With all these great demos on how to do a water base, I've got a question to all the former sailors out there...

Is it really this calm?

Atlantic



Pacific



Persian Gulf


I've always imagined it a little rougher. Of course, I've only been a mile or so out in the Gulf in a small fishing boat. And too, when ever we see photos of open water, there is usually a hurricane passing through. Is it like this most of the time?

Kenny

Hi Kenny

I can speak about the Atlantic and the Med
Yes it can be like that, and I must say... it can be even calmer!
I have one photo taken during NATO exercise OpenGate 89 with some dutch and portuguese frigates, near Madeira Island, and the sea is like a mirror (completely FLAT).

But most of the times, it isn't like that
It can get rough and rougher!!!!

These are "one of those days" in which everything goes smooth, even the most unpredictable element: The Ocean!


Rui

Been on water as smooth as glass, and also had water breaking over the flight deck, and walking on bulkheads.

Would you say it was calm more days than not?

Yeap, Dave! That and also on another occasion, we were catching the waves by the bow (needed so that we would roll over!!) and while going up deck (from -1 to deck level) I just had to let my hands go from the deck hand rails to go up!!
You just needed to wait for the right moment:
- knees hurting from the down force, no
- stomach starting to float... let go!

Scotty, beam me up!


Rui

NOT wins by a large percentage


Rui

Hi Kenny

Well I am not trying to highjack this tread, but just made a quick raid to my photo album (before the age of digital photos )
and here are a few examples of calm:


NRP Comandante Roberto Ivens F 482, in Portuguese waters, off + 50 miles, 1988
(no it is not a BW photo, is one of those strange days...)


NRP Joao Roby F 487, in the Azores, 1989


Extremadura F 75 (Spanish Frigate) approaching for RAS simulation, between Cape Saint Vincent and Gibraltar, 1989


A typical day! The worst days we weren't allowed to come out, and when we did was because we were performing some SAR situation and taking snapshots were not the main purpose!!


Rui

Just like the other guys said already. There are times when the ships wake is the only disruption in the water. Other times, well, Rui posted a picture of a bad time.

I found the Med smooth a glass and the most beautiful shade of blue. The Red Sea however was rough pretty much all the time and ugly. The North Atlantic was just crazy! My only time out in the Pacific was in a 20foot fishing boat and it was rough.

I miss the ocean and being out on it. Ahhhh, to feel the salty air on my face again.

I'd figured the North Atlantic to be rough and also rough seas when a storm is brewing. I've seen the Gulf so calm that you could water ski on it.

I was asking because I mainly build 1/700 waterline and I was afraid I was making my water too rough with my latex caulk technique.

Kenny

I am taking a cruise in a week out of Mobile. I hear people talking about the rough seas and getting sick. I ask them how rough it is and then post this. Yes, the entire foc’sole is under water up to the gun mount.

I get people replying with OMG!!! And saying you should be fine.

Nice one Jim!
Thanks for sharing


Rui

I guess what I need to start doing is to start looking to NavSource and a few of the other online databases to see if I can find a photo of the ship at a particular time.

Thanks for the help guys.
Kenny

Hi Kenny!

You're right: if you want to depict your model in a specific time and place, it's necessary to research the weather conditions your subject encountered. For example, River Plate was fought in a gentle breeze, North Cape (where Scharnhorst was sunk), however, was in a howling gale!

Depicting other-than-calm conditions, even for an anchored ship, can also be worth the research as it will give you more variety in your displays as well as a bonus in diorama storytelling.

It all comes down to planning.

--Karl