RC Greek Bireme

[OldPrairieRedNeck]

That looks amazing my friend!

[bensid54]

Thanks Mervin! It turned out better than I hoped for, still more to add to it hopefully I'll get what I need today.

[bensid54]

Began building the hatches yesterday, used my modified tile saw to cut all 22 hatches for the rowers to pop out of and shoot arrows at the enemy. I made them out of basswood for some contrast and the handles will be brass they will be spaced as far apart as possible to allow a roped area between the hatches. The Amati model has a plush area near the stern for someone important to sit in which would be a very bad place to be in battle so I think mine won't have that. I will be checking out other styles and models to finish the deck and come up with something more suitable.

[bensid54]

The rudders as they are, I attempted to slot the dowels with my milling bit but only managed to split them so I used my little table saw. As I was cutting the dowels I was making a fair bit of smoke so I assumed the blade must be getting dull so I continued on. Once I had cut both dowels I checked out how dull the blade on my little saw was to find out I had been feeding the dowels into the saw the wrong way the whole time! Some days I wonder how I manage to dress myself without labeling my shoes right and left!

[bensid54]

Glued the rowers hatches in place today, I plan on having rope handles for opening them. Cut and fitted the mast today, it actually looks better than I expected so I think I'll carry on the path I'm on.

[bensid54]

I clear coated the bottom of my boat with several coats of spray only to find that it dried in several spots like there was oil there, So I sanded it smooth you can see the results in the picture. Problem is when I used epoxy to glue together the planks I smoothed the excess over the planks I joined thinking I was going to seal the wood, bad idea! Epoxy it seems repels some paints and clear coats plus it won't blend together with itself just sticks together so sealing wood with it is a bad idea.

[bensid54]

With a wire wheel attachment for my Dremil I can actually move the epoxy in waves plus some sprays off because it becomes fluid when heated so I can get most of it to spray off and what doesn't get flung off piles up and moves along as you see in the picture. Once I have the wood mostly clear of epoxy I use 240 grit sand paper which takes it back down to the wood, very time consuming but worth it in the end.

[bensid54]

Forgot all about this thread! This is the finished product last Fathers Day.
https://youtu.be/e3HQ7bmNxMY

[OldPrairieRedNeck]

That is so cool! I just can't help but watch it over again! Thanks so much for sharing your efforts.

Makes me wonder what is out there that isn't shared by other talented people like yourself.