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

[popeye the sailor]

I find the absence of pictures on less notable ships.........but on the other hand I've experienced it with famous ships too.   what you've done so far Nils is beyond words.  the structures,  the vents,  the railings,  are so very well done.   combined on one deck........or three,  and it becomes a world all it's own!

 

wonderful work Nils!  

[Mike40]

Nice work Nils. I'm always amazed how small some of these things are when pictured with a hand or other object that is a recognizable size. When you mention wood and steel combined on ships, I think  back to the ship I served on during my navy days from 1957-1961. It was a 10,000 ton 500 ft. long freighter/refrigerator ship built in 1945 and I can't remember ever seeing a single piece of wood on it, except for cargo pallets of course. Quite different than the ferries and ships here in Norway where wood is always present.

[Mirabell61]

Thank you very much Denis and MIke,

for your nice comments, and compliments.....

 

Denis,

the deck plans and information I gathered do not always show details exatcly so here and there I have to improvise a bit....

 

Mike,

the wooden partial structures on riveted iron ships (we`re talking about the year 1897) may still have had their origional design from the periods sailing ships and other old steamers.

Trust the scale 1:144 is the minimal size I would be willing and capable to build in, would rather choose 1:100 or 1:96 but in this case the model would tturn out too large with 2 meters length

 

also thanks to all the "likes"....

 

Nils

[Greg the peg leg sailor]

G'day Nils

Sorry that I haven't been in contact with you for long time. I had a few family's crisis and hadn't ad much time to do any postings.

Mate, you have done and incredible job and my eyes were picking from my head with amazement as I was going through your log.

Well done memitting!

Havagooday

Greg

[Mirabell61]

Hi Greg,

 

nice to hear from you, and that  you are posting again, thanks for your nice compliment....

 

Nils

[IgorSky]

Bravo, Nils! Fantastic job!

[Mirabell61]

Thank you very much Igor,

I`m pleased you like the recent progress....

 

Nils

[pete48]

Beautiful work Nils, She is really coming together Wow

 

Best Regards,

Pete 

[Mirabell61]

Beautiful work Nils, She is really coming together Wow

 

Best Regards,

Pete 

 

Many thanks Pete,

 

for your words, its still a long way to go, but fun to see it grow wih steady progress in small steps...

 

Nils

[Liberto]

Hello Nils, doing a very good job, I really like I congratulate you.
A hug Liberto

[Mirabell61]

Hello Nils, doing a very good job, I really like I congratulate you.

A hug Liberto

 

Liberto,

 

thank you for your kind compliment, much appreciated

 

Nils

[Mirabell61]

Update

 

it seems that this platform on the actual ship is deck-planked, but comprises no railing around it and not even an access ladder or stair to get on it. Presume it was for crew only, but still I think there should at least be a little ladder mounted, because the skylight windows as well as the small deck will have to be cleaned now and then. If I`m wrong, please let me know... So now I spent a litte improvised access-ladder which can be reached through the middle passage between the machineroom skylights (for crew only !)

 

The stairways to the lower deck are fitted and one can be seen through the open door of the starboard side companionway.

When grinding work is done in the workshop, the model is dust-protected by a light plastic foil that is held up by the two masts

 

Nils

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Martin W]

Hi Nils -- Fantastic!  I have to think that it's a good thing this ship is so enormous, with all the detail you're putting into it, you'd run out of room on anything smaller!!!

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[Mirabell61]

thanks for your words Martin,

 

and for looking in, its always a pleasure to read your comments....

 

Nils

[captainbob]

Update

 

it seems that this platform on the actual ship is deck-planked, but comprises no railing around it and not even an access ladder or stair to get on it. Presume it was for crew only, but still I think there should at least be a little ladder mounted, because the skylight windows as well as the small deck will have to be cleaned now and then. If I`m wrong, please let me know... So now I spent a litte improvised access-ladder which can be reached through the middle passage between the machineroom skylights (for crew only !)

 

 

 

I ran into the same thing on the Pequot.  There was a deck that the sailors had to get to but in the drawings and all the pictures I could not find any  means of access. 

 

I think the little ladder you add looks fine.

 

Bob

Edited November 11, 2016 by Cap'n'Bob

[Mirabell61]

I ran into the same thing on the Pequot.  There was a deck that the sailors had to get to but in the drawings and all the pictures I could not find any  means of access. 

 

I think the little ladder you add looks fine.

 

Bob

 

Thanks Bob,

 

Ilike your confirmation on that....

 

Nils

[popeye the sailor]

one would thing there would be a railing around it...........agree also on the ladder,  since there is no access even from inside the structure.  good idea on the covering........I cover  all my projects I'm not working on.  it definitely does cut down on the dust factor        considering where you have the ladder,  in photos it might not be seen,  unless they paid attention to it  

 

very nice!  

[Mirabell61]

Thanks Denis,

 

one day perhaps that riddle, ladder on the actual ship or not might be solved by someones photo....

 

Nils

[albert]

Hi Nils very nice model and wonderful work.

[Mirabell61]

Many thanks Albert,

 

Nils

[flyer]

Hi Nils

 

Once in a while I have to stop the silent admiring and tell you once again: simply fantastic work!

Just a question concerning that questionable but fantastic crew ladder: It seems a 'de luxe' solution just 'for crew only' (but I appreciate your care for the common crewman). Do you think they still could also have used simple steps mounted on the side of that wall, similar to the entry steps on the side of a 18th century sail ship?

 

Cheers

peter

[Mirabell61]

Peter,

 

Thank you very much, yes "de luxe" version is is the right comment, I just could`nt stand that the crew would have to climb on that platform like the monkeys on the rock, although they probably did so, as I understand from the missing access on the actual ship. Tadeus showed us in his beautiful  "La Salamandre" log, post # 574 how simple a ladder can be.....

 

Nils

[flyer]

Hi Nils

 

What a astonishing gem Tadeus is making! That 'totem pole ladder' would however be too old fashioned for your steamer. No I was thinking more of something like the boarding steps on your Pegasus but constructed as metal rungs in form of individual hoops which serve as step and handheld as well.

Cheers

 

peter

[Mirabell61]

Hi Nils

 

What a astonishing gem Tadeus is making! That 'totem pole ladder' would however be too old fashioned for your steamer. No I was thinking more of something like the boarding steps on your Pegasus but constructed as metal rungs in form of individual hoops which serve as step and handheld as well.

Cheers

 

peter

 

rethinking it from afterwards you are  right Peter,

 

that thought just did`nt come to my mind at that time, was thinking too much not to forget handrails for safety reasons....

Your comment of corse was understood well, right the first time..., thanks again...

 

Nils

[Mirabell61]

Update :

 

Build log part 50....

 

I`ve taken down all the boatsdeck, the dry fitting and vents, etc, in order to prepare for the permanent mounting of the aft boatsdeck half. But first there must be some fitting out to the promenade-deck-after-half portion like....

- fitting the mahogany handrail to the long railing

- mounting the 6 anchors on each side for the aft mast shrouds and backstays (they will go upwards through the boats deck in twelve places whilst the boats deck is glued on to the brass framework and the deckhousings below. Also the holes for the vent tubes and the aft mast that go through the deck have to be brought in alignment. Trust that all will be quite a tricky moment, hope it will go well and like it was intended.

- All the figurines on the aft half of the promenade deck must also be placed before the boatsdeck goes on (otherwise no access later !)

 

The little red tape markings on the outside frame are for showing where to put on the clamps when glueing the deck down...

 

Nils

 

 

Mahagony handrail all around. Red little tape markers, where to put on the clamps

 

 

 

 

 

10 of the 20 benches (scale 1:144) go on to the total promenade deck

 

 

 

 

 

the blackened anchors go through the boatsdeck when it is on and are for fastening the aft mast`s buckle screws of the shrouds and backstays

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[albert]

Great beautiful work Nils,very nice.

[rafine]

Extraordinary.

 

Bob

[Chasseur]

Really love it. The passengers make the ship come alive! Well done Nils. 

She is coming together nicely. 

Jeff

[dgbot]

Do you plan on taking reservations for her maiden voyage to Paris?

David B

[popeye the sailor]

awesome progress Nils..........fantastic workmanship!