Bilge keel on Titanic

[JeremyParticipant @jeremy15845]

I inadvertently omitted the build keels on my 1/250th scale Titanic. Weighted down to 4.75 kg, it floats fractionally below the water line and seems to be stable in still water, righting itself if tilted to either side.

Should I retro-fit bilge keels and, if so, what size? The model shows them to be 13" long wooden strips with a 2mm square section which might be too small to have any effect.

The hull is plank on frame protected by 5 layers of fibreglass cloth with epoxy resin. I would not want to pin through this to fix them and would probably used a plastic strip section fixed in place with Araldite.

I would appreciate any advice.

Jeremy

[JeremyParticipant @jeremy15845]

[JeremyParticipant @jeremy15845]

Sorry – I meant bilge keel not build keel.

P.S. is there a way to edit postings to correct mistakes like this?

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I think you can edit them for a short period, otherwise just PM me and I will make the correction.

It can confuse things sometimes if people are given the facility to edit old posts!

Colin

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Jeremy
​I think at that scale you are right they would be far too small to have any effect. Any larger and they would spoil that lovely look you have achieved.
​Bilge keels of the type fitted to ships do not have any effect on stability but are primarily there for roll damping. Sometimes also used for keeping ships upright if they are intentional grounded or dried out.
Tim

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Jeremy

This was my method of stabilising my 7`- 0" Great Eastern model

I used a length of 10mm screwed rod, bolted under the keel with lead weights to suit

The idea behind this was that the weights could be fitted and slid anywhere along the bar to adjust the sit on the water

It worked very well too and can`t be seen, once in the water

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I am currently finishing off (in more ways than one!) the big Revell Queen Mary 2 kit as a working model.

As Tim says, bilge keels at that scale are not likely to have much of an appreciable effect. With regards to stability, my QM2 is fairly stable in still water – the bath – but it is obvious that any wind will cause her to heel unrealistically due to the high superstructure. I have therefore fitted a detachable keel centrally to help overcome this.

Colin

Edited By Colin Bishop on 11/01/2018 18:48:10

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

My Titanic (4 foot long) has no bilge keels and sails ok, the weight and depth of hull providing sufficient stability.

​Bobs GE has a very shallow draught, thus the weights??

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 11/01/2018 18:41:55

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I can confirm that Ashley's Titanic sails beautifully.

Colin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Thank you Colin (cheque in the post).

​The real Titanic`s bilge keels were about 300 feet long but only 25 inches deep….so for my Titanic this would be about 0.125 inches….

Ashley

[Author]

Posts