When they are in close proximetry to regular N scale they will stand out as oversized. Back in the background probably not that much. Two of my planes are based off of the Fairy Swordfish carrier borne torpedo plane. They had a 46 ft. wingspread and a 36 ft length. Mine have been sectioned in the wings and the fuselage to get close to those dimensions in N scale feet by removing about 5 ft, from the wings and 4 ft from the fuselage. The little orange plane is a Japanese trainer that when the top wing was removed to convert to a monoplane the lower wing was in scale and the fuselage is short enough to be in scale. Since my planes will be used in a harbor scene in close proximetry to N scale boxcars and structures the scale became important. I have a PBY also and that will probably be some fun to get it down to size.
Hi John, You've done a very nice job on the conversion, especially adding the J davits for research. Being a huge Cussler fan myself, maybe you could send this Clive through his web site? He might get a kick out of it! Is this going on your layout? Mike L
Managed to get the right side plane converted to a center float with outriggers. Still have to construct two cockpits for the center and left planes. In the center of the photo is one of the fuselage sections that I cut out. About 5 N scale feet, and the wings shown in front of the center and rear of the left side planes show the original width. This has been a fun and sometimes challenging departure from working on rolling stock and locos. And like all my projects it seems that they spawn yet another project. I have to build a 200 ft dock that projects out from the harbor and a seaplane ramp and hanger.
Resuming ground work on a model started last year before had to make an unplanned move. Workbench and Workmate are both hidden under a confusing pile of printer paper. Really enjoy building structures. Converting photo's and valuation prints to scale takes a lot of the time, but (for me, at least) getting the sequencing of construction set, is the part that causes the neurons to overheat. LOL, yeah I love it.
I would venture this be true for most modelers. But today I have something to show, progress with the (yawn?) Circus accessory line by Stonebridge Models. Today I tested another 3D drawing and laser cut this calliope insert made for an upcoming parade wagon, sprayed some paint on, set a railroad guy at the keyboard and soon a newer revision will go into the resin molding process. I have this obsession with forcing my laser to do what everyone else thinks had to be plastic injected. This is 3D laser engraving. The circus parade wagon series coming up has more of the rounded scrollwork but meatier and more precise. I also have an obsession of making modeling the circus more realistic and appealing for our smaller scales. Seems that circus model manufacturers prefer HO and O scales but soon we'll have a lot more to choose from in N scale.
Well i just about ready to prime and send it off to Jason(superturbine) for casting. The grill work is in and flush with the carbody. The doors are cut but i need to put styrene in for the new doors themselves. Also i need to put the radiator opening on top on the opposite end of the exhaust. The last major thing will be obtaining the pilots from Concor for modification and final casting. Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us Uploaded with ImageShack.us
The converted former destroyer to reasearch vessel Cussler is completed. Added a small boat boom to each side and rigged the harness for the small folding wing seaplane. Also finished the other two seaplanes and all three have had numbers and insignia added that were made on my printer. The large Numa insignia on the hanger is also off the printer while all other vessel lettering is from decals. Behind the other two seaplanes is a flying boat that I have started. Also created a ROV seen on its cart in front of the hanger. The vessel will be posed with the oposite side against the dock in a position of getting ready to depart again thus the supplies and clutter on deck. A bow shot showing the electronics mast that is the foremost mast. The vessel has been weathered some with soot at the stck area and some rust along the hull. The vessel will get peopled with a crew once it gets on the layout as I have had some seamen and deckhands laying in my figures box for sometime. The gal was a bear to rig all the lines from the masts and back at the signals mast it is showing the dive flag and the international Alpha flag for divers in the water. I pretty much used everything form the original kit with the torpedo tubes becoming the airtanks under the submersible. About the only parts not used were the guns, depth charges, and hedgehogs. Styrene was used to fashion new hatch doors and for the cranes and other parts. The forward electronics mast is all styrene and some sprues from a set of MT 1015s. Waste not want not.
John, That's a well done research vessel. Really captures our tendency to cram every thing we can on deck to perform multiple missions simultaneously. Now let's see it dockside.
Thanks folks for the kind comments. Has been a challenge and a project that started floating around about two years ago with the idea to model a harbor scene on the Columbia River. Designed a harbor area on the new layout plans after some research loosley based on some of the facilities served by the SP&S. From a few fishing vessels and a river tug/tow boat with a couple of barges it grew in concept. Originally had designed a small Coast Guard facilty simply because I like lighthouses and have several models. Okay I confess eight of them. From a small Coast Guard cutter grew the research vessel. The research vessel grew into all the equipment carried and the aircraft used. Big problem was staying in my timeline and my only deviation from it was the submersible. All my aircraft date in the 1930s including the biplanes and the two flying boats that I have under construction and the vessel is a WW 1 era originally. Fortunately I have not started the new layout yet except for some modules to set in place on it because now I need to go back and redesign that harbor facility a lot larger. So a seaplane hanger able to accomodate a PBY and a dock long enough to accomodate the research vessel along with the rest of the NUMA facilty has to be combined with the Coast Gaurd facilty. And all served at dockside by a spur track. So I have my work cut out for the next few years with time out for strictly railroad things..
I have a question. When you display your ships on your layout, how do you deal with the detail below the water line? I remember when I was helping a friend with his layout waterfront, I sawed the bottom of his boats off so they would sit on the Plexiglas water that he had built into his layout.
Well the first thing to my advantage is that it is in the Columbia River and rivers tend to be murky. Between the river flow and sediment and tidal action that should solve my problem of having done a full hull. And the Columbia carries a lot of sediment. All my other vessels underway except for one and the research ship are waterline models. My big problem I'm mulling over is setting the vessel in at the right depth and being able to remove the vessel if I ever have to. So I am thinking about using Saran Wrap around the vessel that can be trimmed to the waterline and then the vessel puttied in so I don't end up with a pool of water setting up on the floor. Plus the layout deck level where the vessel sits will have to be lowered some which is not a big issue. I plan to do a mock up and pour at some point down the line to see if my solution holds water so to speak both in succesfully sealing the water but also in being able to remove the vessel.
No not real water but probably Envirotex or something similar. Experience has shown me that all of that stuff can find the most microscopic of openings and make its way where you don't want it.
OK, I misunderstood. So the cellophane is to protect the boat and keep it from becoming entombed in the Envirotex permanently. A boat shaped hole is left so the boat can be inserted or removed at will.
You got it Russ. Thats my intent. If I unintentionaly break something I can repair it on my workbench or if when I lay the last tie and rail I cash in my chips and depart then maybe my grandskids or someboby can inherit it with out having to chip it out.
