Self Propelled Semi Submersible

[MGL]

Traditionally the Chiefs Mess on a boat will get a gift for the Captain to be presented at the Change of Command ceremony. Our first patrol with the current Captain we were the first Coast Guard Cutter to catch 2 Self Propelled Semi Submersible's (SPSS's) in one patrol. I have been working on this for the last few days. I tried to build it similar to the actual construction which uses a sailboat hull and framework built up at the gunwale then fiber-glassed over. A conning tower is built above the cockpit, exhaust, seawater discharge, and air inlets come out aft of the tower and the hatch to the bow is bolted in place. I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Here is an SPSS, add 12,000 lbs of cocaine and it would only have about 5 or 6 inches of freeboard.

I started out with the Revell North Sea Trawler since it had a single screw and straight bow with a bit of overhang on the stern.

I took 3 inches out of the center and rounded the sides. I also made the stern pointed (not shown here).

Frame work to support the deck. These are typically built in the jungle.

The start of the cockpit.

Most of the time they will try to reuse as much as they can from the sailboat they start with.

Work on the conning tower with opening hatch.

Fitting the tower.

The exhaust also gets wrapped in fiberglass, maybe they are trying to mask the heat signature.

This is were it is know, I need to rough it up a bit so it looks like fiberglass work that's been done in the jungle. and then paint and weather it.

Edited April 13, 2017 by MGL

[Darren B]

wow love the scratch building, this is awesome thank you for sharing and will be watching for the finished project.

[Spex84]

Cool! Very interesting to see a narco-sub getting built in scale.

[MGL]

Some progress today after a false start. I was attempting to simulate fiberglass with dryer sheets and epoxy and it was way out of scale so I just sprayed the paint from a distance to get a bit of texture to it. I also tried the hairspray chipping technique for the first time and it worked out well.

I still need to give it a coat of semi-gloss, paint the screw, and install the windows. I didn't realize I was out of semi-gloss, I guess that means I have to go to the LHS tomorrow.

[Draggon]

Looking good. I've always thought those things had a really creepy feel to them. That's not exactly what I mean, but I can't find a better word for it. 

[lordairgtar]

For your next project, some cheap toilet paper (like they use in work bathrooms) soaked in diluted Elmer's Glue will simulate randomly applied fiberglass quite nicely...that is if you wish to do such a thing.

 

Edited April 18, 2017 by lordairgtar

[MGL]

Here is the finished plaque with the SPSS mounted.

For the painting I Painted a white background on the plaque and mod podged the picture over that, then painted it, then to bring out the details and sharpen it up I mod podged the picture over it again. I was trying for the look of a painting with out hiring a painter.

[unclescott58]

Interesting.

Scott

 

[David G.]

Very Cool!

David G.

[Belugawrx]

That is cool, and Well done on the model, .....and the capture.

Cheers

[TarheelRick]

Fantastic work on a very unusual subject. Thank you for your service!

[stavanzer]

Fabulous Work.  I've known nothing about the Drug Boats, so it was good to learn about them.

Got any pics of the real thing?

[cobraman]

Nicely done !

[crazyjim]

Interesting story and build.

[Mike999]

Great work on an unusual subject.  Must add one of those to my build list, scheduled around 2037...