|
The windows
For the luxury equipment of the titanic there were also many big windows, especially on the a-, b- and c- deck. Here there partly are difficult constructions, which will not get presented in detail so well. Especially on the b- deck with the saloons of the first class you have to expect some trouble. Here again you can achieve very good results with the etching. Either you can glue several pieces tighter to a window or you just make details appear made out of somewhat stronger etching sheet (0.3 or 0.4mm). The drawing of the windows on the computer is, however, a long-term work. At first the window contours are cut out or etched and the window is glued on a little bit elevated after a following glaze of the openings: here you have to work relatively careful with the glue, so that the windows will not smear permanently.
The funnels
Striking and recogniseable sign of the ship are the four high towering funnels. Here you have several possibilities to build them as well. Since of course the weight is playing a role on the upper part of the model ship, they have to be as light as possible. They are still about 21cm high. Therefore, a frame framework with plating could not be considered. This time, the solution was a pipe formable with heat.
I built an oval model out of balsa wood, which almost corresponded to the inner measures of the funnel later on. A precise piece of pipe into boiling water and after a few seconds you could shove it (of course with gloves) over the model. Then you have to find the right angle and cut it off. Then I decided on the funnel and the spot on which the upper black part starts. Here a piece of plywood was glued in, which was about 1.5mm bigger than the funnel, so that this part was sticking out. The best thing is to drill right away every 6-drill hole on each side for the stretching ropes later on. In the end glue it together again, put on the blank imitation as well and vanish it. On the funnel next to the stretching ropes many reeds are fastened. Besides, 2 reeds each lead in front of the funnel into the height. The front runs into the 3 steam pipes, of which the middle one was 1.2 meters high in the original. Until now a ladder also goes to a small working platform, which has been etched as well.
By the way, again another hint for those many stretch ropes of the titanic. At first I took a tackle garn with the corresponding strength, but it always hung through and looked unattractive. The solution was rubber bands, which exists in several strengths and which always appears on the model strongly tightened.
The end
Althrough sounds so very easy, it takes up more than half of the entire building time,as these details or especially tricky. But here you can see the building progress week after week.
In the end I put people on the model because it looked very empty; nothing seemed to be alive. And it is the destiny of the survivors and the deaths that makes the TITANIC immortal. Without these people that I talk about, I could not imagine my model anymore. I could write more about the single working parts because that was just the telegram style and I did not mention many hints and tips. Everybody should find his own way to get to the end. The most important characteristic for that is called endurance. Talent is mentioned in the list much later. Also, expensive machinery is not always necessary, if you could have reached better results with that. Besides a mini drill machine made Proxxon and the dive etching installation, soldering iron and a fret- saw I did not need any other special tools. At some point you also have to say, " now it is the end", because you can always find something with the details; something you have not shown or something you could work over. The fun however should overweigh it.
Have fun all model builders! Perhaps display your result. Then I would put a link on my page.
|