QE2 Model--Help please

[bobso]

As the modellers amongst us know--i am going to be starting my build of the QE2 in 1/450 scale by Gunze-Sanyo in the Autumn. I am going to light it up with hundreds of LED's and Fibre Optic cables for the ultra small lights. I intend lighting the model in areas rather then lighting the entire ship. To this end i am gathering the materials required now.I already have the small P.C. board for the switch bank.
The 10 "dip" switches are on their way, the welding rod for the "bus-bars" i also have. The wire and the LED's and Fibre Optic cable i have.
This where i would like to "Pick-you-Brains"--  i am going to use 9 switches to light up different parts of the liner. What areas would you recommend to light up together? Would the bridge area be lit with subdued lighting at night? and if so what colour lighting was used? Would the entire upper deck areas be lit at the same time or did they just light-- say the pool area aft? Also--the Red and Green "Running" lights on the bridge--where EXACTLY are these lights fitted.I am enclosing some pictures of the bridge areas but i just can not seem to find a good picture of where these lights are positioned.
If any member can help me with information and also close up pictures of the "Running Lights"  lights i would be very grateful.
Thank you all in advance.

[Stowaway2k]

Hi Bobso

I'm looking forward to vicariously building your model with you.   

In your third photo, the one looking up at the underside of the port bridgewing, the dark square you see is the housing for the port running light.
The same place for the same purpose on the starboard side.

Could you do your lighting different ways?  For instance can you do a in-port configuration and an at-sea configuration of the lighting?
For instance, having the funnel and the bridge illuminated when she's in port, but not at sea...

Have fun!   

[CAP]

Bobso

Hopefully these may help, I am of course presuming that your model is of QE2 as she is today!

The first three photos are of her at Liverpool, the third is her heading out to sea. Apologies for the grainy and shakey nature of the images the ferryboat wasn't the most stable.

On the last one you should be able to make out both the port and starboard lights (they are very small and located in the bridge wing pillars) additionally there is also a runnng light on her mast.  At the time she was at speed heading to New York.


I do have further nightime close-ups of her looking form the Lido etc.

[Twynkle]

When she was in service, wasn't her wheelhouse dark at night, and torches used.
There was lighting on the stairways, as well as the Bit Beneath the Bridge.....?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

When she was in service, all the lights in the public areas were always on, day or night. I only discovered this here in the Forum -- on board, I had just simply taken it for granted and never observed it properly.

Lights in the cabins would have depended on the occupants -- some bright, some dim and some off.

The funnel and mast would have been lit in port, but not at sea.

It would be lovely if you could include the navigation lights in their respective colours!

[Andy F]

and not forgetting the white navigation light on her funnel

[Twynkle]

Day and night duties on the bridge of any ship are the same....

Watch keeping at night is not much different to daytime. An experienced deck officer is perfectly at home in pitch darkness and will pick up details that most other people will miss. The hardest part of keeping a night watch is your first couple of watches on a new ship. You are not familiar with the positions of all the important bridge equipment (kettle) and need to keep using a torch. Once you are familiar with the bridge you know where everything is by feel.....
Paul

Might this be of help?

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

and not forgetting the white navigation light on her funnel

... and on the mast they were red when she travelled in shallow waters :


Constrained by her draught by prondis_in_kenya, on Flickr

[Twynkle]

Bobso
About the funnel- and the different designs etc
If you have a look under advanced search for 'funnel'
This may help!
I am fairly certain have a photo of the light, taken from alongside as we sailed out with her in the evening of 11/11/08
And will post it later when re-united with my mac!
Do you know the date of your model?
You may have to make a wee light 'container'' for it!
Has it got a whistle as well?!!! Hope so :-)

[Alistair]

ooohhhh....there's a challenge for you bobso.....a working whistle. 

[Andy F]

Bobso

No need to apologise and pleased to help. That's the one I was referring to and if you check out my Flickr site https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyfitzsimmons/collections/72157607613822155/ no doubt there will be others but have included a few shots below of the light both lit and unlit (the former also shows the stbd side funnel illumination lighting):

[Twynkle]

Great images, Andy!

Bobso - in Andy's other images of the same set, there are three (I think) pairs of lights on her mast too,
as well as definitely one immediately beneath her whistles, approx. two thirds down her great mast, and possibly another on top of her mastas well as a good image of the red port light.

Also, why not take a look at Myles' (Cunardqueen) image here?!
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1610.0.html

And what about her floodlights...?
These were situated throughout her superstructure - with at least two,
possibly more - facing upwards on the deck of the Bit Beneath the Bridge.

Your ship is going to be splendid - can't wait to see the finished article.
Eventually, you could probably do a roaring trade here!!

About the wheelhouse at night - it really was - like all other ships, totally in the dark.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyfitzsimmons/3041927105/in/set-72157609401491851
This image of Andy's may well help too.

(Hope that your son's recovering....and will feel better soon.
It was a night 'on watch' for you)

[Andy F]

and not forgetting the aft nav lights below the ensign staff:

[Twynkle]

Bobso -
A ship has a foghorn - and a whistle!

and Jungle James has a rhyme "Horn on land, whistle at sea'
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,148.msg13898.html#msg13898

and more around post #82 here:
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,206.0/all.html

Won't your QE2 have both, a foghorn and whistle?  

Here's a reminder of her magnificent sound
with a description of the whistles in the comments!

Thanks to carljesper

PS - To answer your question, you might find the appropriate  answer here -
it could well be something to do with tradition in the RN...
http://www.google.co.uk/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Why+is+a+ship's+horn+called+a+whistle%3F&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&redir_esc=&ei=8UQ-TsboGtGxhQfom8GkAg

[Twynkle]

Bobso

QE2's foghorn is a permanent fixture and is situated at the top of the tripod stand just forward of the anchoring equipment
Isabelle's pictures show it here:


QE2 foghorn


Anchor chains, capstans and fog horn


Hosing down the foredeck

There's a great image taken looking back towards the Bridge, and into the 'speaker' of the foghorn
I've searched and to no avail - someone else will know who took it!

The whistles are situated on her mast
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickherber/2988293372/in/set-1587405/

Happy modelling!