Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Group and Themed Builds => Kitbash / Frankenstein GB => Topic started by: Robomog on March 04, 2025, 06:48:14 PM
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Hi all
I'm being a bit cheeky here as I am also entering this in a group build on Whatif but it is relevant to both groups so why not ??
This is madness on my part, I have little naval expertise but what if the Navy required a fleet supply craft that could also act as a light destroyer based loosely on Wynans Cigar Ship.
It would run with most of its hull submerged and would have two outriggers to help its stability in rough seas, pretty much a trimaran, I may make them a bit smaller but they could arguably be part of the storage. Time will tell.
Here's the starting bits.....
(https://i.imgur.com/l7pHnmK.jpeg)
Not sure where all the parts come from, I just raided my parts stash ;D
More when it happens
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Okay... this looks somewhat interesting :smiley:
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Winan's designs were very radical for the time-it surprise me a little that they don't show up more often in Steampunk stories. This should be interesting indeed.
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That's pretty awesome, @Robomog
I'd had a notion of Winan making a harbor patrol ship circa 1860 that was taken out of Baltimore one night by Confederate sympathizers and lost in the Potomac before it reached rebel waters.
https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=10030.msg190192#msg190192
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Intriguing . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Thanks for the comments chaps.
Finally got started on this one but its doing my head in, at approx 1/600 I'm having trouble getting my brain around such a small scale and trying to get everything in proportion. I've been modelling in 1/72 for so long.
First attempts were way to big
(https://i.imgur.com/KJKCQUr.jpeg)
Finally got something about right
(https://i.imgur.com/7jT8Nny.jpeg)
And the turbine cover is complete,
I've posed the ship with its out riggers to give some idea of layout
(https://i.imgur.com/OTXZ2Mv.jpeg)
And a bit closer
(https://i.imgur.com/5XQMuY5.jpeg)
Next is the turbine itself but I probably will not install it until the bulk of the rest of the construction is complete.
More when it happens.......
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Hi all
Life's a bit hectic at the moment, didn't realise the selling mum's flat would be so stressful :-\
Meanwhile a little progress on the cigar Ship.
The main Turbine is under construction, spent a night sticking on the blades.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ij7HWh1.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xxFTXut.jpeg)
I'm not going to attach it to the ship until the end, I've knocked one blade off it already but it will look something like this....
(https://i.imgur.com/glUEc08.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hIdmoiR.jpeg)
Also made some progress on the pontoons....
(https://i.imgur.com/KilykQy.jpeg)
Thanks for looking....
Mog
>^-.-^<
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This is going to look so good!
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Nicely done on the turbine, I can see now how that works
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Coming along nicely.
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Hi all
Thanks for all the comments chaps.
Some more progress on the ship
I've successfully attached the pontoons.
First marked out and drilled the side and inserted some plastic rods for reinforcement
(https://i.imgur.com/mDr6h4a.jpeg)
Then attached the pontoons
(https://i.imgur.com/M0aHRTm.jpeg)
These square connections form the companion way to the pontoons.
Finally some tubular bracing to strengthen the instalation.
(https://i.imgur.com/IZTMbZT.jpeg)
Next job is to tidy up the joints then on to the superstructure.
Looking at the ship as it stands it could easily be a submarine or a spaceship ;D ;D
More when it happens....
Mog
>^-.-^<
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:smiley: . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Hi all
Started on the superstructure. I'm trying to keep it simple but, as usual, I've got into a "that would be a good thing to include" mind set, so it might get a bit cluttered if I don't curb my enthusiasm a bit.
Here's the story so far, nothing is stuck down yet, but it gives you some idea of how this build is shaping up. To be honest I'm completely winging it now ;D
(https://i.imgur.com/BiLiqJo.jpeg)
So what you have here is the main front superstructure with the bridge and two front gun platforms, the rear gun position and superstructure. Plus the top of what is to be the hatches of the hold.
(https://i.imgur.com/WutAvNW.jpeg)
I still have to sort out the funnels, find somewhere to put the lifeboats and rig some sort of crane.
Thanks for looking
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Getting the gist now.
So running semi awash, like the Confederate David type boat, but with bigger guns
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Getting the gist now.
So running semi awash, like the Confederate David type boat, but with bigger guns
Pretty much-here's a brief Primer.
https://www.vernianera.com/CigarBoats.html (https://www.vernianera.com/CigarBoats.html)
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Yup been there that was my inspiration ;D ;D ;D
Mog
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Hi all progress update
The superstructure is pretty much done
(https://i.imgur.com/nvSUvAy.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/x3fYkwS.jpeg)
I've spent what felt like an age constructing the funnels and also preparing the lifeboats (still not sure where they are going :D)
(https://i.imgur.com/GoJlBzA.jpeg)
But got there in the end. All the major construction is completed and ready for priming and painting.
