HMCSS Victoria 1855 by BANYAN - 1:72

[Jim Lad]

Sounds like all your ships were down south, Pat.  Did you manage to get up north at all?

 

John

[KeithAug]

16 hours ago, Jim Lad said:

Sounds like all your ships were down south, Pat.

John - The Britannia is only south if you are Scottish - moored in Leith - Edinburgh.

[Jim Lad]

Oops!  Missed the 'Britannia in the list!  Besides, my brother-in-law lives in Fort William, so still south! 

 

John

[BANYAN]

Hi John,

 

Would have loved to do more but the only ship 'up north' (by UK standards - as all are up north from Melbourne) was the Britannia (thanks Keith).  I think I may have had my leave cancelled if I had sounded out the Admiral to do more   As it was she was having 'kittens' by my wanting to climb the rigging on the SS Great Britain.  There was a chance to do it (for a fee) but unfortunately the activity had closed by the time the tour had finished  

 

I did have Chatham on my list but time ran out unfortunately.  I was told it is undergoing a major refurbishment and that it will be a much better visit in the future - so there's my excuse to go back  

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Jim Lad]

You also still have the 'Trincomalee' in Hartlepool and the 'Unicorn' and 'Discovery' in Dundee - at least! 

 

John

[cog]

5 hours ago, BANYAN said:

it will be a much better visit in the future - so there's my excuse to go back

Maybe a UK meeting for Europe once finished ...

[BANYAN]

Hi Carl,

If I get the chance to go back I will certainly allow a couple of days to catch upu with a few MSW members   The last trip was just too hectic with a lot compressed into a very short time..

 

John, there is also the Titanic experience in Belfast (I think).

 

cheers

 

Pat

[cog]

Japanese or American speed tours ...

[BANYAN]

Hi Carl,

At times it felt like that   

cheers

 

Pat

[cog]

You've got the time, a leisurly pace would be nice ... on the other hand, you did see Victory, and other ships which I still have to visit!

[Beef Wellington]

Fantastic metalwork Pat, pleasure to catch up on all the great progress, the small details are the 'fun' things but make the model IMHO.  Would love to have your abilities here!

[BANYAN]

BW I am sure you could create these and bsides I am very envious of your quality finishes.

Thanks for your kind words 

[BANYAN]

Hi folks, another quick update.  I have been side tracked with research of late but have managed to make a start on the broadside guns.  These were 32 pounder 25 cwt guns to the Dundas pattern, mounted on rear-chock carriages.  As usual close ups show more dust, lumps etc than to the naked eye, so I am going to have to clean them up a little more yet

 

As you can see these are small at 1:72, only 22 x 12mm at the widest, and the prototype  is a rough 3D print barrel.  The ones I will fit will be printed to a much higher fidelity and include the sights and gunlock - won't be as 'rough'.  The prototype was used to ensure it fitted the ports etc correctly, and work out a way to run the production line.  The rear worm drive elevating mechanism still has to have the handle added and the striker plate on the chooch will be a little more refined.

 

The production version wheels are only dry fitted as I am still trying to determine whether to blacken the outer hub.  the photo I am using as a reference (of the actual ship's gun) and contemporary information suggest these, and the wheel rims /rollers were made from gunmetal and not iron.  They just seem a little too bright but my attempts to dull them have produced inconsistent results - I may just live with them

 

 

cheers

 

Pat

 

 

Edited October 17, 2019 by BANYAN

[EdT]

Looking good, Pat!

 

Ed

[rwiederrich]

Amazing cannon work Pat.

 

Rob

[KeithAug]

Nice work on the guns Pat. I took the opportunity to re-look through the earlier parts of the build and remind myself how nicely made your small parts are. A good way to spend an hour.

[BANYAN]

Thanks Ed, Rob and Keith, appreciate the feedback from such fine model builders.  Six carriages now made, just waiting for some PE and the barrels.  I have made a start on the gun tackles - ugh!  Talk about a frustrating task with 2.5mm blocks and 2mm hooks - one down only 11 to go   

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited October 17, 2019 by BANYAN

[Tony Hunt]

This whole model is a wonderful piece of both research and craftsmanship. As a fellow Australian I love that you're building a model of such local relevance, too.

[BANYAN]

Thanks Tony, you made my day with your comment re local history; exactly what I am trying to achieve here - preserve the history of this ship   and, thanks also for the 'kudos'.

