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In this issue, we will extend the engine room, assemble the steam turbine and condensers section, and install both engines.
Contents
Parts
Materials: All of these parts are plastic.
Magazine
- 20th Century – Bigas Luna’s Titanic
- Step-by-Step Instructions
Build
The Steam Turbine
There is plenty of debate as to what the real color of these Condensers/Turbine housing/base were on the Titanic. I just decided to airbrush them with my Vallejo Model Air 71.054 Dark Grey Blue acrylic paint. This is the same color I used for my Thrust Block bases, the deck Bollards, etc. Since the pipes in this issue were painted with a darker NATO Black paint back in Issue 33, this should provide some contrast once we finish the assembly:
Step 1
Fit the Condenser (Starboard) to the matching posts on the right side of the Central Turbine, as shown.
Both the Condenser (Starboard) and the right side of the Central Turbine are marked ‘R’:
In the same way, fit the Condenser (Port Side) to the matching posts on the left side of the Central Turbine, as shown.
Both the Condenser (Port Side) and the left side of the Central Turbine are marked ‘L’:
Secure these Condensers to the Central Turbine with four (4) AP screws:
Step 2
To help tell which Steam Pipes should fit into which, take note that they have two different sized D-shaped pins and holes:
Fit the D-shaped pin of Steam Pipe D (36H) into the matching hole at the center of Steam Pipe C (36G) and fit the D-shaped pin of Steam Pipe A (36B) into the matching hole at the center of Steam Pipe B (36C), as shown:
Step 3
Press the four pins at the rear ends of these Steam Pipes into the matching holes at the front of the two Condensers.
I started with the starboard set of pipes. When you have the right ones, the lower Steam Pipe is straight and goes into the Central Turbine, as shown:
The installation of the other Steam Pipes is the mirrored on the left side. I did notice that these four Steam Pipes fit very tightly, so no glue was needed:
Our Condenser/Central Turbine assembly should now look like this:
Step 4
Retrieve your Engine Room Deck assembly from Issue 34. Fit the three posts on the bottom of the Turbine Base into the matching holes at this location of the Deck, orientating as shown:
Secure the Turbine Base into place from below with three (3) AP screws:
Step 5
Carefully turn your Engine Room Deck assembly upside down. Fit the three recessed holes at the front (wider end) of the Engine Room Floor Section (Stern) over these matching posts at the rear of the Engine Room Deck, as shown.
Be very careful when doing this step as the Engine Room Deck is covered with delicate parts. I have it resting on a soft towel here:
Secure these two floor sections together with three (3) AP screws.
I lifted both parts vertically on their sides when adding these screws so I would not put any pressure on the engine details:
Steps 6-8
These steps of the instructions asks you to make sure the two main Engine assemblies have been built properly. There should be no gap between the bottom of the rear Columns and the Catwalk (in the area shown below). The gap you see below is because my Catwalk is slightly bent down there, not because of improper assembly.
If you followed my guides here, there should be no gap. However, if you do have a gap, you will likely need to reverse the Stop Plate (Lower, Rear) supporting the Crankshaft of the affected engines. Check my Issue 3 and Issue 29 pages for details.
Step 9
Retrieve your port Engine assembly from Issue 32. Fit the four posts on the bottom of the Engine Base into the matching holes at this location on the Engine Room Deck, as shown:
On my model, I had already discovered that my engine’s Flywheel would not fit in front of my Thrust Block correctly. This was because my Flywheel was glued to the Crankshaft, but not fully seated. This was easily fixed by sanding sand down the outer shaft of the Flywheel until it fit without rubbing:
Retrieve your External Propeller Shafts from the previous issue. Slide the end with the shorter D-shaped tab of one Shaft through this port Thrust Block from the rear and into the matching D-shaped opening of the Flywheel.
The ends of each External Propeller Shaft have different sized D-shaped tabs. We want the shorter one to be inside our Flywheel:
Once inserted, make sure you can easily rotate the engine’s internal components in both the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions.
I have heard some builders encounter problems with the alignment of the Thrust Block hole and the Flywheel and this prevents installing this Shaft all the way, if at all. I did not have this problem, but if you run into this try loosening the screws of the Thrust Block until you can insert the Shaft into the Flywheel. Once the Shaft is seated properly, tighten the Thrust Block back down:
Step 10
Once happy with the Shaft/Engine operation, secure the port Engine into place from below with four (4) EM screws.
This is your friendly reminder to try using 3-in-One Oil on all screws going into metal:
Step 11
Retrieve your starboard Engine assembly from Issue 34. In the same way as before, fit the four posts on the bottom of the Engine Base into the matching holes at this location on the Engine Room Deck, as shown:
As before, slide the end of the other External Propeller Shaft with the shorter D-shaped tab through the starboard Thrust Block from the rear and into the matching D-shaped opening of the Flywheel. Again, confirm you can easily rotate the engine’s internal components in both the clockwise and counter-clockwise directions:
Secure this starboard Engine into place from below with four (4) EM screws:
Step 12
Fit the free end of the Tube for Lubrication Pump (34E) into this matching hole at the base of the starboard engine right rear Column.
Tweezers will definitely help with these tiny pipes:
Likewise, fit the free end of the Tube for Lubrication Pump (32I) into this matching hole at the base of the port engine left rear Column:
This is how our main Engines should look now that they are mounted to the Engine Room Deck:
Thoughts
I have been waiting on this moment for some time now – we have finally mounted the detailed, yet delicate Engines into the model! I am more than happy with how they turned out with a bit of paint work. I am even considering adding tiny lights to the engine room to show it off.
Next Up
Issue 37 – Motor, Motor Housing, Base, Turbine Shaft