Hi everyone I want to build a big gun boat and I was thinking a Queen Elisabeth class (warspite) this is my first time building a boat but I did wood tec at school and was quite good. Suggestions about anything are welcome (remotes, props, pumps etc)
Hi Aussie, Choosing your first ship is a complex challenge. Some factors that you might want to consider before making that decision: 1) Combat: Where will you battle, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of your likely opponents? 2) Speed: A Warspite will be the slowest of all of the battleships. 3) Armanent: Warspite carried 8 ea. 15 in. main guns in 4 twin turrets, while faster, more maneuverable battleships (South Dakota class, for example) carried 9 16 in. main guns in 3 turrets. A triple turret firing 1/4 in. rounds is capable of doing more damage than two twins firing the same ammo, because the 3 rounds concentrated are more likely to blow a bigger hole than two twins spread farther apart. In the front half of the ship, a South Dakota or any American Washington Treaty or later battleship is going to sling 6 rounds from two turrets, usually rotating in tandem, to the Warspite's 4 rounds. Twin turreted ships are generally at a disadvantage against triple turreted ships. Just something to think about. 4) Cost: 4 twin turrets vs 3 triple turrets means your Warspite is going to cost at least 33.3% more to fully arm than a battleship with 3 triple turrets, with a net loss of one barrel. 5) Maintenance: 4 twin turrets = 33.3% more maintenance than 3 triple turrets. 6) Failure points: 4 twin turrets = 33.3% greater chance that a gun will fail, a hose will blow, or some other plumbing part will malfunction in battle. 7) Displacement: Warspite (27,500 standard) vs SoDak (35,000). There is no replacement for displacement. Imagine Warspite and SoDak slinging steel at each other, broadside to broadside, with equal marksmanship. Which one sinks first? 8) Construction skills and tools required: Warspite is a much more complicated design than an American fast battleship, but... 9) Coolness factor: Warspite wins (in my book, anyway) Rob
I guess I did go a little overboard in my argument. I left out the most important consideration of all: Personal preference. If you like a particular ship, then the fun factor goes way up, and who's to say how it will all settle out on the pond? I've been trying to finish my Bismarck for years, and it has the same armament as the Warspite. Why build the Bismarck? Because it's such an awesome-looking ship. I also have a North Carolina waiting for shipyard space. But my standard fighting ship for the past few years has been the Lutzow. I really like that ship, for a lot of reasons. It has two triple turrets, and two banks of triple torpedoes. It's not fast (28 knots), and fairly small (10,000 standard), but fairly maneuverable, and I can launch it with one hand. With the triple turrets, I have long range capability, and with the torpedoes, I have close range deterrence against torpedo cruisers. Lutzow can't go toe-to-toe with a battleship, but it can take on anything smaller. You might consider a Lutzow for a first ship, armed with two triple turrets to start with. That is half the expense and complexity of a Warspite. Then maybe add torps later on. Just one idea to think about. Rob
Another factor in Big Gun combat is turning ability. If you power the inside 2 of the 4 props then those two rudders will help it turn pretty well. That helps you turn away from people taking shots at you. If the Warspite has all the cool factor then go for it! A captains ability can help make up for many shortcomings. Go to a battle also... Find the next AUSBG event and go talk to people. It will help you figure more things out than a hundred emails could. Mike B
Warspite has a great history. She fought in both world wars. In the Battle of Jutland in 1916, she withstood the firepower of the entire High Seas Fleet when her rudder was jammed over and she circled twice in front of the German battle line before coming under control again. This action drew fire away from the retreating British cruiser Warrior at a desperate moment. In the Second World War, she smashed a German flotilla at the Battle of Narvik in the Norwegian campaign, scored the longest range hit (26,000 yards) on an Italian battleship at the Battle of Calabria in the Mediterranean and later smashed another two heavy cruisers in a night battle. She survived three hits from the guided Fritz-X smart bomb, and was repaired to participate in the bombardment in support of the Normandy landings. When she was ordered scrapped, she broke free and ran aground rather than go to the breakers. That's a history that any ship would be proud of. She's one of the most majestic of battleships, with her old-school ram bow, and has a particular grace about her due to the balanced design with two turrets forward and two turrets aft. I prefer her older configuration with two smoke stacks, but that's just my opinion. Warspite is one of the larger WW1 dreadnoughts, and the first to have 15" cannons that are allowed to be armed as 1/4" cannons. Her size will be easier to fit stuff in than other older ships, but she has four turrets to cram in, compared to the, say, 3 turrets of the South Dakota. Those 1/4" cannons are powerful weapons that are better at scoring killer hits below the boot than smaller cannons. They are only twins, so they are less likely to knock out a chunk that cannons with more barrels, and there are more turrets to build and maintain. She