gieb8688

Engine  room hatch, ready for final clean-up  

Forward & Aft 50 Cal stops and 50 Cal spent cartridge hopper not sure if I will use the hopper yet?
Still being very much a metal fabrication  novice ,  doing the stops rate the toughest project yet with every piece having to conform with the turret ring  , plus bends, shaping  & getting the heights right , much reworking & a few choice words for something that might look simple , which I quickly found out was not.  

Test fitting the tubes ,  added the  detonator housing

Torpedo tubes fabrication coming along,  looking at maybe  2 more weeks to complete

Fabricated torpedo tube brackets and locks.   Took allot of time but I’m happy with the result.   

Torpedo tube training gear & drive screws

The early stages of fabrication on the AFT torpedo turntable cradle mounts  still 5 more parts to add to each, more work to do.  AFT turntable base complete ready to prime

First stage building the components for the torpedo tubes, ready to be cleaned up. These components fit on the top surface of the tubes. Still have to build the Aft holding cradles , undercarriage, and another set of training gears. Overall when the tubes are completed I think I will have fabricated  about 150 individual parts,  every thing has to be built times 4 which makes slow, hair pulling progress trying to get each set to match, which is almost impossible , so I idea is get them close , with so many  handmade repetitive parts you would go nuts getting perfect exact matches. Pressing on

Starting to show a little progress , attempting to scratch build the torpedo tubes, learning from plans & pictures . its fun but trying to get it right is slow work.
fit tested parts  of the of the superstructure, and cleaned up the control panel  

I wanted a reasonable quality vise for my drill press. I had a cheap Amazon one that I threw away it was so bad. I have one of these:
 

Which is ok but not great. As well as having a small opening size, those enormous mounting slots are useless.
 
You can get really good machinists vises but they're expensive and I'm not milling big chunks of steel.
 
So I decided to make one. 
 


 
I used rods, bearings, and brackets designed for CNC machines on a 1/4" aluminium plate. The body is 9 and 12mm birch ply.
 
I wanted it to look nice because I'm planning on keeping it a long time, so I covered the ply in some old walnut sheet I had. The jaws are bolivian rosewood which is definitely a bit over the top but I had a couple of pieces left over from making a box at Christmas.
 
There are 5/16" holes drilled in the base so I can mount it on my XY table at an accurate 90 degree angle.
 

 
It's heavy and rigid, and I had fun making it. 😀
 

which catalog is that?   that is the general shape of the rudders from Shapeways.   as Lou pointed out,  these are R/C parts I'm working with.  as with any parts found in kits,  some require shaping and trimming.  I may shape them.
 
I have been able to pick at the PT boat.  the rudders don't match,  so I'll have to make a match to either one.  I have some sheet brass stock.  I have a copper sheet,  but it isn't thick enough,  nor ridged enough.  what I did find was some tin sheet........that was thick enough.

the hull was sanded around the tubes....just a little more and it will be good.

I still need to go over the rest of the hull,  before I do the resin coat......the weather is getting better and better....I'd rather do it in the garage.  the next step with the rudders,  was to solder  them on the shafts.   another defect I had to deal with,  was that the slots for the rudder weren't cut equally.  the solution was to measure how much of the rudder would fit into the shafts,  and notch the one for that particular shaft.  I think it was like a 3/16x3/16
square cut out of the corner.  soldered together,  they now look even.

luckily,  there is enough shaft to go the entire length of the tubes......I can do what I want to do.   fitted in place,  the spacing looks good.

