Hmmm!
What fuel do they run on Nerys?
You might end up with a different kind of pollution!Phew!😮🙊
😎

Hi Mike,
A Thermistor is a resistor whose resistance varies with it's temperature.
PTC means Positive Temperature Coefficient.
Which means that the resistance increase with temperature.
Thermistor heaters come in various forms from tiny to huge and are used instead of nichrome wire for all sorts of heating jobs such as hair driers, bathroom fan heaters and in cars.
They have the advantage that they can be designed for specific temperature ranges and when they reach their maximum design temp they stay there as long as the volts are applied😊 Possible disadvantages for our purposes are the initial heat-up time and operating current. Current is typically high while heating up but falls dramatically when at operating temperature when the resistance is at maximum. I=V/R 😉. We'll see.
After reading that article I started trolling my usual suppliers for suitable versions.
No luck yet, either too small or way too big ☹️
Anyway, I'm concentrating more on the alchemy side at the moment.
I have several commercial mini smokers, e.g. for HO/OO scale locos etc., to experiment with. So I'm attacking the problem of the elusive 'Black Smoke'.
As soon as I find some suitable thermistors heaters I'll be off and running🤞
Cheers, Doug 😎

---

" I'm thinking of harnessing some of the local tame dragons for fire power" 😮
Think of the CO2 footprint Cdr!! 😎
What range and rate of fire do the dragons have?
Multi-target acquisition, tracking and engaging?😉
Hope they don't add too much top weight!

MSM Ken is confirmed as CO of the Bristol Channel Patrol.
I expect that his commission warrant will be confirmed and signed by HM shortly.
FLEET// 😎

Hi Jacko,
That's a most generous offer which I gladly accept 👍😊
Can you scan the A4 pages into a single continuous pdf file?
If not, don't worry. I can work with a set of jpg files as well - just takes a little longer to import into my CAD programme 🤔
Will PM you post haste (or should that nowadays be Email haste!?😐)
Cheers, Doug 😎

Mornin' Nerys,
Yep, that's been irritating me for months that the Digital Issues do not include the free plans 😠 So I'm gonna change that at the upcoming renewal.
Originally I had a both print and digital subscription. But summat went south when the mag changed the company handling their subscriptions and suddenly there was only a choice of one or the other!
And I still haven't seen the Winter Special yet, which apparently contained the Push Tug article and plan. Ho hum🤔
Doug 😎

"but if we had two, Alice and I could have private races"
Now THAT we would LOOVE to see Nerys😊
Oh!😮 Guess that wouldn't be so private then would it!🤔
Go for it Nerys👍🤞

Excellente Mark 👍
Each superstructure 'chunk' is a fine model in itself!
I envy you guys who can do such accurate woodwork.
Encore, Encore 😀
Cheers, Doug 😎

---

39x6!?😮
Plenty of space (registered tonnage😉) to pack goodies in Mark👍
Or will she be another static ? 🤔🤔
Whatever, great subject, keep her away from my U25 though 💥
Unusual to start on the decks in such detail before the hull is finished!
I would be afraid that the main deck wouldn't fit properly leading to --> 'Bodging under the bulwarks'😮 Measure twice or thrice, cut once 😊
Wishing you w/t seams and flush decks🤞
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS Now that Elsrickle has shown me the way to make my boat davits work I'll have to get on with finishing the lifeboats for HMS Hotspur😉 The Dichloromethane is waiting patiently on the shelf 😉

---

"But what can you get to quit making smoke units. ?"
Burnt down workshop?🔥🔥
Incinerated model? 🔥😮😭
BTW just been reading an article (in December Model Boats, see HMSIron Duke, Broadside in miniature) about a smoke generator using a PTC Thermistor Heater instead of nichrome coils. No chance of fires😊
Doug 😎

---

"I've missed out, she's been sold."
Rats Nerys! Great big fat ugly grey furry RATS!!!😭
Good luck with the Fire Tender 🤞
😎

Thanks Marky👍
I have a digital subscription and have received the December issue but not the Special 🤔
Cheers, Doug 😎
BTW: In the December issue there's an excellent article about a smoke generator, and 'puffing' mechanism, for simulating gun fire from the main battery of the battleship HMS Iron Duke. An impressive 48" model. Worth a read👍

---

Excellent Elsrickle,👍👍👍
By far the simplest solution I have seen yet, but elegant and very effective.
Well done and many thanks for sharing.
Gonna try this on my destroyer.
Got a few of those little geared motors kicking about.
Same principle could also be used for the depth charge cranes and boat davits😁
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi Hugh,
If they are metal gears yes - a few drops of light machine oil from time to time.
Helps to keep 'em quiet as well😉
If nylon or plastic gears NO! But on the shaft bearings / bushes if metal YES!
Cheers, Doug 😎

