Konajra Posted February 4, 2014 (edited) Hello everyone, This topic will be about designing and hopefully the build of the Smit Zwarte Zee. The Zwarte Zee was launched in 1963 and was the most powerfull ocean tug from Smit internationale sleepdiensten for a short while. It was wrecked in 1984 after several attempts to sell it, (to be converted into a yacht) did not succeed. For a lot of Dutch people this is one of the most beautiful tugs ever build. As a 14 year old I had build the wooden model of Billing Boats and turned it into a RC version. It was far from perfect but I was very happy with. I don't know what happened with rhe ship but I don;t own it anymore. Somewhere in march 2012 I started with the wheelhouse. The reason for that is that I had not build a ship that was longer than 1 meter at that time. Besides that I did not had any idea how to build a smooth hull of 2 meters long and about 32 cm wide. In April 2012 I had this: Bridge of the Smit Zwarte Zee by Konajra, on Flickr A good start. At the end of april 2012 I had the wheelhouse finished. Zwarte Zee WIP (3) by Konajra, on Flickr But then I still had no idea how to start with the hull. Other projects came around and I put the Zwarte Zee at hold. But after building my larger ships, the Fairplay and the Grampian Don. I had discovered new techniques how build a smooth looking hull. But stil I wasn't looking forward to desinging the hull. So I started to build the wheelhouse in bricks after I had broken down the Calypso. That ship has been displayed across europe and it was time to take her apart. WIP Zwarte Zee by Konajra, on Flickr WIP Zwarte Zee by Konajra, on Flickr This is the situation at the moment. Some other things came by and I haven't come any further yet. Until the beginning of januari this year when I finally started with designing the hull in MLcad. First attempt failed badly zwarte zee by Konajra, on Flickr zwarte zee Ldraw WIP by Konajra, on Flickr Normal slopes and curved slopes did not work here as good as they did on my Fiona coaster. After four restarts I have yet a great looking hull: Zwarte Zee Ldraw Wip version 4.0 by Konajra, on Flickr zwarte zee WIP by Konajra, on Flickr Edited February 4, 2014 by Konajra Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Legogal Posted February 4, 2014 Wow! This design looks superb! And the part that you have brick built is also first class! Congratulations! It seems that tugs are so necessary but mostly ignored in the model ship world. Happy building with the rest of the model. Sorry that Sint Nick did not drop the remaining million or so bricks needed down your chimney on Dec fifth was it? Looking forward to your next set of photos! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted February 4, 2014 Yes, december 5th. It will be a challenge to collect all the bricks without braking down my other vessels. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted February 9, 2014 Some progress has been made: zwarte zee WIP by Konajra, on Flickr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted February 11, 2014 the reardeck is coming along nicely zwarte zee V4 WIP by Konajra, on Flickr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kciR Posted February 11, 2014 Looks really good. Especially the really smooth hull and the details on wheelhouse. My father had a scale model of this ship, which was 60 cm or something like that. So I recognized this ship immediately. Great to see it in bricks now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted May 14, 2014 After a long time waiting for bricks,they finally arived this week. It is time to start building the Zwarte Zee. Bricks!! by Konajra, on Flickr I will post updates regularly.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilstorm Posted May 14, 2014 Wow! That's a lot of bricks, must be quite an investment. Anyways, your design looks amazing, very accurate. And the bridge looks great in bricks, so far so good. I see some great techniques and skills applied. Good luck with the rest of the build, and have fun with it, look forward to following the progress! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
eurotrash Posted May 15, 2014 Please keep us posted with updates! And good luck with the assembly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted May 15, 2014 (edited) Oke, first update :) the start of the keel. the hull will be build in 3 sections of about 65 cm each. The keel of the Zwarte Zee by Konajra, on Flickr I know it does not look spectecular but I am sure that will change when the build progresses Edited May 15, 2014 by Konajra Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted May 16, 2014 Yesterday evening I refined the bow and added a couple of trusses. Also the first colors have appeared. Olive green for the waterline and Dark red for the underwater ship. next step by Konajra, on Flickr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilstorm Posted May 17, 2014 So far so good! That is a whole lot of parts already... I will definedly stay tuned for the progress! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hoexbroe Posted May 17, 2014 Looking good, and I am sure the result will be absolutly stunning! Too brick-intensive for me, though... ;-) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KCMatze Posted May 17, 2014 Phew that looks like a lot time and money going down the river there! Really looking forward for more progress! How much parts did you use so far / how much did you order for the whole ship? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted May 19, 2014 (edited) It is definitely parsts intesive, but in order to get a strong hull this is for sure a good way. I ordered around 35.0000 bricks to build the complete ship. I finished the second section the whole thing is now 166 studs long. The complete frame will be 240 studs long. Second section finished. On to number 3 by Konajra, on Flickr Now I have to build the last frame and then start closing the hull so that it starts to look more like a ship. Edited May 19, 2014 by Konajra Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
3BrickFriends Posted May 20, 2014 Wow, really interesting build. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenrikLego Posted May 22, 2014 Really interesting to see how you build your ship.That's a LOT of parts. The renders look very nice, look forward to see the rest of the building progress! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted May 23, 2014 (edited) Thanks guys. I have build some more. The keel and all the trusses are done. I have also closed the bow. Inner frame completed. by Konajra, on Flickr Edited May 28, 2014 by Konajra Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenrikLego Posted May 23, 2014 Well, pictures like this makes me want to start all over again with my own ship-moc! :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilstorm Posted May 23, 2014 Wow! It's huge! Do you have an idea how much this is going to weigh? My best guess is... a lot Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted May 27, 2014 I have made some progress. The overall shape of the hull is fininished in bricks. At the moment I'm working on the reardeck. Details like portholes and anchor holes will be done later. Also you can see that the wheelhouse is a lot futher than shown on the earlier photos. Smit Zwarte Zee. WIP by Konajra, on Flickr Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
emilstorm Posted May 27, 2014 It looks amazing with the hull compete, it must be a lot of work with all those little tiles! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rollermonkey Posted May 27, 2014 I cannot believe how fast you build! I'd be laid up in the hospital in need of back surgery if I worked on LEGO as many hours as you are putting in! Looking fantastic! Can't wait to see it finished... At this rate, by June 1st? ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Milan Posted May 30, 2014 Wow. Almost perfect shape, without noticeable bumps. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konajra Posted June 5, 2014 Next update: I have build the maindeck and the anchorwinch house. Also one of the rear hatches has been build 2014-06-01_06-46-25 by Konajra, on Flickr 2014-06-01_06-47-09 by Konajra, on Flickr More to come..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
