Exciting development!

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

There are some great photos and drawings languishing in Liverpool museum archives and the Royal Greenwich museum

The stern post

During construction

Is this a photo of Brunel?

Photo taken from top of paddle case

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Many thanks, Paul, for your contribution

The ship was designed and built by J Scott Russell, a super engineer, but because of alleged accounts fiddling, he was side lined into the background

It's a shame that Brunel gets all the glory……Don't suppose, we'll ever get to know the full story

I do regret the demise of my GE model now…….It really should have gone to the Holyhead a Maritime Museum, as I alway's intended

Such is life…eh?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

History is very clear about S.J.Russell and his poor business dealings.

Brunel entered into a partnership with Russell to build the GE but unknown to Brunel Russell was in financial difficulties. The two men disagreed on many details mainly because Russell was on a fixed price contract to build the GE and Brunel was demanding higher quality materials that Russell hadn't allowed for (although the material and construction standards were clearly laid out in the original specification)

In 1852 Russell's shipyard was devastated by fire but was only partially covered by insurance. The yard closed. In the same year David Napier's yard at Millwall closed because of competition from the Clyde yards. Part of the yard was later let to Russell for the building of the GE

The GE keel was laid down on May 1.1854

During1856 Russell had several fixed-price contracts for warships and these together with another fire, added to his financial problems; his shipyard, like several other Thames builders, failed in February 1856. He remained in charge of building the Great Eastern under a new contract.

History records that Russell was in serious financial trouble with the other builds and had been syphoning off materials from the GE in an attempt to complete these other projects. Brunel suspected a problem and undertook a snap audit which revealed the extent of the misappropriation.

Brunel took over all of the management functions.

Russell was a bad business man but a brilliant engineer and scientist, he was the author of The Modern System of Naval Architecture and designed HMS Warrior, he also theorised in the field of fluid dynamics and the 'Wave of Transition' which is now called the Russell Solitary Wave is the basis of most modern fluid dynamic work.

In point of fact the bow design of the VGC is a direct result of Russells pioneering work.

Paul

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Bob

Some images of the interior

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Lovely clear pictures…..Thanks Paul

The rooms look very well illuminated…….But what was the method, I wonder?

The chap on the last photo, looks as though he is on the phone?

All that ornamentation, may still be in existence?

There is supposed to be a GE deck cabin stored at the Maritime Museum, Liverpool…..Which was used as a Garden shed at a Girls School, locally

I've Emailed them a few times about it, but no reply

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

We may as well include the build participants…….

Left to right…….Henry Wakefield, Brunell`s assistant….Bob Abell….Scott Russell……..Brunell ……….Lord Derby

Apologies to members, lacking a sense of humour

Bob

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

And where's yer stovepipe hat, then, Bob?

/Mattias

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Banjo

I did try a top hat, but the peak of the cap got in the way

Bob

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

This is getting a bit off topic, but as confirmed hat wearer on a daily basis, I cannot help but wonder how they managed, back in the stovepipe hat day to, as it were, keep the lid on whenever there was a bit of a wind?!

I have myself on occasion had to chase my hat down the road in the best silent movie tradition after having it blown off my head by a sudden gust of wind, and on stormier days will take the precaution of wearing a beret or a flat cap instead.

But maybe in the 19th century the bear grease or macassar oil was sticky enough to provide a sufficient, albeit temporary, glue joint between the hat and its wearer …

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

For Bill H

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

For the benefit of interested members, the original build was started in Dec 2007

The website has changed drastically since then and the postings now do not show any photos

However, all is not lost……..The photos are still in existence

In 2007, the photos were saved complete with build captions!

They can be found here……

**LINK**

Hope you find them of interest

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Here's an interesting layout, showing the cable storage in the Great Eastern

Cable is stored midships and stern area, with chain storage at the bows

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Interesting comparison chart, showing the size of GE compared to the current ships of the time

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

How does it compare to ships of today like the CSCL Globe or the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carrier?

In fact a comparison chart showing the sizes of famous ships would be very interesting and a valuable research tool. Ships such as those mentioned above along with Titanic, QE2, Queen Mary, Bismarck, Hood, Victory…..you get the idea.

Well Bob you have been looking for something to do 

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 30/11/2015 14:54:20

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Paul

Just had a look at the length of QE Carrier and it's only 920 feet long…….Surprise surprise?

That brings things more into perspective!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

That is exactly my point, as modellers we talk glibly about different ships but seldom realise the difference in size, your new comparison chart will be an excellent piece of research and a 'go to' document for many model builders.

Which ships will you include in your chart……………….perhaps the forum members would like to propose their own favourites.

Over to you Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Paul

Good idea

A chart with some of the well known ships would be quite interesting

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Well, here are some of my liner models which do make interesting comparisons. I'm afraid I don't collect cruise ships as they look hideous externally.

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very nice, Colin

Are they all the same scale?

Titanic looks quite small compared to the ships higher up?

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Yes Bob, all 1:1250 scale. Titanic at 45,000 gross tons would certainly look smaller than Queen Mary at 81,000 gross tons. Titanic was around the same size as Canberra tonnage wise.

The little ship 3rd along the bottom row is the ms Devonia (ex Devonshire) an educational school ship converted from a troopship at around 11,000 gross tons. In 1964 I sailed around the Med from Genoa and back to Tilbury in her, a two week cruise which cost the princely sum of £49!

Queen Mary 2 (not shown here) has a gross tonnage of 150,000 but actually displaces slightly less than the old Queen Mary. Modern ships are built lighter and their machinery takes up a much smaller space than in the old steamers.

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Colin

Knowing that they are all the same scale, your display is very informative……As Paul spoke about

Could you do a cardboard cutout of the Great Eastern, to the same scale, as an interesting eye opener please?

Are the models…….Plastic kits?

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Bob, the Great Eastern was close to the length of the Caronia, the green ship in the middle of the third row.

The models are cast white metal, hollowed out underneath, and very heavy. The bigger ones cost between £60 – £80. They are almost exclusively made in Germany but you can also buy them in the UK see here:

**LINK**

I only collect liners these days but I used to have a large naval fleet years ago.

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just added GE to get things in perspective

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Well done Bob, not far off I reckon!

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Another interesting picture, showing the stowage

Note the where the engine is for the prop drive……..A true Hell Hole!

Also note how flat the bed of the Atlantic Ocean is, for 2000 miles too!

Also note, the cable route from London…..Up to Cumbria and not across Wales

Bob

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