November 2025 Ship Club Meeting
Thanks to everyone who were able to attend the meeting on Saturday. Here's a LINK to the video recording of the meeting.
Here's the recap of the meeting....
We started with a follow up on a video I sent out to everyone about a company called Saildrone which makes autonomous sail boats that are used for both civilian and military purposes. It's a very interesting company.
If you want to learn more about their company, here's a LINK to their web site. Here's an interesting story about Iran capturing two of these boats.
ICM kit giveaway
We had the drawing for the ICM kit of the WWI battleship Konig. This was purchased from Squadron to support ICM who in August had their building severely damaged by a Russian drone. This was not done with club funds. The winner was drawn using an electronic selection tool off the internet. That winner is David Angelo! Congratulations David!
Talk on the USS Cobia from Mark Karolus
We continued the meeting with an excellent presentation from Mark Karolus, a docent with the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc. The USS Cobia, a Gato Class submarine maintained there recently went through a 1.5 million dollar restoration. The boat is in remarkably good condition and well maintained by the museum.
Here are all the Manitowoc Gato's built there.
I would highly recommend that you watch the video clip of Mark's presentation. It was very informative and many of the questions I had about this process, Mark addressed.
Cobia all cleaned and read for paint! That's Mark in the center with the pink shirt. The shirts were part of the fund raiser for the project. The netting over the boat is there to protect the top of the boat and to keep debris removed during the cleaning process contained.
In this shot you can see that the torpedoe tube above the waterline is relatively clean, where the lower two tubes are dirty with unwanted visitors.
The boat is primed and ready for her paint.
During the restoration the team discovered a crack in the hull. The plate welded to the hull seals up water from coming into the boat. There was some water in the hull they couldn't get out until she went into drydock.
Here are all the Manitowoc Gato's built there.
I would highly recommend that you watch the video clip of Mark's presentation. It was very informative and many of the questions I had about this process, Mark addressed.
I'm not going to put all the slides in this recap but will instead focus on the more interesting ones.
Here's the Cobia in dry dock, read to have all the crustaceans removed from the hull in preparation for repapinting.
Here the crews working to remove the unwanted visitors.
Cobia all cleaned and read for paint! That's Mark in the center with the pink shirt. The shirts were part of the fund raiser for the project. The netting over the boat is there to protect the top of the boat and to keep debris removed during the cleaning process contained.
In this shot you can see that the torpedoe tube above the waterline is relatively clean, where the lower two tubes are dirty with unwanted visitors.
Mark validating the challenge coin fund raiser next to the rudder of the Cobia. Notice that the rudder is rivited. If you want to help support their work you can still buy these challenge coins online at the museum store.
The boat is primed and ready for her paint.
During the restoration the team discovered a crack in the hull. The plate welded to the hull seals up water from coming into the boat. There was some water in the hull they couldn't get out until she went into drydock.
To get to the spots covered up by keel blocks, the boat has to be refloated and moved so that when she is removed from water the second time they can get to those spots that were covered up from the original painting.
All painted, pretty, and ready to go back to the museum on display.
There was a lot of press and visitors on hand to see the ole girl come up.
Great view of her tri-color scheme as she's brought back to her mooring.
Mark had a unique idea for keeping track of their fund raising efforts. He painted a Revell 1/144 Gato class model rust color, then as they met goals he painted her in the finished colors.
Thanks again Mark for telling us about the Cobia project!
It's Tool Time!
We did a follow up on using Starbond medium rubber infused CA for filling seams. I brought in a mule that I had previously sealed a seam line with, along with some sanding sticks and let everyone have a play with it. Personally I really like this as a filler and it also is good as a normal CA glue. Would I used it to glue the hull together? No. Would I used it to fill a seam after it has been glued together. Yes!
