NUMA Deep Encounter

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I've decided to move from military to fictitious research vessels this winter.
I've started gathering parts and pieces to build the NUMA research vessel Deep Encounter.
Taken from the Clive Cussler book Valhalla Rising.
I've read all the Clive Cussler books, and decided that it'd be fun to have a NUMA boat on display.
It's not going to be dead on to the description in the book, but it's going to be a fun build.
I think after my Bataan build I'm kind of burnt out with research and detail, this is going to be a fun and colorful build.
I'm going to use the Heller Le Suroit 1/200 kit. It's a nice looking vessel, and the kit has some great potential for making a cool build.


I've ordered up some 3mm LEDs and I'm looking at picking up a gang of 1/200 model train people to be modified for my crew.
I have a lot of extra PE from other builds that will help with the details, but I think I'm going to need to get some 200 scale ladders, and if I get ladders I'll need railings, and if I get railings I'll need . . . you know the drill.

So be paitaint with me, I'm still gathering pieces parts, but I'm not out of building.

One question, does anyone know where I can get a 200 scale helo for the helo deck I'm going to put on the front?

Thanks
Mark

[boomstick68]

Looking forward to this Mark. You may be out of luck on a helo in this scale. I know there are a few diecast samples out there but mostly military.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Looking forward to this Mark. You may be out of luck on a helo in this scale. I know there are a few diecast samples out there but mostly military.

I think so, but I can always try and make something.

[Channell]

Cool! I've got this kit in the stash; I'm very interested to see what you can do with it!

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Cool! I've got this kit in the stash; I'm very interested to see what you can do with it!

I'm thinking of adding a helo pad to the front, just not sure how yet.

[Channell]

My first impression was surprise that it was such a small ship; it would be tough to add a helicopter pad without making it bigger. You could cut the hull in half and add a new scratchbuilt section; might add to the "fantasy ship" aspect too...

[Bigdaddy Mark]

My first impression was surprise that it was such a small ship; it would be tough to add a helicopter pad without making it bigger. You could cut the hull in half and add a new scratchbuilt section; might add to the "fantasy ship" aspect too...

I've seen some small helo pads. I think I'm going to add some research offices onto the main deck forward, and have the helo pad on top of that. It should put the nose of the helo in front of the bridge. It'd be tough to land there, but I think it could be done. At least Dirk Pitt could do it.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Something like this for the helo deck.


I'm planning moving the forward mast back a bit, adding some office space under and in front of the bridge, adding the helo deck forward of the bridge with support stanchions that will give some cover to the forward winch. I'm going to light the bridge, and some of the cabins. I want to try to light the mast, have navigation lights, walk way lights, deck wash lights, lights on the aft crane, and maybe even some fiber optics to light the helo deck. Not to mention doing something to the Abyss Navigator submersible It is screaming for LEDs
Other than that it's going to be a straight forward build with PE on the crane, winches, and anything else I can think of.

[boomstick68]

Maybe you could do a kit bash of the two?
https://www.whiteensignmodels.com/p/Rev ... l3eHFCbPJY

[Bigdaddy Mark]

That's going to be my next NUMA ship if this one comes out nice.

[D-Boy]

Re: Your search for helicopters:

1:200 is a common scale for die-cast military and passenger fixed wing aircraft. But even the collectors of such complain about the lack of helicopter offerings.

Herpa makes several military helicopters in that scale, primarily Russian Mils. Here's their site: http://www.herpa.de/

The Micro-Machines line, sold in US toy stores, is also often at 1:200 scale, but might need scratch-built landing gear.

Here is a US company specializing in die-cast aircraft, and the copters they carry: http://www.flyingmule.com/Merchant2/mer ... &x=35&y=11

Bronco makes a Helix, perhaps most appropriate for your nautical uses: http://www.bronco-model.com/en/products.php

[sgtryan13]

Soooo, where exactly do the guns on this thing go????

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Re: Your search for helicopters:

1:200 is a common scale for die-cast military and passenger fixed wing aircraft. But even the collectors of such complain about the lack of helicopter offerings.

Herpa makes several military helicopters in that scale, primarily Russian Mils. Here's their site: http://www.herpa.de/

The Micro-Machines line, sold in US toy stores, is also often at 1:200 scale, but might need scratch-built landing gear.

Here is a US company specializing in die-cast aircraft, and the copters they carry: http://www.flyingmule.com/Merchant2/mer ... &x=35&y=11

Bronco makes a Helix, perhaps most appropriate for your nautical uses: http://www.bronco-model.com/en/products.php

Thanks for the help, but even those will be way to big. I'm going to try scratch building one.

Soooo, where exactly do the guns on this thing go????

I think I may be able to hide a 16 inch somewhere. Maybe that's what I can use for the Help pad.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Let the fun begin

The ship's hull is glued, not sure how I'm going to light the inside.

Started the DSV

I drilled out some light holes, added some walkways, and the forward claws are started.

I still need the LF antenna, and a little more PE. I made lenses from white glue. It's not dry in the pictures.

[LE BOSCO]

Hello Mark

An original idea,Which goes, I am sure,goes be realized skillfully
I will follow your work with pleasure
regarts
Nicolas

[boomstick68]

Looking good Mark. I envy you. I'd love to start a project like this but I'm way over booked.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Thanks guys. I'm going to have a lot of fun with it.
I was out of town this weekend, and got nothing done.
The DSV still needs a lot of work. I don't like the claw arms, I think I'm going to make them out of something else.

I'm also ordering the MOEBIUS MODEL Jupiter 2 for a fun Roswell like dio.
It's 1/35th scale, so I'm sure I could find some nice Army equipment to surround the ship.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I did some more on the DSV. I didn't like the way the footholds looked, so I removed them.
I also gave it a Flying Sub blue stripe

I also used the arm holds from a 50 cal as the claws.

I still need to add the Low Frequency antenna, but I'm happy with how it came out.

I also tested the fit of the aft deck, and am very happy. For an older model this is nice to see.

Now if I can get rid of this darn cold I might get some good work done.

[boomstick68]

DSV looks great. From that picture, the fit looks fantastic!

[Bigdaddy Mark]

DSV looks great. From that picture, the fit looks fantastic!

Thanks.

I got a little more done tonight in between coughing jags.


I mixed Tamiya Red with Tamiya Hull and am happy with the results.


I've looked at a lot of pictures, and liked the darker green over the bright green. This is just thinned NATO green.

I was going to scratch build the RHIB, but after thinking about it for a while I decided to keep this one and doctor it up a bit.

So far I don't see much drama with the build. I'm going to be doing a lot of mock-ups to see where the lights are going to go, and how to hide all the wires.