torpedochief

MISSILE AWAY! 

POLYBAK produces no odors at all while cutting with the laser. This stuff is strong I am tellin you what.  Joe just remember the iceberg. If you only know how large they are out of the water. 

Painted and applied decals to the exterior. Put the masts in after carving and painting. I also made the Posiden A3 missile which still needs final painting.
Decals were made with my CRICUT as described in my article for THE JOURNAL couple issues back.  

POLYBAK produces no odors at all while cutting with the laser. This stuff is strong I am tellin you what.  Joe just remember the iceberg. If you only know how large they are out of the water. 

MISSILE AWAY! 

POLYBAK produces no odors at all while cutting with the laser. This stuff is strong I am tellin you what.  Joe just remember the iceberg. If you only know how large they are out of the water. 

POLYBAK produces no odors at all while cutting with the laser. This stuff is strong I am tellin you what.  Joe just remember the iceberg. If you only know how large they are out of the water. 

MISSILE AWAY! 

MISSILE AWAY! 

POLYBAK produces no odors at all while cutting with the laser. This stuff is strong I am tellin you what.  Joe just remember the iceberg. If you only know how large they are out of the water. 

Painted and applied decals to the exterior. Put the masts in after carving and painting. I also made the Posiden A3 missile which still needs final painting.
Decals were made with my CRICUT as described in my article for THE JOURNAL couple issues back.  

Completing the MK 16 Torpedo for the ETHAN ALLEN SSBN 608.
I have been using a new product in some of my building. Polybak is supposed to be used for backing used in countertops. However, as a modeling material, it is superb!
It will not burn. It is eco-friendly. It will sand, take stain and paint, and bend. It cuts clean and with the laser, it can render very small parts.
The fins and the screws were cut using of the 40watt CO2 laser at 35% power at 115 mm/sec.
Once cut the fins are attached to the torpedo afterbody by CA adhesive and Zip Kicker accelerator.

Completing the MK 16 Torpedo for the ETHAN ALLEN SSBN 608.
I have been using a new product in some of my building. Polybak is supposed to be used for backing used in countertops. However, as a modeling material, it is superb!
It will not burn. It is eco-friendly. It will sand, take stain and paint, and bend. It cuts clean and with the laser, it can render very small parts.
The fins and the screws were cut using of the 40watt CO2 laser at 35% power at 115 mm/sec.
Once cut the fins are attached to the torpedo afterbody by CA adhesive and Zip Kicker accelerator.

Painted and applied decals to the exterior. Put the masts in after carving and painting. I also made the Posiden A3 missile which still needs final painting.
Decals were made with my CRICUT as described in my article for THE JOURNAL couple issues back.  

Painted and applied decals to the exterior. Put the masts in after carving and painting. I also made the Posiden A3 missile which still needs final painting.
Decals were made with my CRICUT as described in my article for THE JOURNAL couple issues back.  

Painted and applied decals to the exterior. Put the masts in after carving and painting. I also made the Posiden A3 missile which still needs final painting.
Decals were made with my CRICUT as described in my article for THE JOURNAL couple issues back.  

Painted and applied decals to the exterior. Put the masts in after carving and painting. I also made the Posiden A3 missile which still needs final painting.
Decals were made with my CRICUT as described in my article for THE JOURNAL couple issues back.  

Creating the Mk 16 Mod 4 Torpedo.
It was hoped that I could design and 3d print a loadout of Mk 37 Mod 2 torpedoes for the Ethan Allen SSBN 608. However, both Printers went down and parts are in China. Add to that I have to have this big model ready to roll out the door and into its permanent home on Wed.
So I opt to replicate the MK 16 weapon carried during the earlier years of Ethan Allen's career. Unlike the MK 37, the MK 16 was what we called a John Wayne weapon. This means the weapon had no means of acoustic search, and attack. You could set a gyro angle for the weapon to turn to after launch but pretty much a straight shooter. It was a holdover from WWII and anti-ship only.
I would make a master and then mold. From the mold, I will cast the needed number of torpedoes.
Using plans from the net I cut a block of pine. This block was center marked and fitted to the lathe with a small spur.
Once turned the master was sanded and using a custom made 1/8th parting tool I marked the afterbody, fuel/battery, warhead, and nose sections.
Time is of the essence so I used a technique I sometimes use when making pens. As the wood was still turning thin CA glue is applied. An accelerator is sprayed on the still rotating torpedo to instantly cure the CA. 600 to 1500 grit sandpaper was used to bring the surface smooth.
Two-Part mold putty is used to make a one piece mold needed for torpedo production. Equal parts are kneaded until the color is uniform then the putty is placed around the master.
The fins, counter-rotating screws will be cast and laser cut and applied after casting. First two pictures are MK 37s then MK 16s
More later! Very tired.

