1/200 Pre dreadnought battleship IJN Mikasa after 1905

[Joelle]

So, on to the final stage of construction.

First, cut the acrylic beads into shape. With thousands of beads, it’s okay to produce a little bit of waste to get the best possible result.



After priming, you can easily select the best ones. The ones on the left were my favorites.



I’ve since received several photos of various column compasses from friends or found them online. Some of them have a flap over the sight glass. I’ve recreated this feature because, in my opinion, it looks more authentic than trying to depict the glass itself.



Then I often saw a round inclinometer, which I replicated with a tiny brass plate. There was usually a maintenance hatch underneath.



Finally, I attached a vertical tube, which is also found on some compasses. I don’t know its purpose, though.



And with that, the first compass is finished. Now, the obligatory size comparison with the figure.



I’m satisfied with that now. I just need to make three or four more.

I don’t know if there was a compass inside the small wheelhouse. I can’t really imagine there was, as the cabin would be quite full otherwise. I think it was just on the roof, right?

[wefalck]

The vertical 'tubes' are not actually tubes, but soft-iron bars, called Flinders-bars, after the inventor Matthew Flinders.

The horizontal deviation of the compass needle caused by the iron mass of the ship is compensated by the so-called Kelvin-spheres. However, as one approaches the poles, the earth magnetic field dips more and more down, causing the needle to also dip down (the so-called inclination), which is compensated by the Flinders bars. Inside the binnacle stand there may be other iron bars that compensate for the inclination caused by the uneven distribution of the iron masses of the ship - the mechanism for this can accessed through the 'service' door.

I tend to make the compass housings from acrylic glass, so that the respective glass panes can be polished flat to a glass like appearance. The rose may be inserted underneath as a separate piece or painted to the underside.

[Joelle]

Thanks for this maritime information, Eberhard.
I've learned something new again.

[SG1]

Incredible scratchbuilding Joelle, excellent cutting of the acrylic beads. I love "models in a model" like this

[Joelle]

Thank you for the wonderful compliment, SG1.

And therefore, a brief update.
I really had to fight my way through my compass crisis. It was quite tough and took a while. But now four are finally finished.



And they also received a washing.



Next up are the steering wheel and the engine telegraphs.

[wefalck]

I think a fight you won

[Joelle]

Thanks Eberhard.
I really had to persevere through that.

[johndon]

Great work all round but those compasses are superb

[SG1]

I subscribe the above comments. Bravissimo

[Joelle]

Thank you so much for your feedback, I am honored.

[Joelle]

And now a small step further.

Both steering wheels and the engine telegraphs are finished.



Let’s start with the small wheelhouse towards the stern. It’s quite cramped. The floor is still a bit shiny from the glue, so I touched it up with matte clear varnish.



I initially wanted to put figures in here, but I decided against it. Otherwise, it would look too cramped.
I also did a little trick with the compass. I cut a piece off the bottom part with a scalpel so I could get it as close as possible to the front wall of the wheelhouse and the steering wheel would fit properly behind it. You can’t see any of it afterward.



And I even tried placing it on the Mikasa to see how it works.



I am very satisfied with that.

[Joelle]

Preparing the interior of the wheelhouses proved to be a real challenge. After a few setbacks and starting over, it finally worked.

And the many helpful tips from users in all the forums where I post my build logs contributed greatly to the success.

But now, on to the forward wheelhouse.

There was much more space here than at the stern, and I could really let my creativity flow.

You probably know how it is. Making and preparing repetitive parts is often a tedious and boring task. But when it comes to arranging them on the model, it’s like Christmas and Easter all rolled into one. That’s when I really enjoy it.

That’s exactly what happened in the Mikasa’s wheelhouse. I arranged the individual parts as shown in the pictures of the museum ship. Again, I positioned them a little further away from the base of the compass mast to save space.



Officer and sailor on deck and full speed ahead.



In room two, a sailor I had modified sits in front of the desk. The officer is shouting instructions.



Let’s put the lid on and see what else is visible of the whole scene.



It’s very difficult to get a proper exposure with the camera. Because I have to get the lens very close to the wheelhouse, I’m blocking the light from the work lamp.



However, I think you can see enough to guess what is going on in the room.

[Joelle]

Today I dealt with the doors of the wheelhouses. I discussed the color of the inner door panels with users who possess considerable maritime knowledge.

Wheelhouses are usually painted white on the inside, so I logically painted the door panels white as well. But I didn’t like it at all.



A user who served in the navy told me that bulkheads were often painted grey on the inside. And I followed that example with the doors.



I think it just looks more harmonious.

[JIM BAUMANN]

Looking good Joerg!1 -- so much fine detail--hidden in a wheel house!

buy YOU know its there!!

MFG
Jim Baumann

[Joelle]

Thanks Jim, and yes, that's true.
Many of the details we incorporate into a model like this aren't visible at first glance. But even if the eye doesn't consciously register them immediately, they still contribute to the overall picture.

But I'm preaching to the choir here, grandfather of details, Jim Baumann.

[Joelle]

Now that I’ve mastered the doors, I’m moving straight on to the next section, which I was dreading again.

The mere thought of the tarpaulin that attaches to the railing made me break out in a sweat. This is where my homemade handle really comes in handy and calms me down a bit. It securely holds the part in my vise, making it much easier to work on.



I first cut tissue paper to the correct size using my paper cutter and dyed it brown. Then, using a very thin mixture of water and MIG acrylic glue, I applied the paper to the railing.

Shaped and aged, I’m already satisfied with my first attempt.



Placed on the ship again for testing and it fits.



Even at the stern, where the space between the bridge and the mast is extremely tight. Everything is satisfactory.



After I succeeded with that, I continued tinkering a bit with the stand for storing the signal lines. You can see a first prototype in the following picture.



The height is currently flush with the railing. I think I’ll make it a bit higher, though. I’ll also make the signal flags out of tissue paper and put them on the shelf.

Let’s see how that looks.

[Joelle]

Moving on.

A long strip of colored tissue paper is placed around the remaining railing of the bridge and cut at the corners.



Once the strip has dried, I can fold over the top edge between the cuts and glue it down.



A small model-making spatula with a ball head helps to neatly shape the tarpaulin against the railing.



Then age again and you’re done.



Once that was done, I looked at my work and thought, hmm, how could I make it a little more interesting? Maybe create a little scene where the crew is attaching the tarpaulin to the railing?

Let’s see.



So I started this test run…



…with styrene, an old railing and a few sailors.



So far so good.



Only one thing bothers me.

Unfortunately, I only thought of it after I’d finished the railing on the rear bridge. And that would have been the perfect spot for this little section of groyne. It has the most space to properly detail it.

Now I have to figure out where else I could fit it.

[johndon]

Excellent work

[SG1]

Maybe create a little scene where the crew is attaching the tarpaulin to the railing?

Great idea! Also: excellent work with the tissue paper-tarpaulin and with populating those wheelhouses with crewmembers

[Joelle]

Thank you both so much.
I'm trying to breathe a little life into the model.

And I’ve finished the next test.
For this scene, I chose the roof of the wheelhouse. Space is very limited, but I think it worked nonetheless.



Only two sailors are now pulling up the tarpaulin due to the limited space. The compass and speaking tubes also need to go there. The sailor on the right should also move a little to the right.



I’ve placed it on the wheelhouse.

I don’t think it looks bad at all. I could expand the scene in front of the cabin. The sailor who folded the tarpaulin during the first test could go there, and an officer yelling at the guys would also look great.