Virtual QE2 Model

[Peter Mugridge]

Perfect Michael.  Yes it is 17 steps from 2 Deck to 1 Deck on D stairway.  Just as I had counted before but now verified with that great photo. 

However the dilemma still stands as to why there are 18 steps between 2 Deck and 1 Deck on Stairway E.  Hmmm....

Did the deck headrooms vary at different positions along the length of the ship?  Remembering that the hull wasn't flat but curved up towards the ends...

A difference equal to the drop of one step wouldn't be obvious visibly over the distances concerned would it?

[Bob C.]

I had considered the deck sheer Peter but both D and E Stairways are close to midships where the deck is flat.  The two stairways bracket the power plant uptakes.

[Peter Mugridge]

Ah.

*scratches head*

[Bob C.]

More fuel to the fire - D Stairway has 17 steps from 3 Deck to 2 Deck (5 steps-landing-7 steps-landing-5 steps) and E Stairway has 15 (5 steps-landing-5 steps-landing-5 steps).

I keep looking at the rise of the steps (vertical step height) in the various photos and don't see any difference. 

I would not think that the rise would be different from stairway to stairway or within a stairway.  Here are the deck height differences (in number of steps) between D and E Stairways that I've seen so far:

Deck      Stairway D     Stairway E       Cumulative Difference
             # of steps       # of Steps      (all decks combined from 5 Deck on up)
 U to B        22                 21                         7
 Q to U        22                 21                         6
 1 to Q        18                 16                         5     
 2 to 1        17                 16                          3
 3 to 2        17                 15                          2
 4 to 3        15                 15                          0
 5 to 4        15                 15                          0

The only explanation I can think of is that the step rise is different on Stairway E (at least for Three Deck and up) than it is for Stairway D.  Its a mystery!

[Michael Gallagher]

Bob - as promised: images of One Deck to Two Deck which show eight steps between One Deck and the first landing. The first four images dated 2008 with the last two dated 2019.

[Michael Gallagher]

Bob - from two Deck downwards there are only five steps down to the first landing:

Two to Three Deck

Three to Four Deck

Four to Five Deck

[Michael Gallagher]

Bob - I also refer to a post I made in 2010 (copied below) which tells of E Stairway being radically redesigned in 1966 once the number of classes had been resolved. This means the final layout was finalised long after the other staircases and that may account for a different stair height?

When the initial design called for QE2 to be a three-class vessel this staircase at frames 124 – 132) was originally intended to be used by Cabin and Tourist Class passengers. While stairway arrangements were almost complete by January 1966, by February 1966 the design and layout was being reconsidered in order to improve the stairway when the ship was cruising. The arrangement of stairs and lifts were modified to bring the four lifts on athwartship line at the aft end of the stairway enclosure. Lifts 13 and 14 would remain Tourist Class and their controls were arranged so that they worked as a pair, as in their former position. In addition arrangements were made so that all four lifts could be linked together for when the vessel was cruising. The realignment of the lifts would result in slight modifications to the after bulkhead of the boiler casing with it being extended from frame131½ to frame 131 on B (Four) and C (Five) Decks. At this point a final decision on how the two stairways would be divided had still not been made with the choice being between a full height Marinite division or a balustrade – no steel structure would be involved. In order to provide a cross passage a slight re-arrangement of the B (Four) Deck accommodation abaft the engine casing was required. These changes were confirmed that month despite a final decision on the final number of classes not being made – that decision would follow in May 1966. The plans of the stairways were examined and given preliminary approval in April 1966.

[Bob C.]

Thanks Michael, that confirmed my counting.  What I am doing is adjusting the step rise height to get the top of the stair flights to match the deck heights.  So far you can’t notice the difference unless you look very closely.

[Bob C.]

I just finished roughing out Stairway E ('69 colors).  Next will be working the underside of the stairs, the aluminum extruded handrails, the center rails and some other details.  Once that's done, I'll stick it in the ship!   

Check out the photos!

[June Ingram]

Absolutely awesome with the differences in the number of steps between decks ! 

[Bob C.]

Absolutely awesome with the differences in the number of steps between decks ! 

And the style of the steps.  Notice that from Five Deck to Three Deck there are two landings between each deck and from Two Deck to Q Deck there is only one landing between decks and then two landings again from Q to B.  Drove me up a wall getting that right.

[June Ingram]

Yes, absolutely amazing ! 

Awhile ago, you mentioned having to reduce file size to accommodate your plans. How is that situation at present ?

[Thomas Hypher]

I just finished roughing our Stairway E ('69 colors).  Next will be working the underside of the stairs, the aluminum extruded handrails, the center rails and some other details.  Once that's done, I'll stick it in the ship!   

Check out the photos!

Wonderful work Bob! If you're able to put your model, when finished and with selected "photo" angles like you've done so far, through a photorealistic renderer such as the Indigo Renderer for Sketchup that would be crazy awesome! I am intrigued as to how you modelled the original Midship Lobby's intricate ceiling - with a lot of patience I would imagine!

https://www.indigorenderer.com/

[Bob C.]

Wonderful work Bob! If you're able to put your model, when finished and with selected "photo" angles like you've done so far, through a photorealistic renderer such as the Indigo Renderer for Sketchup that would be crazy awesome! I am intrigued as to how you modelled the original Midship Lobby's intricate ceiling - with a lot of patience I would imagine!

https://www.indigorenderer.com/

A lot of patience is an understatement.  Thank God for the spline and rotate tools.  Otherwise I took much of the vertical and 3d dimensions from personal, Forum and internet photos and estimating proportions.   I'll look into the photorealistic rendering options.

[Bob C.]

Yes, absolutely amazing ! 

Awhile ago, you mentioned having to reduce file size to accommodate your plans. How is that situation at present ?

The file size is quickly approaching an unstable size.  Still working on how to best manage that.  I may go from 3d walls and floors to a 2d plane based on what can be seen.  That should help reduce it a bit.