Creating the Mk 16 Mod 4 Torpedo.
It was hoped that I could design and 3d print a loadout of Mk 37 Mod 2 torpedoes for the Ethan Allen SSBN 608. However, both Printers went down and parts are in China. Add to that I have to have this big model ready to roll out the door and into its permanent home on Wed.
So I opt to replicate the MK 16 weapon carried during the earlier years of Ethan Allen's career. Unlike the MK 37, the MK 16 was what we called a John Wayne weapon. This means the weapon had no means of acoustic search, and attack. You could set a gyro angle for the weapon to turn to after launch but pretty much a straight shooter. It was a holdover from WWII and anti-ship only.
I would make a master and then mold. From the mold, I will cast the needed number of torpedoes.
Using plans from the net I cut a block of pine. This block was center marked and fitted to the lathe with a small spur.
Once turned the master was sanded and using a custom made 1/8th parting tool I marked the afterbody, fuel/battery, warhead, and nose sections.
Time is of the essence so I used a technique I sometimes use when making pens. As the wood was still turning thin CA glue is applied. An accelerator is sprayed on the still rotating torpedo to instantly cure the CA. 600 to 1500 grit sandpaper was used to bring the surface smooth.
Two-Part mold putty is used to make a one piece mold needed for torpedo production. Equal parts are kneaded until the color is uniform then the putty is placed around the master.
The fins, counter-rotating screws will be cast and laser cut and applied after casting. First two pictures are MK 37s then MK 16s
More later! Very tired.

Polk, you say!

Been a long while but I have been hard at work on the Ethan Allen SSBN 608. The model is in bad shape internally. I had to do some exploratory and repair surgery to the wood frames inside. The fiberglass is not all that great, to begin with, and is fragile. The hull is also warped and hogged fro years in extremes. 
After using an extremely hot water bath I managed to get the hull back into shape. The interior was cleaned scraped and then primed and repainted. 
Not knowing the state of classification of these old systems I opted to play it safe and rebuild the model in an unclassified version. Many former crewmembers are providing an entire ream of documents and pictures to help out
Most parts are designed in SKETCHUP. I am using original drawings and piping tab as a "base," for design. This is where I stretch my artistic license to the max. My goal is to show the components of the boat, not get the viewer qualified in submarines. Once parts are designed, scaled and corrected in NETTFAB. I use MAKERBOT to 3d print the items 
Since just about everything is missing I needed to get the bulkheads and decks made. I am using 1/8" plexi for this part.  I am finding that the model was very inaccurate when it comes to deck spacing and through ship passage, but again the model was not meant to be accurate.
 
Needing to distract myself from the enormity of the project. I am eating this elephant a little at a time and moving from task to task. I have laser cut templates for scribing exterior details not present in the original model. 
 
As of now most of the Engineering spaces are complete. The ops compartment will feature actual wood paneling. Kinda ironic that the real boats have plastic paneling.  

This was donated to a submarine group called THE AFTER BATTERY, it was donated to them and they asked me to restore the old Girl. 

