Piet

Thanks to all who visited and your likes, it's REALLY appreciated and encouraging to me. @ Pete48: Thank you!!! @ Mark: Thank you but one like tells a lot to me. Glad you "liken" my efforts!!! @ Pat: Thank you and yes everything came together okay but only after I had to "modify" a few parts. @ Popeye: Thank you, but there are a few things I may redo at a later date. For now it'll be okay. Hmmmm, plutonium fuel cells eh - - - I though more along the lines of a lazer gun @ Vivian: Good to see you again and thank you too for your kind words. @ John: Thank you my friend and the black armaments do look snazzy. Yeah, a black lazer or death ray gun! Hey, it seems that this world is filled with gullible people and who knows - - - they may believe it too Cheers to all,

Hinges are not all that difficult to make. What do you mean "some of those cool tools"?? All I use are razor blades, a pair of ordinary scissors, very small files, very small drill bits and a soldering iron for electronics work. Oh yeah, a pair of strong fingers to hold the parts but Remco admonished me to get a few small pin vices , I tend to file the skin off of my fingers and drill into them Trial and error, there'll be some waste but in the end it'll work out. You should see my waste pile! Cheers,

I'm at a loss for words Pete and for an old blabbermouth that's saying something. Outstanding, what a lovely boat! Cheers,

Outstanding work John, bravo and what lovely lines she'll have. Cheers,

Today I managed completing the rigging of the aft torpedo loading gantry. I'm not really happy with it, primarily about the cable thimbles. They are way too large for my scale and look bulky. I have to do some thinking on how else I can "fake" the thimble issue before I tackle the forward gantry. We are getting into a realm where the real full size thimbles are not much more then perhaps 2 inches long or 1 mm. There is no way in the world I can make them that small and make 'm look realistic. For now though I'll just leave things as they are and when I have figured it out for the forward gantry I'll redo the aft one. Overall it didn't come out too bad and everything works as well, even the boom elevation "come-along" gizmo, which is a plus. I also painted both mines black as well as the torpedo (you see John, I do listen and take advice ). They don't look to bad either. Menacing even Here are a few pics of today's accomplishments. This shows the gantry sideways pretending to load a mine to the deck. I needed some weight on the boom to keep things from jumping off - - - the "cable" is rather stiff and needs a little tension. I also temporarily, stuck the torpedo into the loading tube to show the prop and black paint. This is never done in real life, just in case somebody makes a smart aleck remark I just wanted to how the finished mines and torpedo painted in black. Loading torpedoes is a rather delicate operation that requires quite a few men. The black cord at the exhaust pipe is to haul the torpedoes up or lower them. In reality this cable is connected to an electric winch below decks. Here is another shot looking forward, A side view shot with a RG 58 coaxial cable spice thingy for weight. I still have "stuff" from my days when I owned and operated an aircraft repair facility in New jersey, about two lifetimes ago, or so it seems. Hmmm, we could call it a secret weapon So sorry, I moved taking this shot looking forward with the "secret weapon" hanging on the boom. Cheers,

Again I must first thank everybody who dropped by and virited my dockyard and your likes, it's really appreciated. @ Pete48: Thank you. @ Remco: Thanks for your concern about my well being. As it was, it was more of a near miss, the drill bit just nicked the flesh under my nail, my reaction was lightning fast - - - amazing for a80 year old Not even miner harm done, it's all healed by now. Other then filing off some skin of my finger and this nick I have had no injuries! Knock on wood I seem to get more injuries working around the yard, cutting palmetto branches and those pesky vines that have real sharp and many thorns on them. They are called smilax, or something like that. Thank you for your compliment on the skills, I'm just luck'n out here @ Freek: Ah, it dawned on you eh? Yep, that long description with the pic was the Torp propeller. The prototype has been elevated to a "keeper." Cheers,

Hey Popeye, great progress, beginning to look nice. Will the doors be workable? Cheers,

Looking really great Hans and a nice idea about getting your ratlines even and spaced correctly. I made a not of it and may try that when doing them on My VOC ship. Cheers,

