have identified all of the errors in the original plans, and I know enough to correct them.  However, correcting the plans themselves will actually take more effort from me than building a hull.  As far as making a pattern set, for the most part that shouldn't be too hard.  I would need to finish my cardboard mock-up in order to get an accurate deck profile, and then I'll need a scanner to digitize the correct deck profile and the corrected ribs.  The tricky part will be the ribs and impenetrable areas.  Since different formats have different rules on rib spacing and bow and stern impenetrable areas, the best I can do is include all the ribs I have and let the builder decide which ones to use.  I would also include patterns for the superstructure, too.