Photos Pre-dreadnaught mania

The Potemkin is progressing along. My least favorite part of building a wood ship is done... sheeting the bottom.

 

A real movie star you have there, even though she was not actually used in the filming.

 

We had a build session today and worked on the pre-dreadnoughts.
The Liberte has most of the bottom fill in place.

The Potemkin has been fiberglassed, sealed, and the stuffing tubes are installed.

The Danton is just getting started.

 

Ships are looking good!

Beaver

 

I was able to meet up with Mark.
I told him to give me _______, or give me ______.
Hey what can I say? I'm a Patrie.
Mikey

 

My little French pre-dreadnaught is coming along nicely. Not yet ready to be sealed. But getting there.
And Mark hooked me up with the rib stations for the big French pre-dreadnaught, so I will be trying to make some progress on it as well.
Mikey

 

I noticed there isn't a stringer in the Liberte. Was it left out to make the build easier?

 

This is great stuff. I can't wait to see pre-dreadnought ships battle it out. Is anyone making a Mikasa? If I ever get a predreadnought that's the one I want to build and out of these wood kits.

 

The Mikasa went out for prototyping today Actually it's a King Edward VII, with a removable 1.8" section to allow building the Formidable class, Duncan class, and Mikasa.
On the Liberte I put the front casemate and stringer in and then kept it slab sided from there back. So the builder has the choice of adding the casemates or skipping them.

 

The Verite plans had a defined hull break starting at the front casement that ran the length of hull to the stern. Not sure if all of the Liberte class had it though.
Though keeping the ship slab sided won't take anything away from the ship and makes it easier to sheet.

 

w00t! yay Mikasa! I have a Big Gun Mikasa that just needs superstructure and a motor upgrade, but if you're making a Mikasa then I gotta get one
I also have a nice DELFTship model of the Borodino class. If anybody wants it, ask and you shall receive. If not, it may eventually become the basis for a 3dp project...

 

Damn you Mark! Feeding my addiction like that. I'll have to add a Mikasa to my Potemkin order.
Any chance for other Tsushima ships?

 

What all ships are you guys building currently?
Kotori, I'd love to have a copy of your Delftship model. I've been looking for plans for a Borodino.

Beaver

 

I'm planning to stop with the 3 PDNs for now. It was fun to quickly do these simple ships, but I have other projects to work on and people waiting. In the future I would like to do an American PDN. I'm partial to the Kearsarge, which shares length, beam, and deck configuration with the Retvizan/Hizen...

 

Retvizan has one more deck I think. The Kearsarges were rather low freeboard.

 

Man this is great. I can't wait to see fleets of these small pre-dreadnoughts battle. It's going to be a great site to see.

 

We displayed ships at a swap meet today in Urbana OH. In-between talking to other modelers, I had a chance to assemble my latest PDN prototype. It came together pretty good, including the removable 1.8" section so that you can build other similar classes.

Also, I have kits for the Potemkin/Evasafi and Libertie/Republic PDNs available for $60 + shipping. I don't have any directions or superstructure plans done yet, but they are not hard to put together if you want to get started. PM me if you are interested.

 

Sweet!

 

As far as I know, we will have a Kilkis (Phil), Republique (Vance), Patrie (Marina), and Danton (your's truly), in addition to whatever Mark builds.
Phil has also expressed an interest in one of the smaller Frenchies. It seems like I am forgetting someone.
Of course Mike M. already has one in service.
I am also planning to suggest these little beauties to the newer folks as beginner ships.
Mikey