Besides messing around with the torpedo I also started with the rigging of the aft gantry. That proved to be challenge and had to rework a few parts just a little. Enough though that in the process I jammed a small drill bit under the nail of my left index finger. AUCH Hmmmm, no blood though, just a little, but it stings. Domkop Yeah, yeah, Remco, no pin vice, just my little old fingers but some of these parts can't go into a pin vice though. Okay, I'll shop for one, honest I did manage to finish one propeller for the prototype torpedo and installed it. The propeller actually turns but a little stiff because I think the shaft has a slight bend in it. Gwen said I should but some grease or oil on it. Yeah right, I don't think so just be more careful and not to bend that shaft piece. Then I put some primer on the torpedo and am waiting to buy black paint. Okay, now that the torpedo size is established, thanks to Freek, I'll need to buy a few more hardwood dowels at the DIY store. I think I'll make about six of them, that way I'll have a few to place on te display board with the extra mine and most likely a spare anchor and a few cases of good ole Heineken. In order to rig the loading boom I managed to wind some "cable" on the boom elevation "come-along." The last picture below shows it after I had wound enough cord on it and put a small clothe pin on it to keep it from unwinding. The center picture shows the assembly partly rigged. Sorry, but I didn't make the ratcheting parts, too small for me Well, we'll just have to use our imagination and assume it's there That's it for now. A few pics for my archive and your viewing pleasure. Here I have laid out all the parts that make up the propeller assembly. The top propeller is completed. I started out with a round piece of brass shim of 0.3 mm. Drilled a 1 mm hole in the center and drew out the four quadrant lines. Next I cut 2 ea 1 mm long pieces of 1 mm brass tubing, one is for the propeller hub and the other is to keep the assembly from coming out. A piece of brass rod acts as the shaft and is also soldered into the hub, then through a longer piece of 1 mm brass tube and finally the last small piece of tube is soldered to the end of the shaft, which locks everything up. The rough propeller is next shaped by using a razor blade and a small hammer to cut through the four marked lines as close to the hub as possible. Then using a pair of scissors I carefully snipped away the unwanted brass shim and finalized the shape with a diamond file and then twisted the blades to a guessed at pitch. I drilled a 1 mm hole in the end of the torpedo deep enough to accommodate the shaft assemble and inserted the shaft assembly only about ⅓ of the way and then put a dab of CA gel cement on it and pressed everything home, making sure that the propeller rotates as the CA cement cures. Here is the fully assembled torpedo in a coat of primer waiting for the final black paint. I masked the propeller to keep it in brass. You'll also see the "come-along" gizmo with the other hardware for that part part of the rigging. The two small brass teardrop shaped thingies are thimbles that'll be part of the rigging cables and fit inside the triangular piece. This is the famous boom elevating "come-along" device. I just finished winding some cord on it just like the real thing. I hope I can demonstrate it later on to show how everything works. keep fingers crossed Cheers,

Thanks again everyone for stopping by my shipyard, your comments and your likes. Hello John, good to hear from you and that all's well with you and Diane. Enjoy yourselves and share a few pics. Thanks for the compliments. @ Popeye: Thank you. Yes, there's a lot of "stuff" there, also some other debris for the VOC ship. No, I won't hit the mines or the torpedoes, too much work went into them Yep, all this extra "stuff" does aid with the realism I try to accomplish. @ S. Coleman: welcome to my shipyard and thank you very much for that undeserved compliment , but I'll take it Yes please, come again, everybody is always welcome and there is also a pot of coffee brewing. @ Freek: Yep, the 31 mm is a typo and my dyslectic mind, failed to edit the page and didn't catch it. I just did a rough calc and came to 131 mm but wrote 31, missing the 1. Long story this, that's why I have to always triple check my measurements. Regardless which type they used, and I'll accept your V53, the length is what concerns me. I did also look at the V53 type because the equipment list shows the Mark 8 first and second the V53, so I surmised they used the Mk8, it being listed first. So, I guessed wrong Okay, according to my trusty calculator 21 feet comes out as 6.4 meters, which is 6,401 mm. At my scale it works out to 6,401 : 50 = 128 mm. Yep, that's what I am afraid of, de deck launchers being that long to fit these long torps in. So then, the answer is for me to do some major surgery to the deck structure to allow these long launch tubes to rotate out and in. AUCH! We'll have to tackle that operation at a later time, need to build up some courage. Cheers,

