SS Edmund Fitzgerald *** DNF ***

Anything -- air, land, sea -- whose purpose is to haul any sort of cargo, to include people.
This GB runs 17th Feb through 31st March and your host is Old_Tonto.
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JohnRatzenberger
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SS Edmund Fitzgerald *** DNF ***

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

I had 6 #1 choices for this GB (great idea, OT !! )
-- a 1/?? 20-mule team borax wagon train, by Pacific Borax back in the Old Ranger TV show days ...
-- a 1/12 Concord Stage Coach, a wooden kit by Model Trailways
-- a 1/72 Boeing Model 40 mail/passenger plane, a resin kit by CMR
-- a 1/72 Blackburn Kangaroo commercial airliner, a vac kit by Contrail
-- a 2-1/2 AFKWX 353 long-bed cargo truck, a resin kit by Real Models

and the winner is:

Image

chosen equally for its uniqueness and it's simplicity compared to the others, whom I simply cannot devote the time to right now. I have a love-hate with Commander Models / Iron Shipwright over the years, but this appears to be one of their better, at least the 4 main pieces.

This Wikipedia article should cover about everything on the history of the ship, a huge Great Lakes ore carrier that set many records until it sinking with all hands. Gordon Lightfoot did a song about it. Jeff should know the story by heart, probably even sing the song.
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splash
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by splash »

Great choice of an unusual subject, I gather they had some unusual craft on the Great Lakes like the whaleback freighters.

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iggie
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by iggie »

Nice choice!
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Dirkpitt289
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

I'm jealouse you have one of these kits. I can't seem to find one that won't cost me a lung and a kidney
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Old_Tonto
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by Old_Tonto »

Great subject choice jRatz. I must confess that I had to read up about this ship. Did they ever figure out why she sank so quickly?
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JohnRatzenberger
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

No, just supposition that it was high wind and water; possibly over the deck and under the hatch covers.
It seemed to have had a admirable, even record-setting, operational and safety record until then and there doesn't appear to be any "crew error".
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Stuart
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by Stuart »

This'll be an interesting build John. The ship itself seems to have a very interesting story.
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by jssel »

Just to add to John's data: the ship that shadowed the Fitz, the Arthur M Anderson, felt it passed rather close to the Caribou Island shoals. They were asked to monitor progress as the radars were inoperative. Due to the heavy seas there is a theory the bottom hit and weakened. Again supposition. I live in the region and to this day it is remembered.
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by K5083 »

In my 8th grade class in Canada, everyone had to do a picture corresponding to a stanza of the Lightfoot song. We spent many afternoons watching lakers transit the Detroit River in those days.

Fantastic project. I don't think I could ever do it justice but will be watching your build.

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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

There, all done, quickest yet .... I have decided to do a diorama showing the hulk on the bottom of Lake Superior, artistically presented ....

Image

OK, well, yeah, it really is just the parts being washed ... but it seemed like a good idea to score a quick build ... maybe try this in the Blitzbau :)
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iggie
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by iggie »

That looks better than some of the things I actually build :shock: :shock: :???:
Best wishes

Jim
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

I took this to my club meeting today and while we chatted I did some clean-up on the hull.

On closer inspection there is a slight bowing of the hull most visible on the underside, a slight miscast at the stern, and a ripple along the deck. I doubt any of this is noticeable unless one is peering down the hull length-wise so I'm going to ignore it. I probably cannot even show a good picture of it.
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

Not only is there the hull problem mentioned above, which cannot really be seen in the picture, but the 3 structure pieces have significant warpage, I think from the process followed.

Image

Image

I have made an attempt on the two smaller pieces -- the front bridge structure. We'll see what they look like tomorrow, but probably can take out the rest when I glue 'em down. Then I'll figure out the bigger, rear superstructure ....
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by Old_Tonto »

That is a shame John. I'm sure you will fettle her.
She is a big beast.
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Re: SS Edmund Fitzgerald

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

I have the two smaller sections "fixed"; I'll work on the large one today/tomorrow.
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