I may be wrong, but I just thought that styrene (of any colour) would deteriorate under UV light?

Having said that, the paint certainly protects it, and I do know of models that are 20 yrs old or more with no ill effects.... But even white structures should be painted rather than leaving bare styrene!

It would be interesting to find out for sure if the colour of the styrene has any bearing on it's UV resistance Mick?

Regards
Eddy

I don't know really wether black styrene is any better than white at resisting UV but when I worked for BT they went through a period of using black cables instead of white for that reason, though the cables were vinyl coated, not styrene (and about 18 months later someone pointed out that as the cables are underground they wouldn't get any sunlight on them!)

Clark,
If it helps -  Dad's Jupiter is 0.5mm thick white styrene (Painted with Enamel )superstructures and clear plasticard type material for glazing. As you know the model is 40years old! The model has been sitting close to a window for the last 10 - 15 years.
The plasticard is still in good condition and you could argue it has faird better than the ply used on Atalanta which is about the same age.
Hope that helps put your mind at ease regarding Styrene .....
Kim

Thanks all, for the comments on this. I was really undecided, but as I have a styrene side already cut out & ready to go, (its 1mm thick styrene), I think I will go with that. I also have an idea for bracing it up when attached to the hull.
Also, staying on the west coast of Scotland, prolonged strong sunshine shouldn't be too much of a problem 

I really don't think it will be a problem at all, the only thing I worry about at all is a 'Billing Boats' sea star I've had about 25 years, it has a rather thin styrene hull and I spray painted it white - wish I'd painted it black first now to keep more light out. Still, it seems OK ....

Well thats the starboard aft saloon side just cut out, another 19 windows and I still have all my fingers  , I could give them a darker primer when the time comes, but need to overspray them with white then paint pale pink with pale blue lining....colourful to say the least 

Just remember that if you are having interior lighting it will cause a glow unless you put a blocking coat on. We have one model around here of the Smit Hunter that got nick named the orange pumpkin.
Regards,
Gerald.

Hi Gerald,
I am not going to have interior lighting, but I have seen that effect on a model that didn't have a blocking coat.
Even daylight can show through the white styrene, after painting white. I have made that mistake before  , so I will be sure to put a blocker coat on!!

Hi PDs
Well, managed to get all the saloon sides cut out, (I will never complain about windows again !), so decided to do a  mock up just to make sure the sides fit & look ok. I have taped them to temp. supports.
Normally I would have some bracing to glue the sides to already done, but with the amount of glazing on the sides, I'm doing it the other way round.
The real ship had some panelling effect round the windows, so will do some of that before the sides are fixed to the hull. Still got the fore & aft ends of the saloons to make, (another 13 windows )
A few pics
Clark

That's a really elegant looking model already Clark. - Yummy!

All the best

stuart

Very very nice Clarke.... That's going to look extremely elegant on the water!

Regards
Eddy

Cheers guys,
Just glad those windows are nearly done! Got my "plastruct" delivery today so will do the half round bead running above the windows & start thinking about supporting these sides & deck beams for prom. deck.
It seems the Marchioness of Lorne (the ship!)was never really regarded as a beauty or elegant in her day, compared to her fleetmates. More a workhorse....still, those victorians must have been really picky 

She may not have been classed as a beauty in her day Clarke, but those Victorians certainly knew how to build stylish ships!

Having said that, with the current flock of ships that look like blocks of flats built on top of a bathtub, anything would look elegant!

Eddy

Hi all,

I have been a bit quiet on this thread for a month or two, been busy on another project, but now have more time for paddler building

Anyway, I have been doing small bits here and there and tedious jobs!!

To date I've managed to -
Slice brass tubing into 40 pieces for ports ready for "Trylon" clear resin.

Cut 60+ saloon window panes out of 1.5mm perspex.

Solder some eyelets onto the ends of the rudder chain tubes..as Eddy & Derek suggested earlier, no rough ends now!!

Strengthen up the saloon sides with plastic section and glue them to the hull.....as I have mentioned the saloon sides are mainly window, so now working on some internal bracing, using perspex, so I don't have visible bracing through the windows. I want to get this bit right, so have been spending a lot of time thinking it through

Will get some pics on soon, when it looks like I have done something

Clark

I will look forward to seeing you and the Marchioness at Paddler day 2012. Which is the higher rank Duke or Marchioness? Geoff R.G.Y