R.M.S.Titanic by Billing's

Joined
Jan 30, 2012
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Location
Citrus Heights, California
Since the level of detail a person may add and the availability and amount of research a person may chose to perform will vary with each modeler, the times I show are related to the actual work performed on the vessel. Each person’s ability to read and interpret plans can vary a great detail. Thus, the time reflects only that used to measure the plans for comparison on the vessel or to determine the size of wood used to make a part that is unclear and not listed in the instructions or on the plans separately. Hopefully, by doing this, a person can use this as a guide to determine the level of commitment necessary to compete this type of project or can use it to gauge how far along they are if building the same vessel.

This is a large kit with a lot of wood, some brass, photo-etched sheets and a few plastic parts. The size of the model is 1880 x 200 x 500 mm (74 x 7 7/8 x 19 3/4 inches) in 1:144 scale. There is no written instructions. There are pictures of every sheet of wood or brass with the part numbers added. There is a part list that is several pages long and many pages of the building stages with accompanying part numbers. Because of the smallness of the parts and the very delicately detailed photo-etched parts, this should make an interesting build. This is considered an expert kit.

Titanic001.JPG

Titanic002.JPG

Titanic003.JPG
 
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At this scale, rivets would not show up and would be smaller than the # 80 drill bit. The detail of the photo-etched is so tiny that any rivet I would add would still be larger than the legs of the deck chairs or rail stations which are about 0.01" wide.
 
That kit should keep you going for quite some time? I had better stock the beer fridge and relax in a comfy chair and just sit back and enjoy this build come together?
Steve..
 
I have often wondered about this kit myself. Since I have more free time now being semi-retired, I want to spend more time perusing these build logs as well as building kits. I thought that this was a huge model, and it looks like it is. I will keep an eye on this log.
 
Hello ,I also wondered if there was a mostly wood kit of the Titanic,It looks like a beautiful kit,good luck is not necessary for you are one accomplished builder and surely create a lot of attention from this site and MSW,you maybe have to invest in a popcorn machine and a bunch more chairs,bravo for getting the kit.Edwin :D
 
Thanks to all of you.
There was a problem with the kit during shipping to the USA and one error in the parts sheet pictures. I will hopefully have the problem solved soon since Billing's use to have good support. Since the company has a new owner, hopefully their warranty and service will continue.
 
Hello Rowan:
This is going to be a delicate build. I have noticed that about 10 of the railings were broken and damaged while in shipping to the USA. The kit was picked up at Ages of Sail, so no shipping after it arrived. The railings are very thin and the brass is very easy to bend out of alignment. Hopefully, Billings will send the information and replacement railings soon so I can actually start construction.
 
Hi Gary !
Wow - that is one heck of a box of content there. I am sure that this would be a nice departure from rigging. I am not really a huge fan of the Titanic, but I would have to say that I would not mind myself getting into this one. Good luck with it and I know that the kit landed in the right hands to handle it.

Donnie
 
Thanks Donnie. I have to wait for some picture clarification, parts and decking material I order to plank it that is not a part of the kit. I would not think of drawing lines on a 1880 mm deck with so much photo-etched detail and other nicely make parts.
 
Parts came but go really involved in building the Sovereign and never got corrected diagrams yet to clear up questions on the frames. Still want the planking to come to put on the decks and this must come from Mantua. Thus, have all the parts for the Sovereign except for some fleur de lis which I can put on even after I start the rigging. So will probably finish the Sovereign before starting this one.
 
Aha! thanks for mentioning the Sovereign Gary as I have a question regarding it, if Steve reads this he may be able to answer if you are unable.
I realize that your kit is different to mine but are the lower decks supposed to have a curve(upwards) in them, at the moment my foredeck and aftdeck have a sag in them, I have not glued the centre sections yet. The deck beams they supply are very thin. They are made out of ply that is about 2.5mm thick and very flexible. I have just bought some balsa that I can use to prop up the decks if needed.
Actually it is the middle deck that has the problem.
Regards
Eric
 
Deck were usually made to drain toward the middle. To answer your question and show you how it appears on my ship, I will take a picture of the current stage where all the gun ports are cut in on my model and hopefully you can see the variation.
 
Wow Gary!

Is this thing really 74 inches long? Let's hope a picture is worth a thousand words. This will be an interesting build to watch.

Later,

Don
 
Yes Don, it is very long still at 1:144 scale. However, it might be a while since I am getting well along on the Sovereign and will probably finish her before stating this one.
 
Gary,
I have always wanted to see this version of the Titanic being built. Can't wait to see it come to life.

Donnie
 
I have now purchased a lot of things from a person that makes the same scale but provides a fiberglass hull. One of the Items is all the decking in wood to scale and consists of over 10,000 etched planks. Also several other larges sets of photo etched parts including extra chairs, benches, and many other items. This with shipping has added over $800.00 to the cost of the kit.
Thus, I have to get back to finishing the Sovereign and the Cutty Sark so that I can make room for building this monster.
 
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