Maersk Detroit by xken - 1:354 scale - Container ship

[xken]

I glued all the decks together except the top Bridge/Nav. deck; need to still sort out the window installation. After the glue set I then sanded all the mating surfaces and then added glaze as needed, sanded, glazed and then primed and sanded. Finally once satisfied I painted white. 

When priming and painting I used the spray cans, first warming them and holding back with light coats to seal the glaze then painting again with light coats. The real fun was masking off the green decks prior to painting, I used 1/4" masking tape and made sure to burnish all edges to avoid any paint bleed onto the green. I cut a piece of strip wood with a bevel on the end as a burnishing tool. 

 

 

 

 

Before I can add the ladder ways I will need to sort out how to add the windows on all the smooth sides. Still waiting for paint to arrive from MicroMark, perhaps next week. Next I will decide whether to add window glazing or not, will do some testing.   

[Omega1234]

Very nice, Ken.

 

You're really romping along with the cabins and decks now.  Great progress.

 

Cheers  

 

Patrick

[xken]

Today the smoke arrived from Santa Barbara "Thomas" fire. Here is a picture that was posted from 10 am. this morning. It was eerie seeing the sun blood red through the smoke cloud.  

[xken]

Well the smoke was only around one day and all is clear now. While waiting for the airbrush paint to show up I painted the bow splash wall and then realized that before adding the rails that it would be easier to locate and paint the tower windows first. I copied the tower face CAD drawing and made a paper location stencil cutting out the windows. Once taped to the front wall I dry dabbed black paint to define the locations and then used strips of blue tape for the final shapes of the windows and painted with a small brush using two light coats.

 

Then the airbrush paint arrived and I then painted the previously primed rails. It has been 45 years since I last used an airbrush, but just like riding a bike it all came back. I glued the top rail in place and then added the top deck, easier to get this rail in place first. Now I am slowly working my way up from the bottom adding the painted rails. I am glad the tower is not glued in place yet, because adding the rails is a tediously slow process to get right.

 

I might also mention that I added the window glazing before gluing the top deck in place. I used card stock for pattern development and then cut out each window as required and once finally fitted was glued in place with tiny wood strips to hold in place on the inside. Glad I built in the bottom access hole just for this purpose. I did have to enlarge the hole for better access.

 

 

This shows the typical taping process used.  

 

 

 

 

 

Now back to adding deck rails.

[Jim Lad]

Now she's really starting to look like a ship, Ken!

 

John

[xken]

John, thank you and yes it is. I finished up the rails and then added the ladder ways until I ran out and have since ordered more of both. I found the best way to fold the rails and ladders was to use small steel blocks that have sharp edges keeping things a crisp as possible. Here are a couple of views of the starboard side of the tower done. This is my first experience with these kind of tiny PE parts. 

 

 

 

While waiting for the additional parts to arrive from Tom's I will start parts for the mooring and forecastle decks.

[Canute]

Bravo Zulu, Ken.

[xken]

The ladders have arrived from Tom's Modelworks. While waiting for them to arrive I made the bollards for the decks and started the winches for the decks. There appears to be three different kinds of winch set-ups; two for anchors, 6 for mooring and two that I will call general purpose. All start out with the same basic construction with add-ons for specific purposes. 

 

After grinding a parting tool down to 1/32" to cut the gaps between the rope reels, I started by turning the basic reel set up starting with 3/16" brass bar and then started one of the frames for sizing. I used a turned piece of aluminum and moved the cutting tool horizontally to cut grooves for fins on the electric motor. 1 started 9 to go as well as finishing up the ladder ways.

 

 

My build time and updates will now be sporadic at best until New Years; my son, his wife and the twin grandsons travel tomorrow from NYC and will be here until the 28th. This will be their first time seeing the Constitution completed that will eventually be at their home on Long Island. 

 

[xken]

I hope all had as great a holiday season as we did with all the kids here for Christmas. We had four generations under one roof; Gretchen's father, Gretchen, our daughter Heather and Eric with grand children Sophia and Daphne;  Alex and Tyler. This picture was taken at Heather's house where we spent most of the time together.

 

 

Both Evan and Eric got to see their ships. Here is Evan holding his ship, still a work in progress.

 

Here is Eric and I standing next to his. He really loved the signal flags with the boys names on them.

I also spent a little time after Eric, Jamie and the boys returned to New York working on drawings for the LCVP for the Maritime Museum here in Morro Bay. At 1/12 scale it will be 36 inches long. Here is a PDF of one sheet of the plans I have so far. Once the drawings are done enough I will sort out a materials list to start the build.

LCVP PLAN.pdf

 

For now back to making the ladders and winches. HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

 

 

 

[xken]

I finished up the ladderways and then added the mooring deck rails.

 

 

 

 

Next I made the mooring deck winches of which there are two styles, as well as left and rights based upon the electric motor location. Here they are set on the plans.

 

Here they are set on the deck with bits and mooring posts. White rope will be added before the winches are glued in place.

 

 

Next I moved on to the bow that has three winches the same as the mooring deck; in addition there are anchor winches and the pictures show "in progress" anchor winches in place on the bow fore deck.

 

 

The anchor chain will index into the hole with the brake arm over the roller and into the deck. Just a great deal of more details and fixtures to add yet. 

[michael mott]

Nice shots of the family great to be able to put a face to the name Ken.

