NUMA Deep Encounter

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Before bed I got a coat of paint on the ship's hull, but that's about all I've done the past few days.

I woke up at 0330 this morning, and just couldn't fall back asleep. After taking the dog out I decided to do a little work on the ship.
I'm planning on tilting the aft hoist back so I had to cut the center pulley section out. I added a little PE, and I'll add the PE pulley when I install the hoist.
This like all the other hoists and cranes will be a dark blue.


Next I painted the RHIB and life raft containers. For some reason they are molded to the deck, but will look good once everything else is added. I also painted the aft hoist skid and a few other do dads on the deck.
This is also a good shot of the hull.

I was going to make one stack and stay very true to the book, but I want to have a bit of fun with this area and I'll be using both stacks.

I forgot to open the stacks, so I'll have to do that before paint.

Lastly tonight I masked everything so I can shoot some white when the wife wakes up.

This is about as much as I can do without firing up the compressor.

[Neptune]

Hello Mark,

great project you have there. For the helo deck you might also consider moving it one level up to be at the level of the bridge roof/monkey bridge. This is done as well on some offshore ships with a lattice structure to support it. Bridge windows are below, so these guys don't see much up, yet they see better forward (closer to the bow at least).
Of course if you're planning that office space etc. the Waker arrangement may be better, although less space for the helo of course.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I'm not sure how the Helo deck is going to work out.
Today I worked on lighting the portholes.

I foil taped the inner hull, then added 3 LEDs. I also foil taped the inside of the lower deck. This lit the portholes nicely.

I also built the first deck's bulkheads. The main deck isn't glued on yet. I still need to rout some wires for the bridge.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I've been working slowly on the Deep Encounter.

The upper deck, mast, and stacks aren't yet attached. I have some work to do on the bridge, and since I can't find a 1/200th Helo I think I'm going to nix the helo deck. Not sure yet, just thinking.

[boomstick68]

Man I love that hull. Yeah, too bad about the helo. However, you could mount a quad bofors!

[Bigdaddy Mark]

LOL I think that'd be a bit overkill. Maybe a few torp launchers.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I have a little bit more done.

I'm going to have to start on the water soon.

[boomstick68]

That rocks Bigdaddy!

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Still pluggin' away.

I received my bag of 50 people yesterday, so I'm going to start figuring out what will look good on the deck.
To me it just doesn't look right without people.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Other than the frame for the water, that I will be making in the summer months when I can bring out the tools, I'm calling this done.
It's not exactly like the description, but I had a lot of fun.

It was an easy build, not a lot of detail, but fun none the less.


I planned on making a Helo pad, but without any 200 scale choppers I decided to leave it off.


Admiral James Sandecker watching over his men.


Led lighting made for a lot of fun during the build, but the end result is worth it.


Dirk is disconnecting the Abyss Navigator so Al Giordino can start his dive.

[anyahajobuzi]

Damn Mark, you are quick!!!

I started reading your thread and thought: hey, I got a set of 1/196 scale ladders I ended up with by mistake, so I was just gonna send them to ya, but I kept reading , only to find out you are actually finished?!?!?!?! Either your building time is impressive, or I am slow with mine!
I think your speed is amazing, especially given the quality. For being just " whipped together" this is a very nice model Mark!!! You are onto something with that whole "building stuff without researching a lot" thing....

Do you think you would still have use for 1/200 PE ladders though? I sure don't, but I don't want to just throw them away..

Cheers: Laci

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Thanks.
It did seem like it went fast, but that's compared to the Bataan build. LOL
I don't think I'd use them, but I'd keep them if I were you. You never know when the NUMA bug might bite. LOL
Thanks for the offer.
I have a bunch of 200 scale people (not very good detail) if you or anyone else wants them.
I'm done with the 200 scale. It's 350 for me. 200 is just to big.

[PetrolGator]

When I was in high school and through my sophomore year of college, I worked on a USF Department of Marine Science research boat in the Gulf. Before I sold out to Big Oil, I wanted to spend endless days on ships like the Deep Encounter. Alas, reality...

Anyway. Your last photograph of the Deep Encounter launching her submersible brought up old and very pleasant memories, though we used ROVs exclusively. Thank you.

Wonderful build. Absolutely wonderful.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Wow Chris, that means a lot to me. Thank You.

[LE BOSCO]

Hello Mark


splendid and original these are the two words that come to mind,when I see your model
and more ,a very clean work
cheers
Nicolas

[sgtryan13]

I dig it! Lighting looks great, and the overall impression is really cool. Since I never read the books, can I assume that the names of the Admiral, Dirk, and Al are stolen from the book and used in the movie Sahara?

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I dig it! Lighting looks great, and the overall impression is really cool. Since I never read the books, can I assume that the names of the Admiral, Dirk, and Al are stolen from the book and used in the movie Sahara?

The movie Sahara is (very loosely) based on the Clive Cussler book Sahara.
The boat was taken from another one of his books, but it's just a (very) loose interpretation.

Thanks for the kind words. It was fun doing something that didn't have to be dead on. I think I needed the break.