Iowa Class Engine Room #3 Model for BB62 Permanent Display

[Builder2010]

Thanks guys! It was fun sharing with you.

But, work is not quite done. I’ve been working with Kostas Kokkonis fom Hellenistic Models in Greece to create some appropriately garbed crew for a US Navy engine room. Kostas has a line of figures he sells on Etsy and EBay, but they were not dressed correctly. I asked him if he could produce some with naval work outfits that are typical on interior work crew and he agreed. I sent him photos of engine room crew that Ryan got me. He’s been running a little behind and he agreed to sell me the STL files and I would print them myself. He had never done it that way, but it was the fastest way for me to get the figures into the model. He sent me one figure to test the system. Today I printed the figure.

I had first tried to modify its posture digitally, but found that rotating limbs created some much chaos in the skin texture that I gave up and decided to do it old school. I cut the limbs with a razor saw, re-positioned them and glued them in place with Bondic. For the hands that needed rotating, I wired them with 0.010" guitar string. The results aren’t great. I have to work on the geometry. It’s not so simple to move arms and legs and have them come out where you want them.

Here is the figure that he sent. I printed 6 of them. As usual, the beauty of having the STLs is I can print an infinite amount of them. I promised Kostas that I would not share the STLs and am sticking by that agreement. The figure is pointing straight out which is not the most useful post.

I’m attempting to bend the figure so it can climb a vertical ladder. I got it close, but not right… yet. The legs akimbo are a problem making the angularity when bent not right. i will have to bend and rotate the leg. What was good was how well the repositioned joints look. Any gaps were filled with Bondic and sanded.

I did abother figure with both arms out straight and both hands rotated in a grab position.

The arm spread was too narrow for the railings on the ladders.

Here’s the three of them.

This image shows the problem of simply rotating and STL mesh figure. When you rotate it, the mesh stretches into a mess. You have to cut away the mess and redraw all the vertiexes that are now missing and it’s painstaking and takes a long time. That area of orange is the back side of the chest. Any holes in the matrix will result in a failed print. It’s why it was easier to work in the real world and cut the prints and reglue in the new positions.

Kostas is sending a whole set with different poses which will simplify my work. I gave him a deadline of the 2nd week in December since it will take me some time to modify any of them and paint them all. After that I don’t want to worry about it. Delivery is scheduled for Christmas week.

[Builder2010]

More on Kostas Kokkonis’ figures for the model. I sent Kostas the pictures of engine room crew to show him the clothing. I expected him to simply take his normal line of US Navy figures and change the garb. He did not! Instead, he just sent me the design for the board operator which looks like a 1:1 rendition of the image I sent him. I am truly impressed.

First, the image I sent.

And Kostas’ figure.

I don’t know about you, but this blows my mind. I asked him what other figures is he going to send. I’m a good modeler, but can’t do figures at all. I don’t even know where to start. And through the marvelous communications technolgy we now have at our fingertips, being able to work with a person in Greece to create this is awesome, in the literal sense of the word.

I though that I would have to modify the hand positions and scratch build the headset if I wanted to model the figure from life. He did all that for me.

HellenicNavalmodels is his company. If you ever buy anything from him, please tell him that you heard about him through me. He’s on eBay.

[Johnnych01]

What superb endeavour, from the concept, drawing, cads, printing assembly with various tweaks and the final execution….. wonderful miniature engineering at its best.

[HeavyArty]

@Builder2010

…through the marvelous communications technolgy we now have at our fingertips, being able to work with a person in Greece to create this is awesome, in the literal sense of the word.

I couldn’t agree more. I have worked with designers across the US, in Russia, Germany, and France to design parts. It is amazing how connected the world actually is due to modern communications.

[Builder2010]

Thanks guys… emmensely.

More examples of working across the world was the figures Kostas is sending me. And this last one was a marvel. Read on…

The board operator figure came today from Kostas (at Hellenicshipmodels.com) and it was exactly what he showed me on the rendering image. After I printed it; with no modifications at all, it came out perfectly. Even that microscopic headphone cable printed and was intact on 3 of the 5 pieces I printed. I started painting the figures today and he’s sending me two more characters in a couple of days.

The file he sent was much smaller than 1:48. I was able to enlarge them directly in the slicer. A 6 foot person is 38.1mm in 1:48. I just dialed that number into the slicer and voila, perfectly-sized people. He’s sending me two more and I don’t know their posture. It will be a surprise.

When the board man was placed in front of the gauge board his hands grabbed the forward throttle wheel perfectly.

I also tried him standing over the electrical control console and that works too. I think I use him twice. The figure was not fully cleaned when I took the picture.

Getting a decent denim color was harder than I thought it should be, but what I got is close to what the fellow was wearing in the photo.

I first tried mixing Vallejo paints to get the denim color, but it was coming out greenish. I then went to my standby Tamiya and got a better color. It’s blue, some neutral gray and a bit of white to tune it up.

