I trimmed up a pile of 2nd batch of floor gratings. I was first using a #11 blade to trim off the supports and to provide more contrast so I could more easily see the junction. I later changed methods and cut the supports using a Tweezer-style Sprue Cutter. The cutting surface was a piece of plexiglass covered with electical tape.
Instead of rolling masking tape to hold the gratings onto a surface for painting, I again drafted Press-n-Seal into servie as a mass holding device. This actually worked, but your really have to press the heck out of parts to keep them from releasing when the airbrush is turned in their direction. They did ocassionally pop loose requiring vigilance to keep the in place.
With this new batch I finished another major platform. This one occupies the forward portion in front of the turbo platform. There’s just three more platfors to pave with gratings.
Lastly, I got back to the turbo platform and started piping the systems. The large lube oil cooler sits underneath the starboard side turbo. It requires cold water in and out, but I never actually saw its piping so I just imagined my own, tapping into the seawater lines leading to the turbo condenser underneath. One of the printed pipes didn’t align properly so I fabbed one out of solder wire. The oil lines will lead under the floor panels towards the lube pump array just next door. They won’t be easy to see, as in the prototype.
I did print the main pipes going to the turbos, starting with the main steam. I wasn’s sure it if it would line up since the actual location of the turbos was dictated by the final location of the condensers. As it works out, the steam pipes aligned close enough the slight squeeze I had to give them isn’t very obvious. They are pinned pipe joints. They are not glued yet. I may wait until the unit it installed on the base to make the final hook up.
And then I started fitting the condenser coolings piping. This too aligned pretty nicely. They too are pinned joints. I will glue them in tomorrow and adde the grating covering the turbo deck. And that major assembly will be done waiting for installation.
I have a suspicion that all the subs will be done before the base plate is delivered to me. My friend just got it glued up on the weekend and he likes to finish things very professionally with staining and multiple, rubbed-coats of lacquer. Then there’s shipping time. Oncw I have the base in hand, I will get the plexiglass cut. I can build the lighing circuit board before getting the base. Case and base work goes really fast.