The Ship Model Forum

Annoyingly, the paint I applied bubbled...so...I stripped it, and repainted. Alas.

And here is where we're at tonight.

All the holes in the flight deck have been cut.

Forward opening (lines up with the catapult) to allow access to the anchor hoist

Middle opening - covers the main hangar bay.

Rear opening - covers the rear hangar bay.

Aft opening - covers the workshops, and allows access to the rudder servo and bits.

A few more updates.

I realize it's been a while since I've posted any updates....so...here's some imagery.

As I wait for the hangar modules to print, I'm getting in some 3D design time.

I was originally going to have a folding articulated accommodation ladder, but realize that this will exceed the limits of what I can do with my FDM printer, so I went back to basics, got some dimensions, and produced a swappable folded, or setup accommodation ladder.

When the Elevators are done printing, and the anchor module, I'll be able to kick a couple of these out to test them out.

Thanks Hank!

I'm at the point where I can now see myself getting this ship 'nearly' finished.

I did some more 3D design work last evening on the hull openings, as well as designing the anchor hoist chamber on Sunday.

Also, I discovered that I have to re-print the hangar/elevator modules, as the originals were designed to accommodate the 6mm thick wooden deck that has now been replaced by the 2mm thick styrene deck.

So, that's 5 days of printing, plus more.

:-)

Nice progress on your Bonny, Brad!! I can just see little aeroplanes flying off the deck!!!! :heh:

Hank

And here's how she looks at the end of the day.

Tomorrow may be the day that I start cutting holes in the deck...

NS

And here we go with the flight deck. 2mm sheet styrene.

Flipped the ship up to get a rough profile, cut out with a set of tin-snips, then clamped in place and started trimming. Got about half done - taking a break for lunch and I'll see if I can get this finished up this afternoon. I was thinking this would take a LOT more time than it is.

Still need to sand it, but I'm generally pleased with how it's cutting. A sharp/new blade is making quick work of things!

[attachment=0]Deck Overhang Problem.jpg[/attachment]
OK, one of the problems noted above was the deck overhang that was, well, hanging low.

So. A bit of cardboard as a template, a bit of pine, a bit of saw work, some sanding, and some epoxy, and I think I've got the problem solved.

So...we're working the same question in two locations.

LOL

[quote="NavyShooter"]And....here might be the answer.

From the ship's wikipedia page:

"The ship returned to her homeport following the crisis and in January 1963, began a refit at Saint John. During the refit, the ship was modified for the operation of the Sea King helicopters. The aircraft carrier rejoined the fleet in May, but suffered a boiler explosion while in port at Halifax. Repairs took six weeks to complete.[12] "

Potentially during this refit?[/quote]

I think I found it. It was not during 1963, but late 1964 another refit at Saint John. In dry dock in 1964 they weren't removed on the picture here, but they weren't there in early 1965. I am in discussion on a Facebook group on the Bonnie to have the final answer.

Navyshooter I made that post on Facebook ;)

And, from a Friends of the Bonnie group, apparently she spent 3 months in drydock at the end of 1964 in Saint-John and that is when the sponsons were removed for the forward 3" guns.

And....here might be the answer.

From the ship's wikipedia page:

"The ship returned to her homeport following the crisis and in January 1963, began a refit at Saint John. During the refit, the ship was modified for the operation of the Sea King helicopters. The aircraft carrier rejoined the fleet in May, but suffered a boiler explosion while in port at Halifax. Repairs took six weeks to complete.[12] "

Potentially during this refit?

This picture is captioned as being from the summer of 1963:

"Collision between HMCS ATHABASKAN 219 and HMCS BONAVENTURE - Summer 1963

(BR17) Jackstay between ATHABASKAN and BONAVENTURE"

Tells us that the Bonnie still had the sponsons in 1963 - so - somewhere between 1963 and 1965 they were removed.

[img]http://www.forposterityssake.ca/JPGs/PHOTO-DIR/CTB-PHOTOS-40000/CTB044085.jpg[/img]

The RAS Photo above is captioned as:

"(BVN031) HMCS Provider conducting a RAS with HMCS BONAVENTURE and HMCS Cap de la Madeleine - Spring 1965 // Courtesy of Robert Norris"

So, between 1960, and 1965 the forward sponsons were removed.

Still digging.

http://www.forposterityssake.ca/Navy/HMCS_BONAVENTURE_CVL22.htm

From this website, this image is purported to be from 1966 - before the refit:

[img]http://www.forposterityssake.ca/JPGs/PHOTO-DIR/CTB-PHOTOS-40000/CTB044152.jpg[/img]

Still present in 1960:

[img]http://www.forposterityssake.ca/JPGs/PHOTO-DIR/CTB-PHOTOS-40000/CTB044061.jpg[/img]

I've scrolled through my photo album of Bonnie images, and while I see a number of pictures from pre-refit and post refit, I cannot find the date when the forward sponsons were actually removed.

Agree - it seems like a pre-refit occurrence. Now you've got me curious.

It is apparently not when it happens accordingly to some pictures. I was thinking too that it was during 1966-67 refit (change mostly in electronics and interior commodities) that they removed the front sponsors, but it seems it was a bit before 1965 (picture here from 1965)...
[img]http://www.forposterityssake.ca/JPGs/PHOTO-DIR/CTB-PHOTOS-15000/CTB017624.jpg[/img]

Pictures of the radars fitted and main mast doesnt add up too (picture here after 1967 refit).
[img]https://www.rcnhistory.org/loane-bonaventure-crew.jpg[/img]

As far as I understand, the forward sponsons were deleted during that 66-67 refit, and most of the forward small boat openings were closed up as well.

I recall being told that this was due to the excessive damage the ships boats took in the North Atlantic in those wells, and the lack of utility of the 3"50's up forward.

NS