First, I'd like to publicly acknowledge a hearty debt of gratitude to the fellow forum-member [not sure whether or not he wishes to be identified] for graciously sending me a copy of the Marine Modelling International article which I'd been searching for. Turns out the 'R. Lefevre,' who I cited as the architect of the plan views I found, was René Lefèvre, a noted (and obviously very accomplished) European model-builder who scratch-built the subject model as well as writing the article itself. That model -- a 1/12.5 scale remote control craft which is actually steam-powered by a tiny double boiler, like the original -- is the incredible inspiration for my own rather pallid build.
Having the well-illustrated article at hand allowed me to re-tool several errors already committed, and will no doubt head off a host of others. My warm thanks to the generous soul who kindly passed it along.
I doff my horned Viking helmet to you, sir.
Back to the build....
Since the cabin areas
are an integral part of the structure I'm working up, it seemed prudent (and at the same time more
fun) to finish and install them before final framework construction, to make sure everything ends up as straight and well-aligned as possible. In addition to the forward well area already shown above, I finished the similarly-appointed (but trickier-shaped) aft one, and attached it to its forward frame. (The rear still 'floats' for any necessary adjustments after hull-skinning and decking.)
Next up was the oval bridge cupola. For the phone-booth-sized cupola itself, I drew up and printed a simple line-outline shape (based on my 'scaled' plan-views) to test the spacing and fit. It turned out about 95%. The second version got color and some texturing and rivet details.
The slightly domed roof was -- somewhat shockingly -- right the first time around.
And the finished basic structure...standing next to its pale prototype...with assorted details yet to be applied.
And the more-or less finished article, test-slid into place on the frame. Note that the large slot and side gouges will be covered over by upper works later on.
A side note, on the color.
Models, illustrations and period-paintings show a rather wide range of hues for the 'naval buff' so-favored by late-19th and early 20th Century navies and vessels. I selected a more tan-shaded color sample online that looked best to me, and used it as the basis for my own 'artwork' while creating my parts.
When it came time for printing, however, my sturdy old HP printer balked...and coughed up a much pinker tone. Despite ongoing (and occasionally rather technically-inventive) 'discussions,' the printer refused to budge. In the end, I decided -- since it's
theoretically a 'test-build' anyway -- what the heck...it was 'close enough.'
Then it turned out (
no big surprise, really) that the machine is
probably smarter than I am. The pinkish-tone 'buff' it settled on turns out to be essentially the exact hue of Testors' old 'square bottle' 1170 Light Tan model enamel...a rather misbegotten pinkish-tan color not much good for
anything else...but making the always-necessary touch-ups and painting of odds and ends a
much simpler affair than it otherwise might have been, with what is traditionally a rather-notoriously difficult-to-match color range.
I stand corrected.
