- The Airfix Tribute Forum -

chippy · Posted: Sat 03 May 2008 20:11 pm Post subject: Digs's Build

Digs will show progress on his build here:

A conversion of Mauretania to Lusitania - The ship that brought America into WW1

Looking forward to this Paul

Digs · Posted: Sun 10 Aug 2008 17:52 pm Post subject:

My seaplane is stalled now until the aftermarket machine gun turns up so i thought I'd make a start on the Lusitania. Nothing actually done yet except for taking the scene-setting pics.

This is the raw materials I've accumulated - one kit, courtesy of KingKit, one set of GMM PE, courtesy of WEM, an interesting book with some useful pics in it and a set of horribly inaccurate plans, both courtesy of Ebay (from separate sellers it should be said - one of which I'd have to be pretty desperate to go back to).

And here's the obligatory sprue shots - it's a BIG kit, moulded in slightly translucent grey plastic, with rather soft edges. An older kit would probably be better but hey. Some nice looking mouldings however - the ventilators in particular surprised me. Shame most won't be used!

And you can see what's probably going to be the best use of the plans - a pretty nautical backdrop for photography...

Digs · Posted: Tue 19 Aug 2008 19:34 pm Post subject:

In evidence of having made a start - the hull halves are now joined and I've started repairing the seam. It took three days (not full time you understand!) to glue them together - one half is around 2 mm shorter than the other and they bowed away from each other a little, making it easiest to tack them together a section at a time.

Not a great photo I'm afraid. The camera went to southern Spain with the grumpier half last week and either she's changed the settings or it's just throwing a sulk at English light levels

Paul

Loll · Posted: Tue 19 Aug 2008 19:52 pm Post subject:

Nice bit of desert camo there ........

What's the problem with the plans, wrong ship ?, invented detail ?
_________________
PLEASE send details of DECALS options as supplied with AIRFIX kits and KIT NUMBER to: LOLL-Decals at hotmail.co.uk
Even if you think I may have the info, still send it. Still loads more needed.

Digs · Posted: Tue 19 Aug 2008 20:05 pm Post subject:

I got confused with my other ongoing GB...

The plans - the major externally visible difference between the Mauretania and the Lusitania is (was) that the Lusitania didn't have the usual cowl vents but had barrel-shaped things with hinged lids. This is the major thing I would like to get right - positions and numbers. Cowl vents are clearly visible on the plans even on my zoomed out photo so I'm SOL for help there... Some of the other details seem wrong too, from what I can glean from the net and other models. I would lay odds that they're a set of plans drawn up for the Mauretania and then relabelled as the Lusitania to make a quick buck. From mugs like me.

The seller never replied to my polite email pointing out that the plans were less accurate than they could have been. After a decent delay, I left polite, positive feedback saying this. I'm still waiting for my feedback!

Paul

Digs · Posted: Tue 26 Aug 2008 06:43 am Post subject:

The end date for this GB is already looking hopelessly optimistic!

The hull is together, seams patched (except for the very bottom where it will never be visible once mounted on a stand) and the propellor shaft housings fitted. And that means it's time to drill out the portholes.

Except do you have any idea how many portholes a large liner has??? I've done 70 so far and it doesn't even look like I've done more than scratch the surface...

Paul

chippy · Posted: Tue 26 Aug 2008 12:18 pm Post subject:

Hey Digs

Good luck with the port holes mate I dont envy you that, on reflection we might have needed longer but lets crack on!!

garryrussell · Black Star Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 26

Sorry to bring a message of woebut.....

The two liners were slightly differeent lengths, the funnels were different heights and there was a lot of differences in the superstructure.

The windows were very different as well.

Maybe some of this is minor in this scale but the two sisters being built by different shipbuilders were different in most details.

In a way they are two variations of a basic theme.

Digs · Posted: Wed 27 Aug 2008 06:49 am Post subject:

Hi Garry

The length thing doesn't worry me - I've seen so many different values quoted for both ships with the most authoritative and best documented account giving the difference between the two as 3 foot. 1.5 mm is trivial in my book. The two halves of the kit hull differed by more than that!

Superstructure - I haven't decided yet how far I'm going to take this. The main differences I've noted are around the bridge area, the shape of the upper skylights and the following quote that I haven't worked out the meaning of yet: 'Second class lounge atop the aft Second class deckhouse was round on Mary; Lucy's was square with diagonal-cut corners'. I also have a recollection of reading somewhere that the aft flying bridge was different but I've either made that up or forgotten to make notes on it!

Having failed to get a decent set of plans is a handicap - any specific details you have would be gratefully received.

The funnels - do you have a source for this? I've read the exact opposite - that they were identically sized but appeared to be different because the Lusitania's weren't visually competing with cowl ventilators.

I think the window shape is pretty well invisible in this scale - and anyway I'm not going to go for the Jim Baumann level of uber super detailing!

Cheers

Paul

garryrussell · Black Star Joined: 10 Nov 2007 Posts: 26

Hi Digs

The Lusitania was as far as I know five feet shorter

The rear superstructure was different

I don't have the figures to hand now but the The funnels were definatly different heights. I know what you mean about the optical illusion with the cowls. I think it was the Lusitania that was shorter on the funnels

Having said that the Queens Mary at Long Beach has dummy funnels that are smaller then the original but does anyone notice???

I was once going to convert a Lusitania into Mauritania but one I started collecting the info and pics I found them so different it was a much bigger job than I thought. I never did get around to it.

Again some of this would go unnoticed in this scale.

I was not sure if you were fully aware....which you are so the best option id to change the obvious things. They has different props as well but if it is waterline that hardly matters.

Sadly divorces and accumulated resources don't mix

I did have a lot of stuff on the two including r 'Wiki'

Anyway.....good luck with the conversion as long as it looks the part it is the part something my Dad told me years ago............it doesn't have to be excatly like the subject it only has to look like it.

She'll be great

Garry

Loll · Posted: Wed 27 Aug 2008 12:19 pm Post subject:

A few useful details here
_________________
PLEASE send details of DECALS options as supplied with AIRFIX kits and KIT NUMBER to: LOLL-Decals at hotmail.co.uk
Even if you think I may have the info, still send it. Still loads more needed.

chippy · Posted: Thu 28 Aug 2008 14:46 pm Post subject:

Paul

you crack on mate !!!! Note the chat thread re completion date, it is 31 October!!!! so you have an extra month on top of what you thought, my mistake I think !!! still Ratch agrees with me I must have typed it in a thread wrong somewhere.

Geoff

chippy · Posted: Thu 04 Sep 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

Hi Paul

just posted in the reference thread a great link to a Lusitania site, might help

orionv · Posted: Mon 08 Sep 2008 16:58 pm Post subject:

Any news?

Digs · Posted: Mon 08 Sep 2008 18:38 pm Post subject:

Three hundred odd portholes drilled out and I'm still less than half-way through...

Paul

chippy · Posted: Mon 08 Sep 2008 22:30 pm Post subject:

Bet your fingers are sore Paul !!!!!!

Digs · Posted: Sun 14 Sep 2008 22:18 pm Post subject:

I am working on this - now over the 500 mark on the portholes.

Paul

chippy · Posted: Tue 16 Sep 2008 11:49 am Post subject:

Keep at it mate, you must be nearly there!!!

Heinkel51 · Posted: Tue 16 Sep 2008 12:10 pm Post subject:

Loll · Posted: Tue 16 Sep 2008 13:02 pm Post subject: