I may be a day early revealing this before the IRCWCC Nats, yet didn't want to try to post all of this Friday night when I have other things that needs to be done before I go. Possibly for the first time in the model warship hobby, an HMS Erin will do battle. The place will be the IRCWCC Nats this coming week. The first idea of building an Erin came to me after the first day of battling the Richelieu against Yamatos and 7 unit, dual sidemount Bismarks at the 2010 IRCWCC Spring Regional. Although the Richelieu is a great ship in Treaty (due to it's speed and duals) and a moderately good in MWC (due to it's dual sidemounts ... a rarity in MWC), the Frenchy is outclassed by the sharper turning IRCWCC Yamatos and Bismarks, both of which has the same dual sidemount firepower as the Richelieu. I knew that I needed another ship to do better than being an anchor that the Richelieu is in IRCWCC. Actually, I've been thinking of building a 4 or 5 unit ship since last year. The Spring Regional just prompted an early start. After doing a shiplist search for a ship similar to the successful Iron Duke ships roaming in the MWC, I settled upon the Erin. The full size Erin was built the same time frame as the Iron Duke, so shares many of the same characteristics. The ships had the same size guns and turrets. The Erin is actually wider than the Iron Duke due to it's construction in a commercial shipyard vs the government shipyard (which physically limited ship widths due to the slip size). The Erin is also a much shorter ship. So, a set of Geoff plans and wood was ordered. It was that time that the Erin came up in one of the RC Naval Combat threads. Luck would have it that Wreno mentioned he had a set of plans for the Erin. I dropped him a message and found out that he had a CAD drawing of the ribs and basic hull stations. He was kind enough to send me a copy from which I printed a gorgeous set of precise ribs. The Geoff plan arrived the next day, so all I had to do was transfer the CAD drawing's rib station measurements to the Geoff plan and I was in business! Construction was started a couple months ago. Today, the ship got it's first water trial and performed brilliantly. So yes, I'll be taking a brand new ship to a national event. But those people that know the little Verite also know that I do well with making new ships reliable. The Richelieu will also go to the IRCWCC Nats, this time armed with dual pumps. The Axis might sink the Richelieu, but not before I empty the sidemounts into a tasty Yamato or Bismark! Heh. So, without further blathering, some pictures of the Erin's build. There isn't many pictures, just some key shots.
The pictures are coming! You posted like 5 minutes after I started the thread ... it takes me time to get them put up. Heh.
The batterys are LiFEPo4 chemistry. I found a great deal on 3.3v 40ah cells from a company in California. The cells can handle 80 amps continious draw and upto 120 amps burst draw. Each cell weighs 3.3 pounds, so total battery weight is a mere 6.8 pounds (with wires) for a 6.6volt, 40 amp hour pack. Compared to the 6 volt 36Ah 13lb battery in the Richelieu, that is half the weight with 4 AH more and can take far more durrent draw. This battery pack will last an entire days worth of battling easily. Even with the price deal I got, each cell was still $48 each. Also, I had to buy a specialized battery charger for $35 (Hobby King). All up, the total price is a lot more than the SLAs, but if a person wants technology then the price rises. The cells sitting next to a 6v 12Ah SLA. I bought the cells before really measuring to see if they fit inside the Erin. They fit ... just barely.
Although the hull is roomy compared to other ships it's size, thigns are tight with the LiFEPo4 battery cells in it!
The finish work isn't up to my normal standards. After all, I was pressed for time to get it finished in time for Nats.
Mike A very nice looking boat indeed. And one that I have never seen before. Which is always a treat. Kinda reminds me of a Bretagne, but with twin rudders. This should be a very nice addition to the allied fleet at the nats. Well done on the build. And good luck at the event. Mikey
The Erin finished up at 19 pounds even fully combat loaded after addition of trim ballast. I'm very happy with that. The drive system is a brushless motor mounted to a BC single motor/dual shaft gearbox. I have a brushless pump ready to drop into it except for having the wrong brushless ESC for the voltage. So for the moment, the tried and true Titan motored BC pump will handle damage control until I can pick up a new brushless ESC. The cannons ... well ... my goal upon joining the hobby was to make a set of cannons that would shoot as fast as I can hit the button while not skipping shots or loosing power (air pressure). The Erin's cannons are 95% there. They hit hard, shoot as fast as I can mash the button, and don't loose power no matter how fast they shoot. The only thing I don't like is the Foster style breeches I used. I forgot why I stopped using Foster breeches a couple years back ... then remembered the first time I tried to tweak them in the Erin. They are VERY sensitive to the tweak nut! Chances are, the breeches will get changed out after Nats. So, that is the great reveal so to speak. The Allies will get a maneuverable slugger ship to go along with all of those NC and Sodaks. Hopefully, the Erin will be everything I hope it will be.
Where did you get the batteries at Mike. I was going to pickup 4, 40 amp for my Nagato project after Nats, but I have not found them at that nice of a price?
I found my Fosters were also touchy, but I tried different hardness O-rings that last battle at Savannah, and found the ones that are rated 90 hardness work very well. The 50, and 70 hardness were very hard to adjust, they kept wanting to spurt. McMaster sells them for like qty 100, for less than $10.
I picked the cells up off eBay from a company called EV Components (http://evcomponents.com/). The ebay price though is the same price they have on their web site. Dave, is there a local type store where I can find harder o-rings? My cannons do not spurt, but they are extremely sensitive to adjust. Bleah
Don't put Verite up yet, Mike!! I had so much fun with lil Scharnie this weekend that Tim is going to repair the South Carolina and bring it back into play
Mike it was great to see a Erin on the water. Fantastic little ship with a healthy lot of respect after this weeks IRCWCC Nats. BTW, the Go Pro Hero captured your ship raping the Bismarck's starboard side when it was stuck against the shore. Your guns fire extremely fast and hard and sent chills down my spine when I heard it on the other side of the shoreline. I'm thinking of using those batteries you have for my USS MISSOURI.
Thanks Curt! Can't wait to see the video. It was great seeing you guys at the Nats. Meeting people face to face that we chat with here on the forums is a treat. Glad you could make it down. Grats on the Rookie of the Year! The cannons turned out better than expected after fixing the spring crushing problem on Monday. All of my ships are going to get retrofitted with the new style interruptors to bring them up to speed.
That was very impressive gun technology and will send many back to the drawing board for gun testing.
Clark, I was using Rob S's short pin interrupters modified for high air flow. The only problem I had with them was a tendency to crush interrupter springs. I devised a quick fix to prevent that Monday at the Nats and they worked great. We have a long term fix in the works. Can hardly wait to retrofit the Richlieu's guns. Dual sidemounts firing as fast as I can press the button is going to be great!
