Author Topic: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700  (Read 13841 times)

Offline Artoor_K

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ORP Błyskawica was a Grom-class destroyer serving in the Polish Navy during World War II, currently preserved as a museum ship in Gdynia. It is the only ship of the Polish Navy awarded the Virtuti Militari medal, as well as the oldest preserved destroyer in the world.
She was the latter of two Grom-class destroyers, built for the Polish Navy by J. Samuel White, Cowes. The name means Lightning. The two Groms were some of the most heavily-armed and fastest destroyers on the seas before World War II.

Two days before the war, on 30 August 1939, the Błyskawica withdrew, along with the destroyers Grom (Thunder) and Burza (Storm), from the Baltic Sea to Britain in accordance with the Peking Plan to avoid open conflict (and possible destruction) from Germany. From then on they acted in tandem with the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. On 7 September 1939, Błyskawica made contact with and attacked a U-Boat, resulting in possibly the first combat between the Allied and the German fleets.
In early May 1940, Błyskawica took part in the Norwegian Campaign, shelling German positions and downing two Luftwaffe aircraft. Her sister ship Grom was bombed and sunk during the campaign. Later that month, she took part in covering Operation Dynamo, the successful Franco-British evacuation from Dunkirk.
During the remainder of the war, Błyskawica took part in convoy and patrol duties, engaging both U-boats and the Luftwaffe in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. In 1941 her 120 mm guns were replaced with British four-inch (102 mm) anti-aircraft guns. The ship was also given escort duties to troop transports, notably RMS Queen Mary, Błyskawica being one of the few ships that could keep up with the liner.
On the nights of May 4 and May 5, 1942, Błyskawica was instrumental in defending the Isle of Wight town of Cowes from a potentially devastating air raid by 160 German bombers. Coincidentally this is where the ship had been built in 1935-7 by J. Samuel White. The ship was undergoing an emergency refit at the shipyard and on the night of the air raid fired repeated rounds at the German bombers from outside the harbour, her guns becoming so hot they had to be doused with water and extra ammunition had to be ferried over from Portsmouth. This ensured the bombers had to stay high to avoid the weapons fire, making it hard for them to target properly. Additionally the ship laid down a smokescreen hiding Cowes from sight. Although a lot of damage was done to the town and the shipyard, it is generally thought that without this defensive action, it would have been far worse. In 2002 the crew's courage was honoured by a local commemoration lasting several days to mark the 60th anniversary of the event. In 2004 an area of Cowes was named Francki Place in honour of the ship's commander. The Isle of Wight Council has approved the idea of having the Błyskawica return to Cowes in 2012 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the event and 75 years since the ship's commissioning.
In March 1943 Błyskawica replaced HMS Lightning sunk 12 March 1943, in Cruiser Force Q - Based in Bone, North Africa.
On 8 June 1944, Błyskawica took part in a battle with the German destroyers at Ushant.
During the war, she logged 146,000 nautical miles (270,000 km) and escorted eighty-three convoys. In combat she damaged three U-boats and shot down at least four aircraft before the war's conclusion in May 1945, also took part in sinking some other ships.
In late 1945/early 1946, the Błyskawica along with the destroyer HMS Onslow took part in Operation Deadlight, the scuttling of over 100 German U-Boats.
After the war, she returned to Poland. Since 1 May 1976 she has served as a museum ship in Gdynia, replacing Burza. In July 2006, Błyskawica was "twinned" with the Canadian destroyer HMCS Haida in a ceremony in Gdynia. Both ships served in the 10th Destroyer Flotilla during World War II. The ceremony was attended by former crew members of both ships and the general public. A similar ceremony took place in Canada with HMCS Haida in 2007. In November 2007 she was awarded the International Maritime Heritage Award of the World Ship Trust.

Sorry for this long introduction but honours for veteran and war survivor must be given. What will be main topic of this WIP? As written in title: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") version 2032 , heavily modified and upgraded.
Source kit:

Upgrade set:

Photoetched railings:

Eligible result (more or less):

Mirage kit is not close to even Italeri quality ,  but it's only plastic "Błyskawica" kit. There is much better "Błyskawica" but in 1:700 and molded in resin-difficult to work with. Why 1:700 Pit-Road set was chosen? Because test-fittings revealed that 1:700 modern armanent is more size-suitable for this destroyer (not so big , 114 m long) than 1:350 (1:400 equipment sets does not exist). First photos for three days (I hope so).

