HMS Diana by dunnock - FINISHED - Caldercraft - 1:64

[DaveBaxt]

17 hours ago, dunnock said:

Many thanks for the compliments Dave although I find getting a realistic 'weight' to them is quite difficult. I think that the hanks and coils are definitely a work in progress

David

Good luck .I spent many hours trying different ways to try and mass produce them on my Bounty but still need to improve a lot.

Edited July 16, 2023 by DaveBaxt

[dunnock]

I see that it’s been over a month since I last posted an update but there’s been a lot going on over the summer with holidays and things to do in the garden. I had two weeks on a birding trip in Brasil in the last half of July which resulted in 1500 photos to go through – making progress but still not finished.

In between times I have been doing some work on Diana, mostly tidying up but after much procrastination and with full approval from my wife, I have mounted the remaining ships boats.

I made a star decoration for the catheads using styrene rod and strip (with acknowledgement to B.E. for his method and description in his Pegasus blog).

A pair of Chris Watton’s stern lanterns have been fitted. The lanterns are mounted on brackets formed from 1mm brass rod soldered and then blacked.

Last but not least, my daughter, who has a much steadier hand than I, painted the ensign and union jack on tissue paper which I have steamed into shape and hung. The flag dimensions were taken from a copy of Flags for Ship Modellers by Alec Purves. A range of sizes is given for the period and I chose what seemed the most in proportion to the ship, that is scale 128x67mm for the ensign and 43x24mm for the jack. AotS Diana lists an ensign staff of some 35’ but I imagined this getting in the way of the boom so have raised the ensign on a halyard from the gaff. The jack staff is 15’5” or scale 73mm but this was a little short for my flag so I have increased the length to 80mm.

Several repairs to rigging have had to be made owing to my clumsiness when manoeuvring the ship and I also damaged one of the stern lights. I am waiting a replacement from Vanguard Models. At the same time I have taken the opportunity of ordering my next project, HM Cutter Trial. I’m now eagerly awaiting delivery from UPS.

 

I now need to make a display case to keep Diana safe from further damage and dust. A glass case of the required size about 1280x850x500mm is going to be very heavy and expensive so I’m planning to make one using acrylic sheet but I’m not sure what thickness of sheet to use. I was thinking 5mm but perhaps I can get away with thinner. If anyone has any experience of cases in acrylic, I be interested to hear your thoughts.

 

I’ll write something of a conclusion on the build and post some better photos of the finished ship when I have been able to set up a suitable backdrop. In the meantime thanks to everyone who has been following this blog and for all the encouragement, help and support that you have given me over the last two and a half years.

 

David

[AJohnson]

She looks magnificent David, well done!  Looking forward to seeing the case.  I think from the the dimensions you give the minimum thickness might need to be 5mm to avoid flex of the main side panels.

 

I used this company for my Nisha:- www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk but it wouldn't be cheap for a case that big.  So if you have the skills, make your own might make more sense.

[dunnock]

Many thanks for your kind words Andrew.

I have been looking around a bit more and I think that you are right, the case will have to be at least 5mm thick acrylic. I priced a couple of custom-made cases and they are very expensive. I made a smaller case for HM Cutter Hunter but have never tackled on of the size need for DIana. I have completed a new stand so I now have the final case dimensions and will order some sheet next week.

 

David

 

[Blue Ensign]

A beautiful build David, Diana was the one model I regret not building, and looking at yours that regret is magnified.

I enjoyed re-reading your log a short while ago, and a wonderful job you have made of her.

 

Well done.👏

 

B.E.

[Ronald-V]

That is a fantastic build! Love the colors you used.  

[DaveBaxt]

1 hour ago, dunnock said:

Many thanks for your kind words Andrew.

I have been looking around a bit more and I think that you are right, the case will have to be at least 5mm thick acrylic. I priced a couple of custom-made cases and they are very expensive. I made a smaller case for HM Cutter Hunter but have never tackled on of the size need for DIana. I have completed a new stand so I now have the final case dimensions and will order some sheet next week.

 

David

 

A question if I may. Is the weight of perhaps the cheaper option of glass too heavy?

[allanyed]

Love the ship's boats, especially that you appropriately showed both single banked and double banked construction.    Too often instructions incorrectly call for double banked design even on the small boats. 

 

Allan

Edited August 25, 2023 by allanyed

[dunnock]

6 hours ago, Blue Ensign said:

A beautiful build David, Diana was the one model I regret not building, and looking at yours that regret is magnified.

I enjoyed re-reading your log a short while ago, and a wonderful job you have made of her.

Thank you very much B.E. but however good it may be is no small part due to your inspiration and the many tips and techniques that I've picked up from your logs and particularly from Pegasus.

 

 

[dunnock]

Mugje, Thanks very much. I particularly like the Tamiya Blue even if it's not that easy to apply.

