Hi all!!! I received my ship last Monday, and now that I FINALLY have the time, I get to start building!!! Could anyone walk me through the process of posting pics? What I have done so far is, marked the 3/8 deck section on the hull, marked the impenetrable sections at the bow and stern, and put a 3/8 inch rib at the step deck. I can put 14 1/4 ribs in but was wanting to know, how should I place them? I can space all 14 of them evenly 3 inches apart, but was kinda wanting some ribs more towards the bow for more protection and to make it eaiser when it comes time to glue the balsa on. What would you guys reccomend? THANKS!!! Joshua
Hi Joshua, here's one thread on how to post photos using RCNC as a host. http://rcnavalcombat.com/Forum/tabi...fault.aspx BEFORE you upload, it's best if you resize your picture to no more than 800 pixels wide, so the picture fits and the file size is not too large. Other options are to post elsewhere, and just insert the photo links as shown in http://rcnavalcombat.com/Forum/tabi...fault.aspx. The answer about rib placement will depend on if you are building Big Gun or Fast Gun. I believe Stephen said you were building Fast Gun, which has more flexibility in placement. Let the forum know which ruleset you're building to, and that will help you get the best answers in the build thread. Thanks for posting!
Oops! I totally forgot to post that. I'm going to be building to the IRCWCC rule set. Thanks for your help!!!
Here a pic of the layout of my ribs. The first eleven ribs from the bow to the stepdeck are spaced two inches apart. I had split the three inch difference between the eleventh rib, and the 3/8 rib at the stepdeck with a rib at inch 1/2 from each. The two aft of the stepdeck are spaced five inches from each other, but the first rib aft of the stepdeck is spaced at six and 5/8 inches from the stepdeck, and the last is spaced 5 and 3/4 from the stern. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Joshua
Hi Josh, I don't know if your club allows this or not but have you considered an asymmetrical rib layout? My brother Gascan is building an Invincible too, and he's at the rib-planning stage. You're probably going to have a sidemount in the bow and a sidemount in the aft, so how about you concentrate extra ribs in those areas, on the sides you're going to have guns. For example, if your aft sidemount is on the port side, you'd put extra ribs in the port side aft, and less ribs in the port side bow. Same thing on the other side, except it's the starboard bow not the port stern. That way, when you're in position to shoot at a bad guy, you've got more impenetrable area concentrated nearby to protect you against return fire. That does leave you a bit more vulnerable if someone sneaks into your blind spots, but you're supposed to avoid letting that happen anyway. Make sure you check with your local club before doing this, however. I am a Big Gunner and have no idea if Fast Gun clubs allow asymmetrical rib layouts or not.
I'm reasonably certain there is no prohibition on an asymmetrical layout. With that said, I'm not sure how much advantage you'd really gain. With enough ships on the water someone else will just slip up to your weaker side and pound away. Yes, you're not supposed to let it happen, but it does, often because you have to choose between taking a shot and running away all day. Josh - your instinct to place more ribs forward of the step is a good one. You will take the majority of your damage in the bows, that's the meaty area that people love to shoot for.
It's not so much of an instinct as much as it is Bob's layout recommendation (thanks Bob). But with seeing Kotori put got me thinkin, should I put a few more ribs in the back? Because I'm planning on putting a broadside at both the bow and stern. Should I add some more ribs for added protection from return fire at the stern? Or should I keep the layout as is? Thanks!! Joshua
There isn't a lot of penetrable area in the back, most folk wont shoot for it because it is a low percentage shot. The forward areas are a much larger area, an easier target. Your ribs will be better suited forward of the step where they provide more protection in an area more likely to be targeted.
For a visual reference of tasty area vs waterline... You can see that there is a whole lot more meat up front where a high shot can still inflict damage. Here you can see that at speed the trough opens up a bit along the midsection and there is even less meat in the stern.
Is that the HMS Invincible?! I see what you are saying. I just got the other side of my ship marked, and both sides are VERY even to each other. Should I post some pics for you guys to see before I do any drilling and cutting? Or do I go ahead and start? Also what size drill bit should I use? 11/64? Or 5/32? Thanks!! Joshua
That is Invincible. If you did both sides as in your photo you look good to start drilling. I use a 1/4" bit, anything around that size is fine. The holes are mostly there to keep you from over cutting through a rib. Useing a drill press for this is easier than a hand drill, if you have one. In the photos note the gun set up, Stern sidemount to port, stern gun on the starboard offset turret and bow sidemount to starboard. This the normal and best way to set up this ship.
I hope I'm not hijacking your thread, Joshzilla, but I've got a few more Invincible questions for the experts as well. Is there any particular reason to do stern sidemount to port and bow sidemount to starboard, or can you do it the other way around? Or, even better, make them easily interchangeable on shore? Gascan was considering arranging an interesting layout where his stern gun (in a midships turret, angled 15* out) and stern sidemount converged on the same point. He also considered doing a twin stern gun, angled 15* out to hit in the same area as a sidemount. He didn't make up his mind before heading off to Navy boot camp, so I'm asking for him.
If you did the stern sidemount to starboard the barrel would be in the way of the stern gun. Could you make it work, I think so as a Moltke has the same problem. But that that would be the 2nd best set up. I seen one I-boat with a stern side mount and twin sterns in the offset turret. He did it because bow sidemounts got him in trouble and he only had a 4 channel radio, only two channels for guns. It worked very well for him. Leaving a side open is not the best idea, but it can be done. Setting the stern gun and stern sidemount to hit in the same area would not work. You'd lose the down angle of the stern sidemount, it's a great gun for getting belows. Off angled stern guns are harder to aim. Stick with the basics to start then do somthing weird after all your systems work. I'll bet you'll grow out of the weird ideas by then.
Take a look. I did have a few mess ups. That's before I sand them though. It was a lot easier and quicker to cut the hull then I thought. With the bit that I had, all I had to do was keep it under control, and let it do all the cutting.
Looks good. I'll have to send these photos to Gascan at boot camp. I'm sure he'd be interested. Is there a particular reason you cut the windows before installing the sub-deck, or was that just the step you chose to do first?
I didn't think about doing the sub deck first. Is it a bad thing that I didn't?? I was just following the instructions that came with the ship.
It isn't a bad thing to cut the windows before the sub deck is installed. Just personal builder's preference.
