The best-documented Yamato

2006-09-29T23:27:00.000-07:00

If you want to know as much as you can about a combat-ready R/C Yamato, here is the ship for you!
You will not find a Yamato with more information or documentation. If you are considering building or buying a combat Yamato, consider this page a MUST READ.

Curt Stokes from St. Johns, Newfoundland, brings us his 1/144 scale Yamato. A veteren of many combat sorties, I thought I'd let Curt himself give us her biography...
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Why build a Yamato? Well for me after seeing our first model not live up to its potential I had to see if I could build it and make it operational and be feared in combat. I was impressed when I first saw Ralph’s Yamato perform trials with Bismarck back in 1999. I was amazed by it smooth handling and tight turning. The stability in the turns and even at high speed how the large bow deflected the high bow wave. The room inside was just amazing. The real kicker when a group of school kids pointed at Bismarck and said hey that little ship is cool!! Ok I like sailing a very big model and Bismarck fit well for over 9 years. Competition was getting fierce and Bismarck was now just being able to match the more maneuverable North Carolinas barely. I knew I needed to have more firepower and the next big Axis heavy was the Yamato. I knew Yamato was a ship that was just regarded as a big target, seen as not very maneuverable, a big sea cow with no combat potential so it did not garner any respect here. I wanted to change that. A modeler’s criteria may include ship design, performance, history, and of course beauty. The Yamato was outstanding in design and performance and had respect of the world’s navies much like Bismarck. The Yamato with its majestic appearance sweeping curves and commanding presence on the water draws admiration and building the Yamato hopefully would reflect all these qualities. I am pleased to say that since then it has met all of the qualities I look for and it spawned 2 other YAMATOS .One of them converted to SHINANO and the other, MUSASHI most feared axis 2003/2004/2005, and remains undefeated and has not been sunk in combat yet. Way to go Chris. Note MUSASHI sunk Yamato in 2005.

The Yamato I have was built foremost as a RC combat warship model. It is designed specifically to be placed in harms way, to inflict battle damage and receive and cope with battle damage and survive sinking not once but all the time. The hull at the time was created with limited information and some liberties and creative design were implemented for the sole purpose of RC combat. The bow has the curve shaped due to the difficulty of maintaining the correct shape in the moulds. The armor belt was difficult to duplicate and the bulge at the waterline was reduced to make it easier to sheet and allow BBS to penetrate the waterline. The Rudders are resized as per IRCWCC rules to take advantage of the ruling to allow max rudder surface area. Props for Combat are much larger than scale again for RC purposes and for combat.
Since the making of this hull a commercial version for RC combat has been made and provides the accurate hull lines and superstructure. The AA guns are not quite scale looking but serve their purpose well absorbing the brunt of BB fire and protecting the lower areas of the superstructure. Carl Camuratie produced a fine set of 25 MM AA domes some years back. My Yamato is a Godzilla of sorts, a hybrid of Ralph Coles Hull superstructure and some AA, a Battlers Connection deck kit, with superstructure parts, turrets 25mm AA, 6in turrets and 5. in AA. A big model like this needs space and the model was moved and built in 5 different locations. The model has had several upgrades since its first trial launch and will continue to have technological upgrades. Currently it is now residing in the Province of Newfoundland in the Capital City St. John’s. All of its battle damage repaired with additional detailing added and ready for the 2007 combat season and will participate in Canadian Nationals # 10, Sept 2007 its 6th Canadian Nationals Contest. Long live Yamato

CONSTRUCTION HISTORY:
Hull Builder - Ralph Coles
Plug Construction – 1997
Hull Ready – 1998
Sold to Morgan Miller – 1999
Resold to Curt Stokes - 2000
Building start date – 2001
Launched for trials – summer 2002

FIRST BATTLE JULY – 2002
FIRST DEFEAT JULY -2002
FIRST OUTDOOR EVENT – AUG 2002
FIRST SHIP SUNK – AUG -2002
FIRST TIME SUNK – AUG 2002
FIRST VICTORY – AUG 2002
FIRST CAN –NATS – 5TH CAN-NATS 2002
FIRST INDOOR EVENT – NOV 2002