 

 

the last picture had me concerned.........the starboard side rudder was a bit out of line with the prop.  there was a difference of about an 1/8th of an inch.   removing the tube,  I remeasured and marked where it was supposed to be.  this can be easily corrected.

the hole was redrilled........to fit the tubes,  I used sandpaper to ream out the holes.  this was done by wrapping sandpaper around a bamboo dowel,  secured in place with CA.  it was fitted in the drill and then passed through the hole....in and out........over and over,  until the tube fit,  tight enough to be firmly inserted.  it worked well for the first holes...........I guess I got too aggressive with the reaming,  and I found out how strong bamboo is,  before it began to twist.  I still got the job done though   

one beauty of a round hole,  is how easily it can be plugged.

so the tube will be refitted and properly sealed.  as for the prop shafts,  there were no holes for a shear pin.  for a static model,  this isn't important,  but I was able to drill them anyway.

I located them so there won't be too many threads jutting out from shafts.  inside the hull,  the linkage levers for the rudders were sync together,  and a connection rood was fashioned for them.  so far,  I haven't found an allen wrench that fits the jam screws....I know I have some that are THAT small...I just have to find them {I'm sure they are in a bag somewhere in the garage}.

more to come  

Just as a reference, these are the actual rudders for an 80' ELCO.  This is from the ELCO parts catalog.

I'm back.........almost late for the vaccine appointment   the admiral looked up and saw the time!   we were given a time,  but it didn't matter.......when we got there,  we got in line with several other people.   the end result of all this,  is we got our second shots.......Hurray!
 
where wuz I?????    the screw shafts.....yea!   swapped the props over to the other shafts and put 'em in place.

 

I put the plastic spacers on this time around.  I wasn't out of the woods yet........the rudders are problem No #3.   the shape of the rudder is off,  the shafts are different lengths,  and the slot to insert the rudder in the shaft,  is longer on one than the other.  the long one is slotted on both ends...for what reason,  I have no idea.

'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''here we go again 
 

likely........they recently opened up another branch that deals with kits that they bought from the general public.   folks who wanted to thin out their stashes must have taken advantage of this..........the email I got showed pictures of the shelves......amazed with what I saw!
 
I'm even more amazed with the differences between these two hardware kits.  my only deduction is that what I bought from Model Expo,  was old stock,  and the one I got from Ages of sail was newer stock.   the struts aren't the only issue.......there is one with the prop shafts too.   the props from Amati are good......they have the slot in the back for the shear pin {locking pin to arrest the prop and key it to the shaft}......I only had to enlarge the center hole slightly so they would fit onto the shafts.  the difference here are the nuts that secure the props to the shaft.......one is small and looks good,  while the other one is so big,  its an eyesore!  before I found this problem,  I filled in around the shaft tubes using a razor blade as a trough.

I'll sand it and apply more if needed.  the next thing was to drill the holes for the rudder tubes......I left them around 3/16 " out of the hull,  just in case {but I can still adjust them}.

I would have gone onto the rudders,  but then it hit me about the props........and the second problem presented itself......

 

if I wanted to make spinners for them.......it would be impossible.  I will see if I have a nut that small in one of my junk cans in the garage.......but wait!  I happen to have a Billing's prop shaft......perhaps it will still have the nut on it?!?!?  checking around......I found not only one....but two!  one of them I had cut down for some reason or another........the other one had the nut and the collar still on it!

of course,  the nut was a different thread pitch.....rats!  but...........then again,  this is to be a static model.......so it really doesn't need to be a full shaft.  I found the nut for the other shaft in the jar with the props and anchors { my inventory}.  these two nuts are the same,  and so I set it up again using the Billing shafts.......there are no holes for a sheer pin,  but I can drill one.....got to go!
 
