Topic: HMS Suffolk

[paul swainson]

She looks beautiful James, the way she pushes through the water is fantastic.  I like the cam paint work, although I am not a lover of that colour scheme.  Well done James a very nice and clean build.  Paul

[mikearace]

Awesome!!!

[colin]

jup, must agree with the rest of the gang... superb 

[ship's doctor]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone,

Took her out on 'first patrol' on Sunday with the Wicksteed Park Model Boat Club - very calm day so ideal testing conditions. Seems to be very stable despite the high freeboard, though there is still some top weight to go on - cranes, ships boats and smaller details.

Steamed for 1 hr 30 mins, with no sign of Bismarck as yet...

[ship's doctor]

Just finished building the aircraft handling cranes... these are laser cut parts, drawn on CAD and sent to Deans Marine. Extra detail added from scrap plastic/spare photo etch.

Next jobs... ship's boats, remaining deck fittings, ladders, rigging... end in sight??

Hopefully see some of you at the Dean's Christmas shop opening,

James

[radio joe]

Beautiful job James, that's going to look great on Suffolk. 

[paul swainson]

Hi James,

I have CAD drawing of the Aerials and cranes for Lusty, what do you mean by the parts being Laser cut? In what materials?

[ship's doctor]

Hi Paul, I think they are in nickel silver, I sent the drawings to Deans who arranged for them to be laser cut. I think they already have the cranes for Illustrious as laser cut parts?

Started work on scratch building some ships boats - Some more info has become available since I did the previous set. As far as I can see Suffolk carried in 1941 - 2x 32ft Cutters, one 36ft pulling boat, two 35 ft launches*, one 35ft fast motor boat*, one 16ft speed boat (* starred ones - I'm not certain, as the photos aren't very clear).

This is the 36ft pulling boat - making a plug for vacforming. I photocopied drawings (AOTS Warspite/ Maritime museum website), stuck onto plasticard to make a skeleton. Then fill in the gaps in the skeleton with pattern making foam. Then sand back the foam until you get to the ribs. I need to skim the surface with body filler to get a smooth surface.

James

[colin]

James...
a plug for Vac forming... !!    why not go that little bit further and do one for Resin...     

[ship's doctor]

Don't tempt me Colin... I think the vac-forming might be the basis for a resin one in the future. The one on Suffolk has a canvas cover too so you won't be ale to see the inside!

James 

[ship's doctor]

A bit more work on the ship's boats patterns - first time I've done this process so hopefully description might be of help...

Foam shapes skimmed with car body filler, sanded smooth. The coated with primer - filled any defects -sand smooth again, re-coat with primer. - Repeat process until good finish achieved!!

James

[paul swainson]

  Nice work James. That is now your template to make a mould to re-produce more.  Saves all that hard work.  Still I bet they are very light. I can just see what work I will have with my hull.

[ship's doctor]

Not had much time for Suffolk over the past few months but now a rush of activity before the Mayhem at Wicksteed Show -

I've done a second round of painting, to add the cranes, carley floats and some smaller deck fittings - mushroom vents, cable reels and hatches. I've also added on the anchors & chains.

Another great event at Wicksteed this year - good to catch up with some Deans Marine regulars! Several 1/96 ships from the 1930's/40's were in attendance- final photo with HMS Belfast and HMS Medway (Submarine depot ship, in peacetime colours).

 

[ship's doctor]

A small amount of progress after a busy winter in the hospital!

Ship's boats: 16 ft motor boat - resin from Dean's, 32ft cutter & 35ft motor boat - John Haynes.

35ft launches & 36 foot launch are the vac-formings from the patterns above, plasticard & milliput for details and canvas covering.

Painting done as per the descriptions on the HMS Hood association website - as Suffolk was in the Home Fleet at the same time. I've done the launches in Humbrol Oxford Blue as these were 'at the captain's discretion'

Hope to commission Suffolk this summer for the 75th Anniversary of the sinking of HMS Hood. 

[Troy Tempest]

Superb!