Having decided that the Admiral Ushakov-class battleships/coast defence ships will be the basis of my next attempt to model a 'Monopoly'-inspired battleship, I set about finding a suitable set of working drawings.
After the suggestion that I look at old copies of Jane's Fighting Ships I found a very rough plan and side view of the Admiral Ushakov-class battleships/coast defence ships in one of my reference books. I scanned these into my computer and used them as a basis to create a 'cartooned' version of the design. I distorted the image I used so that it was twice as wide and tall as it should be, and the results looked like this:
This is much more like what I hoped my 'Monopoly'-inspired battleship would look like, and I can now proceed to the next stage, which will be constructing the hull. I will probably use a mixture of balsa and basswood ... although I might try using Plasticard.
After the suggestion that I look at old copies of Jane's Fighting Ships I found a very rough plan and side view of the Admiral Ushakov-class battleships/coast defence ships in one of my reference books. I scanned these into my computer and used them as a basis to create a 'cartooned' version of the design. I distorted the image I used so that it was twice as wide and tall as it should be, and the results looked like this:
This is much more like what I hoped my 'Monopoly'-inspired battleship would look like, and I can now proceed to the next stage, which will be constructing the hull. I will probably use a mixture of balsa and basswood ... although I might try using Plasticard.
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Hmmmm I like.
ReplyDeleteWould it perhaps look better with slightly larger, cartoonier turrets? The current ones look a bit... secondary.. on the widened decks.
Just a thought. Looks good as it is.
Dr Vesuvius,
ReplyDeleteThe same thought had struck me ... and the plan is that the turrets will be somewhat larger on the finished model than they are on these working plans.
I do need to keep the decks fairly free as I might want to place figures onto them at some point ... but I don't think that larger turrets will make too great an impact upon the amount of deck space that is left.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteThere are some serious funnels in evidence here! I know the Russians tended to go for these so will you be following suit?
The layout looks pretty good and suitably generic and more importantly could (probably) be easily replicated.
I still think Tsushima using this type of model would be great fun. I may experiemnt with something similar for the Balkan Fleets in due course.
All the best,
DC
David Crook,
ReplyDeleteThe funnels are a little on the tall side, but like the turrets they will no doubt end up somewhat different from the drawings on the model.
The design is - as you comment - generic and simple enough to be replicated fairly easily ... and the prospect of fighting an imagi-world version of Tsushima does appeal to me more than a little!
All the best,
Bob
Bob
ReplyDeleteI'll send you a private email with a hastily taken mobile phone pic of one of my 'cartoonish' ships.
Jim
I second the bigger turrets and add shorter chunkier main guns. Looks great so far.
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteYour pictures arrived safe and sound ... and I would love to share them with other blog readers in due course.
All the best,
Bob
Pat G,
ReplyDeleteI agree that the model will need bigger turrets and somewhat beefier, shorter main guns, and intend to include these sorts of 'improvements' in the final model.
All the best,
Bob
Dear Bob,
ReplyDeleteIt may be a bit late in the game, but if you Google "Olympia Cruiser" and choose images for results, you'll get a nice selection of pictures and even line drawings of a vessel with a similar aesthetic. Might be good as a reference.
Best,
Ed M
Bob
ReplyDeleteI'm loving what I see. The Ushakoffs had the cartoon look even in real life!
PD
Ed M,
ReplyDeleteIts never too late to make a helpful comment!
Thanks for the reminder about the USS Olympia. I used to have a model of her, and you are right about her having a similar aesthetic.
All the best,
Bob
Peter Douglas,
ReplyDeleteYou are right about them almost being cartoons of a 'conventional' battleship of that era.
I have seem them described as being the last ships built in the mode of the USS Monitor, and in many ways that is very true.
All the best,
Bob
I like the way this is shaping up and I am looking forward to seeing the finished ships (as I am sure you are as well!).
ReplyDeleteFitz-Badger,
ReplyDeleteFor the first time ever I am actually making a mock-up to get an idea as to what the final design will look like. This should enable me to make decision about what I need to change before I begin the actual building process.
I really hope that I can 'crack' this as it will enable me to build the navies that I will need/want for my Imagi-world of 1891.
All the best,
Bob