We also had a follow up on the great Spar debate. Or Buff debate. Anyway, I did a test of the Squadron Colors Spar paint on white, gray, and tan primer or base color. The photo doesn't accurately reflect what my eyes see... it's a camera thing. In short, when I compare the Squadron Colors Spar over a tan base color, it looks very much like Spar on modern USCG ships. When I compare the color to the Olympia museum ship it looks very close, depending on the photo you're looking at. Looking at colorized photos is not a good reference. The Squadron "Spar" is a good place to start from. Adjusting the base color, or possibly mixing in some different color can get you where you want to be.
Moving on to what we're working on...
John Widmar shared his Fujimi 1/700 Argentina Maru with us. John commented about the difficulties with fit on these kits.
Rob Weilacher shared his Niko 1/700 USS Agusta. Looks like a great kit!
Rob and David Angelo are working on a USS Kitty Hawk, aircraft transport carrier. Nope, not an aircraft carrier.
We've been working on this 3D printed model design for about four months now. It can be challenging to work out these design issues over the internet, but we got it done. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished model prints which I will share with you all. Flight I and Flight II are in production, and we just finished the Flight III 688I (improved version) and it's being set up for printing.
The same class is being released by Border Models as the Takao.
Starling Models is releasing a set of 1/350 Coastal Patrol Boats. They are UKL 15 each
Starling Models is also releasing a Type 16 Frigate in 1/700 scale. This is fully 3D printed with photo etch parts and decals
We talked about this subject last month. Now a 1/700 HMS Leander also coming from Starling Models
Martin brought up this model last month during the meeting. This is a "what if" model of the Yamato that survives the war. Much like the modernization of the Iowa class battleships. We don't know the story line
1800 lbs of paint was required for the project. The paint is marine grade epoxy.
All painted, pretty, and ready to go back to the museum on display.
If you want to support the project you can still buy challenge coins at the museum store. Here's a LINK
to the fundraiser coin in the store.Thanks again Mark for telling us about the Cobia project!
It's Tool Time!
I found these brushes for nail on Amazon. They're only $10. They are used for hand painting fingernails. Enamels and Lacquers are not recommended for these brushes. I forgot to bring them to the meeting but will next time.
We did a follow up on using Starbond medium rubber infused CA for filling seams. I brought in a mule that I had previously sealed a seam line with, along with some sanding sticks and let everyone have a play with it. Personally I really like this as a filler and it also is good as a normal CA glue. Would I used it to glue the hull together? No. Would I used it to fill a seam after it has been glued together. Yes!
Moving on to what we're working on...
David Angelo is working on this kit of the HMS Warrior 1916. Looks great, David! This will be followed by the HMS Black Prince
John Widmar shared his Fujimi 1/700 Argentina Maru with us. John commented about the difficulties with fit on these kits.
Rob Weilacher shared his Niko 1/700 USS Agusta. Looks like a great kit!
Rob and David Angelo are working on a USS Kitty Hawk, aircraft transport carrier. Nope, not an aircraft carrier.
I (David Waples) shared my deep dive with Oto Gerza of RCSubs.cz and Ron Schneider, former Los Angeles Class submarine crew member.
We've been working on this 3D printed model design for about four months now. It can be challenging to work out these design issues over the internet, but we got it done. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished model prints which I will share with you all. Flight I and Flight II are in production, and we just finished the Flight III 688I (improved version) and it's being set up for printing.
What's coming to market...
Very Fire is releasing what looks to be a very nice kit of the IJN Atago. This is a multi media kit. You can buy directly from Very Fire (watch out for tariffs!!!).
Starling Models is releasing a set of 1/350 Coastal Patrol Boats. They are UKL 15 each
Starling Models is also releasing a Type 16 Frigate in 1/700 scale. This is fully 3D printed with photo etch parts and decals
We talked about this subject last month. Now a 1/700 HMS Leander also coming from Starling Models
Martin brought up this model last month during the meeting. This is a "what if" model of the Yamato that survives the war. Much like the modernization of the Iowa class battleships. We don't know the story line
line.
That's it for this month. I'll have some information shortly for you about our next meeting. I will also get out a notice for build night. Take care everyone!
That's it for this month. I'll have some information shortly for you about our next meeting. I will also get out a notice for build night. Take care everyone!
