New project - Neptune

I guess I already have posted some drawings of my fantasy boat project, which is loosely based on a 209 type. This is a project that I'm slowly starting right now. After the extremely complex U-1 and the still very complex Nautilus build, the modelers heart longs for something much more simple. This is going to be it...a small boat with WTC, single screw, no milled parts (with exception of the hull masters).  

It's going to look somewhat like that:






I'll kick off with the WTC. All very simple. The structure parts were 3d printed. I'll make silicon moulds based on them and then cast PU parts. The dice system will use a peristaltic pump and an inflatable rubber tank.

This si the design::



And the first 3d parts arrived today....they are green because I ordered them on St.Patrick's day and green plastic was cheaper that day ;-)



Bajonet catch fits tight:

And here we go: To make reproduction easy I want to cast the structure parts using PU resin. Therfore I have to make silicon moulds from the masters. Glue the masters to a flat board, frame.....



Cover everything in 2K silicon.....



and we have a mould.



And the first cast parts.



Couldn't be easier.

Moulds for the front and back bulkheads are next.

As promised, the silicon moulds for the front and aft bulkhead are done, and the first parts are cast:







The bajonet catch fits tightly:





The counterpart is already glued into the WTC tube:



And complete:



Next is the inner structure...

Well, a quick snap together of the inner structure:



The end plate of the peristaltic pump has been trimmed to fit the PU cast supports:



Everything is held together by two 4mm diameter GRP rods and a 5 mm diameter brass tube, which also serves as water intake for the pump:



Well, basic inner structure done in about 1 hour - had worse deals than that:

During the week I glued together the part of the inner strcuture. The pump is screwed to the support frames. Behind it sits the pump controller on a 2 mm thick GRP board. The free space will hold the rubber sack for the water. Then the LiPos and behind them the two servos for the aft planes.

Slowly everything falls into place. The dive controller is screwed in place and I started wiring the whole thing:



The hoses are hooked up. The overpressure switch is new, not the one I got with the controller, as latter was too big. The new one fits tightly into place below the dive controller. The hose to the pressure switch starts in a T nipple and is routed over the pump motor to ensure that no water reaches the switch. And it looks cool....



The battery rest on two 2 mm thick GRP planks:



This way the battery can easily be fixed with cable ties:



The gap between battery the GRP deck has the advantage, that in case anything gets wet, the battery can easily dry. And the gap is well suited to route cable ties to fix additional gear:



e.g. the receiver. It will simply sit on top of the battery: