Tramp Steamer Contest

[Operator5]

Wow Tabletop! I'm going to have to get cracking after GenCon with this. You start is beautiful.

I know rougly what materials I am going to use, just need to get the actual design formulated.

[Captaingeneral]

Yes Tabletop it's looking good so far. :love:

Here is my attempt at a 'Sand Pebble' type ship for our riverine actions :oops:

Not strictly a tramp steamer but i thought you might like to see it.

Foam board construction

Simple paint job

Lift off roofs show cabin interiors

Pulp steamer crew

More crew


Needs a lot more detailing ...sigh :cry:

[Neldoreth]

The pictures of the WIP of both ships so far are very inspiring! I am liking what I am seeing! Currently I am in the 'Should I paint another fig or start on the steamer' phase of construction... Looking forward to seeing more from you guys

n.

[Hammers]

I cant participate since I started my project months ago. And I do not work well with my hobby projects when I have to adher to deadlines.

Here she is so far:



In addition to what you see I have sheeted the decks and added details.

[Captaingeneral]

Wow  :love:  :love:  :love:
HS that is a pity - this looks a really great model, my poor efforts are nearer toy status, merely providing a platform for the adventure to continue. :twisted:

But I know what you mean by deadlines, they make you get things done, sometimes at the cost of standards. :roll:

We must see your vessel as it progresses.

CG

[tabletop]

Wow Hammershield that is impressive...particularly that you bothered to build belowdecks!

I like the hull sides as well. Is that individual sheets of plasticard? Good lord how long did that take you?!

[Hammers]

Yes it is plasticard. There is a thread on it somewhere.

It hasn't taken me that much time. It ie really easy transfering a papermodel to plasticard.

What you see is not true belowdeck, they are just bulkheads to get a proper shape and rigidity to the hull.

Progress is slow at the moment as I am just back from my wedding and honeymoon.

CHeers.

[Grimm]

     :love:  :love:  :love:

these are amazing stuff !!

[tabletop]

Once again to keep the ball rolling. I've built up the bow, decked and surrounded the hold of my tramp steamer.

Now I've got to the hard part. Building the cabins, funnel and detailing the whole thing!

[Overlord]

I finally got around to starting my steamer last night.  Just at the early "mock-up" stages so far,  but I have a good idea of what I am trying to acheive.  Its loosely based on the SS Venture but wont be exactly the same.  The idea is to get a good impression of a steamer thats suitable for miniatures gaming, rather than build a detailed scale replica. She is 24" long and 6" wide, hopefully giving plenty of room for figures to run around on.



I was going to call it the SS Adventure, in keeping with the forum but, whilst I was working on it last night I was watching/listening to the space shuttle launch on the NASA website ( http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html ) So will now name her the SS Endeavour.

[Neldoreth]

Looking good guys, your stuff is all very inspiring! I am still in the planning phase for this. I finished my latest miniature and now it is time to focus on the steamer. I will post something as soon as I have something!

So, I am going to use this project to get better acquainted with MDF, and try to build the steamer almost entirely out of it. MDF is cheaper than foam board and sturdier... But it is a lot harder to cut, so we will see how it goes

n.

[tabletop]

Overlord, looks like you're off to a good start! What are you using for a funnel? Looks like some kind of brass cannon shell! I'm inspired to get cracking on my cabin work...

Neldoreth, what thickness of MDF are you using? Around 3mm MDF is excellent imho. You can cut it with a sharp knife and hand sand it easily. It's all I ever use for basing terrain.

[Overlord]

Overlord, looks like you're off to a good start! What are you using for a funnel? Looks like some kind of brass cannon shell!

Well spotted    .  Its a brass case from a 30mm Aden cannon round, acquired  :wink:  when I was in the Royal Air Force http://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/mauserandaden.cfm .

It won't be forming part of the final model.  I was using it for the mock-up as it was easily to hand and had enough weight to it to stop the mini's over-balancing the precarious card superstructure.  The final ship will have a funnel of a cardboard tube of some kind (a bit more boring and routine)

[TadPortly]

Once again to keep the ball rolling. I've built up the bow, decked and surrounded the hold of my tramp steamer.

Now I've got to the hard part. Building the cabins, funnel and detailing the whole thing!

Looking good - love the detailing like the nails in the deck and the railings are really cool

[tabletop]

Thanks Tad, alas that's just a fortunate accident. Those are actually the guide markers I ruled before ruling the deck lines with a ballpoint, but turning them into actual nail holes is a fine idea which I'll gleefully stea..err borrow!

Made some progress on the upper decks this weekend. Here's the first floor of the cabins, and the start of the second floor of deck. That'll have a small wheel-room behind the walkway. Painting all this 2mm cardboard will be interesting...I hope it doesn't warp.

I also want to make some original resin pieces for the port holes and all the dogged hatchways. Plus a couple of anchors and some ventilator funnels (if I get around to it)!