Hi all,
Thank you first for discussing this topic - I am a great fan of Russian pre-dreads. I hope I can learn from you as well as provide some new info:
I will provide you with my translation (sorry for bad English sometimes) of quotes from a book of R.N. Melnikov "Borodino type ironclads" reference:
http://www.Links to this site not allowed due to copyright violations./WeaponB ... /index.htmThis site is existing long time providing access to books in Russian written in former USSR about ship. Unfortunately (for English speakers) it is all in Russian. But you can navigate on pictures. If you decide to click on any book, you will find Contents. The position "Чертежи" in Contents means "Drawings" (it is the second from the end of the list). I hope it is not pirate site - at least there are no any new book there written after fall of USSR (at least to my knowledge).
1) Quote: "A practice of individual designing of each large ship at that time has considerably influences building of Borodino type ironclads."
2) Reference to drawings from the book:
http://www.Links to this site not allowed due to copyright violations./WeaponB ... /index.htm3) If you are interested - a drawing of Oryol
http://www.Links to this site not allowed due to copyright violations./WeaponB ... raw/13.jpgAs you see from the drawing Oryol has the same "open railing" on superstucture as Borodino and others.
4) Quote: "As in Borodino engine room was longer the mainmast was located closer to the stern than those of other ship for one quadrat/space." This is probably an old Russian unit of measure I will have to investigate.
5) In the book they say that the location of life-boats, bridges and cargo-booms was individual for each ship (have to find a drawing yet).
6) Quote: "Borodino was the only to have funnel caps."
7) Quote: "Borodino and Oryol were different by the form of the "armored deck": Borodino had the sloping one (like Tsesarevich) and Oryol had it fixed to the slant which is spread to the board-side." Sorry for my translation from Russian - I just can not make it better. I do not understand this text 100% even in Russian - have to investigate drawings.
8} Quote: "Borodino was different by absence of "atmospheric pipes". I guess it is funnels for ventilation which are bended at the top end.
9) Oryol was the only to have "clipper-form" stem.
10). Another batteship from this series is "Slava" ironclad. In the book they say that Knyaz Suvorov and Slava were built in second series (after Oryol and Borodino). Quote: "Knyaz Suvorov and Slava are an improved version of Alexander III. They can be considered as "conditionally identical" (means Knyaz Suvorov and Slava). For you info: Slava was not complete before Tsushima and therefore escaped the fate of his sisters. There is a drawing of Slava in the book but it gives only general impression and I did not lay it out.
11) Quote: "Oryol had 2 times more underwater openings than Borodino due to engine made on other plant." I do not know whether the kits
suppose these "underwater openings".
At this moment planning to build this model (I incline to Borodino) I would first of all do: a) make funnel caps for Borodino b) extend the funnels to "real" length - I really do not know how. After that I would either build it out of the box (forgetting the differences as the models are not accurate and the materials are quite hard to get) or investigate and try to implement at least major differences. I plan to do it in a year or so.
I have a question to you as to Eastern Express kits. You say that in Zvezda kits the funnels are short and out of shape. What is your impression of funnels in Eastern Express? Are they the same bad?
I can not imagine how to scratch-build a funnel (except from cardboard). I read how one gentleman on this site scratch-built funnels for Derfflinger from some plastic/resin material but now I can only express my respect to this effort without trying even to repeat it. Judging from box-art I would prefer Zvezda than Eastern Express (EE box-art is primitive as to me - sorry to EE fans), but you say the molds are the same.
Yevgeniy