Well, the plan was to assemble all the parts for the torpedo gantries but then I had to rethink that idea. I need to know how much the gantry boom is elevated up to have the torpedo hang in a correct angle to slide inside the loading tube below deck. So, I started to make a torpedo. here too I ran into a snag because there are two different lengths for the Mark 8 torpedo. Which one do I need to make? I made the deck launchers for the short models but is that correct? If not then I have to do some major rework on the deck structure that also involves new doors. According to the spec sheet the O19 was equipped with the Bliss - Leavit Mark 8 torpedo, which are 21.6 feet long and 21 inches in diameter. The diameter is no problem because I have the brass tubes for them. The 21 feet is the problem for the deck launcher. That calculates to, in my scale, to 31 mm and that's too long for the deck tubes. It doesn't even look right when I put a 31 mm dowel in the opening. I'm not afraid or have any qualms reworking the deck structure to accommodate longer launch tubes, the model has to be as close to the original as I can make it. So, I did make two short torpedoes that look right for the deck tubes but I'm still not sure if that's what they used before the war. Remember that this model is based as she was when my father served on her, which was before the war with Japan started. I also made a 31 mm torpedo that looks okay for loading into the boat from the gantries. Okay, for now that'll be a problem I can work on later. In the meantime I can go ahead and figure the gantry rigging with either one or both of the torpedo prototypes. This is the 21.6 feet "long" torpedo, or 31 mm. I was in the process of cementing the fins on and making the propeller. Yeah, I also want that thing to be able to turn. This is a shot of most all the gantry hardware. The pats for the torpedo propeller are just out of the pic on the right. But it involves a 1 mm brass tube with two small parts of a 1 mm tube to act as hubs. Cheers,

Wow fellows and fellowette ( Vivian ) I'm overwhelmed with all the remarks, kudos and likes. @ Mark, thank you Mark and perhaps you need to make a soft cradle for your jaw to fall into that'll prevent you from stepping on it - - - and so often too Please stop by as often as you like. @ Kevin, thank you for all your likes! Looks like you got caught up. The clever Vickers engineers designed some very neet "stuff" in the sinkers that had also fail safe devices installed. The arming cable is attached to a lever on the side of the sinket that activated a "dashpot" and from there things started to happen. Instead of me explaining all this magic stuff I'll attach two of the Vickers drawings for this type mine. If you can blow them up (pun intended ) you can follow the whole sequence of events. To retrieve the mines from the bins it was just a simple matter of unhooking the arming cable from the side of the bin and lifting the mines out. @ Remco, thank you, yeah, they kinda came out okay. Well, yeah - - while I was playing with my new micro engraving / mini drill tool it was almost like writing, no problem. No, the engraving is not noticeable because all the 6 mm pulleys are inside their holders / brackets. We know they are there and unless someone takes a pulley out of it's holder / bracket no one will see them. 200 years from now? People will take it as the name of the manufacturer, Rem Co(mpany) Hey man, I'm having a ball with this thing. @ Pete48, thank you my friend, glad you like my efforts. @ Vivian, so good to see you in my shipyard and your appreciation of my work. Gantries? Hmmm - - oh yes, the gantries. Well, I ran into a snag and had to make a torpedo first to get the correct rigging figured out. But it's coming, not to fear. I hope you are recovering okay from you medical procedure? @ Ian, and a big hello, glad you could drop in and thanks for the compliments. Yeah, Gwen, my dear bride and Admiral mentioned the same thing. I have been looking at a good but not too pricy digital video camera. Need to wait for a sale though. I should have done this from the get go. In addition to still pics also have a video record. But alas we'll have to do it later, with demoing all the working items. @ Jan, hmmm, you'd think she can make it across the pond??? Yep, that's where she departed from on her trip to the NOI's (for the non Dutchies that's Nederlands Oost Indie or Netherlands East Indies) in 1939 with my father on board. How he loved that boat! Yes indeed, my father's name will be on the model and hopefully I can make a figure to represent him standing in the con. I'll also have a brass plate engraved with some data on it and his name. One plate will be affixed to the bottom of the keel plate and another for on the mounting board. I have a few other ideas as well but let's finish the boat first. @ John (Lad), I have no clue regarding the colors of mines or torpedoes. Looking at the black and white photos I have they do look rather dark and could very well be black. I guess I should do some research. Well, they can still be repainted, they are not nailed down

