We have made the fore and aft well (cargo) (c) decks and planked and added cabin details. Fore and Poop decks have been made and planked and fixing arranged. We intend both to be movable to assist with transport. The fore and aft Bridge (B) deck has been made and cabins fitted, planking to be done. Both the (A) and Boat decks have been cut and await final shaping and joining as the length was greater than our sheet of plywood. Boat, (A) and (B) decks will be fabricated as one unit, which will lift off the hull, giving easy access to allow installation of ballast. The rear (C) deck is hollow giving good access to the motors and shafts which will help with pond side maintenance. We hope to complete the deck and cabin details shortly. Once complete we will finish the hull plating, install the motors and rudder servo, at which time we can ballast the hulls prior to sea trials. Final fitting out will take some time depending on the detail we decide to show. I have ordered 1000 each of 3mm and 5mm LEDS from China together with some flat warm white LEDS for the walkways.
The models are beginning to resemble the finished article and our work will benefit from this as each part can be seen in its correct location.
Bill and Dave

We have now commenced the upper "A" and Boat deck. Cabins have been made for the "A" deck and the boat deck is next. To aid the process we have stuck copies of the plan onto the cabin sides, the finished version will be much better than that depicted in the attached photos. Hull wise we have done floatation tests, found a couple of leaks in both hulls at the same place and repaired. Ballast has been fitted - 50kg of lead in each model! This is all removable to allow for transport, spread over the bottom of each hull between the formers. The hulls can now be plated once we have worked out how to secure the upper decks so that they can be removed and refitted easily and without damage.The upper decks are 5'6" in length so fitting has to be simple and secure. Attended the Blackpool show and made some useful contacts who may be able to help with the cabin window details.
Bill and Dave

We have commenced drilling the portholes on both ships. Used photocopies of the hull plans cut into strips following the plating. Will also use these to apply the vertical plate lines. The rudder servos are installed. We have the ESC's motors props shafts and propellers so launch date is fast approaching. Let's hope the pond has enough water! The level is down 4ft from last year. Decks are progressing but we await samples of the cut windows, the frames copy well onto OHP transparency film with the laser printer and look very realistic when cut to size.
Bill and Dave

The work on the hulls has been continuing and we have now plated both hulls, fitted strengthening plates, drilled all the portholes and prepared the hulls to accept the LEDs we are using for portholes. The first class passenger portholes were unusual in that they had a vertically pivoted arrangement. This shows as two vertical sides in each porthole. I made one original slightly oversize then cast copies using a silicon mould and fastcast resin. When fitted the result is a satisfactory copy of the porthole. There are many large rectangular windows along the top of the hull sides and we have sourced a supplier to cut these and all the windows from 3mm ply using a water jet. Delivery is Imminent and once received we will be able to finish the hulls and apply the paint. LEDS can then be fitted.
Bill and Dave

We have commenced work on the deck details whilst we await the side panels for the deck housings with windows cut out.
There are a multitude of fan housings and vents which are all made from similar parts rearranged for the individual fitting (ie port and starboard). Moulds have been made for the constituent parts and casting has now commenced. Pictures of the moulds and finished castings attached.
Bill and Dave

The windows cut from 1.5mm ply have now arrived. Excellent quality and all arranged on large sheets by Deck. This was how I specified due to the sheer volume involved. Each piece is retained by a small lug to the sheet as are the windows - this is to stop the parts jumping out and getting in the way of the cutter. Takes seconds to cut with a scalpel and very little cleaning up needed.
I have now started replacing the window panels on the rough mock ups done for each deck and the results are excellent. When painted (white) and windows fitted they will be most realistic.
Nearly finished the castings for the deck fitting and commenced spray painting.
Tomorrow we will be fitting the window panels to the top of the hull sides. Bit scary as we have to remove (cut out) the top 1" or so and replace with the 1.5mm panels.
Need to complete the hulls soon as we wish to test in the water. Maiden voyage is still some months off but we will be exhibiting the Titanic at the Northern Modelling Exhibition in Manchester next March. The Olympic will be finished a bit later as all our efforts are going into finishing the Titanic.
Bill and Dave

Building has now picked up again and we have attached the windows to the hull sides. The top decks "A" and "Boat Deck" have had the cabins fitted using the Waterjet cut sides.
Castings are now finished and painting well advanced
Bill and Dave

Now finished most of the cabin details on A deck and boat deck. Decks resting on to hull ready to be aligned and fastened prior to painting and planking. A coaming runs round the decks but is not yet fitted to allow the natural sheer to be achieved. 😊 The water jet cut windows have worked very well and make building very quick and positive due to the accuracy of cut achieved. 😀 The hull still has to have a final coat of black paint and the funnels will be attached to the boat deck so are too high as shown.
Bill is nearing a similar stage with the Titanic so I will be very busy shortly fitting the 2000 LEDs to both hulls. 😎
Bill and Dave

Both models made it to the show, after some long days and late nights spent by us both. 😊
We still have much to install before the models are complete but they were sufficiently completed to place on exhibition.
We did manage to jury rig the LED lighting for both ships and the result is Impressive. 😎
Bill also exhibited his 1:96 scale model of the Lusitania and all three models were displayed in line so attracted much interest from visitors wishing to capture all three together. 😀
Once the weather Improves and the Ice has vanished from our club lake 😁 we will be performing a dual launch. We have already ballasted each boat at 56kg of lead and will put in the test tank before we take to the lake to make any final adjustments. 😉
Hopefully this will be before the 11th April (the 100th anniversary of the Titanics maiden voyage!). 😀
We are at the exhibition until the exhibition closes on Sunday so if you are near to Trafford Park why not visit and see for yourself, there are lots of other exhibits from Trains to Lorries and Boats to Planes. 😀
Bill and Dave

Pictures of the models on display 😀
Bill and Dave