Sorry for the lack of updates recently - I've been very busy lately and haven't found much time for modelling - and my modelling time has also been taken up with another scratchbuild project, which I'll post later! - but I've still managed to get some work done on
Velox, mostly building + painting the bridge fittings and other small details.
Storage locker added to the aft platform, along with the Thomson sounding machine. This device basically consisted of a reel of piano wire with a weight on the end, which was lowered over the side using a pulley. (
Here's a diagram of a similar device fitted to USS Tuscarora) I made this from styrene stock with a washer (spare kit part) for the reel, wound in tinned copper wire, which was also used for the bracing wires on the stand.
Details added to the bridge including voice pipes, engine telegraphs, and the chart table. All of these have been partly or completely painted before gluing them in place (the binnacle has also been painted) as it would be difficult to paint everything neatly "in situ". A second pair of telegraphs (along with more voice pipes, a binnacle, and a wheel when I get round to making one!) will be fitted at the aft steering position.
The voice pipes are made from thin aluminium tube, bent into shape using round-nosed pliers, and the end flared out using the end of a round needle file. The other parts are assembled from styrene stock, and brass wire for the chart table legs.
Amidships storage lockers and chart table. The table should have a glass top - as should the smaller one on the bridge - but I left this out due to the difficulty of avoiding paint + glue damage to the clear plastic. Also partly visible on this photo is the boat boom/crane on the mast.
More details added to the turtleback including the capstan and photo-etched handwheels for the chain pipes.
The aft cable reel is made from styrene rod and spare 1/35 tank wheels, the cable itself is fine tinned copper wire wound around a styrene core. You can also see the two single torpedo tubes in this photo, more on these later!
Next are the boat davits and the railings on the bridge and turtleback (main deck railings will be added last) there are many other fittings to be done as well, including the searchlight and ship's wheels.