What's on your Workbench for February?

[Bligh]

I will start off this month with my How to on a Victorian Pre Dreadnought.


The kit.


I start building the Bridge and upper foredeck.


Rob.

[Bligh]

Next job was opening up all the holes for fittings.



and trial testing the parts for fit and the easiest order for assembly.



Rob.

[Diamondback]

Working on a digital model for a Sails storage case. Bligh, if you'd check your email you'd have already seen these...

SGN case 1 - mockup mini, defining base envelope.jpg Views: 867 Size: 94.4 KB" style="float: CONFIG" />
Starting with a mockup "mini" in Sketchup, based on Victory's dimensions but rather simplified. Also starting to define the socket for the base.

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At this point the base socket is mostly defined--I need to check if Ocean bows project past the end of the base and adjust accordingly if so.

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Here we have the main case's base socket fully defined, and have started to build out the case by adding a space for the maneuver deck.

SGN case 4 - jib block in place, outlining float space.jpg Views: 787 Size: 114.7 KB" style="float: CONFIG" />
We've added a spacer block under the jib, and are starting to rough out the "box" around the masts. Note that the masts will "free float" in this space, the entire ship is held in place by the pin joining it to the base.

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At this stage we're starting to build out the "sail box" around the masts.

SGN case 6 - cell render complete.jpg Views: 828 Size: 114.2 KB" style="float: CONFIG" />
Finished render of the preliminary concept. The "windowpane" that goes over the ship isn't rendered, nor the lip that locks the base's starboard side in place (attached to the window) or the outer framing. If I was going to make this a "travel size game" complete kit, I'd do it with one side holding two ships, and the other just a box for the rulebook, rulers and chits.

[Bligh]

Very interesting seeing how you build up your three D image DB.
This sort of design work was just coming in when I retired, but it looks as if the design process has been refined a lot since my day. I will follow your design with interest.
Rob.

[Diamondback]

Each wall section in that render is 1mm thick, with 1mm "air gaps" between the walls and the mini/base.

I'm toying with the idea of making each of these an "insert module" with an entire line of outer cases so if you had the entire collection racked up for display but wanted to pack down a travel-size game to take with you, you'd just pull two ship cells out of their cases and rack them into one side of a smaller case, slot a box with your rulebook, rulers and damage bags in the other, close and latch and you're ready to go.

[Bligh]

Now the undercoat.



Next the hull got a coat of black and whilst that was drying I did the funnels in Buff.



Rob.

[Diamondback]

Starting to come together beautifully, Rob--not sure how accurate she is, but to my untrained eye looks very believable.

[Bligh]

The deck is a bit too light now dry. It should be about half way between the colour it is and the Funnels.

Rob.

[Dobbs]

She's looking great! Which Victorian battleship is she?

[Bligh]

I am afraid that I am not at liberty to say at the moment Dobbs. All I can tell you is that it will be revealed in time.
Rob.

[Bligh]

Now getting all the ancilliary parts painted.


Gluing in the Stubs of the masts and the Ventilators.
Much easier to place before the Funnels go in.





Finally for today the Funnels, sea boats, and guns.


Rob.

[Bligh]

The next job was to silver solder wire together to make the two detatchable topmasts.


Here they are painted and ready with the searchlight platforms added.



Just the rigging and bunting to add now.
Rob.

[Bligh]

Ship completed with detachable upper masts for ease of storage.





Here she is at last all masted rigged and ship shape fashion.





Rob.

[Bligh]

A few shots of the ship in action.

[Dobbs]

It's a beautiful little ship, Rob. Which Old Glory miniature is it? Is it still available?

[Bligh]

I honestly can't remember Dobbs.
I will see if I have the old packaging anywhere.
It has also been slightly modified by me to fit my own needs.
The Bridge and aft control position s have been slightly heightened and the masts modified to take the searchlights.
Rob.

[Bligh]

Not the most impressive piece of work that I have included here but one which I fancy will appear in several forthcoming AARs.



Rob.

[Bligh]

The production of the Clacks gets underway.



Based and undercoated.




Painting underway.



Placed on its headland and just waiting to be fixed in place and shaded.

Rob.

