1/700 HMS HABAKKUK pykrete aircraft carrier (1943)

[Timmy C]

The props really add quite a bit to the model! Totally worth the paint and effort, I think Kinda reminds me of some great sci-fi Zeppelin, actually.

[Guido]

Fascinating project and excellent modelling!
Bravo Zulu!
Guido

[Dave Wooley]

I too would like to add my congratulations on this extraordinary and very unique build. Although the Habbakuk was never built this should never be a reason for not building such vessels. There are many projected warships that could be translated into model form, so perhaps your unusual project may stir up a more general interest in building models of ships that never were.
Dave Wooley

[DrPR]

Thanks for the info. It had a propulsion plant similar to some early battleships. Steam driven generators and electric motors.

Your model shows one of the problems that this beheamoth would have had - docking. If you want to make a ship's Captain twichy just do something to threaten damage to a propeller. Imagine trying to dock this thing with propellers everywhere! Twenty six opportunities to damage a screw!

[EJM]

I could use some opinions on the following.

I've noticed on most Essex carriers that there were two tall radio mast towers at the front of the ship, and two at the back. And all the towers were always on the right side of the ship. These towers were lowered for flight ops, and raised for normal steaming.
I'm wondering if I should add some of these types of towers to my Habakkuk? I'm just not sure how many to add and/or whether they should be on the right side of the ship only, or add them on the left side as well.
I came upon this drawing that sparked my curiosity in asking all this.
http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/downlo ... hp?id=1127

They're raised during normal steaming and lowered during flight ops.

Though I have to wonder: Because a real Habakkuk ship is so wide (300 feet), then is it possible the towers would not need to be lowered during flight ops? On a real Habakkuk, there would be plenty of flight deck space that I doubt a aircraft taking off or landing would hit a tower if it stayed raised. I do want to add some aircraft as though they are taking off, and also landing. Take a look at the following pics for size reference.

[DrPR]

My guess is that the antennas would be lowered. Pilots get real twichy if they have to fly close to structures of any kind. Even on land you don't see tall antennas anywhere near runways.

[JIM BAUMANN]

Would agree with that...

although 300' wide!!!!-- that does give some margin of error I guess?

I say this because Habbakuk would have carried out flight operations pretty continuously; as such would they perhaps have had antenna on wider outriggers--or maybe had them raised in the vicinity of the Island only...?

Dunno!-- but fascinating suppositions!

JIM B

[callen]

Great job!
This is a really cool subject. Makes me want to build one myself. I wish I could see it in person.

Can you give us more end on pics? Variety of angles?

Thanks again for posting this.

[EJM]

Great job!
This is a really cool subject. Makes me want to build one myself. I wish I could see it in person.

Can you give us more end on pics? Variety of angles?

Thanks again for posting this.

Well......I could post more pics now, or if you and others could wait a bit, the Habakkuk should once and for all truly be finished around end of April or beginning of May. And then I'll hopefully submit pics and info. for the MW gallery in May sometime.

Also........
I was browsing the Net again tonight for more reference material on Habakkuk and I read about an old magazine called "Model Boats" that had an article about Habakkuk in it. It was the March 1982 issue.
I highly doubt anybody would have that old of a magazine tucked away in their house somewhere. But if anybody did, Can you scan the article and send me a copy, please?

[EJM]

It's been a long road, but the end is nearly in sight. With a little luck, some patience,........and hopefully getting a new digital camera soon........I'll be able to show the final pictures of my Project Habakkuk model. I hope to have final pictures posted before the end of April.
For those who have helped me with advice and encouragement, I thank you. For the last two years, this whole project has been one hell of a beast to build. But now, I can finally say that the journey is almost at an end and I can breathe a final sigh of relief. Would I ever do this project again in the future? Hell no! I don't need any more headaches........especially with the damn engine pods. But for those who wish to build their own Habakkuk model in the future, I wish you good luck and I hope my information and construction techniques will help you out.
If anyone has any questions about my model and/or the construction methods, or anything about the history of Project Habakkuk, then feel free to ask and I'll help wherever I can.

[EJM]

DONE!

Well, at least 99.9%. I'll still add a few aircraft with folded wings, and maybe a few extra B-25's on deck someplace. But for the most part, this ship is done! The British can now finally say they have a Habakkuk ship.......but only in 1/700 model form.
Final Habakkuk model pics are here:
http://smg.photobucket.com/user/icyhusk ... t=2&page=1
Sorry if any pics are blurry or if anything else is wrong. I'm still learning how to use a new digital camera I got a few days ago.
Chances are, I probably forgot to post in this thread some construction steps and other info., but if anybody wants to know anything, then just ask.

[Sr. Gopher]

She looks beautiful! A really great turnout for a long-time's work!

[JIM BAUMANN]

I love the cross-section!!!!!

It really puts everything into perspective ...!!

What a real behemoth she would have been!!!




JIm Baumann

[EJM]

Thanks for the compliment, Jim. Just to let everyone know, I probably won't detail the interior spaces of the cross-section. If I did that, then people would be distracted by looking at that instead of the main ship when I take this model to contests.
If I "retire" this model from future shows and contests in the future, then I may go back and detail the interior of the cross-section.
Sample pic:


HABAKKUK INTERIOR CROSS-SECTION REFERENCE LISTING:
(1) 40 ft. thick pykrete hull made with frozen water & wood pulp
mixture. Color wuld not be clear/white the way snow/ice would,
but rather a light brown or tan because of the wood pulp added.
(2) Composite outer hull insulation layer which is a complex 9 inch
thick material made of plywood & insulation boards (Masonite
type) in 27 layers.
(3) Sample engine nacelles and approximate positions.
(4) Upper & lower Port/Starboard aircraft hangars.
(5) Center engineering section.
(6) Crew spaces, Storerooms, & Workshops.
(7) Box girder for ceiling/flight deck support?
(8) Flight deck

[EJM]

The Habakkuk is now in the MW gallery here:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
If anyone has any construction questions, etc. which are not covered in this thread, then just let me know and I'll answer any questions you have.

[EJM]

Sorry for digging this thread from the grave. Just letting everyone know that I fixed all the broken links and pictures throughout the thread. Though I decided not to put all picture links in [img] tags. I only did a few "samples".
If anybody wants to know more detailed construction on this project, you can check another thread I wrote here:
http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php ... 573.0.html

[JIM BAUMANN]

....>>> I fixed all the broken links and pictures throughout the thread....<<

THANK YOU !

Nothing worse than a thread with missing pics...#

Grateful
JIM B

[EJM]

So Jim, when are you going to build a Habakkuk?


Haha. Just kidding. But seriously, I've never seen anybody else attempt a Habakkuk before, especially from across the pond. This is a British subject, after all.