The Ship Model Forum

Hi Guys, Im making twin searchlights tonight, there are 15 parts to each one, they can be made for a few cents or pence.

First I cut some plastic tube to length and glued it to a strip of 4 thou plastic card Then I cut some more tube that will fit inside the larger tube, 8 in total. These are then glued in place. Next I separated each from the strip. I then cut 8 joining sections and glued them on top. For the lights I did the same thing but this time I used aluminium tube, slightly thinner than the plastic. Next I made a little jig to hold the lamps in place while they set. The jig was cut from a balsa wood block, the lamps where separated and filed to shape then super glued in position. More to follow.

enjoy ,ARH

Hi Guys, I will continue with the lamps.

Two of the lamps placed in position, note the start of my davits. One lamp nearly finished. Opposite view, 13 parts up to that point. Four nearly finished. I have left this picture dark so you can see them better on the ship. Stern shot. Bow shot. Four with a first coat of paint, four nearly finished. Enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, I have been building the davits and rigging the small motorized boats.

First I took some 1/8 inch brass rod and filed part of the top to a tapper. Then in the end I cut a slot and fitted a twin eyelet, it was then bent to shape, also fitted a pulley wheel. Using litho plate I cut two bracing stanchions to hold the wood and cork spar. The feet of the davit was made out of brass and plasticard. The brass goes through the deck and into blocks under the deck to give more support. The davits fitted in place. The spar and top cable fitted. I made this a solid rod so it would brace and stabilize everything. Another view, showing the side bracing fitted. You can see the starboard side finished with the boat in position, the port side is still being worked on. Viewed from underneath you can see the scramble nets. Both boats fitted and rigged. The 2 boats are made by Quaycraft, I have altered them by adding an engine inside, rudder and propeller. Enjoy, ARH

They usuall are displayed on the side of the superstructure, at boat deck level. You could place it under the name plate on the after superstructure.
Sometimes you would see them on the Main gun barrel end caps, on capital ships. Here you can see them on Marlborough, showing the older crest of the Duke of Marlborough

On IRON DUKE it was Wellington on his horse Copenhagen,

Hi Guys, More small boats,

First of all, I bent to shape 4 pieces of 1/8 brass around a small paint can and checked it against my template. Next I drilled the casement, I bent the davits at the bottom at 90 degrees, 1/8th inch in size and glued the davit in place. A larger picture of the positioning of the davits. Next I fitted the boat protection spars. I then put on the davit stabilizing guy ropes. It is always awkward to rig small boats, so I packed them up to the right height and put on the rest of the ships boats rigging. All rigged and boats painted, you may notice the davits fitted on the other side. A shot from the stern. enjoy. ARH

Hi Guys, I decided to build one of the larger boats.

First I cut a piece of Jelutong to size and marked out the shape. Then I set about carving it with my scalpel blade and some good rough sand paper. When the shape was almost there I gave it a sanding with some finer paper. 100/200 grade. The hull was turned over and put under my drill press. I drilled out a large amount of holes, getting to a level each time, then drilled deeper till all the inside was shaped. All most there, cut out for bow and stern seats. All seats in position and glued. Chocks and second boat placed in position. Next I glued some black paper on to the hull sides to give it that planked effect. You can also see I have made the cradle for the boats to sit in. Then I painted it inside and out, the inside had a coat of sanding sealer applied first. Then the second boat was painted and placed on top, they will be lashed down later and a few things put in the top boat. Superstructure turned round to get a better view Viewed from a different angle. enjoy ARH.

Hi Guys, an update to the last photo's

As you can see I have added a mast, some sails, two oars and some rope. I also built and attached the rudder, needs painting. The boat back in place with all its bits and pieces. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, I have made a start on the Admirals Launch.

Again I carved the hull out of my jelutong and fit the keel. Jelutong is a very close grained wood, light in weight, but not as light as balsa. I fit the small bulwarks, this is 1/64 plywood. This is the position were it fits on the ship. Both bulwarks fitted and the rudder. The main cabin is 1/64 ply, the wind shield is litho plate and the engine room housing is Jelutong. The funnel was made out of aluminium and shaped top and bottom with a centre lathe tool. The cowls came off another model. The small blocks are vent hatches. As you can see the size compared to the tin of WEM paint. The launch has had a few coats of sanding sealer and is nearly ready for painting. enjoy.ARH

That went down like a lead ballon, but still we will continue.

