Return to the BUILD
In this issue, we will be adding gangways and mechanical details/pipes to our Titanic’s port engine.
Contents
Parts
Materials: The Base for the Engine is metal, but the rest of these parts are plastic.
Magazine
- Edwardian Era – The Belle Époque in Central Europe
- 20th Century – Titanic ‘Sinks’ at the Box Office
- Step-by-Step Instructions
Build
Steam Pipes for the First Engine
This is one of those issues where I kind of went nuts painting things. I just don’t feel that all of these parts would have been silver on the real ship. Therefore, I am going to summarize all of my custom paintwork in this single big Mod Zone instead of a bunch of small Mod Zones throughout the page.
First, I airbrushed all of the Gangways and the large steam Pipelines (31A and 31E) with Tamiya XF-69 NATO Black:
While the Turbine Steam Pipeline (31A) is not picture here, I did paint them the same color:
I also painted the small ‘box’ Detail (31J) with the same NATO Black paint. Then, for the steam machinery such as the Reversing Gear (31D), I used Vallejo Model Air 72.729 Sick Green followed by a light wash with Citadel Nuln Oil Black. This helped darked down the green and ‘dirty’ it a bit:
For the Hand Wheel and Hand Wheel Support, I used Vallejo Model Air 71.067 Bright Brass Metallic acrylic paint:
Finally, for the smaller pipes, I used a Metallic Gold Acrylic Paint Pen to give the various round/square details some contrasting color. This could easily have been done with a Metallic Gold Sharpie as well:
Step 1
Retrieve your port engine assembly from Issue 10.
To tell the two engines apart, remember we added the End Plate to the front of the starboard engine in the previous issue – put that one aside for now:
Step 2
Test fit the four pins on one of the Gangways into these matching slots in one of the port engine Columns, as shown.
I could find no difference between the Gangways A and Gangways B parts, so I treated them all the same in these steps:
When happy with the fitment, apply small drops of super glue to the pins and secure this Gangway into place.
IMPORTANT: These Gangways must be fitted so the arched middle section is vertical. Otherwise, they may interfere with the operation of the moving engine components:
Repeat this process along the port engine for each Column, as shown:
Step 3
In the same way as the previous step, glue the remaining four Gangways to the opposite sides of each Column, as shown.
Again, ensure these are mounted vertically so they clear the moving engine parts:
Step 4
Fit the D-shaped pin of the Detail and the two pins of the Reversing Gear into these matching holes of the Catwalk at this inboard location on the port engine.
The Reversing Gear has different-sized pins, so it should only fit one way. If any of the following details in this issue fit loosely, use a tiny bit of super glue to hold them in place:
Step 5
Fit the pin of the Hand Wheel into the hole of the Hand Wheel Support.
This Hand Wheel needs to be installed on the correct side of the Hand Wheel Support. Note how the Support has a D-shaped pin at the bottom (circled below). Our Hand Wheel needs to be installed into the side of the Support with the flat part of the pin to the right (arrow below). I did not glue this part as it fits quite firmly yet still allows the Hand Wheel to be rotated:
Then, fit the D-shaped pin of the Hand Wheel Support into the matching hole of the Catwalk at this inboard location on the port engine:
Step 6
For reference, here are the thinner Pipes laid out and noted with their part numbers (I took this picture before I painted their detail bits):
Secure the three pins of Pipe B (31G) into the matching holes of the Columns at this inboard location on the port engine.
Some of these details may fit firmly, while others may be loose. Whether or not you decide to use super glue to secure them in place, I recommend first test fitting each part to understand how it is installed and held in place. There may be small bits of extra plastic (flashing) that needs to be trimmed from the pins on each part:
Step 7
Secure the two pins of Pipe D (31I) into the matching holes of the Cylinder and Catwalk at this inboard location on the port engine.
There is a small circular recess in Pipe B where this Pipe D crosses in front of it, as shown:
Step 8
Secure the three pins of Pipe E (31K) into the matching holes at the bases of the Cylinders at this inboard location on the port engine:
I did the two instructions of this step in reverse as I found it easier to install this Pipe E first:
Press the ends of the Turbine Steam Pipeline into the matching large side holes of the low-pressure Cylinders, orientating it as shown:
Step 9
Secure the four pins of the Low Pressure Pipelines (31E) into the matching holes of Cylinders at this outboard location on the port engine.
Make sure this is installed correctly, as shown:
Step 10
Secure the two curved ends of Pipe C (31H) into the matching holes of Cylinders at this outboard location on the port engine.
The arched section of this Pipe C goes around the crossover pipe of the Low Pressure Pipelines, as shown:
Secure the four pins of Pipe A (31F) into the matching holes at the bases of the Cylinders at this outboard location on the port engine:
With this issue now complete, this is what the outboard side of our port engine should like like. This outboard side is what will be visible when the model is completed. As for the inboard side, you can see it in the header image of this page and the final image in the section below:
Thoughts
Wow, adding these pipes and other details truly adds something to these engines. And, we are not even remotely done! Some of them are small and can be difficult to work with, but good sight magnifiers, some tweezers, and a steady hand definitely help. We are going to be adding even smaller details in the next issue, so prepare yourself!
Next Up
Issue 32 – Valves, Lubrication Pump, Auxiliary Engine, Vapor Separator, Control Rods, Reversing Engine, Gangway