Yes they were terrible alright, its like the scanned in the deck plans and printed using a 3d printer…lol. Another issue is that most of the windows and vents on the qe1 and mauretania are missing so will have to draw in. Really brings the model to life though, especially on the qe1.
Fred:
You ship identification is flawless - Aquitania, Queen Mary, Normandie, and the Ile.
I found this photo from Nov, 1958 on the web:
http://i1250.photobucket.com/albums/hh529/adrianchapelo/midtownpiersmarch1958.jpg
The 2nd Mauretania is to the port, the Queen Mary to starboard, and the Bear Mountain paddle wheeler (Alexander Hamilton?) is in the foreground, returning downstream to her pier in the afternoon.
I’m thinking that a photo backdrop of the NY skyline might just do the trick and I might be able to construct the piers from foam-core board and balsa.
And I found this shot as well:
http://citynoise.org/upload/44168.jpg
This is more like the west side as I remember it with either the Independence or Constitution at the bottom and going north: America, the Big U, the Olympia, the Intrepid in for a visit, and the QE docking alongside the Mauretania.
Mike
Great shots Mike, and good references to just how not ‘red’ Cunard Red is. It’s the color of a basketball. When I did my Mauretania I labored over getting the stacks to be more orange than red, and they still ended up being too red. This is the source of endless debate, because old paintings and postcards of Cunard ships show the red to be much redder than photos in more modern times. Did the artists get it wrong, or did it change?
Thanks, Fred.
I’m not sure - although I saw Cunard funnels several times a week for many years, that was a long time ago.
Sun and salt water are pretty merciless, even with lead paint, so I would guess that the funnel color tended to fade between refits. If I recall correctly, the Queens generally had a major refit over the winter and a minor overhaul mid-summer - the paint color on the funnels likely varied considerably between those times, and I don’t recall seeing them repainting funnels during NY turnarounds.
All things being equal, I’d go with the photographic evidence that shows Cunard red to be much lighter and more orange than the US Line’s red. Another good comparison point would be to get a color shot of one of the Queens alongside the France.
I’ll see what I can find.
Here is one of my own pics, taken in Nassau in 1964 or 1965. Even given the effects of sun and salt on paint, and the possible change in color film, it is hard to see how the poster and postcard artists who painted Cunard stacks in a bright red could have been so wrong. I am leaning toward the camp that says the color changed over the years. Maybe to distinguish Cunard from French and US Line?
And here is an artist’s depiction, the Berengaria:
Over on www.titanic-model.com, one of the forum members (Paul, I believe is his name) is trying to start a small company that will address the lack of kits for these ships.
Right now he’s working on an RMS Aquitania, getting the bugs worked out. It is a 1/350 scale kit and made of wood… at least the hull is. He’s talking about a 3D printer for producing vents and other details.
Whether or not it will be a complete kit remains to be seen. He has posted his email address in one of the posts and is looking for input and feedback from other modelers.
Just thought I’d throw this out there… it seems like a lot of you guys know what you are looking for in a kit of this type.
Here is the link to the thread:
titanic-model.com/…/dcboard.php
Hope this business venture of his becomes a reality.
Matt
I’ve got a collection of classic ocean liners all 1/570 scale. it’s very frustrating not being able to complete my collection using all 1/570 scale models. I’m on the hunt for rms queen Elizabeth ( the original one) as well and a 1/570 scale model of the Normandie I’d love to finally complete my collection using all the same scales