HISTORY OF ATTENDANCE SHOWS/EVENTS
SPORTSPLEX MODEL TRAIN/HOBBY SHOW – 2002/03/04
SAM SLICK FESTIVAL - 2002/03/04/05
MARITIME MUSUEM OF THE ALTANTIC – 2003/05/06
HARVEST FESTIVAL BOAT REGETTA – 2002/03
LAKE CHARLOTTE REGATTA – 2005
ATLANTIC NATIONALS – 2004
SAINT JOHN INTERNATIONAL EVENT – 2005
SAINT JOHN MARITIME MODELER’S BOAT SHOW 2004
IRCWCC SANCTIONED EVENTS – 2003/04/05
CANADIAN NATIONALS – 2002/03/04/05/06
DALHOUSIE MARKETING /ADVERSTISING PRESENTATION

MEDIA : DAILY NEWS NEWSPAPER
UTUBE VIDEO –FIRING DEMO
NABS LOCAL BROCHURE
SAM SLICK BROCHURE

OPERATIONAL HISTORY:
Number of Non combat outings – approx 300 runs
Number of Sortie battles fought – approx 150 fought battles
Number of times defeated by points alone – 11
Number of times Sunk – 5
Number of times ships sunk – 24 single multiply sinks from same vessels total approx 75 sinks
Number of sanctioned battles 3
Number of CANNATS – 5
Number of victories - approx 138

CONTROLLED FUNCTIONS

PROPULSION – Full forward /full reverse
STEERING – Aux/Main. Port and Starboard
FIRING – Starboard Cannons/ Port Cannons/ Stern Cannons
PUMP – On/off pump activation
LIGHTS – On/off light activation

· PROVINCES VISITED:
· BRITISH COLUMBIA
· NOVA SCOTIA
· PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
· NEW BRUNSWICK
· NEWFOUNDLAN

WATERS SAILED:
GRAHAMS GROVE COVE
LAKE MICMAC
LAKE BANOOK
SHUBIE CANAL
SULLIVANS POND
LAKE CHARLOTTE
LITTLE ALBRO LAKE
BIG ALBRO LAKE
CHOCOLATE LAKE
WINDSOR LAKE
HARVEST POND
MUNDY POND
MOUNT UNIACKE LAKE
ROCKWOOD PARK POND
BOWERING PARK POND
SULLIVANS POND
LAKE CHARLES
BIG ALBRO LAKE
PAPERMILL LAKE
NORTH SYDNEY OCEAN

AWARDS: CAN-NATS FLEET TROPHY 2003/04/05
ATLANTIC NATIONALS CLASS CHAMPION 2004
MOST FEARED AXIS 2006

· SPECIFICATIONS AND DIMENSIONS

HULL TYPE: Fiberglass Semi-scale hull/superstructure/main turrets/AA/AAA
1/32ND Balsa hull sheeting
Vinyl resin Secondary Turrets, AA and AAA mounts

SCALE: 1/144 (1 INCH = 12 FT)

SHIP TYPE: BATTLESHIP
IRCWCC CLASS RATING: CLASS 7
BATTLE UNITS 8 (7 BB CANNNONS MULTIFIRING, 1 LARGE BILGE PUMP)
IRCWCC SPEED: 24 seconds per 100 ft course
ALLEGIANCE: AXIS POWERS
COUNTRY: JAPAN

MODEL DIMENSIONS:
LENGTH – 6 FT
BEAM – 10.75in
DRAFT – 3in below waterline
KEEL TO MAIN WEATHER DECK: 5.2 INCHES
MIDSHIPS FREEBOARD – 2.3in
BOW FREEBOARD – 2.73in
STERN FREEBOARD – 1.74in
HEIGHT OVERALL KEEL TO MAST TOP – 17in
DISPLACEMENT FULL COMBAT LOAD – 54lbs