Merry Christmas everyone!



« Last Edit: December 24, 2012, 08:52:03 PM by artoor_k »
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Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2012, 07:02:58 AM »
fter long sanding/fitting session...
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Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2012, 07:52:24 AM »
That's coming together very nicely, artoor!

Brian da Basher

Offline Cliffy B

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2012, 08:26:11 AM »
She cleaned up real nice didn't she?  Those old 1/400 kits can be real bears but can be made into head turners with a bit of effort.  Please proceed  8)
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

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Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2013, 06:17:08 AM »
Hello!

First phase of detailing:



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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #5 on: January 03, 2013, 06:23:17 AM »
I have some suggestions about the weapons fit (from a reality standpoint).  let me know if you'd like to hear them or not.  I'm not sure if you're building this for fun or want some level of believability in it so I'll hold them until you say otherwise.
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

"If all else fails, call in an air strike."  -Anonymous

Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #6 on: January 03, 2013, 06:35:28 AM »
This is kind of believable SF so go on :)
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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #7 on: January 03, 2013, 07:44:59 AM »
OK, the after Phalanx (the one right above the 2 OTO 5"/54s) is WAY too close to the guns.  I know they're only 5" but they'd still wreak havoc on the mount.

Speaking of the OTO 5"/54s you have 4 of them along with a US Mk-45 5"/54; you don't need/wouldn't have both on the same ship.  On a ship this size 2-3 would be the most you'd need depending on her mission.  The OTO guns are 40 RPM guns while the US gun is only about 20 RPM so the OTO guns would the better choice.  One thing to consider though is the weight of the previous guns and the weight of the new guns.  The older twin 4"/40s weighed about 15 tons a piece and had no deck penetration while the OTO guns are in the 25-40 ton range and the US gun about 27 tons both with multiple decks being penetrated.

If you want Sea Sparrow it would better serve you where the US 5"/54 is and you should also probably build a larger deck house beneath it for its magazine providing you want reloads.  If you have them then you really only need one Phalanx since on a ship this size it'd be really pushing it to have more than one anyway, mainly for weight reasons.  This is a small ship and you've heaped a LOT of weapons on her.

That's my real-world sense showing itself though so take it accordingly depending on how real you want her to be.  If you want anymore suggestions, info, etc... just ask.  :)
-Mike
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

"If all else fails, call in an air strike."  -Anonymous

Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2013, 07:54:11 AM »
Thanks for sugeestions :) Now I know that I had put too much weapons on her. OK - I'll take off rear Phalanx. I'll put Sea Sparrow there and make bigger deck. It'll be real if I put BOFOSE ASW or MK-13 missile launcher instead of second Sea Sparrow ?
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Don't let another somber pariah consume your soul
You need strengthening, toughening
It takes a bit of dark to rekindle the fire burning in you
Ignite the fire within you

Offline Cliffy B

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #9 on: January 03, 2013, 08:02:49 AM »
Look at it this way.  Decide what you want your ship to do and how realistic you want to be.  That's always the best way to start off any build, design, etc...  Let me know that and I can better help you.

I've done a large number of naval whiffs from WWII to modern day but I try to make them as realistic/believable as possible.  That's just how "I" like to do things and I'm by no means trying to force that mentality on your build just so we're clear. 
« Last Edit: January 03, 2013, 08:09:00 AM by Cliffy B »
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

"If all else fails, call in an air strike."  -Anonymous

Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #10 on: January 03, 2013, 08:29:57 AM »
So , from the beggining. I'm writing a whiff story - more like a novel (maybe in the future I'll translate it). It's a quite big project , now I have over 50 pages.  "Lighting" is main hero of it.

In story there is a war with...let's just say-another nation :) Before war ,original ship was restored to sailing condition (now it's moving with help of tugboats). Because "Lighting" is a museum ship it haven't being sunk. The crew managed to escape and in allied base destroyer was equipped with new weapons, propulsion and other components (like radars , sonars , communication devices etc). I want to make it ...kind of...believable SF.   One thing to mention: I want to make mast like on the profile :) I hope I won't be serious inconsistency
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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #11 on: January 03, 2013, 09:35:56 AM »
OK well cool!  I'm writing a story myself and a slightly similar main character ship.  A WWII vet that gets saved from the breakers in the 1970's and put back into service and stays around until the 1990's before becoming a museum.

When you say "SF" do you mean Science Fiction or something else?

What role do you want your ship to serve in, member of a larger fleet or a stand alone/small unit ship maybe for raiding?  That would dictate what weapons she gets as would the amount of time you want her to spend refitting when she's brought out of retirement.  Given the age and size of the ship I'd go for as much light weight, modern equipment as you can use.  That being said though some of her old or other old equipment might be useful as well.  There something to be said for older equipment that is still useful even in the modern day.  Whose equipment will you guys have access to for this refit, IE what countries?

Let me know and I can offer you some ideas of how I'd refit her if you'd like.
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

"If all else fails, call in an air strike."  -Anonymous

Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #12 on: January 03, 2013, 11:46:19 PM »
Science Fiction of course :) Ship will be a part of combined fleet but lately. Before that it should be prepared for solo raids. Her actual equipment is about 40 years old so it is needed to replace almost everything. I need to equip her with NATO armanent and devices (I have this PIT-ROAD set so I prefer to use it :) )

"Lighting" basic specs:
Displacement    2144 t
Lenght    114 m
Width    11,3 m
Summergence   3,3 m
Speed    39,6 knots
Sickening, weakening
Don't let another somber pariah consume your soul
You need strengthening, toughening
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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #13 on: January 07, 2013, 08:51:39 AM »
Alright, well cool man!

Here's how I'd go about refitting her.

From looking at the Pit Road set I'd chose the OTO 3"/62 compact for a main gun (1 forward with a large magazine) in the 1st position.  Add a Phalanx in the 2nd gun position and another aft.  Some Harpoons aft of the funnel, and Mk-32 torpedo tubes amidships.  You'll need to put a gun director atop the bridge where you have the Phalanx.  The OTO 3"/62 usually use an "egg" shaped radome but any small fire control radar will suffice.

From looking at this shot of the parts I'd use the GFCS at the top of the 2nd column from the left at the bottom of the page (part 35) as that's about as modern as you're going to get.  Use part 49 for the surface search radar and part 32/33 for the air search radar.  Problem with that set is it has a lot of JMSDF equipment in it and you won't find that on ANY other ships but theirs so keep that in mind if you deem it an issue.
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10069454z/70/1

Add a good light weight hull sonar, a towed torpedo decoy and if weight permits a towed array.  For radar I'd keep it very simple with a 2D air search set and a surface search set.  I know you said you want the DDG-51 style tripod mast but something smaller and more compact would probably be better.  Maybe something like the British "pyramid" masts (square base and tapered at the top).

That way she could hunt subs, give a serious fight against surface ships and reliably defend herself against aircraft and missiles.

You said this is Sci-Fi though and since you're using 1/700 weapons/equipment on a 1/400 ship so really you could use whatever you wanted actually and call it whatever you want since the scales are so far apart.  I honestly just noticed the scale mismatch, don't mind me...  :icon_beer:  ;D  So yeah, take what I've said and use it however you'd like.
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

"If all else fails, call in an air strike."  -Anonymous

Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #14 on: January 09, 2013, 02:15:33 AM »
Thank you very much :) I really appreciate that.  I think that weight will be lower because of changed propulsion system. I'll stuck with DDG-51 - style mast , sorry :) For the rest of your ideas - they're already applied :)

Have you got any idea what could be mounted amidships ? There where I placed Sea Sparrow launchers and one of the guns?

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You need strengthening, toughening
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Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #15 on: January 12, 2013, 06:52:12 AM »
Changes applied :)





And this area. What's could be placed here to achieve at least minimal realism ?
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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #16 on: January 12, 2013, 07:59:31 AM »
Looking good man!  About your after 5"/54, I wouldn't put anything else back there as it would severely limit the firing arc of the gun.  Also, that Phalanx needs some deck area around it.  Try this, build out port and starboard to the edge of the deck house and then build the same distance fore and aft.  Also, if you're going for a real life Phalanx, IE a magazine fed, manually re-loaded version, then you'll need to add an ammo elevator to one side of the deck house, preferably the forward side, IE farthest from the after 5"/54.

