USS Oregon Model Construction
The model's hull is made with plywood ribs, then planked with bass wood strips. Bass wood is easy to sand, yet stronger than balsa.
Now the hull is completely planked, sanded and
ready for bondo before fiber glass.
The hull and top decks start to take shape.
The hull has 3 coats of fiberglass resin and that
means lots and lots of sanding. The bilge keels
Are glued on then resin coated. By this stage,
every aspect of the ship's, function, control and finish detail has to be decided.
The boat cranes, made of brass stock,
brass wire and a casting of tin lead alloy. Tiny work taking days.
The main turrets under construction.
Made of cardboard tubes, resin, Bondo
then painted. The barrels are ballpoint
pens with just the right taper.
USS Oregon had 2 steam powered
Launches.
In this photo, the ship
only lacks the rigging to be complete.
The main mast, resin and brass, ready for paint.
The cage mast ready for paint, brass wire
soldered together took a week to put together.
The interior of the model. Each porthole
has a 12V germ of wheat light. The smoke
generator gives a great effect.
The top deck section lifts off to
gain access to the works.
Teak wood is applied to the decks.
More top side detail.
Life boats were cast of resin, using RTV molds.
The small 6 pound guns are cast of
low temperature alloy. Ready for paint
and placement.
The boat cranes are wired and placed.
One more to paint.
"Detail makes the project"
Click on any of the thumbnails to enlarge
