HMS Dreadnought-a couple of questions!

[Alfisti]

Hi,recently purchased the Trumpeter 1/350th 1907 Dreadnought and have some questions on the ship.

1) At what point in her life were the blast bags fitted to her main guns?

2) Were the cage aerials always rigged?

3)What mods did she receive at the start of war?(would they be an easy modelling addition?)

And a general nautical question.It always puzzled me(it doesn't take a lot really!) as to why ships funnels had a guard cage over them,but recently found out that they were used to support a cover.But what is the cover protecting the funnel from,bad weather?

TIA........Dave.

[Dave Swindell]

1) Most likely during her 1910 refit, photo's before this don't show blast bags, photo's after do.

2) They're difficult to spot in some photos's but I'd say whilst in commission they'd most likely be rigged. The only photo I've seen where they're almost certainly not fitted was taken at the fleet Review off Cowes, 3rd August 1907 when she's dressed alover with flags.

3) The ships structure didn't change significantly, but there were quite a few changed to rig, small fitings & light armament, fighting tops etc. If you want to detail and or modify the kit, you'll find all the info you need (and lots more!) in John Roberts Anatomy of the Dreadnought

The funnel covers are to prevent moisture (ie rain) getting into the boilers & uptakes. Soot contains sulphur, add water and you've got suphuric acid. If the boiler is shut down for any length of time acid will cause corrosion of the boiler tubes leading to premature failure.

[Alfisti]

Hi Dave,

thanks very much for the info and the reason for the funnel covers.Boy,wouldn't have liked being on chimney sweep fatiques!

Just ordered the anatomy book from Amazon,gotta get my head round constructing those cage aerials now.

Dave.

[Dave Swindell]

Hii again, bit more info for you. Don't know if you are aware of White Ensign, they do a comprehensive detail set for the Zvezda Dreadnought which they say is also applicable to the Trumpeter kit. Includes parts for the 1915 fit, so if you're going to update it to a later fit this may make life easier. PE not everyones cup of tea and not cheap but WEM is quality product.

[Shar2]

WEM also do a set of cage aerial spreaders which come with instructions on how to make the aerials.

[Dave Swindell]

So they do, but I'd beg to differ on your opinion that there's enough on the sheet for several models - to do Dreadnought I recon you'd need at least 6 sheets as I count 60+ spreaders, which would most likely be of the same style. Granted you'd then have enough left over to do another 3 battleships in the same scale plus several more in other scales. I'd be tempted if the sheet was several styles in 1/700, but there's too much wastage if you only build in one scale.

[Shar2]

It would depend on the style used and what scale but I stand by my review.

[Alfisti]

Thanks for the info on the WEM and Pontos sets,and I've found another set is available from North Star.What a dilemma,which one to choose?I used to be indecisive,but now I'm not too sure.

The AOTS book arrived yesterday,and I also bought the Kagero book,boy,what detail,and the Kagero book includes a pull out 1/350 plan,amazing value.And OMG I see that the aerial spreaders were an 8 pointed star shape,which the Pontos and NS sets include.Do I want to go down the insanity route as I'd need a little bit of a push(not much of a push mind you!) to attempt something that fragile and small!

Dave.

[Ingo Degenhardt]

The Kagero book....some kind of an overdose regarding detail. At least for me and my limited experience with ships in general (I have the Trumpeter Dreadnought 1907)

Should have bought the Pontos Set but thought the Eduard would do - not quite so. Had to add cage aerial spreaders from WEM - they are only the 5-wire kind, so I'll be content with that...if I manage to rig them up at all. But I will definitely try!

[Ingo Degenhardt]

I am right now trying to rig up WEM's cage aerial spreaders (the assorted PE fret), but I am not too much satisfied with it.

First, this goes to the limits of my abilities with the spreaders being so tiny that I can hardly get them clean off the fret. I had to divert to the 'round' ones as I simply could not handle the correct star shaped ones.

Even those are hard to work with

I would have preferred star shaped spreaders with a hole in each 'arm' to put the EZ line through instead of just a small notch for the thread. They are very hard to put on in the right place and angle with only this hard-to-see notch.

Are there any other PE parts for those? May be even with a hole in them as described? That would (I think) make rigging them up much easier.

Apart from a complete ship set of course as my Dreadnought is in it's last stage of completion.

[Alfisti]

Have just looked at the Pontos set and that looks like a small groove at the end of the star arm,and the North Star set appears to have small holes for the aerial wires.Incidentally,NS are offering their etch set for 37 euro's.I don't think there are any spreader sets available separately except for the WEM sheet!

Dave.

[Ingo Degenhardt]

Thanks Dave,

too bad - if you are going to rig the aerial wires I recommend you use the NS set - I imagine it being much easier this way.