Going to document the build of a convoy ship. Wikipedia: M.V. Britannic was an ocean liner of the White Star Line, the company's third ship to bear the name. She was built by Harland & Wolff in Belfast. She was launched on 6 August 1929. Like her running mate MV Georgic, Britannic was a motorship powered by diesel engines. She measured 26,943 gross tons and was 712 feet (217 m) long. At the time of her launch she was the largest British-built motor liner. These two would be the only White Star motorships. Britannic was a popular passenger liner, as she represented what was then the latest in interior Art Deco decor and furnishings, as well as the "Motor Cabin Ship" style, which featured squat smokestacks and a sleek profile.
Tuggy, No she's not! The Britannic he's talking about is the one the was being escorted by the OLD girl, Rodney!! and yes, I said OLD Niki
We have a MV Georgic over here. Nice ship. Rodney has taken part in sinking it. She may be old, but she's mean.
Finally found a site that had a "plan", this is more for framing than anything else. But it was all I could find, so correcting and drawing all the ribs by hand made for a fun day. The top is the original, the two piles below are the ribs cut out, as this is being built upside down to account for the deck (ala Omaha build- props to Mike), legs were added to each rib. After I get the paper glued to the wood (props to Tugboat for finding the deal on the wood), I will cut out the width of each rib. Next is the profile and deck view.
Update: Wasted work, sized the deck and profile and found an issue with the cross sections. Working on new templates this weekend...
Interesting build Lou. Are those side sheets semi rigid glass? They seem a little gloppy in the one picture. r/JB
John, That is just the plan profile cut out to show the side, more just to get a "feel" of placement of ribs and what it will look like finished. I have had to constantly rework the profile ribs. Since she is just a convoy and will only see action once per year (Nats), I am playing around with the build of this one. Had my plans been perfect as in the past builds, I would be doing a keel build. I left enough meat in the ribs so I can sand in the correct profile.
More work done, I am showing the ugly side of boat building with but joints and ill-fitting slots. This is no laser quality kit by any imagination. The idea on this particular ship is the bottom of the boat is going to be heavily reinforced with fiberglass and resin, need to add weight low in the hull so I am treating the wood as a holder for the cloth. Would still be better to have inter-locking joints but my plans are not the best and I have yet to try a hull designing software or CAD. Maybe one day... All relevant marks have been transferred to the hull (black tick marks), the bottom of the hull has flat sheets of plywood and the decks have been created. Wherever you see the blocks on the bottom, these will be cut flush when removing from the build board. Bow keel is in place, you can just make out the top deck has a sweep up towards the bow. The deck will be 1/4 inch added to the top of the existing blocks, a final stringer of 1/4 inch will be added below after the top deck has been glued on. Stern, you can see how much material will be cut off below the blocks. In this area she has three distinctive deck levels.
Darn shame that I won't be able to shoot at it Looking good. I'm intrigued by that build method, too, might try it someday. Making a hull for someone else, since the wife reminded me this weekend that I'm sticking with one battleship for several years. Sigh. Next time she wants to buy more music on I-tunes I'm going to ask her if she'll stick with that album for a few years What combat ship are you taking to Nats, Lou?
Same ship for the next 4 years, the Duke. Rebuilding the deck so that the guns are attached to a turret base that is mounted in the ship. The deck is removed around both the stern turrets, this means the guns are always in the boat and not mounted to the deck. Less fuss and muss, will see if this method works. Wanted to do this so I can run the 1/8th lines and not worry about them coming loose or having to use quick disconnects.
Worked on the blocking, using balsa in the stern and plywood everywhere else. Started to sand, still need to shape the ribs so that everything flows and the hull is smooth. Next will be filler (bondo) and then fiberglass cloth for the outside and matt for the inside. What you see below is very rough, once I use the belt sander it will be dramatically different. I don't have a lot of time to devote to this build, so I make up for that with power tools (insert Tim the toolman grunt here). Looks really crappy at this point. Once the bottom is glassed (easier to do while upside down), I will remove the building board and start the top decks.
Go Lou GO!!!! Looking good! IF you BUILD it... WE WILL COME!!! As long as its slower than 18 seconds... cough cough.. flashback... MUWAHAHAHAHA
It's not like he's axis and can sheet part of it with thin plywood ...cough, cough... flashback! Smiling at Luis Negron wherever he is
Johnny, that was not my boat. Next step is to mark out the weather deck the length of the ship so I can define the superstructure level. This will set the backing blocks and show me where the balsa will need to attach to the hull. Going to use fiberglass boards for the decks and superstructure sides, lightweight and robust. Interesting fact the sister ship was bombed and sunk, raised and rebuilt with a single funnel. So there are a couple of options for looks.
I knew that! But it was a speed boat and you did a great job of driving me crazy!!! MUST SINK THAT SPEEDBOAT!! I am looking forward to seeing this MV Britannic. I have yet to see a monster convoy ship on the water that I can remember. Wade may have run a big ship in 2010 but I am not sure. I know he brought them to Nats but I dont think they made it to the water. It does look really good and I am watching closely as one day I want to make this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Wilhelm_Gustloff So far I cant find the plans nor any clue as to where to look. I suppose those folks that made models had to guess at it. This is the version I want to build: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Wilhelm_Gustloff_Modell_sx3_cropped.jpg I think it looks cool.
