The biggest reason to not build the bulged version though, is the rudder area. Bulges are an automatic -50% due to the secondary rudder removal.
Another interesting ship I think would be the German Nurnburg class of WW2. With 3 shafts, single rudder, I'd bet she'd be able to easily out turn a K class, and the extra weight would make her more build friendly.
Ralph and I talked about hull projects again last night. The R Class is out due to having only one rudder after WWI and being butt ugly. WWI armoured cruiser Blucher is a possibility and Ralph has access to plans. So far the WWII rebuilt QE/Valiant hull is the front runner for Ralph's next project. After I've revised the Krasni Krim/Profintern hull plug (Russian CL) and shipped it to Strike Models I'll start the HMS Abdiel cruiser/minelayer plug, which should be a quick build. That'll be followed by the late WWII IJN Amagi hull. Amagi was a CV similar to Hiryu and Soryu. Bob
thats too bad about the R class I think they would be a good edition to the hobby but a QE plug would also be a very welcome addition. It is good to see more axis cruisers molds coming as there are still many that have not been done yet. Bob any idea when you and Jay will be starting work on the Tone plug?
Bob and I looked at the Tone the other night. He told me what to do to get the ball rolling on completeing it. It won't be done immediately, but by the end of the winter is the plan. There are other things that must be done here first but I am going to finish it. Just so you know, Ralph Coles started the plug, decided he didn't want it so he gave it to me. Bob is going to inspect every aspect of the work but I am going to be doing the work, no better way to learn than by doing. It won't be ready until Bob thinks it is good enough. J
I'm sure it will be the usual high quality we have come to expect from the Canadian hull producers. I'm not personally in a hurry to get mine, right now in Treaty there's a lot of talk about WW1 stuff so my major focus right now is getting the Invincible back on the water. That being said, I want to have an Axis ship so I can play whichever side I want/need and the Chikuma is my ship of choice. Even if the hull was ready now, I seriously doubt I would have it ready for next year's battling anyways.
For what it is worth, I would love a Normandy (though it is a behemoth, and would probably turn like a lame dog). However, have you considered a Vaterland? Also a large, beautiful ocean liner that can run Axis or Allied. Before the US entered WWI she was Axis, but was interned in the US and later converted and used by the US as a troop transport when the US jined the fray, the USS Leviathan (see: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-civil/civsh-l/leviathn.htm ) Cheers,
At some point somewhere there was (is?) and SMS Emden mould. I have a fiberglass one sitting in my project room about 50% complete. I got the hull from Brian down in SCRAP who had obtained it in a rather dilapidated condition from another source. It's a great little ship with a bit more weight than a DD and some more internal room. Still only 1.5 units, but at 23 secs is fast enough to stay out of too much trouble. I'm looking forward to participating in the Clash of the Titans battle at nats with her. Would be nice to find out where she came from and possibly put the mould back into production.
Some further thoughts: Titanic is currently offered by Dreadnaught Hulls. Normandy would be nice (and fast, and HUGE). An interesting thought might be Vaterland aka Leviathon, since she served both Germany and US. I seem to recall her being a similar size to Titanic. Back to the Erin discussion for a moment. We have an Espana in NTXBG that is a lot of fun and a great contender. I think Jeff actually prefers it to his Des Moines. Remember, some of the dynamics are a bit different in Big Gun, and ships that may not be as fun or useful in other formats can work out a bit differently in this format. On the Erin, we could arm some (in theory all) of those secondaries to make for a bristly little porcupine. Same with a USS Texas/New York. Slow ships are not as much an issue (our Espana does not even make the minimum allowed speed) in big gun - they just get battled differently. Espana is commonly a convoy escort and damage absorption unit, or hangs out at the Buoy waiting fr cargo ships to come by, or plays the part of vulture on ships in trouble to help them ease below the waves, or in teamwork with other ships to do other things (the anvil to the hammer, for instance). So don't forget other markets... Cheers,
Wrenow, I was probably the first person to build and battle an Espana, completing it in 1998. It did very well in NABS battles and was often avoided due to its small turning circle and large amount of extra impenetrable area. In fact, by 1999 it was no longer fun to battle because all the opposing ships were faster and stayed away. I sold 6-8 Espana hulls before selling the mold to Rich Wands of the OAF, but have seen only one other completed Espana, at the 2003 IRCWCC NATS. I think the Erin would be at least as good as Espana for R/C naval combat, with more room for equipment installation. Wish I hadn't sold the Espana as there are now several equally slow ships in the local NABS/NATCF fleets. Bob
Hi Bob, Jeff, aka AdmJKB, in the NTXBG originally bought the Espana as a hulk for the parts. Then, when he received her, he was enchanted and decided to rebuild her for Big Gun. She quickly became one of his favorite ships, and made quite a reputation for herself in the club. She is amazingly resilient. She may not be fast, but she can turn on a dime. The "Speed Bump" incident, where he turned in front of the Richelieu without sufficient clearance, made for a great "You Tube" moment. Nothing the Richelieu could do to avoid him. Oops. The "bitty boats" definitely have their place and can be a great deal of fun. I am thinking Erin would be in that group, though she is not quite so "bitty." Cheers,
I agree with you Bob. I think one of the most interesting characteristics about the Erin is her length to beam ratio. She's much fatter then most RN dreadnoughts because she was built for the Turks and not constrained by the RN's existing infrastructure. She's also shorter then her contemporary KGV class RN dreadnoughts, but maintains the twin rudders. I think the combination of length to beam with the twin ruidders along with 5 turrets to mount guns in would make her one of the more dangerous Allied pig boats.
I'd be tempted to build an Erin if she wasn't so slow, or if there were more slow ships in the local NABS and NATCF fleets. With a bigger, faster Class 5 hull in the pipeline an Erin is out of the question for me as a hull project. Bob
Bob, which bigger, faster Class 5 would that be?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? J
Hey Stok - Bowning Shipyards makes an Agincourt (JM had one a while back, that I believe he sold to someone else in the NTXBG). Dreadnought also carries an Agincourt. Sadly, the luscious little Erin remains unavailable. Though a guy in France has built one from some plans I did up and shared with him. Lovely little ship, methinks, much akin to the USS Texas, another slow, short, tubby potential scrapper in Big Gun. Speaking of the Texas/NY - I heard on the grapevine that Strike has one planned for the future. I seem to recall the unbulged Texas (If he builds that model) is close enough to the Erin (within the 5% rule) to be built up as an Erin with minimal "cobbling." For clubs with the tighter 2.5% rule, probably not (or at least without substantially more cobbling). While many captains really want speed, some prefer the maneuverability and compactness of these smaller ships. A lot less to wrestle into and out of the watrer and easier to pack into the car or onto a plane when going off to a distant event. Their fun to weight and fun to speed ratio is way up there, IMHO. Even some of our Richelieu/Iowa captains in our club are starting to look longingly at Espana/Texas/Erin/VU type thips (and one VU is in the NTXBG shipyards nearing completion - hopefully battling at NABGO this summer). If Espana can finish her regunning in time, we should have at least those two bitty BBs in the fray. Cheers,
