RMS Mauretania build

As usual, I started on the base early on. This time, I aimed at a more lively wave pattern and tried making a bow wave from DAS modeling clay. 

The bow wave was shaped using rotating tools. 

I tried to add some structure to the hull using self-adhesive aluminum tape cut to the requisite size. I found that burnishing the tape to the hull using Q-tips or a glass fibre eraser worked quite well. The large mounting holes in the hull for the davits were filled with styrene rod. 

Having added a lot of aluminum foil, and drilled open all the scuttles, it was time to look into further assembly. I did not correct the underlying errors in the kit as I found that too much for my skills. So the basic height of the decks remained as it was. 

I found this battery-powered and rechargeable tool most helpful in drilling the hundreds of holes for scuttles and the between deck stanchions. 

I temporarily fixed the deck levels with screws to ease drilling in the right spots. 

The base was painted and treated in my usual fashion. 

After painting the hull and deck levels, it was time to start assembly, and also to add the first railings. 

Some gentle persuasion was needed during the assembly process. 

Between deck stanchions were added into the pre-drilled holes, which were thereafter filled with white glue and painted over. 

The masts were rebuilt from brass, the foremast was later replaced with a slightly thinner version. 

The funnels received some limited detailing and were rigged with Albion Alloys 0.1 mm nickel silver wire. 

I did some reshaping, reducing and thinning out of the bow wave. 

I chose to retain the spurious deck details but to add better anchor chains and a scratchbuilt anchor crane. 

The aft docking bridge was rebuilt entirely. 

I added homemade boat davits with PE from the GMM Liners PE set, plus some hint at scrambling nets. The boats were covered with awnings made from white glue with a central piece of wire giving shape.. 

I made this jig for the wireless antenna array, and it worked well. This rigging is UNI Caenis.