Lachlan's model of QE2

[June Ingram]

Very impressive model.  I look forward to hearing about the progress of our QE2's model and viewing the finished model.

[Alan Snelson]

Thanks for that Lachlan, it will be really something special to see the finished model of QE2.

Would it be possible for you to post a larger size of image of your models so that we can really take in the fantastic level of detail.

[Lachlan]

Alan,
I have put a few detailed pictures of the Oriana model at the "Non-QE2 Area - Other Ships - SS Oriana" thread. Pictures of a model of another ship didn't seem to me to belong here in the QE2 model thread.
Thanks for your comments Alan and June. I have to say that the QE2 model will take a while, but I'll keep you posted from time to time.
I will be getting the propellors soon which will give construction a bit of a kick along.

[Lachlan]

It's a couple of months since I last reported progress so I thought I'd give you an update on my 1/96 QE2 model.
I am finishing the hull at the moment. I found that extrapolating different sets of plans makes it difficult to get the hull lines really fair first time. That means there is a lot of sanding and filling to get rid of any hard spots on the hull but it is worth taking the time to get this right otherwise surgery is required later.
I have received the propellors which has which has allowed me to make the shaft fairings which need to be finished and painted before they are attached to the hull.
Progress has been slowed by very hot weather lately - too hot for both me and the model!
Next week I will take and post some pics of the propellors because they are a work of art by themselvs

[Lachlan]

Here are a few pictures of my 1/96 scale model of QE2. The first shows the aft end of 3 Deck. The second shows the propellors which I definitely did not make myself. The third shows the after end of the decks which I block-in to start with. I will add the detail as I go along but these need to be done early otherwise I can't get to them to build in their detail once the decks are in place. It is also useful to block-in the decks to ensure that they do line up proerly along the length of the model.
Progress is slow due to the weather being hotter than it needs to be and other things needing to be done as well.

[Clydebuilt1971]

Enjoying this - keep em coming!!

Gav

[June Ingram]

Great progress on the model !  Yes, keep up the good work and keep the pictures coming !  June

[Lachlan]

Hi all,
this is an update to say nothing has been done on my model since my last post on Feb 10. We have been doing some building at our place where I am building the model so it's not been progressing. Now that summer is ending here it's easier to work on the model so I'm looking forward to getting going again.

One thing I would like some educated guesses at: how wide do you think the deck planks on QE2 are? The white caulked teak decks are a bit of a feature on the ship so I am thinking about how to do the decking and somehow include an impression of the white caulking.
My guess is the planks were maybe 150mm or 6 inches wide. That would be 1.5mm at 1/96 scale.
Anybody got any more accurate ideas?

[Twynkle]

Hi all,
this is an update to say nothing has been done on my model since my last post on Feb 10. We have been doing some building at our place where I am building the model so it's not been progressing. Now that summer is ending here it's easier to work on the model so I'm looking forward to getting going again.

One thing I would like some educated guesses at: how wide do you think the deck planks on QE2 are? The white caulked teak decks are a bit of a feature on the ship so I am thinking about how to do the decking and somehow include an impression of the white caulking.
My guess is the planks were maybe 150mm or 6 inches wide. That would be 1.5mm at 1/96 scale.
Anybody got any more accurate ideas?

Hi Lachlan
Only just catching up!
Might these images be of any help - my guess is that the round 'plugs' are just over 1.5 cm in diameter
perhaps as big as large thumbnail! Maybe they are i inch??
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/sets/72157618900327594/
Hopefully it'll be possible to gauge the size of teak planks
In fact, I'll do my best to measure QV's mock teak on Saturday, when she calls at Liverpool!
Of course, those 'plastic / latex(!) decks are definitely not the same as QE2's, however the width could be useful for you!)

Hoping the build is going OK

To Cos 918 - John
about the Revell vote - done!
Rosie

[Graham Taylor]

From memory the plugs were about the diameter of a 2p piece and I would have said the planks were around 5" in width.

[Lachlan]

Thanks for those suggestions. The images do help greatly and I will settle on 5 inches but at this scale I have to go with timber that is available in strips that are close to being right. Cutting timber veneer into strips about a millimetre wide would be beyond my patience. I have tested a technique for representing the contrasting caulking which should work quite well.

I will put some pics up soon but I am progressing with the after decks and have finished 3 deck right aft and nearly finished the 2 deck aft mooring space. I need to finish these as well as the forward decks to fair-in the curves of the hull and bulkheads up to the boat deck and the observation area just beneath the bridge.
 
Then I can finish the hull and move on to the detail on and above the Boat Deck. I did say this would take a while - it's a year since I started already. I sometimes wonder if there's something wrong with the way I go about it that it takes so long: the problem is probably just that I go for weeks without touching it.

While I am here....would you agree with me that the hull is a very dark grey? I know it's not black and colour has to have some regard to scale. I was thinking about a very dark blue/grey but I don't think that is right.

[Twynkle]

Thanks for those suggestions. The images do help greatly and I will settle on 5 inches but at this scale I have to go with timber that is available in strips that are close to being right. Cutting timber veneer into strips about a millimetre wide would be beyond my patience. I have tested a technique for representing the contrasting caulking which should work quite well.

I will put some pics up soon but I am progressing with the after decks and have finished 3 deck right aft and nearly finished the 2 deck aft mooring space. I need to finish these as well as the forward decks to fair-in the curves of the hull and bulkheads up to the boat deck and the observation area just beneath the bridge.
 
Then I can finish the hull and move on to the detail on and above the Boat Deck. I did say this would take a while - it's a year since I started already. I sometimes wonder if there's something wrong with the way I go about it that it takes so long: the problem is probably just that I go for weeks without touching it.

While I am here....would you agree with me that the hull is a very dark grey? I know it's not black and colour has to have some regard to scale. I was thinking about a very dark blue/grey but I don't think that is right.

Hi Lachlan, it sounds as if your QE2 is going to be very truly splendid....hopefully not too much of a chore!
Federal Gray was apparently the colour of the hull. However if you put this into the search facility there's not much there that can be a guide. However, Michael Gallagher who is the best man to follow quotes it as being black!
I will continue to try and find out more and let you know what I can finds.
The other way of checking might be to put colours of QE2 hull into the search as see what happens- no time to do this at the mo, but will keep in touch
Rosie

[Rob Lightbody]

Michael is the right man to answer but I'm sure she was never black. The federal grey looked black from afar, but was clearly grey close up. The contrast to the brilliant white superstructure made it appear darker than it was.

[Twynkle]

There's more here!
Take a look at Federal (standard) paint - FS 37031 - Black-Gray!
http://www.fed-std-595.com/FS-595-Paint-Spec.html

In the 3rd paragraph down, Alistair Greener wrote about the new  Queen Elizabeth in We are Cunard
'...Her hull is receiving another coat of the traditional Cunard Federal Gray paint, and the big white metal supports on deck 4 will be for the life boats which have just arrived with one already being lifted in to place...'.
http://wearecunard.com/2010/05/breaking-news-%E2%80%93-latest-pictures-of-queen-elizabeth-%E2%80%93-part-1/
The US Government Federal Standard 595 Colors ( 598), is the regulator who standardises/ regulates colours.

If you need to know more, I have a friend who paints the hull of QV - If you need to know more, I'll send him a message, asking whether he knows the appropriate mix to make Federal Gray. Let me know!

[Peter Mugridge]

Better still - could he not arrange ( through the proper channels of course ) to supply a small sample of the actual paint for use on the model?