For flesh color I use Vallejo Shadow Flesh and white. It’s close. I still have more painting to do, but couldn’t resist putting him back on the board.

Kostas did an amazing job using just that one image to create the figure. My modeling buddy, Andre Dell, when seeing the model in person earlier this week, said the only thing it needed was some people to give folks an idea of the scale of this place. I totally agreed and told him they were coming. They really do add the missing touch.

[golikell]

Those figures indeed are stunning!!! They add immensely to the model.

[Builder2010]

Yup! They are essential to carry the theme.

My wife had her first cataract surgery yesterday, so i didn’t get into the shop until this afternoon. I got the crew painted, but am expecting more figures from Kostas. So all the figures I placed are temporary depending on the postures of the new figures. Even without them the crew I have works. I’m not a great painter of miniature figures, especially in scales smaller than 1/32. It’s really hard to get facial features delineated properly. On the first Kostas figure, my printing scale was a tad smaller than the board operator figure and the head proportions were also different so picking out mouths, eyes, ears, etc. didn’t work as well. The best part of the board man figure was the headphones and I was able to do them justice. I have an old Model Railroader Magazine article floating around somewhere in my archives that shows how to paint small figures better than I do them. I’m going to dig that out and re-learn how to do it. Meanwhile, he they are doing their jobs in the engine room. The guy in the Kahki uniform is the Chief Engineer.

Here’s the whole crew. The fat guy on the right end is a Woodland Scenics O’gauge figure that was wearing a hard hat that I ground off. It’s not designed as fine as Kostas’

I’ll post again when Kostas new figures arrive.

[amoz02t]

Wonderful stuff! Thank you for sharing your great work.

[Builder2010]

You’re welcome.

Much to my horror, I found that one of the large wheels on the LP turbine was missing some blades. it is NOT hidden and I had to try and fix it.

I printed some blade segments and trimmed it to fit into the space.

Took three tries to get it into place, although not perfectr. It’s better than a gaping hole. Used CA to hold it in. No one, and I mean NO ONE can get this close to it, especially with the acrylic case between the model and the viewer.

I changed the Khaki color on the petty officer and added belts on all the characters. Ryan informed me that the normal watch crew was 8 sailors with 24 at general quarters. I’m shooting for the former not the latter.

And Kostas sent me two more figures. Both have hands in a relaxed posture; one in pockes with a jump suit and the other with bare arms and denim and chambris. Started painting them today. I’ll find a place for them. You can’t see it through the sloppy first coat flesh color, but the fellow has his thumbs outside of the pockets.

[JPTRR]

Myles, I simply cannot find the words to tell you how extraordinary and impressive you are modeling is. And the time it takes to show it to us. Thank you so much.

Yes, standing ovation!

[Builder2010]

Thank you sincerely! It was a pleasure sharing it all with you.

Today is the official completion day with all the figures epoxied into place and the case reinstalled. Delivery to the ship will be at 9:00am on Monday, December 29. John Miano, the man who got me the drawings and making the model possible, is going to be there along with my nephew and two other fellows who live in the area and want to see it. I’m also going to do the first finding tour of the steering gear compartments, which you can now surmise will be the next model I’m going to attempt. To that end, John sent me the actual engineering drawings of the propellers. My atttempts to draw them based on two pictures is not really correct. John says he has drawings of the steering gear, so that project should be a go.

You’ve all seen these views before, but now the crew members are permenantly fixed—at least I hope so—and the model is in its final form. I can lift and carry the complete model, but it’s a bit heavy and unwield. Just to be safe I’m going to need help getting it out of the basement and into the car.

Looking a little closer… I’ve added a bit more crew than the standard 8 member watch to place folks around more of the equipment. I was able to reshape one of the new figures into a step-climbing position and have him coming up from the lower level. I inadvertently used Tamiya normal blue instead of flat to do the denim mixes. I went back and used Tamiya flat clear, but still was dull enough. Then went over it again with Testor’s Dullcoat brush laquer, but it’s still shinnier than I want. But I’m not doing anything more… to many opportunities to screw something up.

This view lets you know just how big the gears are in the gear box. The folks really help in that understanding.

When I see the model in its final form, I really am amazed that I built it, and frankly, not quite sure how it was possible. There were so many variables that had to work just right that it’s existent was never a sure thing. I’m not as concerned about the steering gear. With the necessity of having to form part of the aft hull shape, the model will bring in some different skills more akin to building an RC aircraft model. Luckily, I’ve done that before.

And with this post, I am declaring the Engine Room Project DONE! The Steering Gear project, when it begins I’ll post it on a new thread.

Thanks to everyone’s attention for all the time you spent reading all of this. It was a fun, challenging and rewarding build and I hope that the thousands of people who will see it over the coming years will appreciate what it takes to make something like this. These models are truly my legacy. The ship will be a museum long after I’m gone.