Creating the Mk 16 Mod 4 Torpedo.
It was hoped that I could design and 3d print a loadout of Mk 37 Mod 2 torpedoes for the Ethan Allen SSBN 608. However, both Printers went down and parts are in China. Add to that I have to have this big model ready to roll out the door and into its permanent home on Wed.
So I opt to replicate the MK 16 weapon carried during the earlier years of Ethan Allen's career. Unlike the MK 37, the MK 16 was what we called a John Wayne weapon. This means the weapon had no means of acoustic search, and attack. You could set a gyro angle for the weapon to turn to after launch but pretty much a straight shooter. It was a holdover from WWII and anti-ship only.
I would make a master and then mold. From the mold, I will cast the needed number of torpedoes.
Using plans from the net I cut a block of pine. This block was center marked and fitted to the lathe with a small spur.
Once turned the master was sanded and using a custom made 1/8th parting tool I marked the afterbody, fuel/battery, warhead, and nose sections.
Time is of the essence so I used a technique I sometimes use when making pens. As the wood was still turning thin CA glue is applied. An accelerator is sprayed on the still rotating torpedo to instantly cure the CA. 600 to 1500 grit sandpaper was used to bring the surface smooth.
Two-Part mold putty is used to make a one piece mold needed for torpedo production. Equal parts are kneaded until the color is uniform then the putty is placed around the master.
The fins, counter-rotating screws will be cast and laser cut and applied after casting. First two pictures are MK 37s then MK 16s
More later! Very tired.

Creating the Mk 16 Mod 4 Torpedo.
It was hoped that I could design and 3d print a loadout of Mk 37 Mod 2 torpedoes for the Ethan Allen SSBN 608. However, both Printers went down and parts are in China. Add to that I have to have this big model ready to roll out the door and into its permanent home on Wed.
So I opt to replicate the MK 16 weapon carried during the earlier years of Ethan Allen's career. Unlike the MK 37, the MK 16 was what we called a John Wayne weapon. This means the weapon had no means of acoustic search, and attack. You could set a gyro angle for the weapon to turn to after launch but pretty much a straight shooter. It was a holdover from WWII and anti-ship only.
I would make a master and then mold. From the mold, I will cast the needed number of torpedoes.
Using plans from the net I cut a block of pine. This block was center marked and fitted to the lathe with a small spur.
Once turned the master was sanded and using a custom made 1/8th parting tool I marked the afterbody, fuel/battery, warhead, and nose sections.
Time is of the essence so I used a technique I sometimes use when making pens. As the wood was still turning thin CA glue is applied. An accelerator is sprayed on the still rotating torpedo to instantly cure the CA. 600 to 1500 grit sandpaper was used to bring the surface smooth.
Two-Part mold putty is used to make a one piece mold needed for torpedo production. Equal parts are kneaded until the color is uniform then the putty is placed around the master.
The fins, counter-rotating screws will be cast and laser cut and applied after casting. First two pictures are MK 37s then MK 16s
More later! Very tired.

Creating the Mk 16 Mod 4 Torpedo.
It was hoped that I could design and 3d print a loadout of Mk 37 Mod 2 torpedoes for the Ethan Allen SSBN 608. However, both Printers went down and parts are in China. Add to that I have to have this big model ready to roll out the door and into its permanent home on Wed.
So I opt to replicate the MK 16 weapon carried during the earlier years of Ethan Allen's career. Unlike the MK 37, the MK 16 was what we called a John Wayne weapon. This means the weapon had no means of acoustic search, and attack. You could set a gyro angle for the weapon to turn to after launch but pretty much a straight shooter. It was a holdover from WWII and anti-ship only.
I would make a master and then mold. From the mold, I will cast the needed number of torpedoes.
Using plans from the net I cut a block of pine. This block was center marked and fitted to the lathe with a small spur.
Once turned the master was sanded and using a custom made 1/8th parting tool I marked the afterbody, fuel/battery, warhead, and nose sections.
Time is of the essence so I used a technique I sometimes use when making pens. As the wood was still turning thin CA glue is applied. An accelerator is sprayed on the still rotating torpedo to instantly cure the CA. 600 to 1500 grit sandpaper was used to bring the surface smooth.
Two-Part mold putty is used to make a one piece mold needed for torpedo production. Equal parts are kneaded until the color is uniform then the putty is placed around the master.
The fins, counter-rotating screws will be cast and laser cut and applied after casting. First two pictures are MK 37s then MK 16s
More later! Very tired.