Snowberry lights - help

[quote user="simonb"]

Hi

can anyone help? Almost finished building HMCS Snowberry OOB (and despite shortcomings of the kit, it's still a nice piece!) Converted to RC with no issues.

However, although I find loads of discussions about navigation / masthead lights, nowhere can i find info on the exact postion, or number of masthead lights.

As I understand the regs, due to size, she had to have two lights on the mast - first at least one meter higher than side nav lights, but the other? Is it at the top - the moulding on top of the mast kinda looks like a light (and this is where the kit's random quality lets it down, cos I can't tell what it is ! LOL)

Also, would I be right in thinking the stern light on Snowberry was mounted at the rear of the engine casing?

Any help gratefully appreciated. I know during war the ship wouldn't have run with nav lights, but they were there, and lighting does add to the model - my justification being that at least after the war she would have had to use them!

thanks

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'Anatomy of the Ship Agassiz' shows a steaming light at the base of the crows nest and another flashing light at the mast truck.

The aft over-taking light (blue) was on the top of the aft-staff on the fantail

Thanks for the info!

One further question (sorry) just to make sure I don't mess up the over-taking light - by aft-staff, does that refer to the pole at the end of the engine casing, or should there be something right on the stern?

thanks again

Hi SIMON B . It has been my experience that you NEED and LAW REQUIRES a light at the stern. On the U.S.S. OZBOURN D.D.846 the stern light was at the stern.Any other lights used under way at night are governed by most maritime rules.Yes the thing at the top of the mast is/was a light.I R.C.d mine as an AMERICAN ship and my guns swivel as well as the lights (running) and inside the wheelhouse. There are a few ports lit too.Here again is an idea I "borrowed" from LINDBERG and used their mechanical cam system to move the guns.Di you have any trouble making her weatherproofin the after portion?     commodore4

No probs with the weatherproofing. I remove entire rear engine casing (or aft supersture - depending on which terminology used LOL) with 10mm covings all round. Rear access to rudder post under depth charge racks which rests on a 3mm styrene lip under neath, and is secured from underneath with a plastic rod (which is only accesible with engine caseing removed. Never shipped water. The main superstructure at the front is completely removable with the decking, sittiing on plastic inwales. It sits there, unsecured, very well, however, I added a pwoer connector for the bridge and nav lights, (female on hull, male under decking) which just snaps together when I slide decking and superstructure back on- this does provide a small mechanical fixing. Even in rough water, this system has never shipped water.

thanks for info on lights - so i guess i just gotta fit a light right on the stern - is it attached deirectly to hull, between the depth charge cut-outs, or is it mounted on a pole?

thanks

simon

Hi Simon b . You need to get a small piece of brass tubing.Drill a hole in the sterndeck at joint between deck and wales.Run your micro-wire upthe tube you glued into that hole .Pull the wires with light attached till the light base is in firm contact with the tubing.Now you need to create a collar at the base of the light.It is to this collar you will put a reflector.This reflector is "V" shaped with the "V" pointing forward.The aft facing needs to be painted white.You should just barely see the light from the side or not at all(wartime) if in piece shorten the reflector until you can see the light clearly from the side. There,thats all you need.OH! see if you can use colored L.E.D. units for the running lights.They generate NO heat!! good on and send a pic for us to see.  The pole(tubing) needs two supports on each side at a shallow angle to hold the light up , these can be soldered to the tubing and slipped into holes drilled in the top of the bulwarks.   tankerbuilder

SIMONB Just a note.I get SHIPS in SCALE magazine.In the last issue they have an article about installing led units in the overhead. If you can get a copy I believe it will help you immensely.   tankerbuilder