Return to the BUILD
In this issue, we will build the Thrust Block and pumps for the starboard main engine.
This issue is a near duplicate of Issue 32; we are just working on the starboard main engine.
Contents
Parts
Materials: All of these parts are plastic.
Magazine
- A Date with Destiny – Message from Mathilde?
- Step-by-Step Instructions
Build
Thrust Blocks and Pumps
NOTE: In this issue, you may notice that I did some of these steps out of order from the instructions. This was to make my installation process a bit easier.
In the previous issue, I painted all of the parts for this issue. However, I did also hand-paint the worm gear section of this Detail B for Lubrication Pump B (34K) with Vallejo Model Air 71.070 Signal Red acrylic paint:
Step 1
Fit the Detail B for Large Pump (34C) into the matching holes of the Base of Large Pump (34A), noting the orientation shown below.
This was a very firm press-fit connection, but I did still use a tiny drop of super glue here. I highly recommend test fitting all of the parts in this issue before using tiny drops of super glue to secure them into place. Some parts may have extra plastic at the ends (flashing) that might need to be trimmed off with a sharp hobby knife in order to fit correctly. If any of the fitments in this issue seem loose, glue them:
Fit the keyed posts of the Detail A for Large Pump (34B) and the Detail C for Large Pump (34F) into the matching recesses of the Base.
Make sure these Details are orientated on the Base correctly, as shown:
Secure these Details into place from below with two (2) EP screws, one for each. Make sure the parts do not rotate as you tighten the screws:
Step 2
Fit the lower D-shaped pin of the Detail D for Large Pump (34S) into this matching hole on top of Detail A for Large Pump (34B).
This Detail tank should be perfectly vertical with the side hole facing the nearby nearby narrow end of the Base, as shown:
Fit the D-shaped pin of the Large Pump Connection (34R) into this matching top hole of the Detail C for Large Pump (34F).
There are three tiny pins sticking out the side of this Large Pump Connection, however only one of them is D-shaped:
Step 3
Fit the upper valve pin of the Valve for Large Pump (34U) into the matching hole in the side of the Detail D for Large Pump (34S).
To make sure this Valve for Large Pump was aligned correctly, I actually jumped ahead a little and fit this Pump assembly onto the Engine Room Deck as shown. I able to see how the lower pin on this Valve fits into a hole in the floor:
The curved pipe that runs down from the upper valve should end up perfectly vertical and aligned with the Detail D tank, as shown:
Fit the curved end of the Tube for Large Pump (34M) into the hole at the end of the Large Pump Connection (34R).
There is pin on the low end of this Tube that fits into a hole of the Engine Room Deck, as shown:
Step 4
Retrieve your Engine Room Deck assembly from Issue 32. Fit the keyed post of this Large Pump to the Deck at this location and fit the pins of the details into the matching holes, as shown.
I did this already in the previous step.
Secure the Large Pump into place from below with one (1) EP screw:
Step 5
Press the two parts of the Thrust Block (34N and 34O) together, aligning the pins to the posts inside (use glue if needed).
As with my port Thrust Block assembly, I masked off the ‘upper’ section of this Thrust Block and airbrushed it with the same Mission Models British Sand Yellow acrylic paint that I used on the Engine columns. I airbrushed this ‘base’ section with the same Vallejo Model Air 71.054 Dark Grey Blue acrylic paint I have been using on my deck Bollards and Cargo Hatch combings. I also painted the top half of the rear ‘ring’ (arrow below) with the Dark Grey Blue to match the base:
Arrange the remaining four Pipes A/B for Thrust Block on your work surface as shown. These are their part numbers and orientation:
Test fit all four pipes by inserting them into the matching holes of the Thrust Block, as shown. Circled below are the two pin and hole junctions between each pair of pipes. I did not glue anything yet as you may find it necessary to remove any flashing or burrs from the ends of these Pipes using a hobby knife or sandpaper to make for a better fit. Once we understand how the pipes fit to the Thrust Block, we can remove them all and install each one:
Glue the rear end of the Pipe A for Thrust Block (Starboard Side) (34I) into this right-side lower hole of the Thrust Block, orientating the Pipe as shown.
The horizontal section of this Pipe should be flush to, and parallel with, the base of the Thrust Block:
In the same way, glue the rear end of the Pipe A for Thrust Block (Port Side) (34J) into this left-side lower hole of the Thrust Block, again orientating the Pipe as shown:
Glue the rear end of the Pipe B for Thrust Block (Port Side) (34P) into this top-left-rear hole of the Thrust Block, orientating the Pipe as shown.
