HMS Barham to HMS Renown: In a Thousand Easy Steps

[Destroyerman]

Latest view as of this afternoon guys.

The port side camouflage is now complete and Robbie and I think she looks pretty well. I really am impressed with the original design of the camouflage on this vessel, but I keep getting up Robbie's nose by referring to her as "The Spotted Cow". It's so elegant and so identifiable (was that a good thing during WWII)?

We're certainly glad to have taken on the undertaking and can see the end product being recognised for whom she is. (We also feel that Irene and Moira would be quite proud at this stage).

Note that the images have been taken outside again without evidence of rainfall.

The weeds growing on the side of the path lend some elitism to the images. And the fence remains untreated too Dave. Where's Mark Twain you need him??

Robbie is currently sourcing anti-flash flutes for the Lewis/Vickers quad mountings.

All for now good people, taking HMS RODNEY for a walk around the lake tomorrow.

Kind regards,

Sandy and Robbie.

[Destroyerman]

As a postscript to the above, the "overhang" of the forward superstructure to the hangar doors is quite evident. This means that the forward superstructure continues aft across the hull break giving the impression that the upper deck is almost seamless. This was planned in the early days and we hope that it will not look out of place.

One of the only drawbacks to this is when we have placed the connected hulls in the water, (devoid of any upperworks), positioning of quite complicated and fiddly structures will be difficult. But that's a bridge we will cross when she proves to us that she can float in the first place.

Sandy and Robbie.

[ivorthediver]

Can't be far of Basin Trails now Sandy ......and trolly tests first

[Dave Hutson]

Sandy ........ to quote myself ......... sod the garden, modellers have far more important tasks [but don't let er indoors know I said that cos' I will deny every word].

I have been following your and Robbie's progress in awe and total admiration for the results achieved. Now looking forward to the pictures of the completed and the launching.

Sad we have no Weymouth this year to show her off although that would have been too tighter a schedule even for a seasoned Klankie.

BZ as always.

Dave H

[Destroyerman]

Originally Posted by ivorthediver

Can't be far of Basin Trails now Sandy ......and trolly tests first

Absolutely Ivor, and Don Boyer has gently reminded us of the trolley tests also. Can't think what you mean by that though ................. Must have been an incident somewhere along the line .....

Robbie tried out my senior son's discarded golf trolley with his HMS OCEAN yesterday, and, apart from one wheel falling off every now and then (perhaps with the frequency of golfing "birdies") it all held together.

Today Robbie and I set about repairing my garage door which decided to do a Eddie Waring "up and under" instead of the planned "up and over" yesterday morning. Usual problem, rotted wooden framework at deck level, which meant that the balance spring parted company with it's anchorage point near deck level.

Still .......all in a day's work for Bodgitt and Bodgitt. And I'm eternally grateful to a very good mate for his help and assurances during the day's remedial work.

So, as it stands, the forward section nears completion and we can then set about completing the aft section. Probably do some on Thursday morning ...... providing the repair to the garage door holds good.

Sandy and Robbie.

[Destroyerman]

Originally Posted by Dave Hutson

Sandy ........ to quote myself ......... sod the garden, modellers have far more important tasks [but don't let er indoors know I said that cos' I will deny every word].

I have been following your and Robbie's progress in awe and total admiration for the results achieved. Now looking forward to the pictures of the completed and the launching.

Sad we have no Weymouth this year to show her off although that would have been too tighter a schedule even for a seasoned Klankie.

BZ as always.

Dave H

Hi Dave,

great to hear from you again, and thanks for your extremely kind comments.

Sadly there's no Weymouth this year, but we hear murmurs that there may be volunteers to take on the task on in 2013. We do hope so, it's a really good event.

How's HMRY BRITANNIA coming along mate?

Regards,

Sandy and Robbie.

[Dave Hutson]

Still on the backburner Sandy.

But having now completed, launched and sailed the newly commissioned "WEE NIP" yacht I have no excuses left in the locker.

CINC says quote NO MORE NEW PROJECTS UNTIL YOU FINISH BRITANNIA unquote - so it has moved berth from the indoors Dockyard [Spare Bunkspace] to the Garage mounted on two workmates. That has placated the CINC who now says when I have painted the fencing and powerwashed the drive I can become a shipbuilder again and GET ON WITH IT.

Yes ma'am, no ma'am, three bags full ma'am- methinks it is tottime followed by a Guinness or three One word from her and I does what I likes but sssh she thinks ers in charge

Dave H

[ivorthediver]

Originally Posted by Dave Hutson

Still on the backburner Sandy.

But having now completed, launched and sailed the newly commissioned "WEE NIP" yacht I have no excuses left in the locker.

CINC says quote NO MORE NEW PROJECTS UNTIL YOU FINISH BRITANNIA unquote - so it has moved berth from the indoors Dockyard [Spare Bunkspace] to the Garage mounted on two workmates. That has placated the CINC who now says when I have painted the fencing and powerwashed the drive I can become a shipbuilder again and GET ON WITH IT.

