Looking for a designer

[John ShireParticipant @johnshire55937]

Hello

My name is John and I am new to this forum and website. I have been told that the members of this site are the best model boat builders in the UK and I would like to draw on your experience

I am looking for a person to produce a set of cad drawings for me, the subject is the submarine M1 and I would like the drawings at 1 to 1 scale to produce a model about 8 feet long.

The drawings must be highly detailed and enable the finished model to be fully working and diving to a depth of 6 feet.

Please contact me either on this thread or send me a pm

Kind regards

John

[John ShireParticipant @johnshire55937]

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

Are you new to model boats as well?

Working model submarines are arguably the most difficult subject in model boating. Any drawings you get are likely to tell you what the outside looks like and what shape it is, and it should be remembered that the main purpose of most models is to make the paint (which is what you see) be the right shape and stay that way. What makes it work is up to the individual modeller, and there are a great many variations.

Generally, a model submarine will be a free flooding shell to hold the paint in place, with a watertight compartment (WTC) being the part that holds the important stuff like radio, controls, motors, batteries and probably the ballasting system.

Have a look at **LINK** scroll down the page, click on the U-boat picture and enjoy a good read. Since it was written, there have been several commercial products appear on the market to ease the problems outlined, but it is still not an easy path.

[John ShireParticipant @johnshire55937]

Perhaps I should explain further.

This would be a commission to design and possibly build an 8 foot fully working model of the M1.

A retainer will be paid followed by agreed stage payments. Money is not an issue but quality is so if anyone knows of a model builder who is very familiar with cad and who will take commissions please let me know.

John

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

I hope you have plenty of dosh…..that's all I can say.

neil.

[John ShireParticipant @johnshire55937]

Neil

I am expecting to pay somewhere in the region of £2000 for drawings and £6000 for the model.

As I said money is not an issue.

But I would prefer someone who has a structural engineering or precision engineering background

John

Edited By John Shire on 25/10/2012 14:27:09

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

John

There is just the man for you…….A frequent poster on this forum

He is called Paul T and a few years ago, he actually designed the M1 on CAD

At the time, he wanted the gun to be operational, but abandoned the project after a few months

He will spot your request shortly no doubt and reply

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

You are in luck! I have found the thread!

Here…….. **LINK**

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Well done Bob! Upholding the reputation of the Forum.

My first instinct is that £6k would be rather a low figure for a working build.The Royal Naval College at Dartmouth pay two to three times that for their non working instructional models of that size.

Colin

[John ShireParticipant @johnshire55937]

Bob

Thank you for the information I have read Pauls profile and as a Phd Structural Engineer he certainly fits the bill, I have sent Paul a message.

Colin

The figure that I quoted is just a starting point for negotiations as the money is not a problem.

Regards

John

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

John…..We would all love to know reason for your model requirement?

Are you in a position to divulge?

Bob

PS……..Sorry to report that Paul is not in the best of health lately

Edited By Bob Abell on 25/10/2012 16:58:34

[John ShireParticipant @johnshire55937]

Bob

My grandfather served on the M1. I never met him and in a strange way this will bring me closer to him.

I am sorry that Paul is unwell and I shall keep his health in mind when talking to him.

John

ps I have read through Pauls thread on the M1 and thank you for highlighting it for me.

Edited By John Shire on 25/10/2012 17:45:48

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

That`s a nice idea

Sorry to ask…..Did your grandfather go down with the ship?

Bob

[John ShireParticipant @johnshire55937]

Bob

Yes he was on board and died when the vessel went down.

I watched the TV documentary about the M1 and was stunned to see that there was no water tight door between the gun and pressure hull.

My grandmother told me how proud he was to serve on the M1 and how he enjoyed its diplomatic voyage around the med. It was at that time the ultimate stealth weapon and put the fear of God into the other naval nations.

John

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

John

Thank you very much for your story………May your Granddad rest in peace.

Is it essential that the model sails?………A static model would be easier to construct and less expensive of course

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just found this……

It certainly looks awesome!

Bob

[John ShireParticipant @johnshire55937]

Bob

Thank you for your very kind words they are very much appreciated.

I actually want two models, the first being the working version but the second will be a cut away showing all the internal compartments and equipment.

I want to see where my grandfather served.

John

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello John

I have sent you a pm regarding your request.

Paul

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Well, that is certainly an interesting story especially with such a poignant family connection. I think the M Class subs really caught the imagination in their time and were a bold experiment. I suppose it would be presumptious to assume that you are unaware of the model in the Gosport Submarine Museum but our other members may not be aware of it.

Colin

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

John and I have been exchanging emails and telephone calls to discuss his requirements.

Before matters move to far forward it is only fair to both John and the other members of the forum to allow somebody else to offer their services so we have agreed to suspend discussions for 24 hours.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

A nice idea……But who else do we know, who could do this job?

Don't look at me, either!

It'll be a stressful project, whoever takes the job on…..So be careful and give it a lot of thought

Is it vaguely possible that a quality commercial kit could be adapted?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Bob

The research and drawing work will be straight forward enough, John and I have discussed splitting the project between design and build. With this arrangement John can approach other model builders for build quotes and I can consider my physical ability to complete the work.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul

That's a sensible arrangement……..I was going to suggest something like that.

What about the recycled kit idea?……Anything out there?

Afterall, the M1 was a later development of earlier British subs?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Bob

A suitable kit might be an excellent reference point for design but I don't know of any commercial kit of the right type or size.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The actual workings of a commercial kit would remove that side of the equation and make life easier for the builder?

Bob

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