Courbet class battleships

The Courbet class battleships were the first dreadnoughts built for the French Navy before World War I. The class comprised four ships: Courbet, France, Jean Bart, and Paris.
Just wondering if anyone had built and or sailed any of these ships?
I just added the Paris to my list of future builds.
That French ship plans web site has the plans in 1/100 scale.
I have already converted a set to 1/144.

 

I was considering one for the future, please post a build thread on it.

 

I plan to build one some day. But it probably won't happen for the next year or two. I have too many projects already.
But having access to the French plans sure does make me want to start more projects.
A Courbet, Bretagne, Normandie, and Lyon.
Perhaps a Danton as well.
Mikey

 

I am still working on Tripitz / Bismarck.

My main thought of the Paris is: will I be able to Arm all 12 of the main guns, the 22 secondaries and the four torpedo tubes?
I wonder if firing a full broadside could cause her to capsize?

 

Also I was thinking of going with a fiberglass hull. That would give me more room for everything I want to put inside.
Looks like there may be a market for me to produce several of these hulls!

 

It might but would be damned impressive.

 

Either way think of the broadside!

 

I have a fibreglass Bretagne hull I made in 1/144, which would be nearly identical to a Courbet class hull, and while it is very spacious for a class 4 hull, theres no way you'd arm all the mains, secondaries, and the 4 torpedo tubes effectively. But it would be cool.

--Chase

 

Well Knight, I'll bet you could fit all the guns in. It'd be tight, but you could do it. Fitting in motors, batteries, and CO2 as well? That's a different story.

I know someone who really did something like that. He built a USS Atlanta with 6 torpedoes and something like 12 bb guns. Impressive as hell on the bench, until you looked inside and realized that he didn't have anything except the guns in there. No motors, no CO2, nothing. Embarrassing as hell, since he was one of the most experienced and prolific shipbuilders at the time, and should have known better.

 

I think it would be a really fun boat if one armed either the mains, or the secondaries. Perhaps even just the torps.
I really like that boat.
I could not find the photos of the Bretagne anywhere.
A little help please.
Mikey

 

I'm thinking the Bretagne would make for a half decent boat in fast gun. Although it only has one rudder, it is a short, beamy ship with four shafts and should turn fairly well. It has a good turret layout for different cannon arrangements. Not to mention it has casements for a little added defense.

It's also a nice looking ship.

 

either one would do equally as well for fast gun imho. the rudder is oversized, there is very little penetrable area in the stern because of the way the bottom slopes, there arent any bulges and it has several features that require a stringer.

 

Ah! I forgot about the oversized rudder on the Bretagne! Both IRC and MWC allow larger than class sized rudders if the rudder is scale in shape and size. It would be easy to prove the size too with the original ship drawing plans from the French Archives.

 

WOW! I did not expect so many comments.
Looks like I am going to put the Paris a little bit higher on my build list.
I have been re-drawing the hull lines and ribs on my train ride home from the office.
I suspect that I shall be ready to print the plans in 144 scale soon.

 

Vive la France!

 

Here is part of the tech drawing that I am cleaning up. (Still at 100 scale)
Maybe someone can help me out here.
The area that I have circled shows dashed rib lines.
I do not understand why those dashed lines are there?
Thanks

 

This should show it a little better.