Yes ma'am, no ma'am, three bags full ma'am- methinks it is tottime followed by a Guinness or three One word from her and I does what I likes but sssh she thinks ers in charge

Dave H

Hummm seems a cross we model builders have to bare ...but being made of STERNER stuff we can BOW to the Winds of wives and the high See's....right finnissed mi tot naow orf too mee amhouck hic..

[Don Boyer]

"... and, apart from one wheel falling off every now and then ... it all held together..."

You do realize, of course, that the Superintendent of the Yard will find such mechanical defects in such important equipment to be totally unnaceptable, considering the maginitude of the job in moving one of Her Majesty's vessels to the fitting out basin. We await a report, in triplicate and signed by the responsible officers, of corrective action taken prior to any scheduled ship movements accompanied by clearance from the "Ealth and SafetT" board! Until such time, the vessel is to be confined to the drydock.

And, not to be totally a putz, the camo job is beautifully done! Really a great job that the real ship would have been proud of. Of course, unlike WWI, where the submarine was the primary vessel to confuse with "dazzle paint", in WWII it seemed a bit of an unneeded expense, considering aircraft and radar were particularly immune to dazzle patterns at any range...I guess it was felt that some good use could be made of camouflage in certain conditions. I note in WWII in the Pacific, dazzle patterns became really unpopular when the kamikaze made its appearance in numbers. So much so that the dark navy blue was in really short supply and dark navy grey substituted in many of the late war USN patterns, particularly Measure 21.

[Destroyerman]

Wonderful words Don my friend!

A daily dose of that is worth anything the doctor could prescribe.

Down at lakeside every Sunday our tardy bunch of seven modellers dish that out mercilessly, wonderful unsanctimonious banter.

But, if ever there was a problem arise, each and every man jack of 'em would rally round.

Just great to share it from over the pond.

Sandy (and Robbie).

[ivorthediver]

Originally Posted by Destroyerman

Wonderful words Don my friend!

A daily dose of that is worth anything the doctor could prescribe.

Down at lakeside every Sunday our tardy bunch of seven modellers dish that out mercilessly, wonderful unsanctimonious banter.

But, if ever there was a problem arise, each and every man jack of 'em would rally round.

Just great to share it from over the pond.

Sandy (and Robbie).

Sorry for butting in Sandy/ Robbie ...but endorse every word of your statement above

Our club which has about fifty members and a hard core of about twenty decend on our local lake in all weathers and enjoy the very things you describe so well .....at least half are ex forces and have a very broad knowledge of the type of flotilla we put to task ....some would say try to sink [ and some have been successful to boot]

Greatest group of the public around we modelers

[Destroyerman]

Agreed Ivor.

Today we decided to clag the two halves together (this being a highly popular marine technical term).

The object of the exercise was to match-up the two halves, and in particular to locate any vulnerable points when connecting both halves together under all conceivable conditions. For instance, the motor boat tillers and rudders could clash with the aircraft crane structures; the hangar doors may not line-up, especially where the Shagbat enters the half-open hangar door on its turntable; the superstructure could distort when lifting the whole hull into or out of the water.

Now that all the clearances have been evaluated, and we fit the gash chutes either side to hide the join, we can safely carry on with the aft section and remove forward section to Robbies for safe keeping.

This will be one of the final marrying up procedures before final fitting and launching. (All of the running gear and electronics are fitted and raring to go.

Some images to give an overall impression of how the conversion will finally end up. Everything looks pretty sympathetic to the actual ship and seems proportionate.

Onwards and upwards now.

Sandy and Robbie.

[Vegaskip]

Hi Sandy and Robbie, WOW!!!, not yet finished but looks great
Jim

[Scurs]

Ok Scouse - now bring the gun barrels for Y Turret back please!

[ivorthediver]

Sandy / Robbie ........As I suspected a brilliant model to be proud of and clearly the work of RN folk who know what looks right where .

Two observations ....not criticisms ...I am not in a position to do so from the level of work shown here

I would have lashed out on a new Ensign , and either cut off the "base the crew stand on and glue their feet to the deck , or painted the "Base" they stand on to match the surface colour on which they are placed

Like the garden now we have seen past the fence .........Retired Admiral per chance

[Destroyerman]

Originally Posted by Scurs

Ok Scouse - now bring the gun barrels for Y Turret back please!

Wot? Are they missing?? Keelhaul him!

Sandy and Robbie.

[Destroyerman]

Originally Posted by ivorthediver

Two observations ....not criticisms ...I am not in a position to do so from the level of work shown here

I would have lashed out on a new Ensign , and either cut off the "base the crew stand on and glue their feet to the deck , or painted the "Base" they stand on to match the surface colour on which they are placed

Like the garden now we have seen past the fence .........Retired Admiral per chance

Fully agree with your observations Ivor.

The ensign belonged to BARHAM and was hand made over 20 years ago. It was just placed there for effect and will be replaced with something posh.

The figures are "blue-tacked" to the deck to give an idea of arrangement, and we decided on your very recommendation only yesterday afternoon.

But happy to note that you actually analyse the images and not just give them a cursory glance.

(Great) minds think alike.

Cheers,

Sandy and Robbie.