MODEL SYSTEMS:

RADIO SYSTEM: AIRTRONICS VG600 FM BAND 75 MHZ
INCLUDES 4 SERVOS, RECEIVOR, 600mah rechargeable NICAD charger
SERVO 1 FUNCTION – PUMP AND AFT BATTERY FIRING
SERVO 2 FUNCTION – PORT AND STBD SIDE MOUNT FIRING
SERVO 3 FUNCTION – THROTTLE CONTROL
SERVO 4 FUNCTION – RUDDER CONTROL
SERVO 5 FUNCTION – LIGHT SYSTEM
SERVO TRAY – MADE FROM STEEL ALUMINUM

ANTENNAE: Deans Mini Whip Antennae 2 pc

DRIVE SYSTEM:
MOTORS – (2)550 motors 6-12v powered at 6v
GEARS – (2)TRAAXIS gears with 12 tooth pinion
UNIVERSALS – (2)GRAUPNER steel flexible universals
SHAFTS – 2(2) I/8in brass shafts
STUFFING TUBES – (2)assorted sleeves
Cooling Coils – (2) wrapped around motors/ pickup tubes extending from stern casing bottom behind each prop, warm water ejected from 2 nozzles located in boat hangar doors locations port and starboard beneath flight deck.

PROPELLERS: (2) 2 ¼ in diameter 4 blade, right and left, 20 degree pitch brass threaded
: 2 ¼ in diameter GRAUPNER 3 BLADE, plastic Fixed for drag

RUDDER SYSTEM:
2 VINLY RESIN RUDDERS. 1 AUXILLARY 1 MAIN
2 RUDDER ARMS
2 VINLY RESIN RUDDER POSTS
3 STEEL ROD LINKAGES
SERVO MOUNT AND SERVO CAM FOR RUDDER CONTROL

COMBAT SYSTEM:
ARMAMENT
CALIBER OF BB - .177
TYPE OF ROUND – DAISY QUICKSILVER STEEL SHOT
NUMBER OF CANNONNS 7
TYPE OF CANNON – STRAIGHT MAG, STEEL BARRELLS, O-RING FOSTER BREECH ,SEMI-AUTOMATIC PRESSURE AND GRAVITY FEED
MAGAZINE LOAD – 50 ROUNDS PER CANNON – 350 RDS TOTAL CAPACITY 100 STBD/100 PRT/150 AFT
FIRING SETUP – DUAL SIMULTAEOUS FIRE STBD/PORT TRIPPLE FIRE AFT
RATE OF FIRE – 2 RDS PER SEC( PER STICK MOVEMENT ON TRANSMITTER) PORT/STBD 3 RDS AFT
FIRING RANGES – STBD 1FT TO 2 FT/PORT 2 TO 4 FT/ STERN 3FT FIRST IMPACT OUT TO 100 FT WITH SKIPS
FIRING ARCS – STBD FWD within 150 degree side quadrant/PORT FWD within 150 degree side quadrant/ STERN within 30 degree aft quadrant
NUMBER OF FIRING QUADRANTS USED – 3 ( Bow quadrant undefended )

DEFENCE SYSTEMS
HULL - 2 in solid at bow /1in solid at stern / ¼ in ribs / 3/8in gunwale1 1/8in armored stringer
Barrels – Sleeved with Silicone hose tubing
Internals – Sheeted with 5mm sheet styrene plastic/ magazines wrapped in cable wrap
Water Channeling. Consists of waterproof foam bow to stern creating channel filling dead spots and voids. Balsa channeling on keel floor of hull.

