1/700th scale HMS Habakkuk WIP (aka Project Habakkuk)

[Cliffy B]

How about some stern anchors too?  That way they could remain stationary if needed.  I tend to think that they would have made special anchors for her if she had been built.  Maybe 3-4 1/350 modern CVN anchors bow and stern?  Biggest you can find would be best IMO.

[seadude]

I think for the moment, I'll go with two 1/350 anchors at the bow. I'm undecided about the stern area though.
As for the red and green ship running lights, I need to give some thought to that, and figure how I'll make them and where I'll put them, if I do.

[sequoiaranger]

It's not my model, but..

>So I suppose if huge oil tankers like that have anchors, then I might as well put anchors on the Habakkuk as well. I think Mossie and Thorvic are both right. So now I'm just thinking how many to add to the bow area: 2, 3, or 4? Should I keep them 1/700 scale or use larger 1/350 scale anchors?<

Supertankers have to be stationary to load up and disgorge their fluid cargoes. Therefore they need anchors. They also don't have the draught that Habakkuk has.

Just my opinion, but I don't see the need for anchors. Any pressure on ice melts it. If you leave a heavy chain around on ice, it will gradually sink in and embed itself.

But, if you are going to have anchors, make them huge.

In my study of the USS Enterprise for my tribute model, I noticed that as the war progressed, the multiple "hard" boats were largely done away with, and dozens (hundreds?) of rafts substituted. Piled five and six high in multiple piles on outside decks, they could be shoved overboard without the machinery, crew, and time-consumption of hard boats.

[lenny100]

go for 4 and keep 1/700 as is not the anchor that holds the ship in place but the chain used in the water

[seadude]

In my study of the USS Enterprise for my tribute model, I noticed that as the war progressed, the multiple "hard" boats were largely done away with, and dozens (hundreds?) of rafts substituted. Piled five and six high in multiple piles on outside decks, they could be shoved overboard without the machinery, crew, and time-consumption of hard boats.

I understand this, but........the only reason I added boats at the stern area was because I forgot to make cutouts along the circumference of the deck/hull like I had done for the armament. See this pic and notice the cutouts along the sides for boats?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v216/icyhusky/HMS%20Habakkuk%20model%20project/ice1.jpg

I only put a few boats on the aft end for transfer of passengers and important people, etc. I still have plans to add more life rafts. About 2 dozen were added already, and I have another 3 dozen that can still be added somewhere. If the ship did break apart for any reason (Damage, etc.) , Pykrete could be used as a floatation device, but only temporarily. Pykrete will still melt. Maybe not as fast as regular ice, but it will still melt nonetheless.

[lenny100]

even today most warships only have one or two "hard" boats as the liferaft has taken over, thaty role and the hasrd boats are used for personal transfare and short range rescue work.

[sequoiaranger]

>the only reason I added boats at the stern area was because I forgot to make cutouts along the circumference of the deck/hull like I had done for the armament.<

Cutouts, shmutouts!    One of the attributes of American carriers was the ventilation of the hangar deck by using shutters to allow the breeze to clear out all kinds of gasses. On Japanese and British carriers, who were "buttoned up" pretty much below the flightdeck, the aircraft engines could not be run up and readied. Both British and Japanese aircraft had to be positioned on the flight deck, THEN then engines were run up to warm up. American planes came up on deck ready to rumble. Also, any spilled POL fumes could be vented before either crewmen were overcome, or it ignited. So there are lots of benefits to having an open hangar. Americans used huge steel roll-up shutters to accomplish this. You might incorporate that into your Habakkuk with decal or paint to look like shutters (see pic). That would "solve" the raft-to-sea access, and provide some needed ventilation to the massive hull.



BTW, this pic is one of many "before" pics of the old Enterprise model I am renovating, but it shows the shutters well.

[Thorvic]

You can't really do an open hanger on Habbakuk as its designed to the British format the Hanger walls supporting the Pykrete deck, the walls are 40ft thick and the other major issue is both the lower and upper hanger floors are located beneath the water line !!!

An option for Seadude would be to copy the Ark Royal III and Illustrious classes and build a sponson on the side of the hull to accomodate additional ships boats together with a handling crane in the middle. Actually a crane would be required somewhere on the edge of the ship as there is no way to load or off load aircraft that are non-flying. The only large access to the hanger decks is via the lifts on the flight deck so any crane mut be able fo lift aircraft from a lighter etc up onto the flight deck itself.

G

[seadude]

An option for Seadude would be to copy the Ark Royal III and Illustrious classes and build a sponson on the side of the hull to accomodate additional ships boats together with a handling crane in the middle. Actually a crane would be required somewhere on the edge of the ship as there is no way to load or off load aircraft that are non-flying. The only large access to the hanger decks is via the lifts on the flight deck so any crane mut be able fo lift aircraft from a lighter etc up onto the flight deck itself.

Yes, I have given some thought to another crane amidships someplace maybe near the superstructure. Sorta like the crane being at the rear end of the superstructure on the Hornet carrier. I haven't finalised any plans or details yet.

@sequoiaranger: Shutters on the Habakkuk?  Get real! It would never work.

[seadude]

Small question: Would it be necessary you think for me to add some sort of LSO platform similar to what US WWII carriers had? Should I add one on the rear left side of the ship only? Or put one on the left rear AND also on the right rear sides........since the Habakkuk is wide enough to land planes side by side since the yellow deck markings I have kinda give the impression of two "runways".

[seadude]

For the last few days, I've been working on building the new superstructure for the Habakkuk. Tell me what you think. What else could I add or delete? I hope to get this part done sometime next week.

[tanktastic43]

Anyone else have the thought, that during this time of disruption due to volcanic ash, wouldn't a vessel like this be some kind of solution to the problem? Imagine, three or four of these beasties sailing the seas.

tt43.

[seadude]

Ok, my previous post #280, somebody contacted me and said they didn't like that I made file attachments in my post. So if anybody can't see the pics from that post for any reason, then here they are again posted as I usually post them. Sorry for any inconvenience. Please let me know what you think: Additions, Deletions, Suggestions, etc. I was also kinda thinking of adding some 40mm along the side of the hull similar to what an Essex AC had in this pic. What do you think?
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/cv/cv-17/350-pm/cv17-03.jpg

[proditor]

I'm groovin' the island as is actually.  I do think the 40mm outrigger tubs would look tres awesome however.

[Spey_Phantom]

wow, i would hate to be on the recieving end of that carrier 
looks fantastic, epic win