Ship scale?

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

i have a hull of modern cargo ship size L54in. W6.1/2in.i have photos of ship i like to build but no plans anyone know how i would work out scale of ship that size.ship i want to build is 151m long 22m width.never built ship from scratch before so any help appreciated.thank you.

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Hugh

The scale is odd in imperial it is 3/4in to the foot, it would be easier to convert into metric especially as the real ship dimensions are in metric this works out at a scale of approx 80:1 i.e 1m to every 80m

The problem being that your hull length and beam don’t correspond to the full size version so you will have to make a lot of compromises as the hull works out to a 70:1 beam but a 90:1 length. 

To be exact to 80:1 you would have to create a specific scale rule as it is an odd size.

Hope this is of some help and good luck.

Paul 

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

thanks paul metric size of hull is L1400MM,W170MM,D100MM. isthe problem the size of the real ship.and if so should i try somthing smaller or bigger,thanks

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Hugh

The problem is the real ship you should be looking for a full size ship whose size’s are divisible by 10 to suit your hull

i.e. a ship 140m long x 17m wide so you could easley work at 1:100

But in a scratch build anything is possable and if you wish to stick with your first choice of ship you would just have to take care in making the scale measurements and reductions and be prepared to use a little "artistic licence" to make all the bits fit.

But the biggest piece of advice that I can give is to work in either metric or imperial and not to try and mix the scales whilst building the model. For ease I would use metric. 

Paul 

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

hi just got plans for ship it is a container ship oa length 276m bp length 262m breadth 40m depth 24.30m.model hull is 55inches length 6.1/2 inches breadth.on the plans it says scale is 1.250.as i said never built from plans i have tryed to work out scale and came up withe 1.269mm.but it dont seem to work.help im lost or stupid.thanks.hugh

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

The first step is to convert to imperial dims of the model hull to metric..one way is to convert 1 inch into 25mm (2.5cm) I find it easier to work in mm especially when working to scale.

Paul

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

thanks paul think that gives L.1400mm

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Hugh

Sorry for the late reply, I’m not to well today.

The scale would be 198:1 but 200:1 is a lot easier to work with. Have a play about with a metric scale rule with a 200:1 scale on it and get used to measuring and transfering simple measurements.

Paul

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hi Hugh

Not sure that I am right with that calculation of 1:200, I am a bit fuzzy today.

Paul

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

sorry u not feeling to good but thanks for help. hugh

[merlinParticipant @merlin]

Hi! Hugh

Totally agree with Paul that in scratchbuilding all things are possible, take your first idea and go with it at 1:80 stretch and sqeeze as needed and work on the premise if it looks right then go with it, as Paul says poetic licence.  It may not be totally prototypical when it’s finished but if you enjoyed the experience thats all that matters, and as a bonus you wont arf learn a lot!

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

thanks all for help hugh.

[MzeeParticipant @mzee]

Ever thought of using a slide rule to convert scales?  Works far easier and faster than either fingers or batteries!!

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

thanks robin bit late ship almost done and that was without slide rule fingers came in handy. hugh.

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

thanks for help ship been tested in water still work to be done but sailed well posted some photos in my gallery its my first scratch build ,but dont think  i will build anything so big again ,had job getting it in car and it took me my son and law daughter to get it in the water..  thanks again,hugh.

[merlinParticipant @merlin]

Well done,  looks well, sounds like you enjoyed the build even if it’s a bit of a beast size wise, we all make that mistake at some point and build just a tad to BIG!   Good Luck with next project whatever it may be

Merlin

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

thanks Merlin

[Hugh ConnollyParticipant @hughconnolly85056]

Hull

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