Hi y’all. So, I got the mast finished and painted, made holes for light to shine thru the windows I’ll add, painted the nav light boards, and finally painted the superstructure. I have a few small blemishes to fix, but while I was looking it over I realized I made an error. Now, if this was a truly museum quality scale model, one that was destined for a contest based on accuracy of details, markings and paint..well, this would be egregious...however, the Robbe kit is basically what used to be called in model aviation “stand off scale”..some things are omitted or glosses over so that the model in question is judged from 5 or 10 feet away. Anyway...man I really hate to admit this..I set her up for 4 forward bridge windows. Looking at my old pics of the first build I realized there are three. 😮 Went in and showed my wife, the Commodore, and told her what I’d done, and that there were 2 ways to go forward. Fill the holes, sand, cut new holes and repaint, or carry on with the revision. I reminded her as acting Commodore, even though it’s an honorary title, she could “pull rank” and send an order thru the appropriate channels to go ahead with the “updated revision”. She looked at me funny, then she got it and approved the updated window revision.🤣
So, only person who would EVER notice would be some person who’s studied the Japanese post war PT’s in general, and this class in particular. Odds of me running into someone like that would be...let’s just say I’d have better odds in Vegas. Anyway, I’m fitting windows tomorrow.
Cash

Need a few more things done, then she’s ready....😊

Hi all..well, the external work is 99.9 percent done. Details added, everything assembled and painted, lights fitted. Now....I need to wire the lights, I really wish Graupner hadn’t gone belly up as I love, absolutely love their SXM multifunction switch. I can control 4 separate banks of lights form 1 channel and 1 three position switch. Can’t find them now, scarcer then hens teeth. I might just wire the mast and nav lights on one circuit, but I want the searchlight on it’s own circuit..and, thanks to Fleet, I might, just might light up the interior of the bridge..but not in the normal sense. I have a small collection of RAM light kits, one of which is a brake light kit for rc cars. So...I have a red bulb, and a reflector. I was thinking making a big enough hole under the bridge so that the reflector could be tacked under, and the red light would light up the bridge...a “General Quarters” lighting effect. Maybe...
Anyway, I have to do a little balance and also play with my power. The brushless inrunner was way too hot, I’m thinking going back to brushed with just a touch more power than I had before the brushless fiasco, or a brushless outrunner, which would negate the gearbox, and just make sure my KV isn’t too steep. Or...I put on a smaller, lower pitch prop. When I first floated her she looks fine, but this ship is designed for 8 sub c cells, I’m either run in 6 sub c or 2 lipo, plus the equipment I’m using is much smaller and lighter than was was shown on the plans..so I’m pretty sure she’s light in the stern, by probably almost a quarter pound, maybe a touch less.
Cash

Well, hello all you fine people in stuck-at-home land!! Got her done. She’s remotored, repropped, rebalanced, rebuilt, remagneted and rebuilt. Say that ten times fast with a shot of 80 proof after each time you’ve uttered the words🤣
Anyway, I think she’s ready. I have stronger magnets up front, and a piano wire locating pin aft. That’s better than she had originally. Also, when I reinstalled the receiver I attached it to the bottom of the deck with Velcro, and ran most of the cables under the deck proper. I used small pieces of duct tape to secure the cables to the bottom of the deck. The resulting install is much cleaner. I also swapped the Turnigy function switch to the Chief Jenkins, so the nav lights and searchlight com on as one. Light bar is controlled and powered thru the receiver, so it’s not affected. I used the repurposed SXM switch in the PT. She now has nav lights, a mast light, general quarters red lighting, and a searchlight all independently controlled. Also, there’s 4 ounces of ballast secured all the way aft.Only thing I might do is to paint the back of the light boards grey to match the boat. I think she’s ready.
Oh, I’ve included a shot of her original bridge in the next set of photos, so we can see the differences.
Cash