SS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse 1897 by Mirabell61 - FINISHED - scale 1:144 - POF - first German four stacker of the Norddeutscher Lloyd line

[Mirabell61]

Nils: Stumbled upon this link to a page containing a sailing plan plus a number of photos (bottom of page) of the Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse. Might perhaps be of interest for you.

 

http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=kaiwi

 

Hi Oystein,

 

I know and already often browse that site for wonderful heritage photo-information on the KWdG, but never the less I very much appreciate the kind input from your side, Many thanks..

 

Nils

[Mirabell61]

Vents update

 

built a prototyp of every type. There`s a whole bundle of different vents with different lengths and diameters, but it looks like I can get all (scoop sizes) out of the bag-foot-size collection. The brass tubes are from regular stock....

 

To get an impression what they would look like later on, here`s a pic of a beautiful built 1:250 card model ( I borrowed from the web), showing the vents, looking in aft direction.....

 

Nils

 

 

this pic of a card model was built by a very skilled modeler

 

 

 

 

Edited January 29, 2016 by Mirabell61

[wyz]

Nils,

 

     Holy cow!  I didn't realize this ship had so many vents.  The red interior of them on the card model makes them stand out and really emphasizes their number.

 

Tom

[popeye the sailor]

vents look awesome nils..........that is one sweet idea.   I've seen those in various sizes at office supply stores.   definitely something to keep in mind  

[Mirabell61]

Nils,

 

     Holy cow!  I didn't realize this ship had so many vents.  The red interior of them on the card model makes them stand out and really emphasizes their number.

 

Tom

 

That`s right Tom,

 

and those shown, are only those from the 3rd an 4th funnel looking aftwards. With all those metal-vents the ship`s center of gravity will go a jump upwards later when all is fitted

 

Nils

[Mirabell61]

vents look awesome nils..........that is one sweet idea.   I've seen those in various sizes at office supply stores.   definitely something to keep in mind  

 

Hi Denis,

 

considering the costs of so many vents, it`s a reasonable option to do them this way

 

Nils

[Beef Wellington]

I marvel at your ingenuity Nils, great solution for the vents.  The interior red colour is very striking, I'd thought these had always been painted white, but of course that is a silly assumption.  I really like the yellow/red combination.

[Mirabell61]

Many thanks to Jason and Crackers,

and to all the "likes"

for your appreciations.....

 

Jason,

the author of the card model set was the ingenious (late) designer Peter Brandt. He did quite some thorough research before he brought out a new authentic card model. In this case I`ll just copy his color giving (buff / red) as I like it also for the vents

 

Crackers,

thanks very much for your nice compliment, stay tuned...

 

Nils

Edited January 29, 2016 by Mirabell61

[popeye the sailor]

I'm sure of that.......Billing's sells them,  but they're plastic and in halves {you gotta put them together}.   I'm not a big fan of that type of plastic either.......and worst of all........they don't incorporate a throat in the bowl,  like you do.   {I drilled mine}.  hee...hee   

[Mirabell61]

Denis,

 

it`s also for the same reason, I do them myself. There is quite a variety of resin vents with RB models  webshop, but most of those also come without throat boring

 

Nils

[Jim Lad]

Very nicely constructed vents, Nils!

 

For those who might be wondering, red was a very common colour for the interior of cowl vents - probably more than 90% of ships used this colour.

 

John

[Mirabell61]

John,

 

many thanks for your input on the interior cowl vent color

 

Nils

[Piet]

Great idea Nils with the vents.  Sorry to say - hmm not - - my VOC ship doesn't use them so I don't have make them

 

You'll be busy manufacturing that many different vents my friend.

 

Cheers,

[druxey]

Quite the forest of ventilators!

[Mirabell61]

Many thanks for your comments Piet and Druxey,

 

Nils

[Mirabell61]

update

 

Build log part 30

 

today I`m starting with the forecastle railing, 8mm high in scale 1:144.

