Xmas and fate throws us odd curves now and then. I planned to have both HMS Dreadnaught and HMS London on the water ready to battle by 01 May 2009, but it now looks like my cruiser is going to end up as a show boat only and not a battler. My wife, LaVerne, bought me a 2.4g colour wireless cam and receiver for Xmas. The cam and mount with battery pack is too large to fit into a turret so I'll have to build it into the front superstructure of the ship. It also looks pretty fragile to try waterproofing it so I think I'll end up with my cruiser as a drive and have fun ship only instead of arming it for combat. Much less worries about sinking and water damage to the cam and simplifies construction immensely. What do you guys think? Leave the entire hull impenetrable by not cutting out any windows and put dummy barrels in all four turrets? Then all I have to install is propulsion and steering as well as a pump for safety. BTW, it also has sound as well as video, and a 450' range. Let me know what you guys think, okay? This might work great as a ship for onlookers to try out and see what the battle looks like up close and in safety.
Mack I would cut it out anyway as you may change your mind and remove the camera at a latter date so you could arm her.
Mack, If you decide to have a County Class model for combat you can order another hull from Tugboat. I wouldn't cut out the hull you have now if you're going to build it as a scale model. The 'windows' will be obvious along the hull sides after sheeting and there's the possiblity of being sunk by a ram if you plan to use it as a camera ship in the midst of a battle. The only time my SNS Canarias (built from the same hull) was sunk was when it was T-boned by a badly driven Westfalen after the battle ended and went under in 3-4 seconds. Bob
Mack I can show you how to hide the windows, it is rather easy all it takes is a little automotive bondo. This way you don't have to order a new hull.
Mac why built it with the cam system? Build it as a dedicated combat ship and reserve the cam for a future project. That way you can have battles and get the necessary time on the water with your combat ship and not have to worry about the Camera system for now.
I second that curt, unless you reall want to go crazy detailing this ship or use it as a battle recording vessel.
Mackster, If you learn to drive the Kent well you'll be able to avoid significant damage to details (most of the time). My SNS Canarias, built with the same hull, was moderately well detailed and had no significant superstructure damage under IRCWCC rules. In fact it was never seriously damaged or sunk in 3 years of regular combat. If used with good tactics (especially in Treaty where the Kent Class has a major speed advantage) your ship should take little damage. Canarias was set up with independently firing dual stern guns and was used in a hit and run role. My favorite tactic was to cut closely across the bow of a battleship, hit reverse briefly to slow down, and fire several shots into the opponent's bow before taking off again. Bob