This Pipe should be come straight up out of the Thrust Block and then move forward parallel to it. Once we have this aligned correctly, we can also glue the pin on the end of 34J into the matching hole at the end of 34P (circled below):
Finally, glue the rear end of the Pipe B for Thrust Block (Starboard Side) (34Q) into this top-right-rear hole of the Thrust Block, orientating the Pipe as shown.
This side is fitted in the same way as the port Pipe. Both long Pipes should end up parallel to each other and to the Thrust Block. Don’t forget to glue the pin of 34I into the matching hole of 34Q (circled below):
Step 6
Fit the two bottom posts of this Thrust Block assembly into the matching holes at this location of the Deck for Engine Room.
Note that this Thrust Block sits just to the rear of a curved recess where the engine’s Crankshaft Cog sits. Make sure the part is orientated correctly with the Pipe junctions towards the front of the ship, as shown:
Secure the Thrust Block into place from below with two (2) EP screws.
To give the Crankshaft Cog of the engine assembly as much clearance as possible, I recommend sliding the Thrust Block as far to the rear of the Deck as possible before tightening these screws. It won’t move much, but it might help:
Glue the D-shaped pin of the Elbow Pipe into the matching hole on the left side of the Thrust Block, as shown.
I waited to do this step so I could make sure this Elbow Pipe would actually touch the floor of my engine room Deck:
Step 7
Fit the keyed post of the Base of Lubrication Pump (34D) into the matching hole of the Engine Room Deck on the right (outboard) side of the Thrust Block, as shown.
This Base should be parallel to the Thrust Block:
Secure the Base into place from below with one (1) FP screw:
Step 8
Fit the D-shaped pin of the Detail A for Lubrication Pump (34H) into this matching hole of the Engine Room Deck, next to the Base as shown:
Right before I installed this Detail A, I colored the ends of it with my Metallic Gold Sharpie just for fun:
Fit the D-shaped pin of the Tube for Lubrication Pump (34E) into this matching hole of the Engine Room Deck, next to the Base.
This Tube (and the curved pipe) should be parallel to the Thrust Block. For a bit of detail, I touched the face of this Gauge with a tiny drop of the Vallejo 71.270 Off-White acrylic paint:
Step 9
Fit the pin of the Pressure Gauge for Large Pump (34G) into the matching top hole of the Detail C for Large Pump (34F).
As before, I also touched the face of this Gauge with a tiny drop of the Vallejo 71.270 Off-White acrylic paint:
Fit the D-shaped pin of the Control for Large Pump (34L) into this matching hole near the Base, as shown:
Fit the D-shaped pin of the Detail B for Lubrication Pump B (34K) into this matching hole of the Engine Room Deck at the corner of the Thrust Block, as shown:
The D-shaped pin on this part is at a slight angle – this is by design. There is a tiny worm gear on this part that, on the real ship, would have engaged with the teeth of the engine’s Flywheel. However, since our Flywheel is able to turn and this part can’t rotate, we cannot have the part actually touching the Flywheel. Therefore, I temporarily installed my starboard engine so I could fit this part as close to, and parallel with, the Flywheel without actually touching it:
Step 10
Fit the four tabs of the Gangway (34X) into these matching slots along the right (outboard) side Columns of the starboard engine. The staircases each have a pin at the bottom that fits into matching holes of the lower Catwalk, as shown.
Be careful as you install this Gangway so it does not dislodge the smaller Gangways we installed earlier:
Step 11
Fit the D-shaped bottom pin of the Reversing Engine into the matching hole at this right (outboard) location of the Catwalk.
On my model, this was a very tight fit and required scraping off the paint (both my green paint and the base silver color) from the D-shaped pin. Once fitted, this should stand perfectly vertical, as shown:
Press the two pins of the Valve Control Rods (34V) into the matching holes on the outboard side of the forward Cylinder of the engine.
The long shafts of these Valve Control Rods can easily be bent out of shape. Therefore, I used a tiny drop of super glue behind each one where it touched the Gangway (arrow below). This helped keep them all straight and parallel, as shown:
Retrieve your Valve Pipe (33Q) from the previous issue. Fit the ends of this part into the matching holes of the Vapour Separator and the Valve Control Rods, as shown.
I installed this part last so it would be aligned correctly. I attached it into the Vapour Separator first, then slightly bent the Valve Control Rods to slide the curved end of the Pipe into place:
This is what the right (outboard) side of our starboard engine should look like after completing these steps:
Thoughts
Holy long issue Batman! So many tiny parts, but they really add up to give this engine a ton of realism.
Next Up
Issue 35 – Gear Box/Cover, Cogs, Cog Shafts, External Propeller Shafts