 

Michael

[Mirabell61]

beautiful work Ken,

 

Nils

[xken]

After a weekend of helping the Admiral at her Bird Festival Show selling her artwork as grunt labor I am now back to work. I am working back and forth between the bow and stern mooring decks along with the foremast. These parts are a combination of brass and wood materials as appropriate. Here is a picture of the foremast showing parts prior to painting and adding the signal lights. The wood blocks are flood lights that light up the area in front of the bow. The large horn id the fog horn, the smaller facing forward id the ship's bell and the rear facing is the loud speaker for bridge commands to the decks. 

 

 

Here is an in progress bow mooring deck with the winches in place with white ropes and yellow caution painted areas. Here you can see the lights have been added and lenses painted white. I still have to add the rope guides at the openings as well as the platform between the two anchor winches.

 

 

Now back to more fittings.

 

   

Edited January 17, 2018 by xken
Spelling error

[xken]

I have been working back and forth between the bow and stern mooring decks working on the various items. Here is a picture of the stern mooring deck.

 

 

Here is a close up of the ladderway on the starboard side formed from one of Tom's PE sheets. Also note some yellow caution paint on some components which I added per photos.

 

 

One of the more challenging items was a raised platform between the anchor winches that has a meshed floor. My wife had some ribbon that came on a flower bouquet that I liberated from her. I sprayed a section with gray paint let it tack off and then pressed it between two steel blocks to set flat.

 

 

Next I cut a pattern of the platform floor and bent a .020" brass rod around the perimeter of the pattern and soldered the joint.

 

 

I then hammered the formed shape flat and then filed it smooth on both sides.

 

 

Next I bent three U shapes for the legs and hammered the center flat for a mating surface with the frame when soldered together. Once all were soldered in place the legs were all cut to the correct length needed. I then glued a formed ladderway to the edge of the frame and allowed the glue to really set hard.

 

 

I then sprayed the platform frame with gray paint and using a medium thick CA glued the frame to the painted ribbon. Once the glue set I carefully cut it out around the perimeter.

 

 

Next came the rails cut and fitted to the frame and then the painted with the ladderway rails and steps painted yellow.

 

 

Here is the platform in place along with the rest of the fixtures on the bow mooring deck with the various yellow caution highlights.

 

 

 

Now back to adding more details.

[Cathead]

That looks fantastic. What is that platform for; it appears to lead to nowhere?

[xken]

Cathead, I have to add a few more details there are two ladderways to be added at the end against the bulkhead and two wheels that I think work the anchor brakes while standing on the platform. Standby more to come. 

[Canute]

You may want to look at this site. It's for HO and N scale railroad equipment and may be too coarse. But it's brass and stainless parts: http://www.planomodelproducts.com/

[Jim Lad]

Great work, Ken.

 

John

[xken]

Ken, thanks for the link and your assessment is correct a little too course, but will save for future reference.

[Cpt Jack Sparrow]

Amazing skills Ken!

[xken]

A quick update to show the bow mooring deck with the emergency hand operated anchor brake handles in place along with the ladderways on either side. Evan said that the brakes are normally electo-hydraulically operated and that the handles rise up and down with the anchor chain mechanism, hence the U shaped handles.

 

I thought I would share the steps to make these small handles and how they were soldered while indexed into horizontal ring.

 

 

 

Here is a unabashed plug for why I love the precision of my Sherline lathe turning down .020" locating pins on the handle shaft. My cutting tool is a parting tool ground down to a 1/32" cutting edge.

 

 

Here they are in place. Evan said that the ladderways allowed quick access from the deck sides or front if a winch failure happens.

 

 

Now to the rope bollards for both mooring decks. Still waiting to hear back about the LCVP project; may end up another hurry up and wait project. 

 

[Jim Lad]

That looks a heck of a crowded forecastle, Ken.  Great work.

 

John

[Roger Pellett]

Ken, 

 

I hope that you get to build the LCVP.  Several years ago Paul Fontenoy published a series of articles in the Nautical Research Journal describing the restoration of an LCVP by the North Carolina Maritime Museum.  This article describes the research that the museum conducted (including original BuShips drawings).

 

Roger

[xken]

Roger, do you remember the year or the Journal numbers of the series?

[kurtvd19]

Ken:

It's a two-part article.  Started in Vol 54.1 and concluded in Vol 54.2.  I can provide a pdf copy of the article.  We sell back articles in the NRG store for $2.50 each - downloaded as pdf's - but this one isn't posted yet.  Contact the NRG office about payment & I will get it sent to you.

Kurt

[Roger Pellett]

Thanks Kurt for the reference.  To get Ken this info I would have had to dig through a stack of journals several feet high.

 

Roger

[kurtvd19]

Roger:

Thanks for pointing the article out for Ken.

 

That's why I keep the annual index from the first SNL each year.  I put each index into a 3 ring binder as well as on the HD of my desktop.  Yet, I sometimes do just as you said - search the covers of the collection. 

 

Interesting thing about the restoration job.  Only shortly after the boat was finished and delivered to the museum here in IL they somehow severely damaged the hull structurally when moving it on or off the trailer for it's first major showing and it's no longer on exhibit.  the last I heard.  It's about 10 miles from my place and have never been able to go see it - planned to give it a look but they took it out of public view before I got the chance.

 

Kurt

[xken]

Kurt, I sent you a PM about the article and payment. Thanks to both Roger and Kurt! 

[Landlocked123]

Hi Guys,

 

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a LCVP?  Thanks.

 

Best,

John

 

[Jack12477]

LCVP => landing craft, vehicle, personnel aka Higgins boats WWII

Edited January 28, 2018 by Jack12477