A fascinating process - I applaud your efforts and perseverance to this build.
I'll offer a couple of points - WRT the props - here's a link to a page about HMCS Bonaventure - she also had a 3 and 4 bladed set of props, but there is a legitimate engineering explanation:
http://www.forposterityssake.ca/Navy/HM ... _CVL22.htmQuote:
Apparently, during builder's trials, excessive vibration was noted in the starboard shaft even though it was adequately supported with bearings (plummer blocks) throughout its length. The solution was to fit a four-bladed propeller on the shaft to dampen out over-all shaft harmonics. It worked!
I do have something to offer you in assistance though - I am working on a 1/96 Scale Bonnie. I received the hull/flight deck and island when I bought the project from a friend. I was not thrilled with the island as it came...so while I was 'down for the count' with C-19 a couple of weeks ago, I started on a 3D model of the island. I am (literally right now) printing Version 4 of it on my Filament printer at home, but I have uploaded an earlier version of the design to Thingiverse that you are welcome to download and print if you wish, in case it might save you some effort on your project?
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5391778If you're interested, I can share the latest version (with more detail added as of last night) and upload that if you'd like to use it.
I realize that the Bonnie and the Melbourne were not twins....merely sisters....so there will be some difference.
I'll note, that since I designed it in 1/96 scale, some elements are scaled to print in 1/96...and since I have a 0.4mm nozzle, parts of it are designed to print at 0.4 or 0.8mm thickness, which, if scaled down to 1/350 would not work on a filament printer. It might, however, work on a resin printer since they have a somewhat higher degree of resolution.