Topic: HMS Invincible- The First Battlecruiser (Read 86949 times)

raflaunches · « **Reply #275 on:** March 29, 2020, 02:35:46 pm »

Another update- getting too regular now!

Note the difference between the last photo on the previous post (23 Feb) and compare it to this one. I followed the plans but looking at a photo of Invincible post Falkland battle the support struts for the navigation platform do not match the plans. The struts extend from the searchlight platform, not the top of the armoured conning tower. After studying the few pictures of Invincible circa 1914/15 there does seem to be a few difference when comparing to the plans.

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #276 on:** March 29, 2020, 03:34:27 pm »

That seems logical to me Nick. In practice I think it would have been easier to fix the struts to the searchlight platform structure than to the hardened armour surface of the conning tower. So although the plans showed the latter, the builders may simply have made a more practical change. If 'as fitted' drawings were available it might have been recorded.

Colin

derekwarner · « **Reply #277 on:** March 29, 2020, 11:02:10 pm »

Nick......

Obviously an optical illusion

....but does the ships boats boom 'arc of reach' make it out over the water to lower a boat in one operation?....

Derek

raflaunches · « **Reply #278 on:** March 30, 2020, 08:43:11 am »

Hi Derek

I measured the arm from the plan and according to it it should reach the hull side easily- however after finding out that some of the information on these plans are not 100% accurate I may have to physically check!

derekwarner · « **Reply #279 on:** March 30, 2020, 01:13:10 pm »

Nick...if the length of the Boom is as per this Plan view

, all should be OK

It's always awkward, looking at images & understanding actuals.....

Interestingly, the Boom on the Stdb side is longer + further Fwd, so as drawn has a far greater overside reach

Derek

ballastanksian · « **Reply #280 on:** April 01, 2020, 07:58:00 pm »

I did a bit of measuring with a finger and found the boo long enough too!

Lovely work Nick.

ballastanksian · « **Reply #281 on:** April 01, 2020, 08:00:21 pm »

I meant Boom

raflaunches · « **Reply #282 on:** April 01, 2020, 08:01:27 pm »

Thanks Ian

Long time no hear- glad you’re okay. Invincible is coming along nicely now I’ve had some time to work on her.

ballastanksian · « **Reply #283 on:** April 01, 2020, 08:19:15 pm »

I dropped off for a while, but am back and hope to do railings soon and get one model finished!

raflaunches · « **Reply #284 on:** April 01, 2020, 08:24:02 pm »

Excellent Ian, I knew you said you were going to be busy for a while but it’s great to see that you’re back.

raflaunches · « **Reply #285 on:** April 05, 2020, 08:22:43 pm »

A bit of todays work:

The mass of hatches, skylights, and lockers being scratch built from plastic card. I have started to make the director tower platform and painted the fore mast upper parts black. So much fun!

ballastanksian · « **Reply #286 on:** April 05, 2020, 08:38:11 pm »

Go on, you love it Nick! I found that once you start things like box marathons, you get quite into it.

raflaunches · « **Reply #287 on:** April 05, 2020, 08:46:45 pm »

Making them once you get going isn’t too bad- it’s the discovery of more of the same box after you thought you had completely finished with that type!

ballastanksian · « **Reply #288 on:** April 06, 2020, 01:57:29 pm »

I am sure they breed on the drawings!

raflaunches · « **Reply #289 on:** May 17, 2020, 01:01:54 pm »

Rapidly trying to catch up with Geoff now I’ve got some time off coming soon

The fore and main top platforms and starfish are being made with the main mast platform being detailed with range finder rails, manhole covers and lockers. I must thank Geoff for his recommendation of using the little diamond shaped hook thingys for the blocks on the yardarm which is going to be fixed in place soon but sitting temporarily on the navigation platform.
I’ve been studying the only complete photo of Invincible at the Battle of the Falkland Islands 1914 and there is some helpful things I’ve spotted to allow me to finish the project quicker- I’ll show everyone on the next update but it’ll save me some construction and allow some more identification when Geoff and I sail together.

dreadnought72 · « **Reply #290 on:** May 17, 2020, 07:52:40 pm »

I would LOVE to see these two Invincibles on the water together!

...though three would be better.

Andy

Geoff · « **Reply #291 on:** May 18, 2020, 03:37:23 pm »

Its something of a war of attrition with these large models as there is so much detail and the more you look the more you see and then you realize you have to make 16 of an item!!