Nice work on that strop Jan and great job on the re-work of the added clamps. Can't tell from here , less then 1 mm - - really now She's looking fantastic! Cheers,

Thanks everyone for dropping by and your likes, it's really much appreciated. Well, the mines are finally finished and painted. Yuns are probably sick and tired of hearing about and seeing these buggers, well, so am I On to other things now such as completing the torpedo loading gantries and dingy boom. I managed to engrave remco's name in the 6 mm pulleys and his initials on a few of the 3 mm pulleys, really! Some of them were not as good as most but it's the idea that counts. I blackened the pulleys and some other hardware and painted all the pulley brackets licht grey and started to assemble the pulleys into them. I also cemented both the forward and aft gantries to the deck. Now it's just a matter of mating all the parts and pieces to where they are suppose to go. This has been a very successful day and expect to have the gantries up and running in the next few days. Here are a few pics to show today's progress on the mines and the pulley engravings. No sense showing all the hardware because they haven't changed a bit from previous pics, only now they are painted. I'll show it when the gantries are fully operational. Here are the 6 mm pulleys with Remco's name engraved on them and only 2 of the 3 mm pulleys with his initials, which are hard to see under the glare but they are there. Unfortunately they are all very hard to see after I blackened them, but rest assured that they are engraved. I have loaded one mine in the bin and placed the other on the deck for show. You can now also see the arming cable. I thought to paint the fuse tips red for "danger." Here is another view of the mines. Cheers,

Hi Nenad, you are too much man !!!! Bravo on the innovative idea for your rivet making device. No watch gears, no clock gears but cigarette lighter gear. Who would would have come up with that idea????? Nenad of course. Ingenious! Now show us the results with that great machine. Cheers,

Hoi Hans, fantastic looking ship, wel done! Cheers

Hello everyone and thanks for visiting and your likes. @ John (Lad), thank you John, Yes, she's going to be something alright, much more then I originally intended. @ Remco, never fear buddy, that's why I made two. Besides, the one that's inside the bin can be pulled out for demo purposes. I should have made the mine bin closer to the torpedo loading gantry so I can actually hang one on the tackle, but then again they were not used for loading mines. The second mine will be placed on the final display board with a torpedo or two. @ Michael, as a followup to Remco's question, no, I am not able to actually demo the loading of a mine - - - except if I make a dock-side crane for that purpose No, really, I'm already adding much more in details then originally planned. Actually, they did have a torpedo loading dolly with a lifting boom that ran on the rails I put on the deck - - - no, I'm not going to make that dolly @ Wacko Joe, good hearing from you and thanks for your compliments. Well, you know me, I take pictures whenever I have done something, they are for my own archive as well. @ Pete, thank you too for your compliments, always nice to have all yuns in my dockyard. @ Pat, good having you here and thanks for your compliments as well. Yeah, She'll be a conversation piece alright. Cheers,

First of all my thanks to all who visited and your likes, much appreciated. Continued today with dressing the mines and fitting them in the bin. It's a tight fit but I can move them in and out okay. After I was happy with that task working out okay I added the arming switches to the sinkers. The trigger cords still need to be finished but that'll be done Sunday and then I can paint them and call it done It was a short day for me because I first had to go to the DIY store and buy a new lawn sprinkler head and after lunch I decided to make dinner. Ran down to the local green grocer and bought nice root veggies and organically grown tomatoes. Then off to the butcher and got me a nice chunk of beef. I planned making a Belgian style beef stew with a good dark Belgian beer - yummo!!! Gwen was happy she didn't have to cook ad it came out just great. Okay, I did make a few pics of one mine inside its bin but they are still not painted. This shows one of the mines fitted inside its bin. Another angle of the mine inside its bin, you can also see part of the arming cable. The other end is hooked to the side of the bin and as the mine is dropped down it pulls the switch lever that arms the system. Rather ingenious. Cheers,

