Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length.

[sinjon]

On the plan that I am working from, I have one set of numerals at the bow, and another set at the stern. 
(I - XVII)
Will they both be repeated on the other side of the hull? - four sets.

Colin

[Colin Bishop]

Yes, although modern vessels are less likely to have Roman numerals if at all.

[IainM]

Hi Colin,
Yup ... these are the draft marks used to indicate the depth to which the hull sinks so the lowest numerals will be at the bottom.
As you say there will be one set on either side of the hull at the bow and the same at the stern.  To be pikkie, the ones at the stern may be positioned differently depending on the hull form.


Iain

[sinjon]

Thanks both,
I am building a 1/48 Dave Metcalf Bulldog, on his plan they are shown, I'll go with it.
I am not looking for an exhibition grade model so a little cheating is in the frame, I have 'transfers' but the markings are in pairs - Roman with serifs, Roman without - one pair of each, so port will be with serifs, stbd without, you will only see one side at a time, I can live with that.

[Bryan Young]

There are many instances of ships having 2 different kinds of draught marks. The "English" sort were (are) 6" high, so you had a base line at the bottom and a 6" line at the top, then a 6" gap to the next one. Reading the draught was then just a matter of judgement over a 6" spread. I guess the metric sort are similar but measured in decametres(?), same principle though. Give me feet and inches anytime!

[hama]

Your right there Bryan. I can speak for the metric part of the world. Each figure is 1 decimeter high and the space between each figure is 1dm. As a mate you spend a lot of time on the dockside reading the drafts, as I remember it was always choppy seas and dark!!
Good night!

[sinjon]

Sorry..... yet another thing, I have a black band at water level, are the letters white where they cross it?
Otherwise you can't see them.

Colin

[Colin Bishop]

Yes, that's what makes it expensive!

[sinjon]

I wonder if it would be feasible to cut some very fine white self adhesive strips, and make them up, after all they are only

    IIIIs  or  VVVVs  or XXXXs......hmmmm.  serifs could be a bit of problem though.

Colin

[IainM]

The markings at the water line are the 'Load Lines'

Given the size of the markings and the scale, it could be tricky to make or paint them, but if you have them as a transfer ....

If you're stuck you could make your own using water slide transfer paper etc., but I guess you know about this anyhow.

Iain

[Arrow5]

Nobody has mentioned the plastic stick-ons from BECC the flag people,includes Plimsol Line shown in last post, Roman or "modern" styles in black or white, or was that the expense bit ?

[Colin Bishop]

That was the "expensive" bit. Two colours needed for each "run" of draught markings. But yes, the BECC ones are excellent. Just make sure your next boat has the hull colours the other way round and you'll make a saving!

[GLASGOW WARSHIP TEAM]

cammett model ship fittings do a brass etch roman numerals set, that you can paint and then glue on.

[sinjon]

Thanks GWT, had a look at their website but couldn't find them, sounds good.
Mailed them anyway. Awaiting reply.

Colin

[Arrow5]

Can a section of the plastic stick-ons not be painted the opposite colour too ?

[sinjon]

Hello Arrow5,

I have some small plastic alphabets.
Possibly applied, and then sanded down, to reduce the profile.
Do you have a source for Roman Numerals?

Colin

[John W E]

hi there

Just as a quick thought, the railway people 'Slater's' do several 'fine scale' alphabets in plastic, these vary in scale.  They are reasonably priced too.   I got my last set from 'E-BAY' and I think it was something like £2 plus postage for two packs.   What I did with mine, I slightly sanded them down and then just painted them & stuck them on to the side of my model boat hull.

hope this is of some good help

aye
john e
bluebird

[Colin Bishop]

That must have been a very fiddly job John. How did you avoid getting glue "overspill"? Otherwise, yes, the Slaters alphabets could be the answer. Squires sell them at 2mm to 6mm high starting at £2.65 a set.

[John W E]

Just for you Colin and you are not to tell anyone else on this Forum   I VILL ZAY ZISS ONZY VONCE  

Mark out the distance of your numerals from the first numeral to the last one - do this on a piece of clean scrap plywood.  Then, over the top of this, place a length of cellotape sticky side up.  Then onto the cellotape, start at zero sticking that numeral on reverse side up and carry on placing your numerals onto the cellotape, using the marks below on the plywood for the spacings between the numerals.

You then, with a cocktail stick, apply a dab of superglue on to each numeral.  Carefully, when this is done, remove the cellotape off the plywood and place it on the desired place on your model so that the glue comes into contact with the hullside, and then, once its dry peel cellotape off, leaving the numerals at the correct spacing on the model with very little overspill.  

aye
john e
bluebird

[sinjon]

Just had a look at Slaters and Squires lettering, I guess the same thing.
For 1/48, 3mm seems the closest, had a quick count and I think it could be done with three packs.
Applying them could be straight forward, if a little fiddly.
Mark the vertical spacing onto a strip of masking tape, stick tape vertically into position on the hull, and starting at the top mark, put a horizontal piece. apply letters along the horizontal tape, move tape down one space etc etc.
Gluing, possibly a spread of super glue on plastic and a pair of tweezers, fiddly but feasible. (I think)

Colin

[Colin Bishop]

Ingenious John! Actually it has just occurred to me that maybe Slaters would not be the best answer for Roman numerals as you would need lots of "I" s and "V" s which could mean buying several sets.

[sinjon]

John,

Whilst I was busy working it out, you slipped in before me, quite similar, but yours does sound a bit more straight forward. will get some letters and give both ways a try.
Sounds like a lot of fun for a whole day - thanks

colin

[sinjon]

Had a quick count up, 23 IIIs   9VVVs  & 8XXXs
Forget the IIIs because you can cut down Ls Hs even 1111s.
There seems to be four VVVs & three XXXs to a sheet.
Three sheets per column, and FOUR columns on the boat,  again it looks expensive.

Colin

[John W E]

hi there Sinjon

I have just rang Slater's and here is their phone number: 01629 583993

Extension number: 10

Spoke to a very nice lady there, she informed me they do not do purely Roman Numerals, but, if you asked no doubt they would come up with a little 'special deal' because you would be purchasing strips.

They do have a Website, if you google that.   But, it may be worth a telephone call.

aye
john e
bluebird

[sinjon]

Thanks John, I'll give them a call.

Colin