RMS Mauretania build
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/9/2/0/1643920-10800-60-720.jpg)
Au usual, I started on the base early on. This time, I aimed at a more lively wave pattern and tried making a bow wave from DAS modeling clay.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/9/2/1/1643921-10800-98-720.jpg)
The bow wave was shaped using rotating tools.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/6/5/3/1643653-10800-52-720.jpg)
I tried to add some structure to the hull using self-adhesive aluminum tape cut to the requisite size. I found that burnishing the tape to the hull using Q-tips or a glass fibre eraser worked quite well. The large mounting holes in the hull for the davits were filled with styrene rod.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/9/2/2/1643922-10800-31-720.jpg)
Having added a lot of aluminum foil, and drilled open all the scuttles, it was time to look into further assembly. I did not correct the underlying errors in the kit as I found that too much for my skills. So the basic height of the decks remained as it was.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/9/2/3/1643923-10800-57-720.jpg)
I found this battery-powered and rechargeable tool most helpful in drilling the hundreds of holes for scuttles and the between deck stanchions.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/9/2/4/1643924-10800-65-720.jpg)
I temporarily fixed the deck levels with screws to ease drilling in the right spots.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/9/2/5/1643925-10800-75-720.jpg)
The base was painted and treated in my usual fashion.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/9/2/6/1643926-10800-10-720.jpg)
After painting the hull and deck levels, it was time to start assembly, and also to add the first railings.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/9/2/7/1643927-10800-39-720.jpg)
Some gentle persuasion was needed during the assembly process.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/9/2/8/1643928-10800-82-720.jpg)
Between deck stanchions were added into the pre-drilled holes, which were thereafter filled with white glue and painted over.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/9/2/9/1643929-10800-60-720.jpg)
The masts were rebuilt from brass, the foremast was later replaced with a slightly thinner version.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/9/3/0/1643930-10800-62-720.jpg)
The funnels received some limited detailing and were rigged with Albion Alloys 0.1 mm nickel silver wire.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/9/3/1/1643931-10800-50-720.jpg)
I did some reshaping, reducing and thinning out of the bow wave.
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/9/3/2/1643932-10800-98-720.jpg)
I chose to retain the spurious deck details but to add better anchor chains and a scratchbuilt anchor crane.
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/9/3/3/1643933-10800-92-720.jpg)
The aft docking bridge was rebuilt entirely.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/9/3/4/1643934-10800-37-720.jpg)
I added homemade boat davits with PE from the GMM Liners PE set, plus some hint at scrambling nets. The boats were covered with awnings made from white glue with a central piece of wire giving shape..
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/9/3/5/1643935-10800-71-720.jpg)
I made this jig for the wireless antenna array, and it worked well. This rigging is UNI Caenis.
Comments
2 20 January, 07:57
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Buidling the Airfix kit.