PUMP SYSTEM:
MOTOR – 6V high rpm 550
IMPELLOR – 4 BLADE VINLY RESIN
PUMP CASE – VINLY RESIN
OUTPUT – 2.5 TO 3 GAL PER MINUTE
CURRENT DRAW – NO LOAD NO SIGNIFICANT CURRENT DRAW WITH LOAD UP TO 3 AMPS
HEIGHT OF STREAM AT FULL PUMP POWER - 20FT
FULL FLOODED HULL EVAC RATE – 2 min and 30 seconds
TYPE : BATTLERS CONNECTION LARGE PUMP KIT

BATTERY SUPPLY SYSTEM
(4) 6V 12amp Panasonic sealed lead acid rechargeable waterproof batteries / supplies power to drive and pump system
OUT PUT : 6V at 48 amps tied in Pararelle
Current amp draw after 4 hrs 6 amps each battery or 24 amps
Running time : 8 hrs
LARGE NICAD PACK at 1800mhr Sanyo brand ( tool dipped )
SMALL NICAD PACK AT 600mhr for light system

PNEUMATIC SYSTEM
CLIPPARD PNEUMATICS : BATTLER’S CONNECTION
(3) MAV3 POPPET VALVES
(7) MAV 2 POPPET VALVES
(7) MPA ACTUATORS ( FOR MULTIFIRING GUNS)
ASSORTED SMALL HOSE BARBS, LARGE HOSE BARBS, SMALL AND LARGE HOSE CLAMPS “T’/”X”/”L” FITTINGS
PRESSURE RELEASSE NEEDLE VALVE – SAFTEY VALVE

PRESSURE SYSTEM: STANDARD HEAVY DUTY REGULATOR BRASS/ 120 – 150 PSI

CO2 DELIVERY SYSTEM
LARGE 20 OZ REFILLABLE BOTTLE WITH ON/0FF VALVE
(2) 2in copper pipe accumulators one for each dual Side-mount cannons
(1) 3 inch copper pipe accumulator for triple stern cannon

LIGHT SYSTEM
(3) 6V small bulbs for main conning tower ( portholes and running lights )
(4) 3v search lights 2 port 2 starboard ( can change direction of lamp )
one 6v bulb for masthead

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
14 gauge wires
telephone wires
servo extension wires
capacitors for motors and pump total 9
battery connectors are the small metal type that slide on battery tabs

SWITCHES
ON/OFF SLIDE SWITCH DECK MOUNTED ( RADIO RECEIVOR)
ON /OFF LARGE HEAVY DUTY TOGGLE SWITCH DECK MOUNTED ( MAIN POWER TO MOTORS )
MOMEMENTARY PUSH ON/OFF MOUNTED IN SERVO TRAY ( PUMP)
MOMEMTARY PUSH ON /OFF/ LIGHTS
LEVER CLICK SWITCHES HEAVY DUTY MOUNTED AGAINST STYRENE PLATE SURROUNDING SERVO

PERFORMANCE DATA
0 – 24 seconds – 3 seconds
Full speed to reverse stop – 2 seconds
Turning circle full speed – 12 ft
Endurance – 8 hrs running time
Range – ¾ mile
Speed non combat – 100 ft in 18 seconds

Additional features
Movable secondary gun turrets
Movable catupults with planes
Movable crane
4 serviceable hatches
8 removable lifeboats
5 cotton flags.
Removable stern ensign
Removable AA gun platform at fantail
One thankful to have survived mascot ( sea cow ) deck mounted eating grass
3 planes scale 1/144 Academy Mini-craft product .
Type of planes – float planes (2) Type Zero Aichi E13A1 code name –“JAKE” / 1- TYPE ZERO MITSUISHI F1M2 – CODE NAME “PETE’ (NOTE MINUS THE UPPER WING ( SUPPOSED TO BE A BIPLANE)

Thanks for reading up on my Yamato. I hope it was helpful and enjoyable.

Curt Stokes
HIJNS YAMATO

Built by: Ralph Coles
Owned by: Curt Stokes, St. Johns Newfoundland
Built: 1998
Length overall: 6 feet
Width overall: 10.75 inches
Home waters: In and around St. Johns, Newfoundland

Curt Stokes Yamato

The best-documented Yamato