Its been a while since I jumped onto a new project, finishing up HMAS Rankin was a task in its self. Whilst I have now a couple of subs to do (the Permit of Joel's to finish and the new Kilo when it arrives), to do so I need some sub driver parts that are on order, so in the last few weeks I have commenced work on my newest target scratch build a 1/72 scale version of the Hapag Lloyd expedition cruise ship Bremen.
For details on what Bremen is - see this link.
Plans are available of this ship in 1/100 scale, from the following site in Germany, indeed you can even buy a GRP 1/100 hull.
Cruise ship modeling in RC is something that is few and far between. Normally there are 1/100 scale subjects all of what would be called small cruise ships in semi kits available in Germany and elsewhere, and indeed Robbe produces a 1/100 MS Hanseactic - the sister ship of Bremen.
In 1/72 scale Bremen is 1.54m long (60.6") x 236mm wide (9.3"). To me this is not an overly big project. Silver Cloud, which also features on this website is substantially larger, and I must say Bremen - will very much be part of my permanent home fleet. I chronic back complaint and kids that are getting older and will be coming more and more to sailing days means I am going to limit myself to subjects that are easy to manage and transport on my own, and have still have space in the car for the kids.
Ok step one was after getting the plans blow these up to 1/72 scale. I then had the frames of the ship and keel pieces that dove tail to the frames laser cut out using 5mm hoop pine. This is a strong light weight material that lends itself very well to plank on frame construction.
Each frame is tightly friction fitted in an inverted position along a building base board.
The forward and aft pieces of timber you see here around each frame hold the frame in place. The completed planked hull can then be turned right side up, with the base board on top, and gently knocked off the building board.
The dove tailed keel pieces are glued into position in pre cut notches in the frame.
Care needs to be taken when planking the work, the build must be done evenly on both sides of the frame. Planking should always commence along the keel. The work must be repeatedly checked to ensure that none of the frames have moved sildeways
For planking I use strip cuts of 3mm plywood. My local hardware outlet has a massive wall mounted cutting machine. As asking for a sheet of ply to be cut into strips of 12mm wide, I usually ring and make an appointment, as this is not the normal amount of cutting that the hardware store expects to do for customers.
Ok - I goofed - no photos of the planking process but here is the end result.
The bow and stern areas utilised surfboard foam sculpted to shape fro the right contours between cross sectional frames, a polyester filler with fibrglass strands was applied to the exterior of any foam surface.
Needing a good clean up, the bow - note the surfboard foam blocks assisting with its forming
The stern pre clean up.
The interior - man I love working with wood
For details on what Bremen is - see this link.
Plans are available of this ship in 1/100 scale, from the following site in Germany, indeed you can even buy a GRP 1/100 hull.
Cruise ship modeling in RC is something that is few and far between. Normally there are 1/100 scale subjects all of what would be called small cruise ships in semi kits available in Germany and elsewhere, and indeed Robbe produces a 1/100 MS Hanseactic - the sister ship of Bremen.
In 1/72 scale Bremen is 1.54m long (60.6") x 236mm wide (9.3"). To me this is not an overly big project. Silver Cloud, which also features on this website is substantially larger, and I must say Bremen - will very much be part of my permanent home fleet. I chronic back complaint and kids that are getting older and will be coming more and more to sailing days means I am going to limit myself to subjects that are easy to manage and transport on my own, and have still have space in the car for the kids.
Ok step one was after getting the plans blow these up to 1/72 scale. I then had the frames of the ship and keel pieces that dove tail to the frames laser cut out using 5mm hoop pine. This is a strong light weight material that lends itself very well to plank on frame construction.
Each frame is tightly friction fitted in an inverted position along a building base board.
The forward and aft pieces of timber you see here around each frame hold the frame in place. The completed planked hull can then be turned right side up, with the base board on top, and gently knocked off the building board.
The dove tailed keel pieces are glued into position in pre cut notches in the frame.
Care needs to be taken when planking the work, the build must be done evenly on both sides of the frame. Planking should always commence along the keel. The work must be repeatedly checked to ensure that none of the frames have moved sildeways
For planking I use strip cuts of 3mm plywood. My local hardware outlet has a massive wall mounted cutting machine. As asking for a sheet of ply to be cut into strips of 12mm wide, I usually ring and make an appointment, as this is not the normal amount of cutting that the hardware store expects to do for customers.
Ok - I goofed - no photos of the planking process but here is the end result.
The bow and stern areas utilised surfboard foam sculpted to shape fro the right contours between cross sectional frames, a polyester filler with fibrglass strands was applied to the exterior of any foam surface.
Needing a good clean up, the bow - note the surfboard foam blocks assisting with its forming
The stern pre clean up.
The interior - man I love working with wood
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