Updated 09/28/05

Intro

Planning

Deckhouse 1

Deckhouse 2

Deckhouse 3

Deckhouse 4

Ballast System

Bow Thruster

Drive Units

Painting 1

Painting 2

Detailing 1

Median Voyage

Voyage 1

Dry dock 1

Dry dock 2

Dry dock 3

Dry dock 4

Dry dock 5

Dry dock 6

Dry dock 7

Dry dock 8

Dry dock 9

Dry dock 10

Repainting

Portholes

Access Panels

 

Building the 1/87 Edmund Fitzgerald

"Access Panels"

Well since this model is remote control, I have to have access to all the running gear. The trick is to build it so you see no access panels. Now building the panel is one thing, attaching it and not have it blow off is another.

 

I chose to use the aft deckhouse ruff as the access panel, tacking into consideration all the detail in the area. This would provide me with minimal work in building the detail around the panel, yet keeping it easily accessible without accidentally ripping off any detail.

 

To attach it I chose to use strong magnets used for bead necklaces, found at any craft store. With a little modifications, these little things are simply perfect for the job!! Very strong!!

 

I started by cutting on half down to the just the magnet. I guess I could have cut both down but really didn't need to. Below the picture shows the cut. Left is un-altered minus the rings that were snipped off for the necklace. Middle shows the cut line. Right shows the two halves A and B which are described in the next steps.

 

I put the one side in the vice and with a dermal cut down the other half. Be careful!!

 

 

Next I drilled the holes going though the lower deckhouse support and deckhouse ruff, making sure everything was straight while drilling.

 

 

Here you can see how the two sides of the magnet links will work. I put the smaller side A in the ruff and glue in place but not before doing a trial fit. Side B will go into the deckhouse lower half.

 

 

This shows all magnits in place on the deckhouse lower support and on the ruff.

 

 

With the ruff in place you can see how magnet side B will pull the ruff down.

 

 

To the front of the deckhouse I simply made tabs that will slide under the lower half, marked in blue.

 

 

Here it's slid in place. Nothing special here.

 

 

Deckhouse secured read for detailing.

 

 

 

Launch date on  November 10,2000

This site designed by and maintained by: Jeffrey W. Churill

All photographs & images are property of:

 Great Lakes Nautical Society and/or Great Lakes Model Association

URL: www.greatlakesmodeling.com    Webmaster: jeff@greatlakesmodeling.com 

Copyright © 2006 Great Lakes Modeling Association  All rights reserved.