I did some work on the ploughshare anchor and left 4 of the 8 torpedo jigs off.

On the 204 there where only 2 each side and they interfeared whit the DG releases i made


TDK

[Quoted text] Afaik it's part of the radar or radio direction finder setup.
And when the oerlikon was placed on the fordeck it became a "target".
So they moved it to the bridge out of harms way.

Thanks for the info Tom, I guess since I'm mounting the Breda I'll have to relocate mine also. I like how you detailed yours, it looks great. Al

Its actually meant to be the Type 240/241 IFF antenna, if you have a scout through pictures of these boats it was often reloacted even if there wasn't a weapon mounted on the foredeck.

The usual location is on the coaming of the bridge armour ahead of the mast but I've seen a pic in the Squadron 'In Action' of MTB 80 with it mounted on the a bracket on the front of the mast.

HTH.

Excellent progress Tom.

Thanks for all the additional info.

Al

Gentlemen i found the next drawing,can any of you tell me what the dimensions of this aiming device are?

I would love to put it on the bridge if it is possible to scratch one.

TDK

Hi Tom,

Nice find, can't help size wise thought. Do you have a pic of the equipment on the boat that could guide you?

Al

This is the only one i could find and it's on a different cowling,so that isn't a great help. It looks like there are 2 of them ,1 for starboard the other for port??

TDK

I got my clay and made an attempt to model the splintermatresses.
The glassjar is the right diametre

It has to dry for atleast 24hours ,so tomorrow will see if i can get them of in one piece.
TDK

The depth charges are secured to there rigs.
TDK

Nice work Tom.

The aiming devices look quite large in the picture. Working out the right size will be challenging lol.


Al

Hello Tom, those depth charge release mechanisms look great. Al

splintermatresse out of clay ,think i can live with them .
I'll put some straps on and tie them to the rail
TDK

Hi Tom,

Those should look fine tied on and painted.

Al

This is the US version of the torpedo sight - quite similar in design. This shot will give you a relative size.



Al

That's i nice one !
With the cowl on there to i can make a guestemate of the dimensions.
Thanks Al.
I hope this is the last part i will make for the Vosper,i want to finnish it.
Thanks AL for the photo.
TDK

Following on from your comments Tom, I've had a look at all the images I can find of these boats, I don't see the 'paired' loading cradles that Italeri have provided in any of them, in fact the only reference to them I can find are the Lambert drawings.

As you say, the forwardmost cradle interferes with the depth-charge rack.

The other thing I'd noticed that some people might be interested in is that from the pictures it looks like the aft cradles are actually much shorter in height than Italeri have moulded them, this means that the torpedo would have to sit at a different angle for loading, which in turn leads me to believe that the torpedo tubes might not be tall enough or at the right angle.

I can't be certain because I've not seen the mounting angle of the tubes written down anywhere, I'm waiting on delivery of a set of Lamberts plans for these boats and maybe they'll help.

FWIW I'm going to eliminate one cradle from each pair and remove the mounting details moulded to the deck. At this point I don't think I'll do anything about the height or angle of the tubes, if they are wrong, it would mean re-building the mounting rails and I reckon that would drive me mad!

Hi Les ,
The only reference i found is on p.63 Allied caostal forces specialy for nr 77
on p64 is the drawing for the 240 and on that one there are none.
So it 's really british select fit i would say .
On mine itook of the steel strip and bolt but left the wood chucks in place ,i'm lazy .
TDK

So here is my try on the aiming device.
I don't think i can get it smaller.
No there is the question who used it ,was it the wheelman or was the skipper standing next to him giving directions?
In other words is it in front of the helm or is it over the door to the wheelhouse?
TDK

Nice work Tom.

Al

From books that I've read it was always the boats CO that sighted the run. The cox'n steered to his orders.

From my drawing of MTB234:



Al

Hi Al,
To the rescue again ,thanks.
Must have been cosy in the run up to the target ,not much room on that side of the bridge.
A'm i correct in thinking that the 2 extensions at the bottom of the wheelhouse are covers for the steering cables?
And that italeri completly forgot about them?
It's to late for me to change the deck layout but somebody else might still be able to correct it on theres.
On the top view of the deck there are 2 squaretubes running aft to just before the rear tank hatch.
Those are probably the tubes where the steering cable runs through.

TDK

Hi Dave,




Must have been cosy in the run up to the target ,not much room on that side of the bridge.
TDK

Do you mean the beams and structures in this picture Tom?



If so I think they are peculiar to boats built by Whites, they don't appear in pictures I have of Vosper built boats. I don't think they are cable runs, I thought these boats steering systems were hydraulic?

HTH.

Yes, that the stuff i was talking about.
But if you read somewhere that the steering was hydraulic,that makes my live much easier,thanks .So many different manufacturers and so many small differences.
TDK