[Bligh]

Here is a bit of background for the interested.




Semaphore towers by Brigade models in 6mm.




Your basic signalling code.

Rob.

[Bligh]

Here is the tower in real life in Surrey.




Rob.

[Bligh]

I just found this article on the tower.

Semaphore Stations.





From the Late 18th Century Surrey formed part of a crucial communication link to London. Consisting of a line of buildings with odd looking structures built on the roofs, we look into one of Surrey’s more unusual buildings.

Origins of the Semaphore Station.

In 1796 the Admiralty authorised the construction of a line of communication stations developed in response to the levered semaphore signalling system developed by the French in 1792. The Shutter Telegraph Stations were little more than temporary hut structures with 20 ft vertical frames set upon the roofs. This contained a system of 6 shutters in two columns which could be moved to provide 64 permutations (Hunt 2017).
The stations were built to provide a fast communication Link between the Admiralty to the Royal Dockyards in Portsmouth and the fleet. This system would be crucial during the French Revolutionary Wars and the following Napoleonic War. Two designs were produced for a visual semaphore system the first machine, by Reverend John Gamble, used five shutters and allowed 32 signals, with the second machine, developed by Reverend Lord George Murray, being of 6 shutters (Hunt 2017). After trials of both systems the Admiralty accepted Murray’s system and construction began.




Architectural Model by George Murray.

© National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Admiralty Collection
The Surrey sites formed the Portsmouth Line and were situated at Netley Heath and Hascombe). With the end of the Napoleonic War the stations were shut down by the Admiralty in 1816. Today the early stations no longer survive.

The New London to Portsmouth Line.





An artist’s impression of the semaphore station on Telegraph Hill in the process of sending a message. Image: Dudley Mallinson.

In 1815 an act of government was passed giving the Admiralty permission to buy land for a more permanent Semaphore Telegraph Line. Following the closure of the Shutter stations in 1816, designs were being accepted for the replacement of the Murray Shutter Stations by the Admiralty. The design chosen was by Rear Admiral Sir Home Riggs Popham. This was based on the French Chappe system but used a simpler two signalling arm system in place of three. An experimental line was built in 1818 from the Admiralty to Chatham, to prove if the new semaphore system would work.

With the success of the experimental line, construction began on the new London to Portsmouth Line, becoming operation in 1822. Following a similar route to the previous stations, a number of fortunately survive today. In Surrey these are situated at Chatley Heath (SHER 502), Pewley Hill (SHER 329), Bannicle Hill (SHER 3504), Coopers Hill (SHER 275) Poyle Hill (SHER 1751), Worplesden Glebe (SHER 1829) and Haste Hill (SHER 3531). The Line stayed in operation until the last signal on the 31^st December 1847, following the introduction of the electronic telegraph making the semaphore stations redundant.

An example of the only complete tall tower station survives at Chatley Heath. In 1989 the tower underwent a complete restoration and includes a fully working signalling mechansim. Today the Surrey Wildlife Trust holds open days at the tower so you can explore this building with a unique history.




Chatley Heath Semaphore Tower signalling shutters Copyright Martin Higgins Surrey County Council

Further Reading.

Hunt B http://www.portsdown-tunnels.org.uk/ancient_sites/telegraph_p1.html Accessed 13/02/2017
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22909590

For more information please visit: http://www.surreywildlifetrust.org/e...day?instance=0
[IMG]file:///C:/Users/Admin/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image003.jpg[/IMG]

Rob.

[Bilge Rat]

Looks like just the kind of thing Moist and Adora Belle would get involved in.....

[Bligh]

Strange to say I named the Folder on my computer for this "The Clacks." I must be going postal.
Where are the Frog pills Bursar.



Ah! That's better.
Rob.

[Comte de Brueys]

Nice project, comrades.

Rob, this RN Dreadnought is beautiful. Think, you can embed this one in a WGF mission.

[Bligh]

Could well be Sven.
Rob.

[Bligh]

I see that I also have to thank you for Rep Sven.
You are too kind.
Rob.

[Bligh]

Should have given out the secret of the ships identity before this, but now that Tripods are released, I can reveal that she is the Thunderchild.
Rob.