Here's an example of said elevator on a Spruance class DD: http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imagery.html#guid=2fc106d6f08ef430d7091a7cb1edc3b71f9ea2a1  See the 3 icons under the photo?  Click the one on the right and download it full size.  Its directly across from the funnel on the edge of the deck house and utilizes those 2 thin rails down the side and a little cart to run the 20mm ammo up to the gun.  There's another one for the after mount.  One other thing about the Phalanx, if you're going for realism then those "barrels" need to go!!!  Why companies model them like it is beyond me.  They look much better with a single piece of rod for the barrels since 1/700 doesn't allow anything finer.

That mast looks really good and will certainly look the part when you get the support legs on it.  How did you fill your portholes?  Do you know about the plastic rod method?  Glue rod the same diameter as the hole inside and then just sand them flush with the hull.  You can come back with some spot putty later for a perfectly seamless coverup.  Its a lot easier then just puttying them and watching as the putty falls out of the holes during sanding.

Just had an idea for the amidships area.  See those square plates center line on the deck by the Sea Sparrow launchers?  Given their proximity to engineering I'd say you could use the after pair for either a VLS system or a automatic re-load system for the Sea Sparrow.  Too bad their in blocks of 6 and not 8 but you could change the plates or the launchers if you want to go that route.  Making launchers out of square stock is easy.

Another thing to think about is ditching the rounded deck edges.  They're a pain to apply PE railing (at least for me) and square decks are easier and quicker to make both for you and the shipyard.  Just something to consider if you want the ship to be in and out as fast as possible.

Depending on how futuristic or realistic you want to get you can play with an IR suppression funnel cap too.  Let me know if you want to and I can show you some design ideas.

Keep it up man!  Any ideas for her warpaint yet?
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

"If all else fails, call in an air strike."  -Anonymous

Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #17 on: January 12, 2013, 04:23:20 PM »
Looking good man!  About your after 5"/54, I wouldn't put anything else back there as it would severely limit the firing arc of the gun.  Also, that Phalanx needs some deck area around it.  Try this, build out port and starboard to the edge of the deck house and then build the same distance fore and aft.  Also, if you're going for a real life Phalanx, IE a magazine fed, manually re-loaded version, then you'll need to add an ammo elevator to one side of the deck house, preferably the forward side, IE farthest from the after 5"/54.

Here's an example of said elevator on a Spruance class DD: http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imagery.html#guid=2fc106d6f08ef430d7091a7cb1edc3b71f9ea2a1  See the 3 icons under the photo?  Click the one on the right and download it full size.  Its directly across from the funnel on the edge of the deck house and utilizes those 2 thin rails down the side and a little cart to run the 20mm ammo up to the gun.  There's another one for the after mount.  One other thing about the Phalanx, if you're going for realism then those "barrels" need to go!!!  Why companies model them like it is beyond me.  They look much better with a single piece of rod for the barrels since 1/700 doesn't allow anything finer.


Barrels will be changed :) Also I'll try to model this elevator. And one thing, maybe because of my english (my inside vocabulary needs an update :) )...I don't get a point of this sentence "Try this, build out port and starboard to the edge of the deck house and then build the same distance fore and aft" . Can you explain? :)

That mast looks really good and will certainly look the part when you get the support legs on it.  How did you fill your portholes?  Do you know about the plastic rod method?  Glue rod the same diameter as the hole inside and then just sand them flush with the hull.  You can come back with some spot putty later for a perfectly seamless coverup.  Its a lot easier then just puttying them and watching as the putty falls out of the holes during sanding.

Just had an idea for the amidships area.  See those square plates center line on the deck by the Sea Sparrow launchers?  Given their proximity to engineering I'd say you could use the after pair for either a VLS system or a automatic re-load system for the Sea Sparrow.  Too bad their in blocks of 6 and not 8 but you could change the plates or the launchers if you want to go that route.  Making launchers out of square stock is easy.



I think I'll go for both If it's possible. I'll remove this gun amidships and make VLS beetween Sea Sparrow launchers. Also I'll make automatic Sea Sparrow re-load system near each launcher (not between them). I didn't thought about sealing portholes. Why to do it? 

