Return to the BUILD
Here, we will attach the decking to the First-Class Lounge roof, add multiple small details to it, and then mount it.
Contents
Parts
Materials: All of the non-electrical parts in this issue are plastic.
Magazine
- A Date with Destiny – Elise Bowerman: Fighting for Women
- 20th Century – Titanic on the Small Screen
- Step-by-Step Instructions
Build
The Forward First-Class Staircase
This issue contains the forward main staircase, often called the ‘Grand Staircase’ when talking about Titanic. While the infamous clock face of ‘Honor and Glory: Crowning Time’ is included on our model part, the rest of the staircase parts are not incredibly detailed. Still, this section of the ship can really only be seen when looking down through both the front Dome and Skylight we installed back in Issue 18. This is probably why we never glued those parts in place as they are likely designed to be removeable to be able to see this staircase once we finish the build.
Just for fun, and a bit of accuracy, I masked off and hand-painted the stairs with Vallejo Model Air 71.270 Off-White acrylic paint. These stairs would have likely been covered with the same white linoleum as the reception foyer floor:
Once the masking was removed, I touched up various areas of the staircase with Vallejo Model Air 71.032 Golden Brown acrylic paint. Then, I hand-painted the tops of the staircase pillars where the brass ‘pineapples’ would have been with my Metallic Gold Sharpie:
Then, I attached the Forward Staircase Wall to the Forward Staircase per Step 3 below and lightly coated the entire assembly with Vallejo Game Wash 73.200 Sepia Shade to give it some color variation and depth:
On the Wheelhouse Bulkhead, I used a combination of Vallejo Model Air 71.057 Black and Vallejo Model Air 71.067 Bright Brass acrylics paints to emulate the look of the naval phones and other equipment that would have adorned this wall. This was done by hand with a fine craft brush:
The back of this panel was just painted with the Black paint to help prevent light from leaking through it:
Step 1
Retrieve your Boat Deck assembly from the previous issue and place it upside down on a soft surface. Take special care to protect the topside details on this section. Clip the LED Strip into this location on the underside of the Central Boat Deck, fitting the round LED into the hole as shown (arrow below):
I find using the small boxes the parts came in as great stands to support this decking and protect the topside details:
Step 2
Fit the Forward Staircase to these three matching posts of the Forward Boat Deck and Bridge, as shown.
There is a small hole at the rear of the Staircase (circled below) that should be pressed onto the pin of the Deck:
Secure the Staircase into place with three (3) CP screws:
Step 3
Flip your Boat Deck assembly upright and press the two tabs of the Forward Staircase Wall into the matching slots of the Forward Staircase, as shown.
If you find this fitment loose, use a bit of super glue to hold these parts together. I installed this Staircase Wall before I painted the parts, but this is what it looks like installed:
Step 4
Fit the two Corner Joints over the matching keyed posts of the Wheelhouse Bulkhead, as shown:
Secure these Joints into place with two (2) CP screws.
As you tighten these screws, try to keep the Corner Joints lined up to the edge of the Bulkhead:
Step 5
Retrieve your Superstructure assembly from Issue 44. At the forward end, fit this Wheelhouse Bulkhead to the two matching posts on the underside near the large forward opening, as shown.
This Bulkhead will sit right into front of this tab:
Secure this Bulkhead assembly into place with two (2) CP screws:
With this Bulkhead installed, you may notice there an opening that I believe is designed to allow the interior lighting to pass into the wheelhouse:
Typically, the lights in the wheelhouse would have been off for better night vision so I used a small piece of black electrical tape to seal up this gap:
Step 6
Retrieve your photoetched Windows and Vents sheets from Issue 22. Cut two Arched Windows (22B) and Grille B (20I) from the sheets:
Glue the Arched Windows into these two matching openings at the rear of the Superstructure, as shown:
Retrieve your unused Grille B (20I) from Issue 20. Glue the Grille into this vent opening at the rear of the Superstructure:
Thoughts
I am not sure why we had to wait to install these two Arched Windows and Grille – I think we could have installed back in the earlier issues. Still, I love the Grand Staircase being included to add a bit of the interior to our model! Keep the unused LED Cable safe as we will need it in a later issue.
Next Up
Issue 49 – Decking, Boat Deck (Aft), Connectors, Strips/Reflectors