---

"Very pleased to see that you have resumed control of all fleet administration."
Thank you Cdr. Nerys.
Needs must when the devil drives!
Nevertheless I was disappointed that none of my senior staff jumped into the breech🤔
Sorry to hear of your troubles, confirmed by a note from the Fleet Surgeon Commander, without contravening his patient confidentiality restraints of course.
(I have also been advised of two potentially long term health issues!🤔)
Get well soonest🤞 The force badly needs experienced officers such as yourself.
My very best wishes to you and highest regards to Controller of Construction / Number 1 Medic Alice.
Please post some pics/vids of 'Nellie' 👍
Take care, Cheers, FLEET 😎

---

FLEET TO MIDSHIPMAN THOMSON
Supplement to previous signal:
Ref: Starboard engine overhaul:
Refer matter to Rear Admiral Martin555's office (Maintenance Directorate) for docking scheduling.
Strongly recommend also strip down and inspection of port engine during dock time.
We don't want to lose more operational availability later due to similar problems with the port engine requiring additional dock time!
FLEET// 😎

Thanks Jacko, but I'm just a dumb engineer so I've archived my mags (also the digital versions) by year!
Can you tell me what year/month that issue appeared please?
Ta muchy, Doug 😎

FLEET TO MIDSHIPMAN THOMSON
Thank you for your report.
Regrettably Intelligence Dept. 🙄 had neglected to timely inform us of your undercover activities. All very Hush Hush! 😮😐
Normally deployment of assets under my command should be approved by this office or my General Staff.
However, in this case I understand from INTEL 🙄 Dpt. that there were extenuating circumstances requiring an immediate response.
I also understand that you and your crew rose to the occasion. 👍
As your Co, Lt. Cdr. Nerys, has already said 'Well done'.
Carry on as you are Middy 👍
FLEET// 😎

"if the order was to come for our patrol to make smoke, what do we do, have all hands manning the side and vaping?"
It's all just Smoke and Mirrors Cdr, Nerys 😉
In the old days the Chief ERA would have been ordered to inject fuel oil into the firebox, thus creating clouds of thick black oily smoke. Something he would be severely reprimanded for during normal operations. Betraying their position!!
S'pose these days trying to inject heavy oil into a LiPo or NiMh battery wouldn't have much effect 🤔
Anyway, we don't expect the BC Patrol Squadron to get into a battle situation with a superior surface force requiring such extreme evasion measures. Besides, it's rendered useless these days by radar!
😎

---

Good luck with the purchase Nerys 🤞 What size/scale is the model?
BTW: Don't knock the Chilean Navy😉
From the late 80s til about 2008 I worked with all sizeable navies in S America from Columbia down to Chile and Argentina, with the exception of Peru. Didn't fancy the cholera risk in those days!
Of all I found the Armada de Chile to be the most professional, their ships much better maintained and, although not the largest (on paper🙄 which title went to Brazil) probably the most effective if push came to shove, which they have proven many times in their history.
Not too surprising as their origin goes back to Admiral O'Higgins and close cooperation with the RN.
I was impressed with their conversions of two of the Counties to upgrade aviation facilities to Heli Carriers. Came out of the radio room, along a transverse gangway, stepped through the W/T door at the end and found meself on the edge of a dark sea grey football field 😮
My job was to update and upgrade the COMMS, esp. radio systems, HF & V/UHF to include DATA transmission, LINK 11 etc. And together with a colleague from Siemens (who became a life-long friend) to design a modern digital Tactical Command Intercom system which was integrated with the radio systems.
On my first ship survey my ghast was absolutely flabbered to discover that that the Command Intercom 'Switch' still consisted of an Able Seaman with a telephone standing in front of a huge panel of sockets on the bulkhead and an equally huge cabinet on the deck housing cables with mating plugs. Phone would ring, someone requests a connection from A to Z or to radio Y ; ABS hauls cable A from cabinet and plugs it into socket Z or Y as appropriate!!!
We replaced that with a 19" rack unit about 18" high containing an automatic ISDN switch. (Later versions were Giganet LAN) Ancient Plessey? 4" cube modular user terminals (min 4 modules per station!) were replaced with compact 1/2 19" 2 height unit Intercom Boxes providing one touch connections. Don't know what the ABS did after that😉 Practised his snooker perhaps 😁
Similar with the radio systems. I surveyed the Radio Room and adjacent HF Transmitter room. Conclusion: with modern units we don't need the extra TX room anymore (it was full of huge valve amplifiers) - but it's just about big enough for a half-size snooker table with coffee bar on the port bulkhead 😉
The COMMS Officer kept a straight face but the Radio Techs / Operators looked happy!
Great fish restaurants in Valparaiso; tuna and swordfish fresh off the dock just across the street 😋😋 During lunch I used to enjoy watching the antics of the Pelicans basking on the shed roofs in the harbour. Oh Happy days 😊
And Antarctic Crab just has to be tasted to be believed!!! Used to cram as much as poss into my case on the way home. Costs a fortune here, IF you can find it.
Have also eaten Beluga Caviar in Moscow and fresh caught salmon in Canada and Norway - sorry - very nice, but no comparison to that crab😉
Ramblin' FLEET signing off for the night!
G'night All 💤💤💤

