BRUTUS MK 11

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Captain Bob

That photo takes me back, or is it 'Dave our view'

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi there Paul

It`s taking shape now, it`s a bit tricky aligning the structure at the moment

Have sent you a message…….

Some of the slots in the formers are a little deep for the spine

It`s not that important, but Trevor might be a little confused?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

Don't drag poor Trevor into this, I am still having therapy after having to explain every design change to Kevin, I can't meet anyone called Kevin without having to have a stiff drink (no not Watneys Red Barrel) to steady my nerves.

Paul

What shivers at the bottom of the ocean.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ground control to Major Bob……No message received please tighten the string and try again

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Not doing all those cutouts in the formers then Bob??

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

PM sorted out

Paul, not so long ago, we saw a photo of a finished model of Brutus, can you remember if it was Mk 1 or Mk 2?

Would like to see one, if possible

No problems with the build at the moment, just waiting for the glue to arrive from Amazon

In the meantime, I'll forage about

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ashley, no cutouts required, with this new found wonder material!

The structure will be a lot lighter than MK 1, there may even be room to fit a large balloon filled with Helium!

That was mean`t to be a light hearted joke, but……….Ummmmmm>

At the moment, the carcass is lashed down with weighted string, like Gulliver in Lilliput Land, which has firmed it up, somewhat

More exciting developments shortly

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Latest progress picture

The weighted string idea has proved to be very helpfull

Some of the stringer notches are in need of adjustment now

All I need now are a few long 6mm square stringer strips

Dare I use hardboard?……That`s all I`ve got in the wood larder…….Hmmmm

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob. Don’t think that hardboard will be suitable for stringers, even when doubled up to get 6mm, it will just break if used thin like that.

No more ply or planks?…at all?

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ashley

I realise your hardboard has it`s limitations, Ash, but I have plans to overcome this minor nuisance……Hopefully….

I like the flexibility of the narrow strips and some of these stringers are going to go through some tortuous curves!

Will make a sandwich using 1/16" cross grain plywood…….And then some!

It`s quite interesting doing one`s own thing…….You know the feeling

Working on the forgotten Transom now, with is a bit tricky at the moment……..Isn`t it. Paul?

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

We seem to be sweeping along here at a rapid pace?

The first stringer is behaving itself quite nicely

What about the shape?

Hey Paul…..Are you sure this not a Banana Boat?………..Looks very exciting shape

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Bob

Not a Banana boat but you could do with some banana boxes

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Paul

I could also do with some glue……..It might arrive today from Amazon

Apart from the keel, there are no glued joints on the latest picture

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The glue has finally arrived chaps

Made a start at the Bows end, making sure that all is well

Made a small mod Paul……

Have cut down the Breast plates and allowed the stringers to run to the pointy end to obtain a smoother transition

Bob

Edited By Bob Abell on 10/06/2020 16:30:37

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

You seem to have the worlds supply of small clamps there Bob !!

I have got loads of those….when you need them, you never seem to have enough.

Looking very smooooth I must say so far, It`s the superior materials you are using.

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Ashley

I need more clamps right now!

But because I`m glueing up now, there will be few clamps coming surplus shortly

It`s a bit of a worrying time at the moment, as I can`t see the wood for the trees!

It`ll make more sense shortly

Enjoying the challenge still, not going to bother with the Motors etc at the moment, just the hull and super structure

Going to need plenty of thin stuff shortly, how do you go about splitting hardboard sheets?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Chief Designer Bob

As you have figured out the original breast plates were a belt and braces answer to reinforcing the vertical bow.

Back when I designed the hull the calculations showed that the curved connector between stem and keel should have been sufficient to support the stem post and resist collapse if the boat had a high speed impact

But then I recalculated the forces based upon the possible future changes involved with a larger engines (2 x 32cc) and decided to add the extra strength of the horizontal plates.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Chaps

It was nice to see that the glued joints had set rock hard this morning!

Now we seem to be making meaningful progress at last

I would also like to see a few comments, good or I bad, regarding the progress so far, please?

I'm still thinking about the rudder up front, just to see how it behaves?

This type of ship is meant to charge about on fast straight courses and not spin about like a steering comp model?

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob. I probably commented on the original build….but..this one is coming along. What exactly did you use for stringers??

What motors are you going to use. 2x32cc petrol motors were some serious designed power (love to that going)

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Captain Bob

Yes this hull is designed for running at high speed in straight lines, to quote my favourite author, looks like a fish, moves like a fish, steers like a cow.

Ashley

They were a pair of matched strimmer engines with big racing props and the calcs showed a potential of 28m/s (just over 100kph) but I got bogged down in working out how to keep the two air-cooled engines from overheating.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi there Ashley

At the moment I`ve used pairs of very flexible HARD BOARD stringers, with 1/16 th plywood back up

Further space filling will follow where required

I won`t be doing a shoddy job

Paul…..I don`t wish to charge about, there are enough complaints from the public about incidents with the native wild life already

I hope to produce a model just as Paul has portrayed it on his Magazine article

A futuristic Battleship

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

It`s more progress but slow progress now

Glueing the stringers in place and reinforcing them

I`m using EVO-STIK Exterior wood glue and it seems to be OK for the purpose

Bob

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Bob,

Keep up the good work, I think you should consider putting the bow rudder on the stem like the double ended paddle tug Aid as described in the ME years ago 😄 this would act like a canard on an aeroplane 👍

Regards Ray

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Ray

I shall be doing something like you suggest

It must work, but the turning circle may be larger than normal

In fact, I`m looking forward to the outcome

On Brutus MK1, there wasn`t enough vertical space to fit a watertight rudder

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Close up of the stringer layers

Four laminated layers equal 12 mm, which looks about right?

Bob

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