 

I played with the Agillis for a little while.......now its time for the nail biter.   the holes were enlarged for the screws and the struts were fastened in place...it wasn't too tough to do  

 

 

once tightened down,  I gave them a coat of white glue to keep them from backing off.  .......little chance of it,  but one can't be too careful    getting the angle of the shaft tube right was somewhat of a problem.......I inserted the tubes and marked out where the entrance holes were to be.   the angle was the real dilemma........had to make a few adjustments.  the two struts weren't at the same angle either.......this brought the holes starting before bulkhead #10.  this one needed to have a section cut out anyway......but I had forgotten about it.   that's OK though.......resorting to a hammer to drive in the tubes in the rest of the way,  cleared the obstacles in fine order!   this didn't upset the applecart too badly......I removed the broken piece of bulkhead,  and after the tubes were set in place,  two lengths of 1/8X1/8 basswood was cemented in to fill in the gap.  this didn't pose a strength issue,  since the chine struts carry most of the hull strength.......but again,  I may as well do it.

 the tubes were sealed with white glue

there's a bit of buggering that need to be filled in,  where they enter the hull.   I'll do that in the next session,  along with the rudders.

 

I was hoping to set them up and remove them for the resin coating.  but with all this........I think I'll just work around them     more to come soon 
 
 

the ground shook.....some movement on the PT camp!  I had ordered the running hardware,  but not through Model Expo,  where I got the first running hardware set.   so far,  I've only ordered the running hardware......I've got to come up with a total for the other stuff...budget director's orders.  I got it on Tuesday........so opportune,  since I start my vacation...and the second round of shots on Friday.  I am a bit dumbfounded though......the first set has a metal tube strut.......this one has a plastic one.   ....ewww.....and it's that horrible plastic to boot! .......really a pain to clean off the flash {kind of the type of plastic that milk jugs are made from}.  

 

the rest of the parts are the same,  I'm relieved to say...I only hope the angle of the shaft tubes is the same.  I also got a pair of 30 mm three blade props,  which I selected from Amati....I went to ages of sail for this order.  Model Expo was out of the running hardware kit.

looking at these......I could easily have gone to 33 mm props....think they would translate to 1 3/4.  these I think are 1 3/8.....I'll see if they are big enough.
    if not,  I just get another pair {I'm sure I have a model or two that needs a prop     so......the first order of business is to mark off the location for the struts and rudder shafts...

the nuts for the screws are small......and would be a frustrating affair,  considering where I need to put them.  but with the aide of my mega tweezers,  it should make it a lot easier.

it's 12 inches long,  and will easily reach into the hull.   centering the struts,  the holes were marked out and drilled.  one of the screw holes missed where I had added the reinforcements.....so I added an additional piece.  got to wait till it dries now.

good news Ed and all look'in in..........we got moved up!   I took last Saturday off......odd but with good reason.  I took a call from the folks who schedule the Covid shots 'round these parts and asked if I would like to move my date up.......I said sure!  he gave me tomorrow as the new date 2/26/21.......and while I had him on the phone,  I asked about getting the admiral's date moved up as well.  he checked and her name was on the list too........so she's getting hers right after me    I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!    we're still doing all we can to stay safe  

 
you can see the angle that the shaft is at when it gets to the hull.   this needs to be correct.......fingers crossed   
 

 

 
I've also been doing some look'in 'round for hardware....looks like I'd be better to order another dumas running hardware kit and a pair of 30 mm {1 3/16 three blade} props.  I did find a different kit......but I don't feel like shelling out $155.00.  the set up I'll be doing will cost $122.00 before all is done as it is    I made a small bit of progress.......the gunwales and clamps are done,  and I added reinforcements for the shafts and rudders.  now I gotta get the budget directors Ok to order the stuff I need.  the starboard gunwale was the first strip to add to the hull......I started at the stern

 

 
this is a 1/8X1/8 strip...goes from the stern to the bow.   this in total will add 1/4 to the deck surface,  which is good......the sheer panels appear to be larger than the existing surface.  I was getting round to the bow however,  and the strip broke........just couldn't navigate the curvature.

so I cut off the bad part and prepped it again,  to receive a section.  with that fixed.......I soaked the section in warm water and bent it slightly,  the clamp was added below the gunwale.  it doesn't go all the way to the bow.  the port side gunwale faired better......I soaked that strip's end before gluing it on.

