R/C Naval Combat

I have mentioned a few times that I'm building a pair of Russian Evstafi-class predreadnoughts. 32.5 inches long, and a shade over 6 inches wide, they get 3.5 units in MWCI, and a 28sec speed ensures that her prey will be able to keep pace :) In Big Gun, the Evstafis had four 12" guns, four 8" guns, and 12 six inch guns, with an 8" armor belt. Her speed was slow enough that she'll be running at whatever your minimum speed is (actual was 16kts).

Today great progress was made in that I got some ribs cut, along with the keel and rear subdeck. After I get the rest of the rear ribs fitted and I'm happy with that, the front ribs and front subdeck will get done. (Sometime next week, probably monday or tuesday)



The funky-looking prow is the actual ram prow. The keel immediately behind it will be prettied up when I am fitting the front ribs (note the lack of notches forward of frame 7 [the closest one to you in the pic]). I really like frame 7 because it locks into the fwd and rear subdecks and I think that's cool :) The semicircular cutout in the front of the rear subdeck is to provide clearance underneath the 'A' turret. In the other frames present, you can see that two of them are 1/8" vice 1/4", which was done to get better support mid-hull (while staying under my solid% limit) without being hard to sheet. The ribs in the curvy parts are all 1/4" so I can butt two balsa sheets on them to accomodate the curves.

This next pic is a bit blurry, but it shows the stern end.


There are two frames aft of the sternmost one in the pic, one of them forming part of the 1" solid area there.

I made heavy cardstock patterns of all the ribs so I can make further copies of this ship without a lot of work. After all the ribs are fitted, I disassemble it and use the subdecks and keel to make the pattern for future copies also. Once I get that done, I hustle to make the second ship so I can do pics of the twins before one goes out to do great things in Louisiana.

Oh, when I get the chance, I'll post the plans on here.

Looks good man! You sure know how to work that wood, wish I had the patience and a good set of plans for some oddballs. ;) Keep us posted!

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Originally posted by Renodemona

wish I had the patience and a good set of plans for some oddballs

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Says the gentleman with a Yamashiro under construction. [:)]

It wouldn't only be an oddball if I didn't already have a Fuso operational. I'm just completing the class at this point. ;)

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Originally posted by Renodemona

It wouldn't only be an oddball if I didn't already have a Fuso operational. I'm just completing the class at this point. ;)

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Good point! Why not an Ise BB/CV for your next project, if it is not stirring already.

Hehehe... I bought a set of plans from Miyukikai for the Ise BBCV. They are magnificent! Build one somebody, I can't fpr quite a while because of the Big Biz...

BUT, staying firmly on-topic, I spent most of the day waxing the Alaska mold, but got a few more ribs cut on Evstafi. Tomorrow, more ribs and some more pics to post!

Floating Drydock sent me a email today that they were about to have a BU set of plans available for the CB-1 class.
Too new for my tastes but should be nice.

If I were to build the BB/AV it would be for a convoy ship. But with the Yamashiro and the Hiei already in the dockyard hands, that might be a while. Oh, and with starting PSTO here very shortly time for boat work will continue to be preciously short.

But I do want to see more pics of the Estavi! It's a very ugly-sexy boat!

I'll post some this afternoon; I should have one fitted together, and the second one started!

Soooo tiny in 1/144 [;)]

A ship like that needs to be built in 1/96 or 1/72 to take advantage of the fact that they are absolutely bristling with guns [8D]

Don't think that it hasn't occurred to me ;) But I must finish the Bismarck first. Selling small ships helps fund the big'uns.

In 1/144 MWC, she gets 2.5 guns, and a 1 unit pump. Plenty nasty for something that size! :)

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Originally posted by Tugboat

Don't think that it hasn't occurred to me ;) But I must finish the Bismarck first. Selling small ships helps fund the big'uns.

In 1/144 MWC, she gets 2.5 guns, and a 1 unit pump. Plenty nasty for something that size! :)

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Makes me hope the rules change goes through. They need 3 guns and .5 pumps.

