First of course is the wharf. Running a close second is a ship of some sort.
Now, finding a model ship has never been an easy job as the common scales for plastic models tend to be 1/2 the size of NZ120. Fortunately we are rescued by modeling techniques form early last century. Yes folks, card models.
Interestingly enough there are still a few European manufactures (or printers if you will) of these sort of kits. I have built a few of the model castles over the years which build up to good models for war gaming. I have rescaled them by using a photocopier which can get you up to A3 size. I then use the parts as the basis for a model.
I was looking for a ship similar to that seen in the background of this picture.
Scanning around for turn of the century steamship models was turning up a blank until happened on a model of the SS Californian in 1:400 scale. Fortunately for me (if not for a few others), this ship was famous for not coming to the aid of the Titanic as it sank, despite seeing the signal flares.
The model is purchased as a set of down loadable PDF's, which can then be printed out. This means that they can be scaled to whatever size you like/need.
The card model can be built as either a full hull or a waterline model. I will probably do it in between as the ship in the picture is quite high out of the water. Size wise, its going to come out about 1100mm long. Possibly a bit on the big side, but then you can think about doing something like this.
( I notice that I've been rather remiss in doing blog updates. hopefully things will get back to normal now that its winter and the garden is quiet)
10 comments:
do they have NZR Interisland ferries in printable PDF files. Chances fairly slim, I would think.Bugger! Mind you a ship similar to the one shown would look good next to the Aramoana, I am contemplating building. I have the plans for the ferry and have scaled to NZ120, so I guess it could become a semi cardboard/ styrene printed model. My idea was to mount it on a module with wheels and operate it like a cassette arrangement.Is that last photo from Aussie. Love that car float.
The ferry will be around 930mm long. That's a big ship model! Do you have plans for the drawbridge and gantry? Will this add on to your Picton layout?
I haven't been able to get drawbridge or gantry plans, so having to go off photos. The plan was to have it used on Picton layout. I also was going to install LED's in the base of ferry for lighting the rail deck. More for the atmosphere than anything else. It was the one thing that stuck in my mind as a 17yr old moving with family from South Island to North
Beaka, the last photo is Opua.
Oh and http://phillipfickling.com/portfolio/post/interislander-ferry/
Not overly detaied but would be a start for the basic shape. Doesn't look long enough though.
cheers. I have one of the card ferry kits, so I must re examine it again.
Opua. Never been there. Caught the ferry which ends up at Rawene, by mistake, many years ago. Okay then! I got lost while exploring the area looking for Opua. That's a great photo though.
Mental note to self, never let you navigate.
The problem is an age old problem for men. I never ask anyone for directions!
Mental note to self- must ask for directions!
I travelled on the Rawene ferry once. I took a gamble it would be there - and would have had a 100km+ extra distance on my bicycle if it hadn't been there. The Rawene ferry of the early 1980s would be more compact and easier to model than the Aramoana.
Would the card model necessarily be waterline? If it was in harbour loading cargo, it might be sitting high in the water with plenty of red showing. If the ship was behind the wharf crammed with dozens of NZ120 wagons, having the ship sitting higher might allow a nice amount of the ship's hull to be visible. That way, the modeling of the ship and wagons and steam shunting loco could be seen to best effect.
I love scale models! I've just recently found your blog and I'm having fun reading all your adventures. Anyway, that wharf project of yours sounds great and I'm guessing it'll look great too. I've heard of the SS Californian, but I've never really known its infamous background. Though it really looks good, it is a bit too big. If ever I'm going to try that out, my problem would be finding space in my flat. Haha! Thank you for sharing! Cheers!
Stasia Snellgrove @ ALB Image
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