 

 

the clamp was added to the port side after the gunwale had dried.  I didn't snap any other pictures than these.  looking at some of these pictures,  you'll see the stern and the protrusion at the top.  I dry fitted the sheer panels and found that this will need to be removed,  or else the sheer will stick out past the bow.......not a super big deal.  I was wondering about that anyway....I'll just cover the seam with a 1/8 thin strip {it's all good   }  now would be a good time to line off the rudder holes and the shaft bracket position and hole.  as said,  I added some thickness to these areas,  so when I do drill the holes,  there will be some meat there.  templates are the next thing on the menu
 

I managed to get a bit more time on the hull...actually it was a couple of days ago.   I'm still leaning towards ordering a second running hardware kit,  but I'm also thinking of a way to simply scratch building what I need.  I only got to the chine spray rails,  but I also looked into the gunwales and how the sheer fits on,  seeing that the sheer is larger than the deck surface.  of course the deck surface needs to be sanded.......makes a god-awful racket whenever I start to sand it.   the spray rails cover the panel joints at the bow nicely.....I'm glad that worked out  

 

 

when I can get the sheer on,  and fill the small gaps I see,  then I can give her a coat of resin,  starting that process.   when I get to the rudders and screws,  I will need to add thicker wood inside to sturdy the assemblies.......something for the future.

looking really good,  we talked about thinking out of the box in some areas  in the cockpit I reshaped the control panel area to fit my needs as I found the instruction book misleading ,anyway your getting there , photo  from Jeff Ds site  pt103.com highly  recommended for anyone doing a PT , I use it daily for my build.    Mike 

there is the engine room 'roof' still to make {it's a raised hold on the deck}.   we finally arrive to where I'm at with the project.  it's the reason why I started the log......Mike {Mog}  is assembling the guns........and they look very different than mine.  mostly made of metal,  they seem a bit crude and lack finer detail.  if I were to make this an R/C boat,  I'd probably be good with it,  but where I'm planning to do a static model,  I'm tempted to go an extra mile or two.  Mog's doing a fine job with his......he even has the turrets caged up.   I'm not there yet.  here is where I am on the 20 mm gun and the 50 cal machine guns.  do not try to solder this metal......it doesn't end well.......'least not for me anyway.  I ended up using CA.

 

I've add a bit more to the machine guns......gotta make the shoulder rests for them.   I broke a few bit drilling the holes.  I'm going to look them up to see what they really look like,  and perhaps I'll try to scratch build them { the machine guns anyway}.   the other thing is the running hardware......I just took these pictures,  so they're hot off the press    the running hardware is just that.......the hardware.  you get one rudder and one prop assembly. 

if I planned to run her,  I'd need to get the motor{s},  rudder servo,  and speed servo {I say motors because I'd want two props}.   if Santa smiles on me for Christmas,  I might find a kit,  complete with all the hardware,  to build an R/C vessel,  under the tree    here are the diagrams that Dumas supplies.

 

I went out a short time ago and cleaned the driveway due to the wind........the storm is over.....  depending where you were in the state,  you could have seen as much as 3 feet!   it hasn't snowed that much in quite a few years.  when I was a young lad,  living in Weare N.H.......a stone's throw from Goffstown,  New Boston {nowhere NEAR Mass.},  and Concord,  two feet was a normal storm for us.  but I'm happy.......we will have a white Christmas.

more on the interior of the helm.........

then the instrument panel face.......

the companionway door is on the right of the instrument panel .....all under there was closed off.   with the port divider wall dry fitted in place,  there is enough room.

 

 

this is the way the layout looks like on deck.  there is still more to add........I'll get to that a bit later.....I now want to see what the armament looks like.

the cabin aft of the helm..........here I made a mistake.  on the starboard side,  I cemented the 1/8 frame strip on the wrong side of the panel.  since time has passed since gluing it on,  the thought of removing it may result in damage to the part.  I came up with an alternate solution for the assembly.   to avoid interfering with a window,  the cabin bulkhead was cemented further in....the long end of that wall was supposed to be towards the stern.

the part that boxes in the turret,  is this short piece.......

so I made a longer piece,  cut and trimmed to fit into the cabin bulkhead.....

the outer wall was added to the starboard half,  leaving the port side open.

pieces of 1/8 strip was added the the inner corners to add strength.  all the outer corners and roof surfaces were sanded.

the rood lays on leaving the cut out for the turret open to accept it.

