HMS Bellona by yvesvidal - FINISHED - CAF Model - 1:48

[yvesvidal]

SESSION #4

 

 

Although, some work has already been done for Session #4, let's get into more details. Session #4 is covering the front and rear quarterdecks, what goes below them and what goes above as well as the bulwarks, which have been already completed (see instructions below): 

 

 

The kit provides two strips of 4 x 4 mm that must be carved to accommodate the required shape. I wanted to extend these strips all the way to the first rear guns and all the way to the front bulkhead. That can be done, but you have to carve the entire length and be very careful with the cuts. I wish CAF models would provide an additional strip: that would reduce the level of stress on this kit.... In the picture below, you can see what I am talking about: 

 

 

The next phase is the building of the kitchen wall with its two large doors opening on the massive stove. Again, CAF Models does not give you much in term of explanations:  

 

 

 

I decided to represent one of the two large doors, opened, in order to allow a peak into the kitchen and the stove.

 

 

 

Next is the assembly of the beams that will support the front quarterdeck: 

 

 

 

 

You can see the additional piece of wood that was added to hold the center part of the large doors.

 

 

Once the stove is in place, we are now ready to install the floor of the front quarterdeck.

 

Yves

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kevin]

the wall/bulhead looks brilliant

[yvesvidal]

More on Session #4 - The rear cabins under the rear quarterdeck were already built and I completed the beams structure on top of it: 

 

 

The section around the main mast is delicate and requires some thinking and vision, if you want to make it fit.

 

 

Of course, the bulwarks must be built before, since the beams are resting against them.

 

 

At this point, all the beams are in place, all the walls, cabins and guns located under the quarterdecks have been built and glued.

 

 

 

 

Let's take a close look at the overall ship: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a few close-ups: 

 

 

 

 

All the above will be covered and most likely very hard to see. 

 

Yves

[John Ruy]

Yves,

 

Its tough when such beautiful work has to be covered up, but we know it’s there. Thanks for sharing such an excellent work. Wow 😮 

[yvesvidal]

For the internal arrangement, I am taking some inspirations from this picture: 

 

 

This is from a fantastic web site: https://blenderartists.org/t/hms-pegasus-full-ship-building-in-progress/696956/49

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

Time to assemble the stove and install it into the kitchen. The stove is entirely made of Photo Etched parts, brass cast part for the socket of the chimney and a brass tube for the chimney.

 

 

Instructions are detailed, for once: 

 

 

 

 

I decided to solder the main body of the stove for added solidity and stiffness. All the other parts are glued with CA: 

 

 

 

I created a small base and simulated the bricks that are holding the stove and protecting the ship structure from the heat. The CAF kit has no provision for such thing.

 

The stove is painted Tamiya flat black: 

 

 

 

 

 

The insertion of the stove is delicate and the base is glued to the main deck: 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately, not much is visible....oh well, at least, we know it is there.....

 

 

 

Yves

 

 

 

 

[yvesvidal]

Time to install the sub-floors of the Forecastle and Quarter deck. For the Forecastle, CAF proposes two large pieces, which are covering 6 beams: 

 

 

That is not only difficult to size and adjust exactly, but it makes the gluing on the intermediate beams a little challenge. This is mostly due to the curvatures in two directions of these floors. In addition, CAF Model went with a 2mm thick plywood which is on the stiff side. I wish they had use 1.5 mm or even 1 mm thick, instead.

 

So, to get more precision and control about the gluing, I decided to cut these long parts in two: 

 

 

These are a lot easier to install and control.

 

 

The same is done for the rear quarterdeck: 

 

 

Cutting....

 

 

Time to glue all four parts: 

 

 

 

 

Overall view: a lot of the main deck details are occulted for ever.... so sad !!

 

 

I am approaching the Forecastle and Quarterdeck in this way for multiple reasons: 

• I can work on the bow, catheads and rails on the outside of the hull....and use clamps.
• I can work on the mid-ship railings (see below)
• It gives me some time before putting together the second gallery, rear balcony and main rooms on the Quarterdeck.

 

Yves

Edited September 20, 2022 by yvesvidal

[yvesvidal]

Folks, experts, I need your help here.

 

 

The picture above shows the rear quarterdeck subfloor. The stern is to the right and the bow to the left, with the main mast going into the square cut.

The rear capstan is located on the main deck.

Apparently, there is a staircase going down from the quarterdeck to the main deck. That staircase is located on the second opening from the right (center of the picture pretty much) and would come in conflict with the spikes of the rear capstan. The staircase would land approximately right before the hatch located to the right of the main mast.

 

How do I solve that impossible equation?  How did it work in real?

Was the rear capstan never actuated/operated/pushed from the main deck (but only from the gun deck)?

Was the staircase foldable or retracted when the main deck capstan was used? That seems unlikely, when looking at the size of it.

 

I could not find any information on the Anatomy book or other plans of Bellona. I suppose, removing the spikes would allow room for the staircase.

I am looking forward to reading your comments and suggestions.

 

Yves

[mort stoll]

Would the staircase lead from side to side as opposed from bow to stern?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[chris watton]

I am thinking the ladders were removed when using the capstan.

 

Here is an early cross section I did a long time ago, showing Bellona decks. The ladder would have to be removed when working the capstan.

[yvesvidal]

8 minutes ago, mort stoll said:

Would the staircase lead from side to side as opposed from bow to stern?

