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Wednesday 21 March 2012

Setting a limit

After giving the matter some considerable thought, I have decided that the next batch of ships I build will be limited to no more than 8"/20cm in length. The simple reason for this is that at some point I want to be able to use the models on the tabletop with my 15mm-scale figures, and the Hexon II hexes I own and use are 4"/10cm wide. Each ship model with therefore be no longer than two hexes.

The 'knock on' from this is that the models cannot be dreadnoughts with three or more turrets. My earlier models have shown that it is difficult enough to fit two turrets onto a hull that is 8"/20cm long, and it would appear that I would have to go up to at least 12"/30cm-long hulls if I wanted to model dreadnoughts. The resulting models would just have been too big for my requirements and would also have been more difficult to store.

Having made that decision I have begun work on building four hulls. I am using the 'mass' production methods I used when I built the gun turrets yesterday, and with a bit of luck the hulls will be finished by sometime tomorrow. I will then begin work on the superstructure blocks. These should be relatively simple, and once they are complete I should be able to begin the final assembly process.

6 comments:

  1. Looks like you have arrived at the correct answer!

    Well done Bob.

    Jim

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  2. Jim Duncan,

    I was really in a dilemma about this ... but decided in the end to be pragmatic and go for a pre-dreadnought/coastal defence battleship type of ship ... although they may well turn out to look a bit more modern than 1900 or so when I have finished! (See here and here for some idea of what I am thinking about)

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have been following these posts with interest. Can you post pictures of your mass-produced parts? Are you using a template of some kind?
    Thanks,
    Bill

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bill,

    The parts are similar to the ones featured on the relevant 'How to ...' download. The difference is that rather than cut and prepare the wood needed to make two turrets and one hull, I cut and prepared enough for eight turrets and four hulls.

    I do have a plan - of sorts - that is drawn on the back of an envelope, but it is far too untidy (and probably indecipherable) to warrant reproducing. I will take one photographs of the hulls before I add the decks as these will probably be self-explanatory with regard to the method of production I have used.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  5. A couple of questions. Are you planning on cruisers? You don't have a lot of room in length between the torpedo boat and the battleship to slide that in.
    Also, do you have naval rules?
    Bill

    ReplyDelete
  6. Bill,

    I will certainly be building some cruisers and destroyers ... and they will be slightly shorter and narrower than the capital ships.

    As to rules ... well I have a few ideas but they are likely to be based on David Crook's MOBAS (Memoir of Battle at Sea) rules.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete

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