Great Eastern

This is the Revell 1:388 scale Great Eastern, built by  Germà Coenders

Germà Coenders notes: I got to know someone who wanted to sell this out-of-production model at the stee lnavy message board. After seeing the review at the Debrisfield I was eager to build one. A first intention to motorize it was ruled out due to the sheer model size. Instead, I decided to cut her down to the water line, mount her on a hollow 2 cm balsa wood base, and add two 15 watt refrigerator-type lamps inside the base. I drilled all port holes and had to paint all the interior black because the model plastic was too transparent and light would come through everywhere. This makes for a very "romantic" lamp, that, alas! I cannot have turned on too long because it gets too hot and would maybe deform the model. Besides, I dated the model back to the time of the ship's maiden voyage. With this purpose:

- I scratch built the fifth funnel
- I rebuilt the stem profile
- I removed all cable-laying machinery

Some final touches were:

- removing all plastic railings and ladders, that were replaced by photo-etched ones from my spares box.

- orienting the sails in a more realistic way

The first three photos clearly show the five funnels and the new bow profile. The fourth photo shows some detail of the paddle wheel and the photo etch. The fifth shows the life boats and the sails' orientation, and the sixth photo is taken nearly in the dark to show the working of the lights.

Profile view

Port side detail

Port detail of stern

An interesting bow-on photo

Great Eastern model shows the large spread of sail in this stern view

Midships view overlooking the paddle boxes and bridge.