Depending on how futuristic or realistic you want to get you can play with an IR suppression funnel cap too.  Let me know if you want to and I can show you some design ideas.
Keep it up man!  Any ideas for her warpaint yet?


Well...I thought about funnel. Have you ever read any book by Clive Cussler? There is a series about  "OREGON" - spy ship with mercenary crew. This particular vessel has magnetohydrodynamic engines and smoke generator inside fake funnel to disguise real propulsion system. I thought about something simmilar. Atomic battery (something like 4S reactor in Galena powerplant) as a power source instead of heavy steam boilers and mazut reserve and funnel with smoke generator as a disguise/heat dissipation:) Potential enemy will never know about real performance of this destroyer by seeing black smoke :) But it's just a thought/sick idea :D

About warpaint...standard grey or Admiralty Dark Disruptive camo , just like now :)

Sickening, weakening
Don't let another somber pariah consume your soul
You need strengthening, toughening
It takes a bit of dark to rekindle the fire burning in you
Ignite the fire within you

Offline finsrin

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #18 on: January 12, 2013, 04:45:08 PM »
Looking good man!  About your after 5"/54, I wouldn't put anything else back there as it would severely limit the firing arc of the gun.  Also, that Phalanx needs some deck area around it.  Try this, build out port and starboard to the edge of the deck house and then build the same distance fore and aft.  Also, if you're going for a real life Phalanx, IE a magazine fed, manually re-loaded version, then you'll need to add an ammo elevator to one side of the deck house, preferably the forward side, IE farthest from the after 5"/54.

Here's an example of said elevator on a Spruance class DD: http://www.defenseimagery.mil/imagery.html#guid=2fc106d6f08ef430d7091a7cb1edc3b71f9ea2a1  See the 3 icons under the photo?  Click the one on the right and download it full size.  Its directly across from the funnel on the edge of the deck house and utilizes those 2 thin rails down the side and a little cart to run the 20mm ammo up to the gun.  There's another one for the after mount.  One other thing about the Phalanx, if you're going for realism then those "barrels" need to go!!!  Why companies model them like it is beyond me.  They look much better with a single piece of rod for the barrels since 1/700 doesn't allow anything finer.

That mast looks really good and will certainly look the part when you get the support legs on it.  How did you fill your portholes?  Do you know about the plastic rod method?  Glue rod the same diameter as the hole inside and then just sand them flush with the hull.  You can come back with some spot putty later for a perfectly seamless coverup.  Its a lot easier then just puttying them and watching as the putty falls out of the holes during sanding.

Just had an idea for the amidships area.  See those square plates center line on the deck by the Sea Sparrow launchers?  Given their proximity to engineering I'd say you could use the after pair for either a VLS system or a automatic re-load system for the Sea Sparrow.  Too bad their in blocks of 6 and not 8 but you could change the plates or the launchers if you want to go that route.  Making launchers out of square stock is easy.

Another thing to think about is ditching the rounded deck edges.  They're a pain to apply PE railing (at least for me) and square decks are easier and quicker to make both for you and the shipyard.  Just something to consider if you want the ship to be in and out as fast as possible.

Depending on how futuristic or realistic you want to get you can play with an IR suppression funnel cap too.  Let me know if you want to and I can show you some design ideas.

Keep it up man!  Any ideas for her warpaint yet?


Cool modernization of Błyskawica.   Like Cliffy's input, knows his ship stuff.
Also could move CIWS to end of deck house, leaving room for Shuffleboard court.

Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #19 on: January 21, 2013, 07:29:13 AM »
Hello!

I mounted elevators (I'll add rails lately), VLS and auto-reload system for Sea Sparrows. Also I modified Phalanx'es.  I hope reload system for Sparrows and VLS are where it should be. If not , let me know. Now photos:





Cliffy B can you explain me what you mean in "Try this, build out port and starboard to the edge of the deck house and then build the same distance fore and aft.". I don't get it :)
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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #20 on: January 21, 2013, 07:50:46 AM »
Quote
I mounted elevators (I'll add rails lately), VLS and auto-reload system for Sea Sparrows. Also I modified Phalanx's.  I hope reload system for Sparrows and VLS are where it should be. If not , let me know.