Base for soldering on is a L-shape brass profile, the railing is from 0,3 mm thick photoetched copper, the soldering is done with the small gas tourch, electronic solder and paste-typ flux

 

The brass L-profile is gently bent to follow the rim of the deck planking

 

Nils

 

 

L-type profile

 

 

 

0,3 mm photoetched copper railing

 

 

 

Shaping / bending the L-profile

 

 

 

 

 

positioning for to solder, little bits of solder every 15 mm appart

 

 

 

carefuly handling the heat flow.....

 

 

 

soldering done, and primercoat applied

 

 

 

the aft side (forecastle) still needs to be dressed

 

 

 

trust this shall be a sufficient way of fastening the railing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[pete48]

Looks Fantastic Nils.I like how you made the railings, Well done 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[Mirabell61]

Thank you Dirk,

do you perhaps have a pic as an example, how you do it (would like to see how others do it in 1:144)

 

Nils

 

Thank you Pete,

it was an idea of doing it that way, in order to get enough stability into it

 

Nils

[captainbob]

Beautiful work.  You are always showing us new ways to do things. 

 

Bob

[Mirabell61]

Thank you very much Bob,

 

sometimes it`s just trying out ideas......

 

Nils

[dgbot]

Fantastic work Nils.  I wonder if you have ever done any resistance soldering?

David B

[Omega1234]

Gees, those railings look great, Nils. I'm also taken by the lettering as well. They look great too.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[Mirabell61]

Hi David and Patrick,

and all the many "likes" recently, for appreciations and kind comments.....

 

David,

unfortunately I have no experience with resistance welding.......

For clean soldering results I prefer gas torch welding as far as accessibility allows, the possibility for controlling the heat flow, the moment the solder melts and creeps into the foreseen place allows quite accurate work. Alternatively I use the good old electric soldering iron

 

Patrick,

the lettering is of 0,3mm thick etched brass and has to be attached with high viscosity CA

 

Nils

[Mirabell61]

Update

 

I`m planing the arrangement for the staggered two breakwater barriers, the the elevated guide / slide rails for the heavy anchor stud link chains, the two large forecastle capstan winches with incorporated horizontal turning chain sprocket wheels. These wheels will get a 180° wrap angle, before the chains are led down through the deck into the chain hold.

Thanks to Peter (Mr. Hollom) there is a lovely photo of this detail on the actual ship, also showing the outcuts for the chain guide rails in the upper section of the second breakwater, next to the mighty capstans in the background.

 

The chain sprocket grooves ought to be made from castings, but because that is beyond my capability, I made a dummy from a wooden dowel, in order to determine the geometrie, of diameter, groove size, etc. to close fit the chain links well in a 180° wrap. The chain is also a dummy, until I receive the ordered stud link chain in same dimensions

 

An earlier little failure in planing caused quite a lot of fiddily recovering work : the forecastle railings should have been mounted after the two breakwaters are fixed in place. Now I ca`nt make them in one piece, I just do`nt get them stuck in and through the railing (now made in two halves....., wich ca`nt be soldered sufficiently without damaging the deck. Have to find a solution on this feature later on

 

Nils

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 9, 2016 by Mirabell61

[pete48]

Beautiful Work, Nils Looks Fantastic

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[archjofo]

Hi Nils,

 

fantastic work!

I'm excited.

[Mirabell61]

Many thanks Pete and Johann,

 

your kind comments are very much appreciated....

 

Nils

[Jim Lad]

Some interesting detail work on the forecastle, Nils.

 

By the way, in English the chain sprocket wheels for the anchor chain are called gypsies.

 

John

[Piet]

Nicely done on the capstan Nils and sorry for the railing problem.

 

Cheers,

[Mirabell61]

many thanks to John and Piet,

and all the "likes", for your appreciations....

 

John,

it will take some time to do all the intended forecastle fitting out (much trying out...)

Also many thanks for giving in  the correct term "gypsy", I am thankful for every hint in learning the English nautical terms, as they are not found in a regular dictionary

 

Piet,

thanks for your word, yes those fine structured railings have to be treated like raw eggs

 

 

Nils