 

Once again many thanks Andrew. I had a good start on the boats by using Vanguard's kits and modified them according to The AotS DIana

 

David

[dunnock]

Quote

5 hours ago, DaveBaxt said:

A question if I may. Is the weight of perhaps the cheaper option of glass too heavy?

Dave,

My understanding is that glass would be heavier even if I might be able to use thinner sheets. The density of glass is about twice that of acrylic sheet. Also I would be quite nervous of handling the size of glass sheet I need.

 

David

[DaveBaxt]

3 minutes ago, dunnock said:

Dave,

My understanding is that glass would be heavier even if I might be able to use thinner sheets. The density of glass is about twice that of acrylic sheet. Also I would be quite nervous of handling the size of glass sheet I need.

 

David

Very good points David

[dunnock]

Thanks again for all the likes and generous comments.

 

Diana is the biggest and most complicated ship that I have built but I've really enjoyed the challenges that it presented. Although it took a lot of time and some hair pulling, I'm glad that I went with the open rails on the quarter deck and my thanks go to Ray and Robdurant for showing me the way. Also my thanks to the many others on these forums that have posted tips, help and advice that I have shamelessly copied.

 

I've managed to take some better photos of the finished model which I've added below. I hope I haven't overdone it!

 

 

Thanks all for looking in. I hope to see you again on my log of HM Cutter Trial

 

David

 

 

[ccoyle]

Stunning! A model to be truly proud of.

[Ronald-V]

Really beautiful!!

Edited August 28, 2023 by mugje

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

beautiful work. very nice.

[RossR]

Great job.  I followed your build closely and as someone still new to modeling, your craftsmanship is a standard I hope to achieve someday.  Well done.   

[DavidEN]

Congratulations on finishing your excellent build David. The additional details that you have introduced really lift the model to the next level.

 

Regards,

David

[HardeeHarHar]

Great work!  It is quite stunning indeed!  Thanks for sharing so much useful information while building her too!!!

Edited August 29, 2023 by HardeeHarHar

[dunnock]

I have finally got Diana settled in her new home.

I was planning to make a case out of acrylic sheet but I found a local supplier of aquariums who was prepared to make a case. The cost was about the same as I could have bought the acrylic sheet so there was nothing to think about really

Jungle Pets of Buxton, Derbyshire (junglepets.co.uk) made the case in 6mm glass and delivered it a while ago but I have been waiting for a piece of furniture on which to place it. This was delivered earlier in the week.

With me in the role of supervisor, my daughter and partner – much younger, fitter and stronger than me, manoeuvred the case into position over the ship and onto the baseboard without mishap. We breathed a sigh of relief.

I guess this is really the end of the Story of Diana for me.

Thanks again to all those who have followed, commented and given advice

 

David

[DaveBaxt]

She looks absolutely fantastic in her new home and what a feature to have in any room, although it will need to be quite large. Haha You must be very proud so take a bow David.

        I will definitely be looking at alternatives to acrylic as although it is lightweight it is also very expensive. 

[ccoyle]

Now there's a conversation starter, to be sure!

[HardeeHarHar]

Beautiful work and quite a statement piece to have in a home.  I hope you take lots of time to just admire your excellent work.

[DavidEN]

Well done David. It is an impressive addition to the room. I like the way you have incorporated your reference books into the display. Your build log has proved very to me as it has to others I am sure.

Regards,

David

[dunnock]

22 hours ago, DaveBaxt said:

She looks absolutely fantastic in her new home and what a feature to have in any room, although it will need to be quite large. Haha You must be very proud so take a bow David.

        I will definitely be looking at alternatives to acrylic as although it is lightweight it is also very expensive. 

Thank you Dave. I was seriously considering making my own from acrylic sheet but since this company could make one in glass for a similar price to buying the acrylic and much cheaper than any other case supplier I had found, I decide to go with it. When it arrived, the case looked enormous but the overall look is diminished on the model and although it takes up a fair bit of wall space and we moved a sofa upstairs to accommodate it, it sits quite nicely in the room. Even my better half is now happy but I'm now closely questioned about where future ships might go. 😊

 

 

18 hours ago, HardeeHarHar said:

Beautiful work and quite a statement piece to have in a home.  I hope you take lots of time to just admire your excellent work.

Thanks Brian. I have to walk past it every day to enter 'the shipyard'

 

..... and thanks Chris and David to for your kind comments and to all others for the likes you have posted.

 

David

 

 

[AJohnson]

That looks very nice David, a real centre piece for your room. 

[Thukydides]

Fantastic, she looks really nice.

[dunnock]

Thanks Andrew and Thukydides. Your complements are much appreciated.

David

[Beef Wellington]

Hi David, so pleased to see you have completed her, unfortunately I've not been 'around' for a bit so missed the last steps in real time.  Congratulations!  You have created a truly spectacular model, and I have greatly enjoyed following your build from the start and learning with you, one of the great fellowship of Diana builders 🙂 I look forward to catching up with your future builds!  All the best, Jason

[Blue Ensign]

A fitting presentation, to complete a great build, well done David.

 

B.E.