HMS MIMI 1915 by Ras Ambrioso - FINISHED - Scale 1:24 - Fast Motor Launch

[Ras Ambrioso]

My knowledge is increasing exponentially since I joined this forum. I just learned a lot about cuttle fish bones on wikipedia. Amazing bones. Thanks Mark.

[Charter33]

I had a quick look and there are plenty of really good video tutorials out there on the cuttlefish bone casting technique. Its a very old traditional method but one word of caution - the pouring of the molten metal is best done outside or in a very well ventilated area - the smell of the charred bone is quite strong!

Graham.

[Ras Ambrioso]

Making slow progress as the Admiral is out of town and I have to handle a few household "honey do's". I have concentrated now on finishing the cockpit. First was the helm that was a fairly easy job as I am using the supplied metal part. I did a lot of cleaning on the wheel and following is the result.

I am still in the dark about the rest of the required engine control instruments for this boat. I assume they should have had a compass, throttles for both engines plus oil and gas gages. I would appreciate the input of the forum on these items.

I have fabricated the ammunition lockers (no pictures yet) and last but not least: a tool box.

This is the look of my shop while making the tool box. Amazing use of the space for such a minute part. LOL

Next, I am thinking of making the cabin roof removable so that we can all admire the engines. After that is done, I will start my favorite subject, that is, making the guns for this little warrior.

 

 

This experience has been like candy to my thoughts and I am already looking at my next projects and haven't decided between two subjects: the first one is a World War One  Austro-Hungarian Danube river monitor and the second is a WWI British Costal Motor Boat (CMB) torpedo boat. Maybe, I will build both.

 

Thanks for following.

 

[wefalck]

I recently became aware of a YouTube-video that tells the story of the ships/boats on Lake Tanganjika: 

 

 

The images used are those that you showed in the first post.

 

Any progress on the model?

 

[Ras Ambrioso]

Wefalk, thanks for the video. It is a great addition to my information package on HMS Mimi. The model has had a very slow progress. Mainly because I am fabricating miscellaneous microscopic parts that keep disappearing into the floor carpet.

 

Hinges and locks for the ammunition lockers 

 

3 pounder gun base.

Helm.

This afternoon I will take additional pictures of the ship and the deck fitting 

 

[wefalck]

Screw it well down, the base for the 3-pounder-QF - according to the video, when they first tried it out, it flew off the boat taking the crew with it ...

[Ras Ambrioso]

Wefalck, you are absolutely right. On the first try of the gun the gunner was kicked out if the boat when firing sideways. Also the boat rolled almost to the gunnels. Then, they modified the base, and you can see, on the drawings I posted on post #1, how they reinforced the gun base all the way to keelson. They also lowered the gun so that the gunner actually had to kneel to fire it. From then on they actually deleted the sponsons on the sides and the routine was to fire the gun only looking forward.  I wondered about how would the gunner and the ammo would have to climb from the cockpit to the forward deck. It must had been a risky try.

Those were the things that made me think about building this particular model, A great history behind a simple wooden 40 ft launch.

Following are some more pictures of the progress on the model. Please note that the deck accessories are only dry fitted. After I complete the deck  fittings, I will paint the hull and proceed to build the guns, install the engines and set the cabin roof that will be removable to allow seeing the engines.

A view of the aft deck and the quarterdeck with the ammo lockers.

The foredeck.

The cockpit with a tool box and ready ammo rack.

And finally, my redition of the ammunition for the 3 pounder gun.

The one on the left is the kit supplied one. Still need need to refine my duplicating ability.

 

[wefalck]

One possibility to duplicate parts, such as the shell is to use a shaped turning bit. This can be ground from a piece of old hacksaw-blade. You would need a bit of a clearing angle, but no top-rake for brass. One would rough out the shape with normal turning tools and just give the part the final shape with the shaped bit.

 

Coming on nicely, the model !

 

[KeithAug]

On 11/22/2022 at 7:10 PM, Ras Ambrioso said:

disappearing into the floor carpet.

You have carpet!!! lap of luxury. Great little ammo boxes.

[TBlack]

Also, nice looking shop. I’m envious!

[Ras Ambrioso]

Thank you guys for the comments and the likes.This forum has helped me tremendously by challenging my abilities.

 

Tblack, I live in Senior living facility and they have a "work shed". Everyone that has worked here has donated their tools so we have ample supply of everything including a precision $10,000 router/saw table. Before I moved in, we had sold our house which included my shed full of my tools. As I started back to the hobby I found myself rebuying all of the tool needed for the small work. Right now I am the only one working in this shop. There is another modeler in the building but he rather work in his apartment. Him and I share share spaces in the curio cabinets at the lobby, where we have our models displayed.

 

Keith, I have to admit that the carpet in the shop is awfully old and dirty. And it has an endless appetite for small items. 

 

Thanks again

[Ras Ambrioso]

This last week I have been working on the hull painting. I had to cover the whole topsides and in sequence spray the hull. The bottom of the hull is described as a dull dark green in my data but had no idea of the top colors. Since r this is a war ship I figured a light grey will be adequate. And thus is the result.

After drying, I coated the hull with Minwax polyurethane satin finish. Little bit of touching up will correct some of my mistakes or misses. Painting is not my forte.

Now I can proceed to install all of the deck items I have already fabricated and begin building the guns. The end is near.

[Ras Ambrioso]

Finally I can show some progress on Mimi. I did not like the printed planking provided in the kit, so I used prefabricated scored planks from Micromark. Completed the work under the water line by adding the propellers and the rudder. I omitted the propeller skegs.  Then I fabricated the top of the cabin, making it removable so as to show the engine room details. Completed the installation of all the deck accessories previously fabricated. Also installed the side rubbing strakes.

