RC Warship Combat - WWI and WWII Era Ships

[Argyler]

In the hobby of model warship combat, people build and battle 1/144-scale radio-controlled WWI and WWII-era model warships. To put that into perspective, an Iowa class battleship is over six feet long! CO2-powered cannons are used to fire ball bearings varying in size from standard BBs up to quarter-inch ball bearings, depending on the armament of the real ship, into balsa-wood armor (also different thicknesses depending on the real ship's armor). Ships are damaged - even sunk when the bilge pumps can't keep up. Then they are recovered, patched, and sent back into battle.

 

It is an awesome hobby that I have been a part of for many years with the North Texas Battle Group. I am sure many of you will find it as interesting as I do!

 

[trojankv]

You'll shoot your eye out kid!

 

That looks like a fun hobby.

[Wunderwaffen1945]

It sure do but..........where are the guns

[Carrier_Enterprise]

Oh look! this is what made me discovery this hobby in the first place.

 

JAY INGRAM!!

[Argyler]

Wunderwaffen1945, on 25 February 2013 - 08:15 PM, said:

It sure do but..........where are the guns

The guns are located in the turrets. They are custom built to allow for rotation and elevation. Here are the Dunkerque's A and B turrets.

[anonym_s4TCbLNuhWyC]

Argyler, on 26 February 2013 - 12:46 AM, said:

The guns are located in the turrets. They are custom built to allow for rotation and elevation. Here are the Dunkerque's A and B turrets.

Impressive :3 I dont know why they add the turret cases to it instead of leaving them bare :3
I have seen alot of rc videos and alot of them lack turret cases...
Why is that?

[MM2ss]

I've been interested in that stuff for ages.  As far as I know no one in my area is involved in the rc combat bit at all and frankly, it seems like it would not be much fun to do solo.  That being said, about how much would you estimate getting started to cost?  If it is cheap enough to do I might make one to take out in the fish pond for when the fish are not biting (may even look into depth charges at that point...).

[Argyler]

tankwarhammer9000, on 28 February 2013 - 03:26 AM, said:

I have seen alot of rc videos and alot of them lack turret cases...
Why is that?

The reason you will see a lot of ships with the barrels uncovered is really for two reasons. First, the covers have to be removed to reload the ammo, and often have to be removed if taking the deck off (to access batteries, CO2 bottles, etc). The second, and probably more common reason, is because the covers get shot, broken, or lost, and people just don't get around to remaking them for a while, since they are purely aesthetic.

Here is the USS Missouri with the A turret cover missing due to damage.

MM2ss, on 28 February 2013 - 03:36 AM, said:

That being said, about how much would you estimate getting started to cost?

It is definitely a hobby that is more fun with more people. Where abouts do you live? Clubs are few and far between, but they are scattered around.

As for the cost, it can really depend. Unarmed transports are the cheapest, and will usually set you back around $150-$250. Warships get much more expensive because of all of the guns. Most warships will set you back $1,000+ when all is said and done. Of course, these prices all depend on how much you can build yourself vs. how much you buy pre-built. There are also used ships that get sold from time to time.

[MM2ss]

I am in southeastern Alabama, southeast of Dothan even.  As for making parts, I know how to work tubing and such and have a full woodshop, even a joiner (weighs a ton...well actually 500 pounds).  I am also familiar with doing fiberglass work and all that, so I think the only thing I would actually have to buy would be the electronics stuff like the controls, motors, etc.

[Gohibniu]

MM2ss, on 28 February 2013 - 03:36 AM, said:

I've been interested in that stuff for ages.  As far as I know no one in my area is involved in the rc combat bit at all and frankly, it seems like it would not be much fun to do solo.  That being said, about how much would you estimate getting started to cost?  If it is cheap enough to do I might make one to take out in the fish pond for when the fish are not biting (may even look into depth charges at that point...).

With my fishing skills, depth charges are in order! Are there specs for how thick the balsa can be vs the historical armor?

[Elysion]

you know. 32 knots divided by 144 is around 1 meter every 9 seconds. Meaning that that Missouri should take around 20 seconds to clear her own length.

 

Based on rough estimations in that video i would say that battleship is traveling in excess of 100 knots!

[Daltron]

I've been following WesternWarshipCombat.com since about 2007. It's fun!

[EJ_TANK]

definatly something i would be willing to get into

[ppsa]

i think that they must be the first who will play this game, they deserve it!  :glasses: