Sympathetic restoration underway - note the funnel assembly
Work is underway on the restoration/renovation/refurbishment of my recently acquired Majestic class battleship and I have to say that thus far it is going pretty well. To begin with I was going to strip the paint but it game off with some firm rubbing with a scouring cloth which was handy - as well as saving time. I removed the offending bridge and masts but was delighted to see that the turrets did not need any work. The 'ring' around the base of the turrets was merely flash and it came off easily enough. The biggest problem was the fact that the paint was pretty thick and obscured a lot of the detail and this was what had covered the turret ring and made it look far worse than it was. Some strategic filing and the end result looked pretty encouraging.
Majestic as built although the funnels are too far apart
The biggest surprise though was when I had a light bulb moment with the funnels. On the model these were located via a hole in the top of the superstructure and the assembly, roughly in a 'Y' shape, just plugged in. I was looking at these and was just about to discard them (one of them was smaller than the other although not significantly so) when I popped it into the locating hole facing fore and aft rather than port and starboard - and it gave me an idea!
Spot the difference - and the potential!
By some judicious trimming of the edge of the funnel assembly it is possible to use the hull as either the original Majestic class or as any one of the following classes merely by orientating the funnels. You could even leave this assembly loose and rotate the funnels as needed - although that me be a little too left field for most gamers!
The only remaining thing for me to tackle now is the new bridge assembly. Ordinarily I would just cobble one together using plastic card but given that this model is going into a 'proper' casting set up it needs to be strong enough to withstand the pressures associated with making a mould. This will mean Milliput.
Looks like I am going into the 'master making' business.....;-)
David Crook,
ReplyDeleteThis all looks very encouraging. I seems like you have come up with a very simple solution that will produce a very flexible master from which to make moulds.
All the best,
Bob
David,
ReplyDeleteShe cleaned up nicely ! I consign mine to the Jasco vat for stripping, but it's good to know you were able to get through the thick paint by other means.
Interesting to see that the goofy "goal post" funnel arrangement can just be swung around to the usual tandem alignment. Makes me suspect that the BMC designer's thought process in creating a "Majestic" class was exactly the reverse.
Thanks also for the kind words in your previous post. The ship was obviously donated to a worthy cause.
Best regards,
Steve
DC
ReplyDeleteLooks good!
PD
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteIt seems a partial solution to the 'funnels: on or off' dilemma. I cannot take any credit for the originality of the concept though - it was very much a happy accident!
It has certainly given me something to think about though.
All the best,
DC
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteI was actually really relieved at the way she appears to have cleaned up as I was not altogether confident how this would go - hence the Plan B option.
The funnel 'twist' is a really neat idea that I would like to incorporate in the casting if possible.
In closing I have to say Steve that your donation may well be the pivotal moment in this whole idea and should this prove to be successful then for sure a great many wargamers will also owe you their thanks!
All the best,
DC
Hi Peter,
ReplyDeleteSo far, so good! The next step will be the trickiest - fashioning a new bridge structure.
All the best,
DC