Is it okay....?

[MartinH-K]

Look... I know its my decision but...

You know I'm going to build a BIG (manned) version of HMS Hood (Yes, it was going to be Repulse but I couldn't get sufficiently good plans).

Well, I was thinking of doing a major scale up of the model that's currently being sold with the HMS Hood magazine. The model comes out at about 1.05m which is about 4 or 5 times smaller than what I have in mind but the question I have is... am I cheating? Much of it will have to be with enhanced detail that won't show on the small version AND all the internal stuff will be MUCH harder due to the operational nature of what I'm going to do... firing guns etc. Is it cheating?

 

[Bunkerbarge]

That is entirely up to yourself. There is a guy who has just produced a fibre glass mold of the Bismarck that comes in at something like 8 foot. Is that cheating?

I am a great believer in you do what you want to do in the way you want to do it. How you acheive the result is entirely up to you and no-one has a right to say otherwise.

I am currently making a model of a steam coaster which is a Mountfleet kit. However the plywood overlays were not to my liking so I am planking the decks and making hatchboards myself. How much of what I am doing is cheating? Who knows and who cares!! I am making a model in my own way and enjoying doing it which is exactly what you should also do. Scaling up a model is a common practise for arriving at a larger size and using a kit to do it seems a good idea to me! Bear in mind you will still have to do all the research to determine just how accurate the kit is anyway!!

Good luck and keep us up to date with the progress.

 

[duncan]

Yes you are cheating if you dont use sheet steel riveted together but remember your boiler tubes will have to be hypodermic needle size and welding at that micro size is a specialist job ! Martin you couldn`t do better than beg , borrow or buy a copy of HMS Hood , the Anatomy of a Ship. I did buy a plastic kit of Invincible just to get a 3D feel for the shapes but I relied mostly on photographs and Jecobin plans. Better than plastic kits or the VERY expensive bit part magazines are card models. They can be scaled up very easily in your local print-shop. They may quiz you on the copyright but since it is for non-commercial personal use they will do it for you. Just specify the scale you want. Marcle Models have a Hood listed at 1:400 scale for £15, a lot cheaper than bit-parts and you get the whole thing to start where and when you like. www.marcle.co.uk Keep us posted. Have a look at http://groups.msn.com/MannedModelShips. RO5 is mine,31ft, plenty of pics of the build. On second page of pictures.

 

[RickF]

The Hood is such a well documented ship. Why not just buy a set of plans from one of the many available and build it from that?

Rick

 

[duncan]

Agreed Rick but might be a bit superfluous as it is going to be a manned model. The bottom of the hull will need canoe-like structure ( stitch and glue ?)and the shapes he will really need , topside etc. will be in "flat-pack" form if using the card model idea,templates with approximate location of doors, posts, lockers,handrails ,port-holes etc all marked in position on the scaled -up pages of the card model. Plus it will be in colour. Any use Martin ?

 

[new to trains]

marcle are just down the road from me !

 

[jankers]

MartinH,

I started building a blue flu ship from small plans in an old Model boat mag, and they left a lot of unanswed questions.

I would go for the best detail you can get, particularly as the finished model will be so large, it could save a lot of time 'down the road'.

J.

 

[MartinH-K]

That's a lot of good stuff here and I thank you for it. With the 1/450 scale Airfix kit and the 1/250 scale kit with the magazine AND with all the pictures etc I've been able to drag out, I've got quite a lot of detail. I've pretty much landed on a 1/40 scale model which will (I hope) translate to a 21'6" manned boat. I plan on putting in a drop sailing keel for stability which, when on display won't affect the general look of the thing. I also plan on all four engines being in place. Yes, I know, not really neccesary but, at least, authentic. I'll put up pictures from laying the keel to completion though I don't expect to start for a little while yet...

Thanks guys.

 

[Bunkerbarge]

This should be a really interesting build thread and worth looking forward to. There are many good books on the Hood which I would suggest you invest in even before laying the keel and as with so many subjects that were around for such a long time you will have to decide on which period to model her in and that will depend on what reference material you get together.

All you want now is someone with a 21 foot Bismarck and you are in trouble!!

 

[jankers]

I'm curious, are you planning on a 'walking' model? ie feet through the hull and on the lake bottom, or a 'lie in' with a full watertight hull?

J.

 

[antuk]

well take a look at pmbdt they have manned models not to scale ill bet but they look good and gives them gr8 fun to play with , my opinon is just go for it mate have fun in thr build and then more with her compleate cheat or not who cares do it for yourself and be a happy chappy . goodluck

 

[MartinH-K]

This will be a complete 'sit-in' and go model. All four engines will operate. The guns will fire though not live shells! I'm going for broke.

 

[jankers]

This will be a complete 'sit-in' and go model. All four engines will operate. The guns will fire though not live shells! I'm going for broke.

This sounds grand, do you need a deckie?(i'm only little).

BTW, i hope the "broke" statement turns out not to be litteral!:emo10:

J.

 

[duncan]

This will be a complete 'sit-in' and go model. All four engines will operate.

That might be the complicated bit and expensive. Why not an electric trawl motor outboard hidden in a well at aft end(Minkota)? Four dummy shafts and props for show. Any luck with plans? Have you started cutting wood yet, or laying-up glass-fibre?

 

[alan2525]

I'm not familiar with large scale warship models but the idea of a walk through model seems pretty hilarious!

I just have images in my head of someone walking around the carpark of their local boating pond with a battleship strung around their waist by their braces and a couple of fishing wader clad legs sticking out of the bottom! Maybe a Bizmark looming large from behind the bushes...

Plus it'd be a little awkward if you got out of your depth on the water...

 

[MartinH-K]

That does make me laugh! I hear what you say Dunc but I've done a little bit of research into an idea for 12v battery, direct drive props run from four windscreen wiper motors and using a variable resistor system to both change speed and polarity of the engines (giving reverse). I want to make it as authentic as I can (no, I'm not going to have steam turbines!). One of the unauthentic bits will be a drop keel (like a sailing dingy) to assist in stability. I'm not at the point of laying the keel yet and anticipate a start/build date of about 4 weeks time... 1st June.

 

[MartinH-K]

I'm also going to utilise the batteries as ballast. Design wise, it will be rib and plate using very thin marine ply and fibreglass.

The 'period' will be just post its 1938 refit.

 

[MartinH-K]

Bit of a blow today discovering that DeAgostini are withdrawing the issue from the newsagents and will only sell directly. I now have to wait 14 days for the next issue! Shame as I was only really interested in the hull formers.... ah well. It won't stop me... I do have my 1/400 scale Airfix kit to go by. Next stop, lets fill the Airfix hull with polystyrene foam and make formers from that!:peace:

 

[duncan]

I'm not familiar with large scale warship models but the idea of a walk through model seems pretty hilarious!I just have images in my head of someone walking around the carpark of their local boating pond with a battleship strung around their waist by their braces and a couple of fishing wader clad legs sticking out of the bottom! Maybe a Bizmark looming large from behind the bushes...

Plus it'd be a little awkward if you got out of your depth on the water...

There really is a couple of people do exactly that but not in the water, I think a husband and wife. Last time I saw them at a show they were Nelson and Lady Hamilton with HMS Victory round their waist. Got to stay in step ! I`ll try and find a pic.

 

[MartinH-K]

You've been a great help and support Dunc! Looking forward to seeing you at Whitehaven.