British A class

Guys, I am busy trying to finish off HMS Selene just now (photos soon) but I have plans for British A class boat I would like to build sometime in the future, are there any online guides for sub hull construction available or I have built some surface models using plank on frame, has anyone tried building a sub using plank on frame, if so how did the build go?

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

That is a good question. There are quite a few wooden hull sub builders (Brian A and Dave J for two) There is a lovely build log for an early X1 over on Model Boat Mayhem:

http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,44444.0.html

I must say I have never tried this construction method mainly because I have never built surface ships. My personal view is that glass fibre (literally!) takes a lot of beating.

Subs are very heavy (when dropped!) and also have a lot of momentum when moving (Think of the total displacement.) All that water in the hull moving at a few miles per hour and you will see what I mean. A strong material is a good idea.

I  have also noted that  a lot of wooden hulls end up being cast in glass fibre.  Nigel E has done a number of these over the years (Holland, Brian's U class - on the stocks) Whether this is because wooden hulls are high maintenance, I don't really know.

So you may think of building a simpler wooden " plug" and going straight to glass fibre or go the route used by Dr Schmidt (if you have access to the technology)

David