MY USS Cobia Gato submarine build

[deepseadiver]

I will be posting all of my 118 photos from the beginning to the end of my submarine gato USS Cobia build for everyone , to see and enjoy, most of all to get ideas from!
Feel free to post comment i like them .They give me ideas also.
Jim A

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I will be posted all my pictures from the beginning to the end of my build for everyone , may it help out others in this hobby.

Looking forward to it!

David,

[deepseadiver]

getting ready to cut top

[deepseadiver]

after the cutting

[deepseadiver]

working on the tail section

[deepseadiver]

tail piece working on attaching the parts for the drive shafts

[deepseadiver]

close up of tail piece, and inside installing moving parts.
Also attached is picture of the gear control for the bow plane retracts system.

[deepseadiver]

getting the body prepared for the big cut the scary part.

[deepseadiver]

my tools required for the cutting. Created designed by David M on instructional DVD set.

[deepseadiver]

attaching it to a board preparing for cutting.

[deepseadiver]

fasten down to the board with rubber bands and hooks

[deepseadiver]

another picture of it being fasten down.

[deepseadiver]

cut in two

[deepseadiver]

seam repaired by using bondo, it works but i will not use it again metal glaze is better . I use it later in the build. bondo sucks.:( metal glaze rules.:D

[deepseadiver]

another picture of working on the seams

[toppack]

Great pics!
I thought I'd let you know that you can upload multipale pictures per Post. I think most forum sections have a max limit of 5 pics per post, tho.

I was able to make that hull cut up under superstructure, so seam would not show, didn't have to fill gap, and can still get SD in and out with no problem. :)

[deepseadiver]

the cutting out the holes at bottom of sub. A lot of little sanding but it turned out great.

[deepseadiver]

the final piece after being sanded.

[deepseadiver]

In the revell kit there is alot of awesome detail that has been done to this kit. But for them to keep the submarine, kit affordable they could not place everything on the kit. I have been viewng the real pictures, that i have of the USS gato sub which i will post later on in this build. There is foot holdings, located up front at the bow so i added them in.

[deepseadiver]

here are my propllers before and after they were primed from David M kit he supplies for the gato submarines.

[deepseadiver]

thanks with the help with the picture . Yes i find it that most helpful. Good job on cutting the seam with no glaze work that's some skill there. I could not do that maybe with more practice in time i can.

[deepseadiver]

I find that some of the holes i drilled into the stern tail section are on the real full size cobia gato, so i did it.

[deepseadiver]

my first atempt to make the vents and engine exhaust line.
far left pic so! so!



middle picture i did perfection .



far right pic not good

[deepseadiver]

from looking at the real full size gato there are holes that are drilled behind the torpedo doors. I dont know why they are there but i did them. If any one knows what they are for please fill me in.

[deepseadiver]

placed lines in deck and on the sides like the real one has.

[deepseadiver]

Brass, or painted brass propellers. I choose the painted one's because they are the correct ones with the best pitch, for thrust, since David M, made them special for the motors, that fit the gato.

[deepseadiver]

weight's placed at the bottom of sub. I placed them in backwards at first, but fixed it and primed them grey

[deepseadiver]

I decided to reinforce the bottom with a piece of brass strip for more toughness from hitting the bottom hopfully i never do.

[deepseadiver]

picture of the popellers attached

[deepseadiver]

time to make the water proof switch for the WTC

[deepseadiver]

doing the custom battery pack wiring for the subs WTC

[deepseadiver]

buidling the control unit putting in the electronics pushrods ect

[deepseadiver]

placing the drive shafts into the sub i painted them blue afterwards i like the color ocean blue.

[deepseadiver]

all the colored push rods all attached and working properly

[deepseadiver]

the sail painted





the last picture is the real gato gun from the ship

[deepseadiver]

now some pictures of the real USS gato cobia one bad ship terror of the sea.:eek:

[deepseadiver]

more pictures of the real thing The ship is stationed in wisconsin.I have been there in person to look at her. the ship is still in operational condition it could still go out to sea it's that well taken care of .

[deepseadiver]

pictures of my magnets i placed underneath the sail. I hope i never have to see it work either,:eek: caused by some one running me over me. Thats were i need torpedos ,first person to run me over and i sink them ha ha !!!

ps there is no pictures, but i drilled a lot of the plastic out underneath the sail on top of the deck to let the air out when it submerges. Plus theres a hole underneath the sail itself to let any air out also. You can't see it but it's there should serv its purpose well.

[deepseadiver]

the night crew looking out for enemy ships and other subs out for the hunt.

[deepseadiver]

the inside of the sub with the WTC installed and my green closed cell foam .
It was pink, i painted it for a good reason i dont like pink.

[deepseadiver]

different shots of the sub painted with a simi gloss finish. which later i did not like. You will see further into my post's the final product is flat like the real gato submarine is no shine.

