Captain Class Frigate

Hopefully will start my next build this coming weekend which is a Captain Class Frigate.  The hull is from the Mouldeans range.

I have started the research and prep work now for the Captain Class.  Even with more time for building in retirement soon it will be long term as no doubt I will end up with some disasters during building of the superstructure etc and have to start again on more than one occasion but as part of the prep work I have the Revell plastic version which I am using as an aide to the plans to help with interpreting the plans when building the superstructure.  The Captain and Buckley and Evarts class also seem to have one of the biggest internet information bases online including DE Associations across the pond and also a lot of photos of builds from John Haynes so if I fail miserably it wont be for any lack of information.

I have also sourced for prep work the books Captain Class Frigates and USS England Anatomy of the Ship.  The anatomy book is of particular help as I will be 'trying' to make a few of my own fittings as well as getting some from Deans and it has good detail drawings of things such as RU lockers and other fittings from resin casting although the more complicated fittings will be sourced from John Haynes and Deans.   I have sourced some of the fittings already that I don't think I would be able to make as good myself.

I have made up the basic superstructure of the Revell Captain class (Which only has a single rudder for some reason whereas the class had twin rudders). 

At the moment I am undecided which actual Captain it will be but that's something that can wait for later.

When I ordered the hull Ron Dean explained that he would have to do a new mould as the old one wasn't up to scratch and that he wouldn't be selling any other blank hulls after this as he is going to do a DE kit next after their Castle Class so I was quite lucky in my timing.  I wasn't expecting the hull to arrive so soon but its here now.  And very nice it is too.  Probably one of the nicest 1/96th Deans hulls I have had.  The sand line at the top of the hull is exceptionally clear and the bilge keel marks, prop shaft outlets and rudder points are precise and clear.  Little sanding to be done and the shaft drillings should be very simple.  Also came with a nice set of DVD photos from Deans of their prototype mouldeans build from a few years ago.  Very impressed.  As I have the Military Class Trawler I will probably start both builds at once and build alongside each other as when I did the MA/SB and Picket Boat.  When the scratch building of the Captain Class (calling it a Captain still but I may do it as a USS version) hits a brick wall of inspiration in building the superstructure from plans I will fall back on the Military Class kit to give my mind a break! 

This'll be a nice build.            

I agree.........neil.

Interesting yes - nice well the jury will reserve its decision until the fat person has sung.  The last scratch superstructure and deck up build I did was the MMS and although it turned out okay it was a simple box build.  This is more complex so requires patience and swearing in abundance.  I have made a start last night - openings drilled out for running gear and the rudders have been made up from 2mm rod for rudder shafts inside a sandwich of 2mm and 1mm plastic card.  The shape needs sanding at the weekend to smooth but they aren't too bad.   Will post some pics at weekend.  Have also made a couple of blank RU lockers from balsa and plastic strip offcuts for hinges and will try some resin moulding at weekend if time allows.

Not the most exciting build pic in the world but a quick shot of the basic rudders as made up just needing some sanding to shape.

Well some nice weather for a change and I also had some unexpected spare time which was a nice surprise so I managed to get into the garage.

The bilge keels are completed and fitted being pinned and epoxy used to secure them into place.  The rudder stock tubes have also been set into place using epoxy and then with P40 around them to further secure them.

Shafts were lined up and temporarily held with superglue tacking them whilst I aligned the A Frames to make them symmetrical then used expoxy to secure them permanently into place and also the A Frames.  Secured the underside with loads of masking tape to ensure there was no spill out from the gaps in the drilled holes.  Once the Expoxy sets I will add some P40 for further security then test for water integrity.  From the research all drawings I can find of the  the various sub classes of the DEs seem to show two sets of A frames so I really should use two for exact 'underwater' accuracy.  However I'm not using exposed shafts nor going for 100% underwater accuracy so I decided on just using the single set of a frames for support.  The shafts extend a fair way out of the hull so it does need a little support and used Deans standard A Frames.  I have also got the electrics now up together and will be using two MFA torpedo 400 motors - its a smallish hull so it doesn't need too much power and they are a nice fit for the hull.  Will use an Action P80 for the ESC and power will be from a 6v 2amp battery and a 4.8v power supply to the RX.  Those will fit nicely into the hull and the two batteries will help with ballast.  If the weather keeps up this week I might get a couple of hours evening work done which will be fixing the side supports from Balsa square strip.  I will cut out a deck template from the plans and then try and work out the positions of the cross members to take into account where the openings are going to be. I have made some copies of the plans at my local copy shop so I can cut out various templates against the plasticard sheets that will be used for the main build