My fault about the Sparrows man.  For them to work vertically the launcher would have to sit directly above them so that when it elevated to 90 degrees, it'd line up with them.  Easy fix though!  Since they're already sitting on that little raised part of the deck, just take some sheet plastic and add some sections just big enough for the hatches alongside each launcher and then put the little hatches on the extensions.  You might need to raise the launchers up a bit though as I can't tell if they're high enough to elevate a full 90 degrees without hitting the deck.

If those larger panels you added are for the Sparrows then disregard the above.  If that's the case then those little VLS hatches need to be moved farther away from the Sparrows or they will interfere with each other.  You wouldn't want to have rotate/elevate one system to allow another to operate.  Those panels work really well for a reload system.  Have the hatches open and the loaders elevate to match the launcher and automatically load the boxes.  You'd just need some crew to run out and put the covers back on before you could fire again as the exhaust could damage the exposed missiles.

Quote
Cliffy B can you explain me what you mean in "Try this, build out port and starboard to the edge of the deck house and then build the same distance fore and aft.". I don't get it :)

Hey, sorry.  I meant build out the superstructure around the after Phalanx to the edge of the deck house and then build the same distance fore and aft.  You can't have the mount sitting on a tiny pedestal like that.

The ammo elevators and the Phalanx mounts are spot on, nice one!  She's looking great, keep it up  8)
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

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Offline Artoor_K

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #21 on: January 25, 2013, 05:14:38 AM »
Quote
I mounted elevators (I'll add rails lately), VLS and auto-reload system for Sea Sparrows. Also I modified Phalanx's.  I hope reload system for Sparrows and VLS are where it should be. If not , let me know.


My fault about the Sparrows man.  For them to work vertically the launcher would have to sit directly above them so that when it elevated to 90 degrees, it'd line up with them.  Easy fix though!  Since they're already sitting on that little raised part of the deck, just take some sheet plastic and add some sections just big enough for the hatches alongside each launcher and then put the little hatches on the extensions.  You might need to raise the launchers up a bit though as I can't tell if they're high enough to elevate a full 90 degrees without hitting the deck.

If those larger panels you added are for the Sparrows then disregard the above.  If that's the case then those little VLS hatches need to be moved farther away from the Sparrows or they will interfere with each other.  You wouldn't want to have rotate/elevate one system to allow another to operate.  Those panels work really well for a reload system.  Have the hatches open and the loaders elevate to match the launcher and automatically load the boxes.  You'd just need some crew to run out and put the covers back on before you could fire again as the exhaust could damage the exposed missiles.

Quote
Cliffy B can you explain me what you mean in "Try this, build out port and starboard to the edge of the deck house and then build the same distance fore and aft.". I don't get it :)

Hey, sorry.  I meant build out the superstructure around the after Phalanx to the edge of the deck house and then build the same distance fore and aft.  You can't have the mount sitting on a tiny pedestal like that.

The ammo elevators and the Phalanx mounts are spot on, nice one!  She's looking great, keep it up  8)

I'll correct reload system for Sea Sparrows. Thank for help :) I've already build Phalanx pedestal. Photos tommorow. Thanks again :)
Sickening, weakening
Don't let another somber pariah consume your soul
You need strengthening, toughening
It takes a bit of dark to rekindle the fire burning in you
Ignite the fire within you

Offline Artoor_K

  • On the run from Polish Rivet Counters...
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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #22 on: January 29, 2013, 02:30:30 AM »
I hope it's better now :)

Sickening, weakening
Don't let another somber pariah consume your soul
You need strengthening, toughening
It takes a bit of dark to rekindle the fire burning in you
Ignite the fire within you

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #23 on: February 02, 2013, 03:06:29 AM »
Coming along nicely.
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Offline Cliffy B

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Re: ORP "Błyskawica" ("Lighting") v. 2032 Mirage 1:400 + Pit-Road 1:700
« Reply #24 on: February 02, 2013, 03:18:15 AM »
Looking great man!!!  My only suggestions are to watch your seams and watch how you paint.  You're getting the "granulated" surface look in some places.  Think that means you're spraying too close but I hardly ever use my airbrush so... ;D  Keep at it man, can't wait to see her in camo!
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

"Helos don't fly.  They vibrate so violently that the ground rejects them."  -Tom Clancy

"If all else fails, call in an air strike."  -Anonymous