The last piece of detail on my Invincible may make you squirm! On early Dreadnoughts there was a leather apron at the base of the turret with a brass ring on the circumference. At spaced intervals were miniature screw jacks to push the ring down to the barbette. This increased the water-tightness during normal operation. I suspect they would have been loosened off a bit before going into action.

I've made these on Invincible:

- Paint brown the circumference
- Use the same gold pinstripe used on the decks on the circumference to simulate the brass strip.
- Use JRH photoetch stanchions with the middle hole flattened to produce an eyelet type fitting which is drilled into the turret sides (8 per turret)
- A thin brass rod super-glued through the eylet and resting on the brass ring and cut off leaving about 1-2 mm projecting above.
- All painted in matt varnish to preserve some colour and to add a little bit of bling.

Its all virtually invisible at 6 feet but draws the eye when viewing close up.

I notice you have included the rangefinder track on the mainmast - nice. This was to move the rangefinder from side to side where needed. The fore-top was extended forward so the 9 foot rangefinder was fixed but had room to pivot.

Cheers

Geoff

ballastanksian · « **Reply #292 on:** May 21, 2020, 10:20:58 am »

Super work Nick. The ring for the range finder is a nice touch.

raflaunches · « **Reply #293 on:** May 21, 2020, 10:30:22 am »

Hi Geoff, Ian

Got a long weekend coming up so hopefully some of that time will be spent on Invincible.
The range finder ring was modified from a flanged porthole. Filing it flat on one side and adding a 0.25mm plastic strip on the outside took a little while to do but I think it looks ok through the gap between the spotting top and it’s roof.
Geoff, many thanks for the build methodology for the turret rings, your pictures on your build look fantastic with these bits of detail, hopefully this weekend will mean a lot of my Invincible will be built.

raflaunches · « **Reply #294 on:** May 24, 2020, 03:02:57 pm »

Hi everyone

It’s nice to do some modelling at home for a change- spent too much time rebuilding my Vectra.

So foretop spotting platform as been detailed with lockers, voice pipes, stools, and a scratch built Barr & Stroud 9ft range finder. Just got to add some manholes and then paint everything inside.

raflaunches · « **Reply #295 on:** May 24, 2020, 09:28:43 pm »

A bit of research as promised regarding the Battle of The Falkland Islands 1914 appearance of HMS Invincible.

I’ve found this rather helpful photo from the Imperial War Museum online site of Invincible going into battle at the actual battle. As we know the torpedo nets and booms were removed prior to her deployment but judging by this photograph there were other removals including all the steam pinnaces and the 32ft Cutters mounted on the large davits on the aft superstructure. The extreme top masts were removed and the associated wireless aerials repositioned to the lower position.
It appears to me that the only ships boats that remained were the ones located on the forward superstructure and the 42ft boat on the aft superstructure.

Beagle1831 · « **Reply #296 on:** May 25, 2020, 05:11:25 pm »

Great progress Nick - like the detail in the spotting top, and the man having a sit down after cleaning it?

Have you read 'Castles of Steel'? - gives a good account of the run up to & battle (and the rest of the war at sea in WW1)

James

raflaunches · « **Reply #297 on:** May 25, 2020, 06:13:54 pm »

Hi James

Glad you like it, the little man does look a little miffed doesn’t he!
I have read Castles of Steel which got me interested in WW1 warships but now thinking when I read it I discover that it was close to 15 years ago! I remember reading it during my rest periods on my first guard duty at Marham in 2005! I think it may be due a re-read!

ballastanksian · « **Reply #298 on:** May 25, 2020, 06:36:09 pm »

Bloody hell, is she making smoke, or have the stokers been a shovelling? She looks almost as sooty as Kirov did when she blew a boiler in the channel the other year

Lovely work Nick, I bet you are pleased that they ditched some boats eh?

raflaunches · « **Reply #299 on:** May 25, 2020, 06:48:26 pm »

Hi Ian

I think she is caught in the act of the men shovelling for old Blighty trying to catch the German cruiser squadron, that’s my interpretation of the photo as the guns are all facing forwards. I’m very happy that I don’t have to make some steam pinnaces but at least I’d have the option of adding them later if I want to.
I’m very happy with weekends work and hopping to do some more next week during a well earned week of leave!

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Author Topic: HMS Invincible- The First Battlecruiser (Read 86949 times)