[deepseadiver]

final pictures after my weathering work

[deepseadiver]

more final weathering pictures

[deepseadiver]

more final weathering pictures

[deepseadiver]

glass case , soon it will get wet.

yes the string of flags comes off before it gets in the water

[deepseadiver]

I will post pictures step by step when i get it water tested and trued balanced in water.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

It's a thrill to see someone actually follow the conversion and SD instucitons. Well done, sir!

David,

[toppack]

Great! I didn't realize you had finished painting it.
It really looks good in the display case.
Thanks for the pictures.

[Kazzer]

Nice Build Jim!

Perhaps we should make a slide show of these photos and put them on Youtube?

[deepseadiver]

That sounds like a great idea slide show on youtube, i dont know how to do it, if you do go for it please.

[deepseadiver]

Nice Build Jim!

Perhaps we should make a slide show of these photos and put them on Youtube?

Mike if you know how to do it please feel free im clueless how to do it.
Jim

[Kazzer]

Go to youtube.com and caswellsubs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moBazH_JlEM

The resolution isn't wonderful, but it get the idea over. They can view the higher resolution photos on the web page.

[deepseadiver]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1gCEPSoqPA

straight to the youtube site and video

[deepseadiver]

Thank you very much Mike,

for posting this on youtube . I think it shows a good idea to people how the submarine is built by using Caswell inc products and designer David merriman, It looks great much apreciated. I attached a link that takes you straight to the video . It seems the one you posted mike, does not go to it, says video has been moved .
but this one will. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1gCEPSoqPA

Jim

[deepseadiver]

Here is another video of the real full size cobia starting up for a 2008 reunion very impressive.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWCsP8CmKP8

[pjdog]

Jim:

Thanks for posting the Gato build in detail. I'm a newbie and seeing what you did helps me realize what I've gotten into. It's alot more than I thought.

[deepseadiver]

PJdog

your very welcome im glad its going to help you out with your build.
Have any questions on anything i did and how i went about it, feel free to ask me, that's why i placed my build here.
Jim :)

[deepseadiver]

My Gato Submarine is up for sale!

So i can build another one !

this one with a different type of aproach big time. This time the water line will not be cut have different plains. plus this bad boy will have the torpedo system. Hopfully the system will be up for sale at that time, i purchase another one,
It should sell sooner or later. You surely can not just go out to a store and pick one up thats for sure, you got to build her.

Cheers

Note to David M how is the progress with the torpedo system i have not herd from you in a while, i would like to hear from you on my thread please .
Jim Amos :)

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Note to David M. How is the progress with the torpedo system? I have not heard from you in a while, i would like to hear from you on my thread please .
Jim Amos :) g

Work'n on it!

David,

[deepseadiver]

Hi David,
rome was not built in a day so take what ever time to get it perfect, nice to hear from you David

Jim :)

[Kazzer]

Brass, or painted brass propellers. I choose the painted one's because they are the correct ones with the best pitch, for thrust, since David M, made them special for the motors, that fit the gato.

You can actually BRONZE these props.

PNPBZ28 BRONZE PLATING KIT
Plates directly onto steel, nickel and copper. Applies a beautiful decorative bronze finish onto small items.


see http://www.caswellplating.com/kits/plugnplate.htm

Al you do is clean the prop with a mild abrasive cleaner like Softscrub, then hang it into the Bronze solution on the negative lead, then place the wand into the solution. 30 seconds approx will give you a real bronze look, so finally coat it with a clear lacquer. VHT Clear is good.

[deepseadiver]

very nice kit indeed. I will have to use this on my future ,submarine builds.

Jim

[deepseadiver]

just kind of curious Mike, and David, how is the torpedo system coming along. Just curious wanted to touch bases with you all .

Jim

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

just kind of curious Mike, and David, how is the torpedo system coming along. Just curious wanted to touch bases with you all .

Jim

I'll finish development after the SubRegatta.

David,

[shamrock]

also curious will the systems be built for each sub type or kits you fit and build yourself

[Kazzer]

also curious will the systems be built for each sub type or kits you fit and build yourself

The concept everyone here is working on is fairly simple.

There will be one electronics board that fires up to ten torpedo tubes in succession, on command from one radio signal. This unit will be sold singly and will work whatever size of torpedo is needed.
Then you will need a torpedo tube which has an electronic gas valve attached, which is plugged into a liquid gas reservoir and to the electronics board. You will buy these tubes singly, allowing people to add as many as they like.

Finally, the torpedoes themselves will be in packs of six.

We anticipate making torpedoes and tubes in 72 scale initially, but I am going to set up a poll to find out which sizes would be more popular.

[deepseadiver]

ok David sounds good! Mike, there should be a big poll for the gato sub for torperdos needed. I know five people already that want the system for there gatos

Jim