Beautiful stainless shafts, shame its so hard to get them in the smaller size, i just hope you have some shiny brass props as those white metal ones are only worth using as ballast, but this builds coming along great keep it up!

Yes they aren't that pretty but I have some brass Raboesch props on their way but I wanted to use the white metal ones to make sure I was aligning them correctly to ensure there was no fouling against the hull.

The shafts and a frames where they were expoxied in have had some P40 to strengthen so all nice and secure and water tight.  I have worked on the lay out of the RC gear and the good thing about this build is the long continuous running deck houses that affords plenty of space lengthwise.  Although the motors aren't in yet, which I hope to do later today, I have been able to do a dry fit of where batteries etc will go.  Also the hull keel has a nice slot and although its too early to prelimnary ballast check, clearly she will need some lead.  I have some nice thin lead strips and conveniently these fit into the slot perfectly and will give weight very low down so I have fitted 4 of these into the keel gap.  Also made the cradle to secure the rx battery which is a perfect fit between the two shafts and again this is more weight low down where it should be needed. 

The side deck supports on the port side are currently setting and I have marked off where I want my cross beams to go.  Given the length of the superstructure I will need a couple for strength going across the opening and not just at the ends of the deck house.  I will fit the starboard side support this pm hopefully.  With luck I will be able to start cutting out the deck soon.    

Looking good bud, its great to get a model with enough room to work in once the decks down, nothing worse then fitting parts and finding out later that removing an maintenance is going to be a pain in a limited access hole, what's your electrical setup gong to be?

Two MFA 400 motors, Action P80 ESC, 2.4 Planet all powered by 48v rc battery and 6v SLA for main power running two brass 30mm props

 

Slow progress but still some progress and each little bit helps I guess.  The side supports and cross beams are bonded into place now so will next do the longitudinal supports where the main superstructure opening will go.   The servo holding beams are in place and the steering servo temporary fitted.  As its a quite shallow draught hull I have opted for a mini servo otherwise it would either have had to go on the side or risk fouling the deck.  I will give all the internals a test next week then I can cut and fit the deck.

Gotta love those tiny servos   

I know that feeling, sometimes you get stuck in a rutt and just sit there scratching you head what to do, but all i can say is do a little each day and in the end you'll get there.

Right now i'm just in a build spurt, guess i'm tired of running the same 8 models need to finish the other 8   

Keep it up bud your doing great!!

The slowness is purely down to work pressures sadly.  But still, only 47 days left before I take forever leave.

Well forever leave is here yippee doo.  Now officially retired and as the new puppy is now requiring less and less time i.e. isn't playing 24/7 and demanding attention all the time I hope to resume work on the captain class over the next few weeks and will have plenty of time to crack on as I haven't done any work on her since the last update due to work pressures getting everything ship shape before handing over to my replacement.  So maybe in a week will have an update!!  However in the meantime I have started a long awaited refit on my M Class Monitor this week which I need some help on from one of the more celebrated POF builders on here which I will ask in a separate thread.

congrats on making the milestone matey........now ENJOY the  rest of your life...............happy days are here again, lol. best wishes, and good luck. neil.

As my old man always says to me when i make a joke about him being retired...

''I've got here, you've still gotta make it!''

Congrats on your retirement I've still got 34 years to go!  feeling a little jealous now!