Finished the super on my Capitani. 3.9oz without turret covers or main decks. 5.2oz with covers (resin). I used balsa blocks with polycarbonate for the platforms. I am happy with it but I would like to hear some weights and materials used on other peoples similar sized ships. Mike Butts MN2 USN
The Romani that used to terrorize the WWCC was balsa w/ milled-out insides, and 1/16" aircraft plywood for decks and protection against dents. I don't know what the weight was, though, and this Romani also had nearly the full inch of extra depth allowed by WWCC rules.
Mine only has 3/8" extra. It's on a serious diet. i.e. 1/8" caprail, direct drive, mcmanus torps, polycarb and fiberglass decks. I have the ability to run it with a 3.5oz bottle or single shot weight wise. Not sure what I wanna do. Gascan already said I should stick with the single shot. However, I really like the convenience of a bottle. Granted it is maxed out with the co2 bottle in it. Only couple ounces to play with and keep it at the waterline. If I dont use a bottle I can armor the super structure in the polycarbonate and add ballast. Increasing the stability and survivability is win/ win.
My Z-boat uses Battler's Connection cast-foam superstructure with thin polycarbonate decks. It gets dented, but I've never had a shot lodged inside and I can replace the superstructure easily and it's incredibly lightweight. You might want to use your nice balsa super as a plug to make molds for foam superstructure. Then you could also use your super as a recovery float.
Mine in Australia has 0.8mm polycarbonate deck, medium density foam for super and balsa wing attachments for deck levels, (nothing between the foam only glued to the side of the super) and the super as a float. Only allowed 10mm extra in the hull (just over 3/8in) Superstructure coated in selleys Kwik grip (laminex adhesive) and when dry painted grey. I run reloadable quad barrel 1/4in torps with a rock the boat regulator (78grammes) and 16gram gas bottle in the bow. Had to put on bilge keels as she rocks hard when firing but is stable. I had enough reserve buoyancy with a glass hull to add ejectable grapnels to each side with a string attached that shoot out 1meter to catch dead boats and drag them in. If attacked at this point I cna release the caught hook (which will float) and run off then back again when I can to try again. The firing servo doubles as the grapnel release and there is another servo to fire the grapenls port and stbd. Cheers
My Attilio Regolo was rebuilt with 2mm "foamie" sheets for deck houses, .010 & .020 styrene for stacks & closed cell foam for other parts. I have some pictures if you are interested... the lightweight stuff WILL get shot up. HorribleHarry
Foamie is that sheet foam from the art supply shops 2mm or 4/6mm. I have a few sheets with me. I'll show them to you when I see you next. Adm. HorribleHarry Putting the AP in scrap since 2009