 

Mort, no the staircase is straight and goes forward down.

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

1 minute ago, chris watton said:

I am thinking the ladders were removed when using the capstan.

Here is an early cross section I did a long time ago, showing Bellona decks. The ladder would have to be removed when working the capstan.

 

Thank you Chris. Yes, that would make sense and on my model, I would either have to remove the staircase or remove the spikes around the Capstan.

 

Yves

[chris watton]

I have seen a lot of plans where there are green annotations and recommended changes. A lot, if you read between the lines, basically say 'why the hell did you put a ladderway there!', But with a lot more 18th Century decorum...

[yvesvidal]

2 hours ago, chris watton said:

I have seen a lot of plans where there are green annotations and recommended changes. A lot, if you read between the lines, basically say 'why the hell did you put a ladderway there!', But with a lot more 18th Century decorum...

My sentiments exactly !!! There are two square openings on each side of the main mast. They could have placed the staircase/ladders there....

 

Yves

[Hubac's Historian]

Maybe check-in with Mark, AKA SJSoane.

[druxey]

The pair of openings on the fore end of the quarter deck are for the top tackle when rigged. Otherwise, gratings or solid covers were placed over them.

[yvesvidal]

Moving along with the rear quarterdeck. The opening provided in the kit is not right (round opening) for the main mast: 

 

 

Therefore, it is necessary to perform some surgery.... and turn it into a square opening. I suppose the round opening may have been created to position exactly the sub-floors in relation to the main mast. We will give CAF the benefit of the doubt.....

 

 

Yves

 

[yvesvidal]

Then, we have this issue that we discussed a few posts ago: the conflict between the main ladder and the rear capstan !! 

 

I finally found a way around it, by simply cutting two spikes of the main capstan to free up some space for the ladder: 

 

 

 

That fits and it still retains that working (no longer now...) capstan. I recommend gluing the ladder before closing the second half of the sub-floor.

 

 

All this precious and delicate work is now fully covered. It is one of the drawbacks on these large ships with their multi decks, hiding all the equipment underneath.

 

 

A few pictures of what should remain unseen..... :-(

 

 

 

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

I am now working on the railings in the mid-section of the ship: 

 

 

The space inside the bulwarks is filled with pieces of wood for the hull planking. They fit perfectly and are glued with Titebond for additional strength and stiffness: 

 

 

After a nice sanding, the top rails can be installed: 

 

 

Et voila...

 

 

Yves

[AON]

I was hoping you would have received an answer regarding the ladder/capstan issue.

 

I believe the handles/spokes/spikes were only installed when the capstan was being used to do heavy work like raise the anchor, otherwise they'd be stowed away to create clearance for the crew to get around, eat meals and rig their hammocks for sleeping.

 

If this is indeed the location of the capstan and the ladder (as depicted on the plans), the ladder must have been removable so the capstan could be operated, just like all the interior bulkheads (cabin walls) were removable and stowed away to create clearance for the guns to operate.

 

They had more than enough crew to handle it, and tons of space to temporarily stow it off to the side.

[yvesvidal]

39 minutes ago, AON said:

I was hoping you would have received an answer regarding the ladder/capstan issue.

Aon, I did indeed receive an answer from Chris W. Yes, the ladder would have been folded or moved to another location. I wanted to keep the capstan (almost) fully deployed and retain the ladder in its regular position. I think I have achieved that and it really does not matter because nothing shows.

 

Yves

[AON]

Doh!

[yvesvidal]

A few progress on the railings, around the mid-ship: 

 

 

Both sides are completed.

 

Yves

 

[yvesvidal]

It is now time to work on the rear quarterdeck. Below is the last picture of that part of the ship, never to be seen again: 

 

 

As usual, I am gluing each side separately: 

 

 

Planking can be started for the starboard side of the ship: 

 

 

The floor is treated with Wipe On Poly and you can see the demarcation where the wood has not yet been treated.

 

The kit offers some bulwarks, unfortunately too short, leaving an impressive gap between the floor and the bulwark.

 

 

I am thinking to remedy to that error with a strip of wood carved as a water channel: 

 

 

That strip of wood is 4 mm high/thick and will fill that enormous gap. The other side is glued and the planking is completed: 

 

 

 

 

 

Et voila, where we stand: 

 

 

Yves

 

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

Nice work on the internals Yves, pity to have to cover them, but there’s satisfaction knowing they are there, and of course you have the photos.

The below decks shots are a great record to have.

 

B.E.

[mtaylor]

Good idea on the waterways, Yves.  She's looking good.  About the only way to let viewers know about the inboard works is photos.  Or a lot well placed cut outs which to many destroys the look of the model.

[Kevin]

lovely work, there are very few CAF builds around

[yvesvidal]

10 hours ago, Kevin said:

lovely work, there are very few CAF builds around

 

Once you tire of the HMSH Britannic, you need to resurrect your Enterprise, Kevin.

 

Yves

[Kevin]

3 hours ago, yvesvidal said:

 

Once you tire of the HMSH Britannic, you need to resurrect your Enterprise, Kevin.

 

Yves

my skill levels are not to the standard i wish them to be, lovely kit being downgraded by my workmanship

[yvesvidal]

3 hours ago, Kevin said:

my skill levels are not to the standard i wish them to be, lovely kit being downgraded by my workmanship

 

You are too hard on yourself. All the models you built, are really beautiful.

Yves