R/C Naval Combat

Hi,

    I thought I 'd show what I've been working on instead of working on the Renown or the Eagle.

It's HIJMS Takao.  I really like cruisers but they are crippled under IRCWCC rules.  I got to thinking and one thing led to another and so here I am.

This isn't the first wooden model I've started but I have never gotten one so far advanced.  Still, it's not perfect and I've made plenty of errors, but so far there are no 'show stoppers'.  The next one will be sooooo much better.

I am using a 'box keel'   -- That is -- there is no keel, The hull gets its strength from a box (actually a series of boxes resized as the hull narrows) made from the deck, 2 sides, and a bottom piece.   The sections are cut into 3 pieces - a bottom and two side peices.  Some sections are joined at the top to help stiffen the box. 

  The bottom piece is a flat section of plywood (grey in the diagram).  This is screwed onto a work surface to keep it flat.  The 'stiffening' sections are then glued on and then sides of the box. Tthe side pieces of the sections are then glued on and the deck attached. Balsa blocks are used to bring the solid edge up (1in below w.l.) .  The box is then removed from work suface.

Next the bottom pieces of the sections are attached, and then the bow and stern pieces (which are not part of the box because they get too narrow).  Balsa is then used to fill in the bottom.

Now everything is sanded.  Which I am in the middle of right now.

Anyway still lots to do  --  I need to drill holes in the box sides to let the BB's out -- I need to install the props -- etc.

This isn't the perfect way to build a boat -- it's heavy and doesn't leave a lot of space -- but I don't have to work in the armour as it's part of the structure.

 I just thought people would like to see it.

Rob,

That's quite a complex building method. Do you have any concerns abot the center of gravity being higher with balsa between the floor of the box and the bottom of the hull? I liked your previous fiberglass Takao though it didn't turn well with the singkle rudder. Who bought it? Takao can use a 50% larger rudder now and in Treaty it's a fast ship.

Bob

Hi Bob

    It sounds complex but it went together pretty easily.    The center or gravity might be a problem, especially with Takao's massive superstructure, but I not concerned with the balsa on the bottom.   If I had used a regular keel I would have made it about 1/2 inch thick to ensure that it had enough strength after the cuts were made for the sections.  This way is not far from that.    What I am concerended with is the weight of the side boxes -- It's a lot of wood.

  I liked my previous Takao too, but I made some big mistakes building it and when I needed to take out the stern cannon, the whole deck had to come out. A mistake to be avoided.   The pieces went to Chris Osbourne as a gift and he subsequently patched it together then sold it to the US.

  You are right about the turning, but my biggest problem was the motor/prop combination I had on it --- it had no acceleration -- it would sit and sit and then crawl away -- all the time taking damage.   The bigger rudder should help the turning and a nice geared prop set should help the acceleration.

The resin finally hardened -- it took 4hrs, but it set.

Tomorrow I will trim the FG and coat the rest of the model.

I can't use FG in the house anymore because my wife...er I mean...I ran out and there's a big shortage and......oh yeah space aliens came and took the rest...

I might try varnish --- does anyone know if this will work?  will it stand up to BB's well -- any other suggestions

I am now in the middle of superstructure hell.......

I have a few, you can buy one off me if you want.

A couple of shots of the "completed" Takao.  I couldn't find a local supply for CO2 bottles (and don't want to pay an outrageous custom brokerage fee) and there wasn't really a lot of internal space anyway.  It's been finished as a non-combat model for my son - so I won't (for the moment) bother with the masts or turrets - or even paint.

Still -- I think it could work as a combat model.