The Ship Model Forum

Hi Guys, Im a little slow this week, had estimates for jobs to get out, I have done some building. I have started on the capstans for the anchors.

The first thing I did was copy the drawings to get the right size and position, then cut out roughly the bases. Out of my 2mm lime wood I cut out and drilled the capstan base plate then fit in to position. This is the capstan, it's made by BILLINGS, but needs to be altered. It is turned over and filed flat on the bottom, then filed with a round on the top. Two complete one to do. All placed in position. You can see the chain I am using, correct and to scale size. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, A few weeks ago some one mentioned about HMS Marborough's bow, well here's HMS IRON DUKE's bow. I have also repainted the blast bags. The hatch on the bow was a canvas removable cover, painted the same way.

Hi Guys, We will continue with the windlass section.

I am making the section where the chain goes back in to the hull. I cut 3 rings out of plasticard, each one smaller than the last. Then with a section of plastic straight tube, I heat it up over a candle and bend it at right angles. When cool file away the under section with a round file, this is then glued in to smallest hole. All 3 made and placed in to position. All 3 sections painted and place in position. I am making the steam control valve. This is an electrical connector that is ideal for the job. It has a hole in the top and a hole in the side, very strange. The hole in the side was in exactly the right place .

I bent a piece of brass wire at 90 degrees, cut it to size and glued in place. Then I got a pin and put it though one of my hand wheels and glued in place. All 3 done and painted. The deck was drilled and everything was glued in to position. Another view looking at the chain run off's, also note another hatch fitted in front of everything. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, A small up date, on handrails.

I continue with the handrails, this section is for forward main deck under the out slung lifeboat. I made my template and marked it on balsa wood. The next section with the very sharp angle is for the next level up, near the same position. 4 different sections built. 4 Sections painted and ready for fitting. Looking from the stern. Looking from the bow. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, I am going to do a hatch that has a ladder down in to the hull.

First I mark out the litho plate. Then I cut out the shape and fold over the litho to thicken the hatch for more strength.

The hatch glued and shaped, the hatch lid raised at 45 deg. A few crude markings put on the lid, these will be trimmed when set. A hole cut in the deck to take the ladder, also two storage lockers placed in position. Viewed from a different angle. Here you can see the ladder going down in to the ship. Hatch placed in position and storage lockers painted. Note the new ladders on the gun turret how they come over the top and on to the roof. enjoy.ARH

Hi Guys, Another small fitting, this time a tool storage locker.

First I cut 6 pieces of balsa wood and glued 3 together. Then 3 more together to make 2 tool racks. Again with the litho plate I super glued it to the balsa all round, trimmed it and filed it to shape. Then I put on the lid and the feet. I then cut 12 sections of timber for on top of the lid. These are not large fittings, so to paint them I stick them on a piece of sticky tape with a block underneath and paint away.

The tool storage locker all finished and placed in position. Everything on this deck is only placed on because the deck is not finished. The edging pieces are in the post, so it will not be long before I can finish sanding and marking the deck planks on and treating it to its final finish, enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, just a small up date tonight.

This is one of the smallest hatches, about 1/2 inch x 1/4 inch. It looks a bit tatty around the edges but just wants sanding lightly and another coat of paint. This is another way to hold them while painting. Here under the rear of the turret you can see the start of the air ventilators in that area, also the two very small hatches near the middle of the picture. This is the stern of ID. You can see I have been very busy making lots of small fittings, hatches, vents, platforms and ladders. This is a close up of the platform and ladder on number 3 turret. A picture of everything in the area. The platform and air vents painted under the turret. All these parts were made out of litho plate, balsa and very fine mesh. enjoy, ARH

More hatches, how many more of these are there. Looking good Ron

Hi Guys, Here's a few photo's that I took before yesterdays up date, its the overall ship and a few close ups.

Bow shot. Stern shot. A shot of the 3 rear turrets. Bow and superstructure. A close up of midships. Close up of the two rear turrets, one still to have its blast bags fitted. A close up of all the small fittings around the Marine turret. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, This is about what I always say when building a r/c model, FORWARD PLANNING.

I have said for awhile the fittings are placed in position at the moment. As you can see I have taken them all off the deck and also removed the deck. These are just the stern deck fittings. What I want to do is fit some very good rudder control linkages, 4 for �1-99 As you can see I have only used 3 and attached some steel rods. While the deck is off I have cut another access hole under the last barbette. This gives me 3 access holes to work though if things go wrong, forward planning. You can see my speed control for the Mini Craft jig saw. Here's the deck waiting to be finished off now I have my timber. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, I have to push on with the build, as Dave Wooley wants a launch date of 2nd April 2006, His friend is over from the US and wants him to see the model sailing before he returns home,

Well on with the build.

The stern section edges are cut from 2mm thick European Lime wood, there are 3 pieces up to the 1st casement. The next section is cut out of one full piece, to get the correct shape the timber is slid under the 1/64 ply deck and marked with a pencil, then cut with a #11 blade, lightly scoring with each cut, usually three cuts is enough, never try to go though it in one go, you will just waste your timber.