There are a few bo-bo boos and some touch up required . 

The Admiral and I are going to be away during the holidays. I hate to leave sunny Florida and spend the Christmas in cold Indiana but family duties prevail and thus I am packing all my winter gear. I plan to work on the engineering for the upcoming tasks which are: to build the guns using my mini lathe. I also plan to build the bilge pump and the hand cranked siren. I wish y'all a merry Christmas and a most prosperous New Year and, specially for Valeriy sake, peace in the world.

[Ras Ambrioso]

Thanks for the likes guys. You all are one of the reasons I am improving my skills.

[KeithAug]

Ras - nice job on the lockers. I particularly like the cup holder for the six pack of lager to the starboard side of the steering position. 

[Ras Ambrioso]

Ha, Ha, Ha, Keith. Those are the ready ammo lockers, with the ammunition supply to pass on to the gunner forward. After the battle their use is left to the crew. Ammo diameter is approximately 2 1/2" which will fit a regular beer can, however, the space is almost 20" deep. It will be hard to pull those cans inside the openings past the rim of the locker. But, maybe they could fill the holes with ice and load only a six pack. British sailors were pretty savvy with respect to spirits so I am sure they would have figure it out. LOL

[Ras Ambrioso]

Mimi is back. Me and the Admiral spent the holidays in Indiana in the middle of a blizzard and a disastrous return home when Southwest airlines canceled our flight back. We opted to drive and, a 14 hour trip took us 20 hours due to the heavy traffic in the interstate roads, Now we are back in our loved sunny Florida.

 

Still working on the finish details. Here is my interpretation of the bilge pump that shows in the drawings.

 

The unpainted parts.

Following is the finish pump dry fitted in place.

 

Tomorrow I will be working on the Maxim machine gun. See you then.

 

[KeithAug]

Good to see you back but 20 hours must have been shattering.

[Roger Pellett]

Ras, where in Indiana were you driving from?  My son lives in Evansville and I have often thought about driving to Florida.  I think that Evansville is approximately half way between Duluth, MN and Southwest Florida so we could break up the trip by visiting him for a couple of days.

 

Roger

[Ras Ambrioso]

Roger, were in Westfield, just north of Indianapolis.

 

Keith , the trip was hell on wheels. We got stuck in Nashville and had to detour more than 50 miles. Then we got stuck again in Atlanta. At my age , it was too much.

[Roger Pellett]

That’s 2 hours North of Evansville.  I think that we’ll fly this year.

[Ras Ambrioso]

Started the work on the Maxim and when I drew the schematic I was amazed at the number of microscopic parts I had to make. But, following the example of the masters in this forum, I started with the easy ones: the water cooled barrel and the body of the receiver.

 

Then came the first miniature challenge: the mainspring housing. 

Today I worked on several mini-parts but, unfortunately, forgot to take pictures. I made the belt feed tray and the charging handle. I also worked on the swivel mount. In the plans I have, the gun seem to have a two way swivel: elevation and training. Without any restrain. But, in looking at real gun pictures the swivel was restrained in both directions with adjustments by the operator. This would keep the fields of fire constant and relieve the operator of fighting the recoil. So I am now trying the imitate the mounting shown in the picture below.

I figured that the operators would have not been any Rambo's firing a 30 caliber weapon hands free.

 

Thanks for watching and comments are appreciated.

[wefalck]

I am not an expert on the Vickers, but I think your photographs shows a tripod-mount as 'heavy' machine-gun for land-use. There, the tactical situation is different in the sense, that when you combat attcking infantry, you only need small changes in elevation, as the enemy is approaching or for spraying enemy positions at greater distance, you don't want to change your elevation once you are sure that you hit those positions. Hence the elevation screw. 

 

In naval combat situations, your own boat and that of an enemy are moving fast, hence you constantly have to adjust the elevation to keep the target under fire. I think naval light guns, including machine-guns had some sort of friction-brakes on the pivots and horizontal bearings. One sometimes sees little hand-levers with which these brakes can be adjusted or completely locked. These friction-bearings probaly are just split rings that can be pulled together with a screw that is operated by the hand-lever.

[Ras Ambrioso]

Wefalk, you are right. On second thoughts the MG I posted is a tripod mount heavy service. It is good you came with the explanations as today I spent the whole morning trying to fabricate the elevation arms and making them parallel. Without them I have a simple two way saddle mount. I have made more of the small parts and tomorrow I will post more pictures. Love working with metal parts.

Thanks for the likes. 

[Ras Ambrioso]

Well , as promised, these are the latest photos of my miniature Maxim. Still need to make the operating handles and the support brackets for the MG post. From top to bottom you have : mainspring housing, sights, receiver and water cooled barrel. On the left are the double trigger. Following are the charging handle and the belt feed tray. Finally the MG mount assembly. Love this job.

 

Edited January 26, 2023 by Ras Ambrioso

[wefalck]

How big is this thing actually?

 

[KeithAug]

Ras - well done but as per Eberhard it would be good to see something to show the size.

[Ras Ambrioso]

Sorry about missing the scale. Following are more pictures of the parts.

And then the assembled MG.

And for you Keith (LOL)

And finally the Maxim temporally in place astern.

Next week I am stuck with the Pinewood Derby in house (remember to "Never Volunteer"). But after that, we will get into the real gun: The Hotchkiss 3pounder. I will have to try my luck on the lathe at the tapered barrel.

 

This forum has been a tremendous help to me on this build. It has given me the confidence to attempt these microscopic fabrications. So, big thanks to all of you.

 

 

 

 

[NavyShooter]

That's nice work!  Well done!

[Valeriy V]

Ras, you are making remarkable progress in your fine detail crafting skills!