[Dioramartin]

@Builder2010

When I see the model in its final form, I really am amazed that I built it, and frankly, not quite sure how it was possible

I think we’d all agree with that! Bravo again, one in the eye for anyone who thinks scratch-building is dead. I was musing about Insurance - firstly about its insurance value, and secondly about replacement if (God forbid) it was totalled. I think I can picture your face perfectly if you were ever asked to provide a replacement

[RandyT]

Myles,

Well done! Thanks for sharing this blog with us. I am astounded with your skills you used to build this wonderful model of the engine room. I am sure we all look forward to your next project!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

[golikell]

A+++++!
The figures really add a sense of scale here.

[Builder2010]

Thanks folks. Hope everyone who celebrates had a lovely Christmas and got everything they asked for from Santa. We started the drive to the Philadelphia area on XMas eve day, and arrived yesterday. If you can do it, driving over the road on these two days was wonderful. No traffic, no trucks, and not much construction. Other than spending 11 hours in a car, it was totally stress free.

The model made the trip to my sister’s house in perfect condition. The Buick is a very smooth riding car and the roads were in great condition. No major bumps and no parts were lying in the bottom of the case when we arrived.

Weather on the weekend is forecast as lousy, but temperatures with moderate on Monday (delivery day) and only light rain is expected. Ergo, all systems are go to bring the model to the ship at 9:00 am. I am also going to do some picture taking of the steering compartments in anticipation of the next build. John Miano said he has engineering drawings of them somewhere. As with the engine room, no drawings =.no project. Of course, I will keep everyone apprised of the situation.

[Builder2010]

The engine room made the 700+ mile trip from our Louisville house to the Battleship New Jersey in perfect condition. That was a miracle considering the number of pieces and the complexity of its construction. Every bump we hit I was expecting to hear the tinkle of parts flopping onto the base. It never happened. It’s now displayed in the same space as the other two models I created for the ship in the Officer’s Ward Room Lounge. I’ve suggested to Ryan Syzmanski that they put a mirror behind it so folks can view the aft side which also has important details to view.

The image shows me with Ryan going over some interesting aspects of the engine room design that had to be incorparated in the model. One of these was the 3º outboard facing angle of the entire propulsion train. None of the propeller shafts are parallel to the ship’s center line.

I’m starting to gather information on the next project; the steering compartments. We spent about an hour photographing and scanning this equipment. Next to Ryan’s officce is the “blueprint room” which has banker boxes full of every drawing used to build the ship. I found the one labeled “Mechanical Steering” and found all of the drawings needed to build the model.

As much as I’m sorry to see it go, I’m am relieved that the model made it unscathed and is in a great viewing place to be seen long after I’m gone.

The steering gear consists of four compartments: 2 with identical hydraulic pumps and controls, and 2 with massive double-acting hydraulic cylinders pushing and pulling on the crank that tops the rudder post. I did a rough calculation to figure out the forces involved in turning a 25 foot tall rudder steering a 57 ton vessel at 33 knots and ccme up with around 600,000 pounds. I’m contemplating a model that will have the rudder system oscillating to show folks how it works.

This is starboard steering room. The left and rear bulkheads are 17" armor plate. The right bulkhead is thin and separates the two steering compartments. Unlike all the other major armor installations in the ship, this area is the only space where the armor is a structural part of the ship and not an appliqué. It’s a place that needs a lot of protection. At the base of the rudder post is a handwheel and worm that engages in a ring gear surrounding the rudder post. The chances of manually cranking the rudder around are about the same as rotating a main turret with the handwheel in the electric deck—zero to none.

Looking from the other end, you see the connecting links from the cylinder crosshead to the rudder crank. There are four connecting links; two on top and two on the bottom. The size of the parts is a good indication of the forces being managed in this machinery.

This is the official last post of the engine room project. When I begin the steering systems in earnest I will open another thread. If you’re ever the US East Coast in the Philadelphia area, please take some time to visit the New Jersey. It’s worth the trip!

[Lee]

“You can’t see that on a visit unless you want to crawl around in the bilge and that ain’t gonna happen.”

How are you gonna finish your lower level quals without many bilge dives??!! I did many bilge dives (not on this class, but a 1200lb plant and diesel electric plants). I just started this thread, making my way slowly, but it looks unforgettable.

Later,

Lee (USN Ret.)

[Builder2010]

One more update. Ryan Syzmanski just uploaded another video in his Battleship New Jersey. This one features the Engine Room model. He did a very flattering job on this one.

A Model of the Battleship's Engine Room

​Next up will be the Steering Gear, when I can get my hands on the drawings. Stay tuned…

[RandyT]

Terrific model Myles and thanks for the briefing .

Really wonderful model.

[Prid93]

Visited the battleship today. The models on display in the wardroom lounge were fantastic and I was happy to find this log afterwards. Looking forward to the next.