Hello Pete and thanks for your kudos. Yep, they came out okay, it's rather easy when you have a lathe Hi Mark and also a thank you to you. Yeah, I guess you are right but this afternoon I did manage adding the arming switches I'll be careful though handling the mines Hi Popeye, thank you as well for your kind words. Patience my friend, they are coming together but slowly. Yep, They'll be old history by the time we drive up north. Cheers,

Hello again every one and thanks for visiting and your like votes. The mine saga is close to coming to an end, hurray I cemented most all of the hardware on with two part epoxy and started cleaning it up. I also cemented the tracks in the mine tube on the sub. There is still adjustments to be made to make them slide down into the bin but that'll have to wait till the weekend. I also made 10 of the 3 mm pulleys, another hurray! I managed to snap one drill bit though, a # 68. No matter how slow I fed the drill this brass is tough and the drill snagged enough to make it fgo beyond it's design limits . I'll just blame it on junky Chinese drills I got the broken part out after I made two pulleys. Sooooh I sharpened the broken drill bit by hand and eye with a diamond file and it worked okay for the rest of the pulleys - - - being extra careful. I tried fitting one of the mines in the bin and it would only go half way in so I need to file the fake "roller guides" some more. Once I get them to slide in nice and easy they'll be painted a dark grey to offset them with the rest of the boat. Well, this is it for today. A few pics below for my archive and your viewing pleasure. I cut a strip of plastic that fits snug between the two U channel tracks inside the mine bin. I think they are close to 180 degrees to each other. I'll have to adjust the mine sliders to make them fit. I used two part epoxy cement. This shows two mines - now with all the hardware on them except for the arming switch which will be done after the mines fit. This shows all ten of the 3 mm pulleys. As yuns can see I made the pulley pin holes rather small and had the reduce the diameter of the brass nails I am using for them. I believe this is closer to scale then using those 1 mm nails. These are 0.4 mm in diameter. Cheers,

Hello Mark, ahhhh - - - poor you, don't take it so hard my friend Yep, there are three for each gantry and a few of the 3 mm ones. And yes, I am having a ball, will mis the build when we go up to PA to visit our daughter and grandson but perhaps I can finally do some artwork. Cheers,

Hi Nenad, Popeye's idea has been done on other coppering projects but when you can't find a small watch gear you can use a small steel mm ruler. That way you'll have a straight line and can also press your small pin at each mm for even spacing. Yep, it'll be a boring and tedious and slow process but you'll be pleased with the results. Cheers,

Ah yes, I can already see the graceful lines coming into view. Looking great Mark. Cheers,

Thank all of you for visiting and clicking the like button, I am honored. @ Mark, thank you but what do you mean "Engraving Remco's name on both of them"? There are six of them 6 mm buggers and it wouldn't be right to not do all of them But - - - I refuse to do the 3 mm pulleys @ Remco, yeah, actually it started out that way, pulling your leg that is. But after I tried it on my wooden prototype I figured why not give it it a try. I have ordered a small electric hand tool like EdT is using. That should give me some good control, perhaps better then a snake attachment. I hope that my hands are steady enough. Well, it's I who is grateful for all your help and this is the least I can do to show my gratitude. @ Pete48, thank you as well and what a fine looking model you are crafting, just lovely. @ Popeye, thank you !!!! Did I mention to all yuns that I'm having fun???? Cheers,

Hello John and thanks for your compliments. It would indeed be a great tribute to the crew of the AE1 to build a model of her. When it turns out to be a good model, as I'm sure Brian can accomplish, the model could be placed on permanent "loan" to the Australian Royal Navy museum. Thank you Mark for dropping by and your like, it's much appreciated. Cheers,