---

"does that mean my wife (the Commodore) has to take orders from me?🤣"
Yes Warrant, most definitely!
Your Kevlar vest and underpants 😮 together with padded survival suit and bullet proof helmet have been indented for and are on their way to you by express courier.
Remind the 'Commodore' (Preferably by text message from the next state!😉) that she is only an Acting Commodore!!
Which is an honorary rank which can be withdrawn at the discretion of the Fleet Admiral, ... safe on the other side of the Pond 😁

We trust that Hon Lt jg Ferrol 🐱 will stand by you in your hour of need 👍🤞
Good luck Warrant, Who Dares - Wins 🤞
FLEET//😎

---

"'FLEET WILL MAKE SMOKE'"
My dear Cdr. Nerys,
are you perhaps insinuating that I have been eating too many jalapenos or that I should tone down my Beef Madras!!?? 😋🔥💥
Now then, where did I hide my last few Cuban Corona Coronas? 😉
😎

---

"I think i saw something about working Torpedoes on utube."
Yep, there are several Martin, there's even a vid somewhere on this site from several months back I think.
Shows the torpedo zotting round the pool walls in a model boat show pond after bouncing off the target ship. Damn! Dud detonator AGAIN😠
A while ago there was also a guy here with vids of firing a torp from his model, a Perkassa I think.
😎

"Ronden Flashbomb"
Now there's an idea👍
I even have a monster 1/24 scale DH Mosquito to deliver it with!😁
Pic shows 19-pound (8.6 kg) Flashbombs being loaded into a photo-reconnaissance De Havilland Mosquito at Melsbroek, Belgium. c.1944
My RC Airship might be a more practical delivery system though😉
The Airfix Mossie is a bit heavyyy!
Cheers, Doug 😎 Your local pyrotechnical maniac 😂🤣😂🤣💥💥💥

Hi Martin,
Yes had thought of spring launching, not so much fun though 😁
Also considered compressed air, like some originals, I still have a box of Sparklets bulbs on the shelf in the workshop. The thyphon thoda has long since disappeared though - as has the whisky ☹️
Decided to reserve those for the two quad torpedo mounts though 😊
10mm alu launch tubes are prepared. The actual mountings and trigger mechanism are a bit trickier though! Got some 8mm O/D alu tube as raw material for the torps.
Also have a set of 3V micro motors which just fit inside the 8mm tube.

BTW: on a recent extended foray into the nether regions of the cellar I found my Knatterboot (Pop pop boat) 😀 While looking for something completely different of course🙄, which I didn't find 🤔
Cheers, Doug 😎

---

"it also sounds like you are going to make Depth charge containers"
I'm already onto that Martin😉
Stern racks are built waiting to be fitted, two throwers are already installed.
Experiments with black powder ignited by redundant glow plugs are intermittently underway. Have also acquired magicians flash paper 💥 for further experiment.
If you happen to notice a large cloud of black smoke on the horizon to the SE from you send a hospital ship please! 💥🔥
😁😎

---

"Sounds like we'll be needing an old warship for experiments!😂"
FLEET HQ Munich hereby offers HMS Hotspur 1.35m LoA 1/72, as Trials Ship.
First commissioned August 1965, they don't come much older!
Currently undergoing a SLEP refit and upgrade.
😎

FLEET TO GENTS OF THE R&D DIRECTORATE; SMOKE DIVISION
Please be so kind as to post details of your material suppliers, including appropriate URLs. Info required for submission to FLEET Finance Director Gisela for approval of expenditure 🙄😉
Thanks in advance👍
FLEET// 😎
PS thinking of using my little Proxxon lathe to turn some insulating parts from perspex / acrylic rod?

---

FLEET TO R. ADM MARTIN
REQUEST APPROVED
Your 'Sick Note' has finally sickered through channels. 🙄
Records appropriately amended, Light Duties ashore approved.
In particular Maintenance Command and special development of stealth and disguise / camouflage techniques, for which you have shown a natural inventive talent👍
However, you are requested to be prepared to cover for other senior command officers, with regard to Mission Planning, issuance of Unit Orders and Instructions and evaluation of unit reports, as may be required due to staff non-availability.
Carry on Admiral.
FLEET// EOM 1515 CET 😎

FLEET TO CO R&D ANTIPODEAN FLEET
Ref: SMOKESCREEN
PRIORITY: FLASH 💥 (what else 😁)
GO FOR IT CAPTAIN👍
Funding approved. Source: Your back pocket 😁

FLEET is looking forward to fitting one to his H class destroyer HOTSPUR
(of Narvic and evacuation of Greece fame). Now in service as the Admiral's Runabout!! Maybe also PT109? HMS Belfast?
Suggest try Blackberry flavour vape oil as basis - maybe that'll come out as black smoke 😉
Good luck Cap'n🤞
😎

---

Hi Jacko,
Looks interesting and so far so good with your build👍
Which issue of Model Boats was that in?
Cheers, Doug 😎