is only 25 knots, but has four propellers and two rudders. Her slow speed is compensated for with better turning. You can also choose to simplify construction by only running two of the four props. Warspite is a popular ship, so there are plenty of fiberglass hulls of her various configurations, or you can scratch-build a wood hull to your taste. Overall, I'd rate the Warspite as a good boat, though you should be aware that there will be challenges when building and operating her. There are challenges with any boat, of course, but there are a few boats that may be a bit less challenging. Most boats that are recommended for first time builds are WW2 boats, since they tend to have more space and have simplified armament schemes (Warspite is the best WW1 beginner boat I can think of). Some other ships you may consider: King George V: WW2 British battleship, 28 kts, has two 4-barrel, and one 2-barrel turret, 7/32" cannons. Consider arming the two quads for simplicity. Lutzow: WW2 German heavy cruiser, 28 kts, two triple 7/32" cannons, has torpedoes. Smallest boat I know with triple cannons (called a Pocket Battleship). Consider arming the two triples for simplicity. I've seen an effective boat with a non-rotating stern gun for simplicity. Scharnhorst: WW2 German battleship, 32 kts, three triple 7/32" cannons, has torpedoes. Bigger, faster German boat with better armor. One of my favorites. Consider two triples and torpedoes. Richeliue or Dunkerque: WW2 French battleship and battlecruiser, 30+ kts, two quadruple 1/4" or 7/32" cannons mounted all forward. Simple cannon armament, though unusual arrangement. Take your pick of the two based on speed, armament, or size. South Dakota: WW2 American battleship, 28kts, three triple 1/4" cannons. Excellent ship, highly recommended. Very conventional, but that's what makes her such a solid ship for building and fighting. Remember this is your first ship. You will learn a lot building her. You can always build a better boat next time. Of course, if life gets in the way (as it has for me since I joined the Navy), you're stuck with whatever ship you've got, so it better be one you're happy with.
We have a QE here in the AUSBG, and it's a nasty litle piece of work. Even though it's slow, it turns on a dime, and will shred anything that gets close to it. Since it's armed with 8x7/32 cannon, it gets to fire once per SIX seconds, not the eight of the larger war wagons. It presents a low profile, and is just as effective from bow or stern. When Steve, the owner, decides to converge bow and stern cannons, and broadside an enemy the effect is deveastating. Even my brother with his fearsome North Carolina keeps away from him.
I know this is BG but on the fast gun side I can attest that the Warspite is a very fine ship to build and battle with. I have a very high respect for this class of ship. I battled one for 7 years with my Bismarck , never sunk it with Bismarck but came close however the Warspite is a tough ship to put down. It can also dish out plenty of damage in the right hands. The only time I was able to sink it was with a Yamato and a team mate who had a Mushashi and basically we had to sandwich it between our dual sidemounts to sink it, even then it took a while. The other time was after a fleet battle in rough water and high wind . It sank but though damaged the high waves got the better of it. I operated the same Warspite in Fredericton in New Brunswick and went up against a Nagato. We went toe to toe and both were pumping very hard but Warspite didn't sink. Tough ship. It sank one other time but in a fleet battle where it was attacked by Nagato ,Bismarck and Yamato and Mushashi and finally sank. Warspite is a very well balanced model with good proportions, Great maneuverabiliy and handling, good speed, and a Great historical history.
Good day to one and all; One other thing to think about before chosing a ship... How large of a ship can you transport? If you drive a VW bug, building the Yamato would be out of the question. One thing BIG gunners always say to a newbie. Build something BIG first. Then as your building and sailing skills improve, go for your dream ship. In BIG Guns the BIG ship are cheaper to build and allow for more mistakes. A complicated build can be very frustrating, and has caused some folks to leave the hobby. Good luck to you in what ever ship you wish to build.
Thanks everyone for your help. I think at the moment a South Dakota would be about the biggest thing that could fit in my car
DON' T DO IT!!!! DON' T GET CAUGHT UP IN AN ALLIED POC, YOU WILL REGRET IT UNTIL THE END OF TIME!!!!! Which ever boat you decide on, I have no doubt you will enjoy yourself, J
I point you to the SMACK thread, wherein we discuss at length the many shortcomings, both mental and physical, of the Allies. Most recent Axis intelligence indicates the Allies are Justin Bieber's #1 fan. If that isn't enough to convince you, there is plenty more evidence of Axis superiority here: http://www.rcnavalcombat.com/Forum/tabid/58/aff/553/aft/441840/afv/topic/afpgj/28/Default.aspx
In some clubs the the them vs us (Allies vs Axis) has caused a lot of friction. In our club we build boats of both sides. when it comes time for a meet, we divide the ships into two teams of equal power, Allied or Axis has no bearing. This way we never know who will be friend or foe until the time of battle. Everyone in the club works together to build the best ships. I have both allied and Axis ships on my to build list. And will sail each one proudly!