First I painted the blue on the hull, then the white. I also painted inside the bulwarks and engine room hatch. Slightly different view. I made the boat frame and painted it grey. Showing the size compared to the ship. This is a better comparison. The hatches and cabin were painted mahogany with a gold strip between the blue and white. Admirals Launch in position on boat deck. enjoy. ARH

Heres wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Let's hope 2006 produces lot's more stunning models.

Hi Guys , I did a little more on my Admirals Launch, I added some handrails and some funnel guy ropes. enjoy , ARH

Hi Guys, I have been making bollards.

First I cut out all the parts, the base, the uprights, the top, the tool is used in the leather trade for punching holes, you can use it to do other things like cutting plastic rings. I then glue all the uprights in position and drilled them down the middle. Next I mark out the deck position and cut in to the deck planking and dry fit to check, then I drill though the deck. I then cut some brass tube and put it down the upright, this is glued in position at the top making sure you do not get any on the base or the deck. I then fit the top round section. Four dry fitted. Four painted. Five dry fitted and painted. A close up of three and the chain I will be using. You notice I say dry fitted, I like to be able to take off my decks, so to keep them in place I put a small screw under each bollard to hold the deck in place, the bollard hides the screws and is removable. Enjoy, and have a very merry Christmas, ARH

Hi Guys, This is the radio and servos, charger and battery pack. There is also a battery pack in the radio, this will control the motors and speed controls, also rudders and any other thing I decide to put in to IRON DUKE. ARH,

Hi Guys, I have done a little over the holidays, still on the small fittings,

These are some of the very small air vents, they are made from round plastic pipes. There are 3 sizes of pipe in the construction, the thin one is the part that fits in the deck, the thickest is the outside of the vent, and an in between size that holds it all together, then there's the top ring cut out with my punch. Everything is glued together and painted. These are my flag lockers, they are made from balsa wood and have a covering of litho plate to 6 surfaces, some small feet were attached to the bottom then some canvas fitted down the front and painted white, blue for the lockers. Front view Two lockers in place in front of the scramble nets. Four in place, also a small goose neck vent. A close up of the small vents fitted in to the deck, also my small reels and coaling capstan. enjoy, ARH

And a happy new year,

Hi Guys, I have been building some ventilator hatches.

First I cut some balsa wood and glued it to my litho plate, two small one large. This is the large one nearly finished. All 3 painted. Just positioned on deck. Over head shot, these will be glued in position when the deck in complete. enjoy. ARH

Hi Guys, Some more small hatches,

First I cut 4 pieces of balsa wood and super glued them to a piece of litho plate. I then cut them to the right shape and filed the ends round. I cut a thin strip of litho and glued it around the balsa and then added the hinge straps. I made 2 large and 2 slightly smaller. I then added the locking eyes, cut out the deck where they fit and added a small davit. Three fitted in place behind number 1 turret. A longer shot of the work. All painted and placed in position. Stern shot. Bow shot. enjoy, ARH

kennylibben wrote:nice job,

but i see you're pulling the old switcheroo! Seems the number 3 turret loses detail over time.... hahaha.

Hi Kenny, I see what you mean, as you know they are not fitted yet, so sometimes when im working on the model I take them out of the way, 3 turret barrels are not painted yet, but I had placed 5 turret were 3 should be,

Hi Guys, I will continue with the small fittings.

These are small water tight lockers, I cut some balsa wood into small lengths and attached the litho plate with super glue.

I did this on four sides, then I stood them on end and glue on the sides. I turned them over and put on the other side. I put 2 plastic rails under them and glue on the feet. When set I cut them apart and added the tops and rounded the corners. These are 2 vents made out of plastic piping, glued to a sheet of plastic. Here you can see there position, also the finished water tight locker in position. enjoy, ARH