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited October 19, 2019 by BANYAN

[Tony Hunt]

You're very welcome Pat. The world needs more models like this one!

[rwiederrich]

Pat....any updates on the Victoria?

 

Rob

[BANYAN]

Hi Rob, not too far off.  I have been sidetracked with a lot of research on the rigging, getting the "honey please do and Christmas to do lists done and...   You get the idea I think too many things to do and not enough hours.  I am currently working on completing the broadside guns.

 

Thanks for looking in.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[BANYAN]

Hi all, after a short (ish) sojourn I am back at the modelling desk; a long list of 'honey please do' jobs and continued research (on the rigging) interrupted by the festive season is my excuse

 

The following shows the additional work that has been done.  The progress photo (before fitting the circular skylights) shows the broadside gun carriages loosely sited in their future position.   I cannot progress these until we finish printing the 3D barrels but unfortunately my mate helping me with that, has a few health issues and that must take priority.  I have the trunnion caps, tackles and breeching ropes ready to go once we are in a position to print the guns.  the pivot gun slide has also been made and all the pieces for the carriage which sits on top have been cut but not yet assembled.

 

    

 

The circular skylights were made from turned acrylic rod (8mm) and PE which I drew up and I had etched here in Melbourne.  The photos show the 'prototype skylight which has since been cleaned up a little more.  Al (alpayed on this forum - building the Danmark) turned these for me as I was doing something wrong and the rod kept melting on me.  These formed the base with the spigot being used as the locating pins and a small hole was drilled in the top while still in the lathe to accept a brass pin.  This pin is intended to represent a small rod and cover in the actual item that could be raised to allow ventilation through the skylight.  The sides were photo etched with the brass vertical bars etched deeper so that when the top and bottom were painted to represent the wooden parts, it looked like the bars were recessed.  The side were rolled and formed on a dowel then silver soldered for strength before painting. 

 

The conical part represents the bars over the top but at this scale it proved simply too difficult to include the wooden framing.  Overall I think they came out ok, but I am tempted to redo the tops as I could not get the 'exact' diameter of the formed cone to sit on top of the side pieces.  to the eye it looks fine, but a close inspection, especially through the camera shows they are not sitting uniformly on top of the side pieces.

 

cheers, and a very happy, healthy and safe 2020

 

Pat

 

    

 

[Jim Lad]

Very neat looking skylights in spite of your protestations, Pat!

 

John

[BANYAN]

Thanks John, this is what they should have looked like  .

 

Happy New Year to you both and wishing you a safe and fulfilling 2020

 

cheers

 

Pat

[michael mott]

Don't be too hard on yourself Pat, those skylight look great. The rest of the ship is coming along nicely as well.

 

Michael

[cog]

Pat,

those skylights look marvelous, you should take scale into account, and not mix up realism, with reality. Somehow modellers seem to think they can recreate at a small scale up to some tiny detail which would hardly be visible on an enlarged image of the real thing. You can be proud of your creation. Your deck is filling up nicely!

[KeithAug]

Interesting approach to the skylights Pat. Like others I think you are being a little hard on yourself, they look pretty good to me.

[druxey]

The melting issue when turning acrylic could be one of two things. Use the slowest speed possible and a sharp pointed tool bit. A wide cutting bit and/or too fast a turning speed creates enough heat to melt acrylic. Anyway, she is looking very good, Pat!

Edited January 2, 2020 by druxey

[wefalck]

Yes, these Victorian skylights are masterpieces of joinery and a challenge to model, particularly at such small scale.

 

Building them around a acrylic glass core would also have been my method of choice. A few months back I confronted the same problem. In one case I etched little grooves into the inside of the 'wooden' frame to provide for the uniform spacing of the bars. In another case I milled the grooves into a raised part of the acrylic core and built up the panelling with styrene sheet. The bars are/will be short sections of very fine brass wire lacquered in. Lacquer has the advantage over e.g. CA glue that I can adjust the wires, if needed. Painting them without messing up everything will be a challenge still lying ahead.

 

And I agree, you did a good job on those skylights !

 

P.S. (added after I read druxey's comment) - tools indeed have to be sharp and should have a relatively steep rake; it is, however, also a question of the material, as not all acrylics are exactly the same; I occasionally found that people are trying to sell other clear plastic as 'acrylic glass'; personally, I am lucky to still work from a stock of original Plexiglas, obtained directly from the manufacturers, when my father was working for a daughter company to Röhm GmbH, as it was known then.

Edited January 2, 2020 by wefalck