 

cemented in place,  the roof was supported with rafters.......and yep,   more sanding  

 

they supply a plastic instrument panel.  which is supported with an odd cut wall panel.  this panel doesn't seem to fit very well...here are the plans:

 

with what I see,  these parts would eat up most of the space,  leaving very little for that port side wall panel {C16 & C17}.........and again with the block of wood.  I did this a bit differently.   first,  the dash top was added to the assembly.

this was a huge session.......the main part of the helm structures was good.   it was when I got to the point of assembling the instrument panel,  where it got confusing.   the sides and front wall panels was cemented to the frame.  the inner wall on the starboard side was also added.

 

 

I added a few more frame pieces to add strength........edges were sanded flush.  then the roof was added.

 

 

the area for the turret needs to be cut out.   I was thinking to cut into the turret tube instead,  but I  think it might be more work than its worth.  I'm getting ahead on myself here,  me thinks.   the edges of the roof were also sanded flush and to the appropriate angles.   there is a wall that juts from the port side wall....I began flashing it out.

 

on the backside,  a block is to be utilized under this seat....a form of locker I suppose.  this is all shaped to the camber of the deck.  rather than do that,  I'll simply box it in....plenty of cast off wood to go around { I have an unbelievable amount inside the box}.
 
 

what size did you buy for it Phil.......nice to hear from someone who has built this model.  were your props in the same direction or did you you do one left and one right?
 
that may be the case CW,  but I would think a three blade prop would give more thrust......this would like move like a tug boat in the water   
 
I continued with the helm structure.........but I did come up with an idea to deliver cement to the loose seams.  I would need to devise a long tube,  with a bend on the end......what to use was still being decided.  the two long stringers were cleaned up.  the directions here were really confusing,  as it directs you to cut the ends off.......I did one of them still unsure,  considering the slots in the bulkheads.  I tried to fit the other one,  and the true nature of the direction was revealed.  I had messed up!     thankfully,  it's not the end of the world and easy to remedy.  I cemented the two stringers in there.  there is a center stringer that runs from #5 to the stern.......two slotted stops are cemented at each end of the run.  these were trimmed and fitted in place.

 

I will box each end of the stringer I had cut in when I'm done.  I'll have to sand the top flat {fore and aft} so the sheer will lay on it flat.

when dry,  the center stringer was cemented in place.  as seen in previous pictures,  a single stringer was cemented in the center from #5 to the bow stem.  

I also cut off all the tabs from the bulkheads....

 

more sanding to be done......very noisy due to the tabs that didn't see any glue {I may go over them with cement}.  the port stringer in the front butted up and was repaired easily......for the stern though,  I will need to add some wood.

 

they referred to it as plywood.......some did not specify.  yes....mahogany was used,  but out in the field,  they used what they could get.
 
one last before I go outside to brave the storm.........it's N.H.  what can I say........
 
I did some more sanding,  but it was futile......the panel was pulsing in and out and would do nothing more,  than to become too thin,  causing a redo.  I decided to remove it from the board.

 

the hull is 33 inches long.....the admiral saw it........the look on her face     I need to frame the deck,  but it can wait.  I need to figure out how to get some glue under the chine stringer at the bow.  not much room to work with.....

as I pondered this feat,  I tinkered with the structures.......first,  the helm area.

the part next to it,  is the motor carriage........deciding whether or not to install it.

the sides of the helm structure getting frame work cemented to them.  I'll be back....wish me luck      awww heck.......it'll be FUN!!!!!!