In a sense, Okabe Iyayama could also be called an engineering geek—he tackled problems with technical solutions.
He didn't rush to find Harano to discuss his son's school matters—hands-on work took priority—so he led his son and apprentices to tinker away in their assigned small workshop. After seven or eight days, they built a whole pile of "models" as Harano requested, enlisted the guard unit's help with some testing, and only then notified Harano.
Harano arrived right away. Upon entering, he ignored the models labeled "Horse Ship" and "Customs Ship", his eyes immediately drawn to several models of the "Great Anzai Iron Ship."
These Great Anzai Ship models were more or less alike, lined up on the table like a heap of wooden boxes.
All these ships' sides were covered with a thick wooden plank wall to protect the rowers, with smaller gunports and arrow slits opened in the wall. The upper deck was open, protected by a low bulwark—actually an extension of the side plank wall.