[ivorthediver]

emmmm I see..... reminds me of an Ex Naval chum down at the lake side to which he would repond by saying " Bloody Stokers ...charm the k......s off a Nun "

But then he was a "bomb head" after all is said and done

[Don Boyer]

Just absolutely beautiful work by the yard. Their Lordships will be most pleased with the results once those errant gun barrels come back from being re-lined at Vickers.

For those of us who have followed your progress from day one, once completed, we humbly request full port and starboard broadside large format photographs of the vessel for the official records. After all, Jane's will need the latest!

Superb work gentlemen, you've done a masterful job! I know what goes into an accurate model at the scale I work in and can only be in awe of what you've accomplished in a much larger format that requries totally hand-making parts from scratch.

Best regards, fair winds and following seas.

[BCRenown]

Admiral Sir John "Jackie" Fisher is quite pleased thus far and whether or not Renown is completed in the specified 20 months is hardly a concern at this point.

Keep it up guys. "Slim Somerville" is monitoring your progress with the extreme focus of a diamond cutter.

Meanwhile "the Guardian of Ancient Renown" is not sure how long he can wait to see the world's best battlecruiser afloat and underway.

[Destroyerman]

Thank you guys for lending your valued and informed support through the last three postings. (And everybody else who contributed for that matter). Your view are always appreciated.

Spent yesterday going over the forward section correcting small oversights etc. Completed the rigging on the forward mast.

The only outstanding job on the forward section is to fit the gash chute either side. This, when fitted, will conceal the vertical join on the hull.

However, (isn't there always a "however"), there are inherent problems in doing this.

The width and depth of the gash chutes are about 1.25 cm square. OK so far ............. So the gash chutes fit over the join quite comfortably. OK?

Nah! Nothing is ever simple, and we discovered (quite early in the process) that the vertical cut made by halving the hull was not quite perpendicular and ran out of true by 7 mm at the boot topping (sweeping aft). The attached image clearly swows this. So this would give us no "meat" to screw into at the top end but at least something at the bottom end. These gash chutes have to be properly secured as the aft section needs to slot in perfectly each time Robbie connects the two halves (without fear of damage).

Today I will experiment with cutting out the scale width and depth gash chutes and support these on the leading edge with plastic "L" section vertical beams. The "L" section (transverse) will be screwed into the gash chute making a strong bond and then that assembly will be screwed and glued into the hull side, hoping to achieve a strong joint.

The aft section of the hull will have corresponding "L" section fitted where it butts up to the gash chutes.

At least, that's the plan............

Sandy and Robbie.

[Destroyerman]

Glad I studied the image above as it confirms that the gash chutes should be fitted to the AFT SECTION and not the forward section. (Who's a silly boy then???).

Mein Gott, the owner would have had me shot.

However, it still doesn't take the slant out of the equation.

Fer Gawds sake don't tell Robbie.

Sandy.

[ivorthediver]

Don't know if you recall Sandy but I had a slight ingress of water when out on the first trials .....but overcome the problem by fitting some O rings over the conecting secureing bolts ..... down side is a not so good line on the joint line but no water ingress at all even after a couple of emergency full astern calls when some D..k Head tryed to cut in front of me to avoid another model he was chassing

Will be thinking of you when I take HMS Troubridge out for her shake down trials following her new Engine mounts fitted and Bigger U J's .......
Weather permitting

[Destroyerman]

Thanks Ivor, and good luck with TROUBRIDGE. Hopefully any propulsion problems will be resolved.

Both RODNEY and ex-BARHAM hulls are held together with wingnuts and bolts. RODNEY employs three bolts (captivated in the hull transverse bulkhead) one lower and two upper (above the waterline). The thinking behind this arrangement is that one hole below the waterline lets less water in than two. Each wingnut is backed by a rubber washer and a large stainless steel washer making a good seal.

RENOWN is a little different, both halves being held together by three locating holes under the waterline which only guide into a stuffing box. These have no longitudinal strength. Above this (and marginally above the waterline) are two substantial bolts welded (complete with washers) to large wingnuts which screw into two captive nuts on the other section of the transverse bulkhead. I'm not convinced of this arrangement, but cannot argue as this arrangement had served the former HMS BARHAM very well indeed for twenty years.

Through experience, we have found that the only notable ingress of water is up the propeller tubes during prolonged astern movements. The backthrust of water from the propellers looks for the least form of resistance and climbs up the tubes. No amount of regular greasing stops this.

It would be wonderful to have no water ingress at trials stage but we very much doubt it. As a pair of old stokers we should have fitted some fire and bilge pumps somewhere along the way.

Fair winds and tide tomorrow.

Sandy and Robbie.

[Destroyerman]

Good news ....bad news ......good news after today.

First the bad news, the forward section is almost complete and Robbie took it home for safe keeping. I feel as though I have lost a friend ..... no, not Robbie, but the model.

Good news #1: This marks a pivotal point in the conversion and is the start of the final process.

Good news #2: Now that the forward section has disappeared from in front of my camera lens, you very good folk will at least have a rest from what seemed to be interminable images of the forward superstructure etc; etc ad nauseum..

So you can take a break guys and feast your eyes on different images.

Thanks for your support so far and take note, the end is now in sight.

Sandy and Robbie.