The next section cut and glued in place with white PVA water proof glue, and weighted down till dry, I have only 10 planks to fit to finish the deck. Do I see a very small ship in that picture,

The last piece cut and glued in place, the casement plastics are cut and placed in position till deck timber has dried. enjoy , ARH

Hi Guys, Well the decks are finished

The deck complete and back in place, all fittings now glued in place, still more to fit. A close up of the deck, all marked out and finished with 2 coats of satin finish varnish. Marine Turret at Mid-ships, still more fittings to go on deck. Bow shot, the deck is slightly raised, this will go down when bollards are fitted. Stern shot, now ready to fit the handrails. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, I have been busy today, handrails, cleats, davits and hatches.

The edge rail was drilled, spacing between rails 300 cm. Stanchions super glued in position. All rails fitted and glued, note the flag staff fitted to the stern, this is made of copper tube, with a piece of .032 brass rod fitted down the middle and a spot of PVA glue on the top. Again more handrails, this section shows how to break the rails with a gangway opening, at this point there needs to be bracing stanchions either side. I make them larger, when set they get cut to size. These are the gangway davits, they are made out of 3 different sizes of brass and copper tube, one inside the other, the top one bent to shape, note the chain where the opening is, also the little cleats in the middle and to one side of the davits. I have fitted 10 cleats on the model today. Midships and everything is painted. An overall view of the model, showing work today, the model is about 85% complete, radio control will be later. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, A small up date today, more handrails and anchor chain.

Anchor chain painted white and fitted back in place. This is a close up of the work, the black checker plate was made from litho plate. It was put on top of a file and beaten so the checker patten showed, also you can see the lift section Scouse was on about last week, this lifts the chain to the capstan. Handrail and ladders fitted. Everything painted. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, I am working on the anchors, chains and linkages. I will be doing it in two posts.

Starboard side drilled and sleeve fitted. To start the hole I mark out the deck and drill a series of small holes just inside the pencil line. I then enlarge the hole and drill in to the block section about 1/2 inch. I then cut out an oval plate from litho and super glue it around the opening. Both done and painted, chain placed back in position. Anchor made and fitted, I will be showing how I made the anchors in the next update. One rusty anchor. Chain to hold anchors in position and take the strain off the capstans, 2 to each main anchor chain. I have drilled though the hull in to the recessed section under the deck. I drilled a pilot hole first, then enlarge it with a second drill. Then enlarge it again with a third drill. It needs to be done in stages, one mistake and there's loads of repair work and we don't want that, not at this stage, more tomorrow. enjoy, ARH.

Hi Guys, I continue with part 2

After drilling the hole I made a ring out of litho and super glued it to the hull, the shaft for the anchor is fastened to the chain by a shackle. To make the end of the anchor I have drawn out the front and reverse side on litho plate. Then I cut it out. Next I folded it over a file, this gives it the thickness. In the bottom I drilled a hole, to attach this section on to the shaft I use a dressmakers pin and super glue the pin up the hollow shaft.

As you can see I use a long piece of brass tube, if you look close where the chain is, you will see I have beaten the round tube in to a square section, that's how they were, also easier to drill, tube ready to be cut to length. Both anchors in position. Anchors painted and rust applied, This is how I attached the holding chains, I drill though the deck and push a pin though both chains. In this picture you may see 4 cleats, 2 port 2 starboard, also a hatch on the far port side. In between the two anchors a long narrow mesh grill, and the jack staff brace on the bow and chain. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, I have been busy today, just a small up date on one item.

On the rear superstructure are two 3lb guns. I copied the small drawing from one of my books and scaled it to 1/96.

The first thing I did was to cut out the 2 base's and thickened them with a small coin. Next I marked out the base and sides of the pedestal that holds the gun. Two were cut out and drilled. The base was folded using a piece of timber the correct width. These were then glued to the round base and the side strengtheners glued in place. I also made the gun barrels out of 1 brass rod and 1 aluminium rod with the ends flared slightly. Next I cut out the breach from some lime wood and drilled a hole though it. I assembled the gun to the base using a pin as the pivoting point. Under the gun I put in more plates for strength, then I cut 2 angled pieces, drilled and glued them in position. These act as shock absorbers. A few control wheels have been added. The brass small pieces are dampeners. Here it is painted and placed in position. I might add a few more things tomorrow when I am finishing the second one. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, Here's the last few pictures of the 2 guns build.

The second gun is assembled, I have added 2 seats to each gun, 1 either side. One gun painted, one to finish, the lighter colour is the seat. Both placed in position, note the rear spotting position and the handrails are also fitted. A long shot of mid ships, both guns are painted and placed in position/ You can view a very large picture of ID in picture post, it gives you a good view of the whole ship and the amount of fittings I have built. enjoy, ARH

Hi Guys, I have been busy today, working on the Poop Deck.

First I cut a template of cardboard to fit the stern. Then I transferred the shape to my lime wood. I cut out the timber shape and marked out the sections to be cut out, then I drilled each corner. Four underneath metal braces made from litho plate and glued in position. The handrail and deck cut out. They are the same size, just an optical illusion. Mesh fitted to deck section. The deck and handrail drilled. Roof section cut out. All 3 ready for fitting. Deck glued in place. 10 stanchions cut and bent to shape. Handrail and stanchions glued in position. As you can see I'm quite liberal with the glue, this section has to be strong, other wise Roof glued in place and strengtheners. Balustrade fitted and everything painted. All this work took 4 hours

enjoy, ARH

I have repainted it today and changed the railings, was not happy with them. Will post tonight, ARH