Messages

1

USS Drum (SS-228) / Re: Drum progress

« on: November 19, 2016, 09:47:24 PM »

Ok It has been a real long time. Last winter we painted in the forward engine room, almost done. This spring we did repair work on the deck again. We then spent the rest of the year repainting the exterior of the boat, everything topside except the 5" gun and the deck. We used a different paint on the hull, suppost to bind with the rust and seal permently, expensive but we got it at half price but a real pain. It sticks to everything and if you don't get it off your skin in 30 minutes it is there untill it wears off.The real pain is it is moisture cured so dry time deepends on humidity, 30 minutes to 4 hours and you have to top coat as soon as it is past tacky. we spent a lot of time watching paint dry. The top coat is kind of rubbery when dry and is not supposed to fade for 10-12 years, sure hope it works.
Today we had a celebration of Drums 75th anniversay of its commisioning. The park went all out supporting us this time, free admision to the park, fancy invitations and programs, lost of photos displayed, a band, cake, and 5 commissioners. We had about 150 people, it was cold and real windy (not as bad as you northern boats but for us it was cold). Lance and his family even made it along with the author Don Keith.
Tom

2

USS Drum (SS-228) / Re: Drum progress

« on: December 15, 2015, 07:03:53 AM »

Things are about to change at Battleship Park. We have a new director. Major General Janet Cobb. Yep an army general and a female. She is a navy brat and has told us many times she really admires submarineers and submarines. She is wanting to attend our base meetings at least once a quater. I think we are finally going to be part of the park and will get some help from them.
We haven't done a lot this year for various reasons but hope to get more accomplished this coming year. I am still trying to get the tanks sand blasted and painted.
Merry Christmas to all
Tom

3

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: ...?

« on: May 21, 2015, 05:09:52 PM »

Thanks for posting that Lanc, one day I will be able to fill in more.
Tom

4

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: ...?

« on: May 19, 2015, 06:30:05 AM »

Hi Everyone
OK I am one of the guilty ones that hasn't posted in a long time. Sorry. I am still on the Drum every day but I am taking an occasional weekend or day off. We are still in the fuel tanks rebuilding the structure and repainting compartments inside. There just hasn't been any thing of interest to post. Things have not changed as far as support from the park, I won't go into that much here. We have given the Silversides some of our engine parts and tools. I was really sorry to hear about the Torsk and Batfish. Also it just seems that the clock is moving faster and I can't seem to find the time to post, I will try to do better. a minor thing we have done is to blow the boats horn, it was great, Lesley was grinning for two days. We have found more objects inside the boat including a bottle of Vaseline hair tonic, still 3/4 full and other items. We haven't been able to find some one to sand blast and paint inside the tanks yet. I will try to do better and post some photos soon.
Tom

5

USS Drum (SS-228) / Re: New resto?

« on: March 08, 2014, 09:20:48 PM »

Hi Everyone, sorry for lack of updates, had problems with firefox, gt resovled. We finished getting the lead out and spent last year removing the framing and supports for the lead in several tanks, shoveled out the dirt and rush and replaced curved framing, I beams, etc in four or five tanks. no photos, they look just like the others and my camera went south on me too. I think it didn't like being in the tanks. I know we are wimps but for us we have had a long cold damp winter and have stayed inside where it was also too cold to paint, our heating doesn't work too good. we did put in a new display with some of the items we have found.
We just had our navy inspection today and like the last two years we got high praise for the work and progress. I am hoping to get a sand blaster in this year to sand blast and paint in the tanks.
Tom

6

USS Drum (SS-228) / Re: Drum progress

« on: September 23, 2013, 07:22:20 PM »

Ok it has been a while. We had a real wet summer and couldn't get much done but we are now back working in and on MBT #4a replacing skin and frames. The photos are kind of big so it will take several posts.
Tom

7

USS Drum (SS-228) / New Book

« on: July 05, 2013, 08:16:32 PM »

I just finished my book on the Drum-The Three Lives of the USS Drum- 242 pages, soft back, the history from keel laying to July 2013 with 140 pages full color of the restoration. Available on Amazon, not on Kindle yet.
Tom

8

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Memorial Day weekend 2013

« on: May 20, 2013, 04:24:31 PM »

On the Drum I will fly the signal flags and hopefully have some subvets on board. Battleship Memorial Park does not do anything for most veteran memorial days, they leave it up to the local communities.
Tom

9

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Prop Shaft Motors

« on: March 27, 2013, 07:29:15 PM »

Mark
My post was not meant to single out you/batfish but for all on here, these boats are extremely dangerous and every one really needs to be careful.
Tom

10

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Prop Shaft Motors

« on: March 27, 2013, 05:56:08 PM »

OK I just have to throw my 2 cents in here, maybe even a quarter.
They only boats that in their wildest dreams that could even think about turning over a prop motor are those on land. If you are in the water do you have any idea if the shafts are locked or secured out side the hull? If you spin the shaft have you got new packing because it will leak like hell when you spin it. Have you traced all of the wiring to and from the cubicle and found all disconnected and cut wires. Have you pulled every contact in the cubicle and inspected or repaired. Do you have an excellent fire suppression system on board, there were lots of cubicle fires when these boats were operating.

Periscopes
Are you going to be opening you conning towers to visitors, if not why spend the time and money.

Air systems
all of our air systems are 65-70 years old, are the pipes absolutely clean, what is the condition of your air banks, I bet I am the only one that can answer that question.

Come guys- ever boat on here is complaining they don't have the money to paint or do other things.
Tom

11

Submarine Related Chatter / Re: 2013 Goals

« on: March 23, 2013, 05:26:51 PM »

Drum 2013-14-? sand blast and paint inside fuel/ballast tanks, replace rusted out frames, re-skin tanks. and anything else that pops up. I might even get my head examined, no then I won't finish the boat.
Tom

12

Museum Submarine Discussion / restoration patch

« on: March 11, 2013, 08:35:12 PM »

This is a reminder to everyone about the restoration patch. It is still available and at reasonable cost and we are selling them in our gift shop with almost all of the profit to the Drum. We sell them combined with the Drum rocker, the rockers are a good buy if you get 100 at a time, and we sold 100 last year. this year should do better because the gift shop is finally keeping them in one place and all employees know to keep an eye on the space and to restock when it gets low. We are charging $20 for the set and I have a book in the boat of our restoration photos and next to it is a flyer about the patch. It won't raise big money or fast money but it does bring in some good money and raises awareness of what our plight is. The patchs are available from subshop.com
Tom

13

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Artifacts Available for Donation

« on: March 11, 2013, 05:57:00 PM »

Do any of the museum boats need a depth gage 0-400'? I know where one is available but it must go to a museum boat that really has a need for one and not just as a spare.
Tom

14

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: LING museum seeking $ for storm damage repairs

« on: March 09, 2013, 07:28:50 PM »

I don't believe blowing the ballast tanks will help much. It is probably like here after a hurricane and mud has filled in the hole the Ling occupied and it will have to be dredged to get her upright again. The Drum was closed up for four months after Katrina and when it was finally opened it was full of mold and meldew. It took Lesley months to clean heer out. I wish them luck and hope the money comes through.
Tom

15

Museum Submarine Discussion / Re: Books about our submarine museum boats!

« on: February 28, 2013, 10:31:29 PM »

Thanks Don
I talked to the gift shop manager today and I will pass on the book number to her. We have a new manager and she is wanting to do what ever she can to help us.
Tom