Hi;
This is for all of you that looked at my Tanker Pictures ( More coming soon). The centerline having been established with a white pencil( Lightly) I measured out from the deckhouse 17/16 " and established a line from port to starboard.
Then I started laying out the pipe sections and valve locstions. These would be for the tanks that are odd numbered. You have some tanks for Diesel Fuel, Lubrication Oil. Petroleum Distillates such as Paint Thinner etc.
The Tanks on the Starboard side will be even numbered for the same reason. The pipe pumps are below decks right bellow where the large runs exit the deck to the locations. This is also for transfer to ensure the ships stability!
You see, these tankers carry finished products that come in to Port from other places such as the refineries on the Gulf Coast. Many folks aren't aware that some petroleum products are not transfered from Local refineries by truck.
They do arrive by ship. Now besides that I am laying out the rails and inclined ladders. These are Evergreen Plastic units intended to help in scratch-building structures and commercial venues.
They also work great for ships in the Rail-Road scales. They ( Evergreen ) also have different vertical ladder kits in these scales as well.The main deck rails will be built using Tichy Train Group, General Two and Three Rail Horizontal sections. They make a nice Inclined Rail set as well.
Scratch-Building ships isn't hard but it takes a while. Research is the biggest point you will lean on. Either Photos, Plans, or some loose scale drawings. The hardest things is doing the waterline plate and curves at bow and stern. It depends on ERA and Type as to what you will wind up with.
That is why I recommend if you are going to try one, Use the printed 1/250 paper ship model( any Type) as your first set of patterns. This is why they are so helpful. They teach you the fundamentals.Yes, most have English translations. Now if you buy from the "Bay" be warned. Some of the paper-model sellers are in China and require you to download a PDF file of the instructions. The rest send them with the kit.
This isn't bad per se. But, I would check FENTEN'S website before you go to China. Fenten's has a list of the most popular warships and civilian ships I've seen in a while. Just type in FENTEN'S papership models and you're good to go. Don't let the prices scare you! They are a heck of a lot cheaper than plastic, even with the extra detail kits offered with them.