Rules change? Tell me, tell me :) I'm not on the member's list anymore... too much drama a while back. So what's the rule change proposed?

It was a proposal to allow predreadnoughts to use their half unit as either pump or gun. Making them use it as only extra ammo on 1 gun was rather limiting it was thought. So 3units of guns and .5 units of pump would be an option. Or as I was thinking 1 unit pump 2x1unit guns (aft) and 1x.5 unit gun (bow)

I like it! I'd do the same option you are, too. Might make these ships really interesting. Beyond you and I being wierd and liking them anyway :)

Edit: Update: as of 5PM EST, all ribs aft of and including frame 7 have been fitted to the keel and subdeck. I am going to bust arse tonite and try to get duplicates made for E2, then work on the forward section tomorrow! Pics to come soon.

Okay, I didn't get as much done as I wanted to tonite... Moral lesson is: Don't try the new Mexican restaurant in town the same night you want to stay in the shop late!

Nonetheless, admirable progress was made; For your viewing pleasure, Effie #1 with the rear deck on, and all ribs aft of Frame 7...


At this point, it's only held together by joinery, no epoxy is present. If a wooden hull isn't built well enough that it can be carried around without glue, someone is being sloppy :) If it looks like the deck doesn't line up with the subdeck and/or ribs, that's because it won't be sanded to final fit until I get them epoxied together. Then it'll be beautimus. Looking at the pics, it's hard to believe she's only 32.5" long.



Above is the same view, but with the deck removed. Below is the view from astern, on the stbd beam. I like it because it shows the 'ears' on Frame 7 that are the step point in the hull, and the connecting points for the forward deck and subdeck.



I did get some work done on Evstafi #2, mainly getting the keel and a couple of ribs cut out. Tomorrow morning, I'll be cutting out the #2 subdeck, deck, and the rest of #2's ribs. With any luck, I'll get some work done on both of them having a front end!

Gastric distress can ruin one's entire day.

I second that, but really, she should come out nice, i think this will be a good thread to watch develope

I was the one that can up with the rule proposal for the pre-dreds. After the fun I'm having with the PE (VU class), I thought it would be nice to see one of them on the water. I hear rumors that at one time someone did make and battle one years ago. My proposal is the same as the 3.5 unit cruiser rule in MWC, except that they do not need to meet the 625 ft rule. So the ship can have 3 guns and a 1/2 unit pump. You will not be able to equip it with 2 75's and a 1/2 unit pump.

I proposed it so that we see some more pre-dreds built and put on the water. Look what happened after they raised the speed of the cruisers 1 or 2 seconds, now they are all over the pond.

At Nats in the pre voting it garnered the highest percentage for passing at 78%, so if alot of people have not changed their minds, it should pass, plus a positive plus is that Bart really liked the proposal and was the first to co-sign it.

To keep it honest a couple of people have said that the rule is fine as it is, that my proposal will make them to powerfull, but its all really just a preception of what a person thinks, really after all it's just 25 more bb's, and they should be easier to sink with a 1/2 unit pump.

Also if its fine as it is, then where are the pre-dreds? I have never seen one on the water in 3 years in the hobby.

Exactly, David. If they're that competitive, where are they? I love 'em because they're cool looking :) But they should be allowed the extra gun. I'm biased :) but from how it went at Nats in pre-voting, clearly a strong majority favors the idea, too, so it's not just us...

I'll be releasing the plans and some more predreads (including USS Indiana) so all the intrepid builders out there can join the predread fun. I will also be building more predreads in 1/144 & 1/96 from wood for those who don't have the tools or time. If someone goes crazy and wants one in 1/72 I can do those too, but I'm not building speculative hulls in the largest scale at this point.

David, I haven't said it before, but I appreciate you trying new things that are not traditionally accepted as 'correct', like the triple bow guns, it's making things more interesting :)