(https://i.imgur.com/UU4ysB6.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/atnoHMg.jpeg)
More when it happens.....
Mog
>^-.-^<
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So interesting. :smiley: Look forward to seeing it when finished.
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Seconded . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Looks fantastic! Waiting for more.
Nice job on the jig too.
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Hi all
Finally finished
First a rather sketchy back story then the pics.....
HMS Provider – A Cigar Ship that was asked to do too much
Around 1910 Initial model testing of a cigar ship proved to be quite promising, the central Turbine fan gave it a reasonable turn of speed and with its two opposing rudders it could turn extremely tightly, however it did have a tendency to roll very badly so two streamlined outriggers were added to each side to stabilise the ship which worked quite successfully.
Eventually a contract was given to build a full size ship and work commenced for a Cigar Ship Destroyer intended to have three four inch guns, two one inch anti aircraft guns, a number of half inch machine guns and torpedo tubes
However many months down the line but fairly early in its construction the powers that be in the navy changed their minds. New edicts were issued that the navy required a high speed tender to supply current Destroyers at sea with fuel, food and ammunition in an effort to increase their range so that they could stay longer with Atlantic convoys.
As a result of this the Cigar Ship lost all its smaller armament and torpedoes. The rear hull aft of the Turbine was turned into a large hold to carry food and ammunition. The pontoons were redesigned to carry fuel oil with extra fuel carried large tanks in the hold that could be pumped into the pontoons.
Essentially it became half destroyer and half transport, a jack of all trades but master of none.
The remaining construction, adaptions and subsequent launch went without problem and HMS Provider was born.
The working up trials followed but started to show some limitations in the design.
Unladen it still had a reasonable turn of speed and manuverability. But when fully loaded the problems began.
The most serious problem was that the ship sat much lower in the water and coupled with increased rolling momentum brought on by the increased weight caused the pontoons to dig in and drag the connecting structure into the sea which in turn pulled the ship towards the pontoon.
The speed was also reduced because of the extra weight and drag so it could not keep up with a normal destroyer even if said destroyer was at an economical cruise.
They tried restricting the amount it could carry but to no avail, it just wasn’t up to the job. Plans were made to replace the booms with aircraft style floats or dispense with the pontoons altogether and give it a massive keel but good sense prevailed and the whole project was cancelled.
The ship was taken to Scapa Flow had all the armament removed and became an oiler and accommodation vessel for destroyers passing through until it was unceremoniously scrapped a few years later, another project the killed by a British disease that tries to get more bang for their bucks and ends up crippling the project.
If they had left the project as originally designed there was a strong chance it would have worked, but fiddling with the design doomed it to failure.
And now the pics....
Being as its a naval subject I've photographed it using a blue background for a change, I think it came out pretty well.
(https://i.imgur.com/jTujrRs.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/c1oqwc4.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/aus9jEz.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hZ4mMWd.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/JR8e9nc.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Z4PGU6u.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KVLo1N8.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/rk6eFch.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gmp7scr.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/SfHqxOY.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/jdUtKEd.jpeg)
I don't have any 1/600 scale ships to do the scale shots so I've posed the last two photographs with a 1/600 scale Sea Vixen from HMS Victorious
(https://i.imgur.com/xssQ5nu.jpeg)
(https://i.imgur.com/B71FTQw.jpeg)
Thanks for looking....
All comments and criticisms gratefully accepted
Mog
>^-.-^<
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I love it! It would fit perfectly in the early 1900s or in some Victorian space environment, like in "Space:1899"
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:smiley: :smiley: 8)
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All compliments and definitely no criticisms! 8)
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:smiley:
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Thanks for the comment chaps :smiley: :smiley:
Mog
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Sooo creative :smiley: Love the steampunkish vibes :-* Has character :smiley:
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Nice build and great backstory. :smiley:
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All compliments and definitely no criticisms! 8)
Absolutely! A truly gorgeous and highly original build, 'Mog :smiley: :smiley:
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Just catching up with this, another cracking Build, along with a plausible back story . . . :smiley:
cheers,
Robin.
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Thinking about the 'stability problems' in your backstory, how about a twin-hull, catamaran version ?
cheers,
Robin.
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That would work, but then again I would need to find another reason fir why it failed :D ;D ;D ;D
Mog
>^-.-^<