Ahoy mates! Here's a couple of tugs I hope to have done in a couple of days. I'm starting with Battlefleet Models River Tug set. The tug on the left will be the USCG Ouachita, a river buoy tender and the one on the right will be the USS Natchitoches YTB-799. Both are the beginning of my ships of Louisiana project.







I've widened the deck house on the Natchitoches to represent this class of tug. I'll do some work to deck house on the Ouachita tomorrow.

Kenny

Hi Kenny,

Looks like you have yourself a pretty neat project happening there.

The only Tugboats I ever tinkered at were the ones in Tamiyas' kit and with a little help they come out pretty well. Can't wait to see how these come out. Full speed ahead mate.

Here's an update.

Photo etch is on the tug. I used extras fro the spares box.





Crane body is glued on the lighter and photo etch boom glued in place. Harry has a very nice resin boom for this crane, but it looks a little to fragile for my big fingers. I used an antenna mast from an Essex kit.



I've got to go get some white primer this morning and will prime it sometime today.
Comments welcome.
Kenny

Looking good Kenny... great project too.... cheers

Nice work Ken.

Nice work on your railings and crane setup.

Leftover PE is great for these little projects, it sure makes a difference in being able to upgrade the looks of even the smallest subjects.

Looking forward to more as you go.

This is as far as I think I'm going tonight. I made a decal that would cover the whole side of the hull, that way I could do the proper USCG markings.



And, as you can see, everything is primed and ready for color.



Comments welcome.
Kenny

Here's another update. Paint is on. Need to dull coat and do a wash.





Comments welcome.
Kenny

A very interesting subject choice, Kenny ,and it makes a good change from the larger warships. It's only when you get a chance to build these does it put all the others into perspective.

Very well portrayed, and more good stuff from Battelfleet Models.

Cheers,

Peter, F

Here is the USCG Ouachita River Buoy Tender. I still need to do a wash on the hatches and add some scratch built buoys.







The staggering coastie has been sent to sick bay.

Great job on the smaller subjects there Kenny. These smaller kit subjects offer a lot of bang for the buck as well as putting a bit of much needed scale to a single larger subject.

Love it, Ken, BZ mate!

Darn - I missed this post Kenny! Sorry!!!

I really liked what you have done with the little tug/barge. PE really makes a good difference to a already good model
Also have found very clever the decal situation on the barge hull - I thought you couldn't do decals?

You need to attach something to the crane cable and perhaps weather the cargo area a bit?

Congratulations - and when it is finished we need a MOD!!!


Rui

Thanks guys. I'm working on adding some buoys to the lighter tonight.

Great work Kenny! Neat subject, looks very nice and distinctive… look forward to the rest!

Hi Kenny,

My apologies,... I don't know how I missed this one!

Great work on the barge and tug,.... and I hope the staggering coastie is doing better now...

Frank

He is. But I didn't get him off the deck soon enough. There was an incident with the crane and the boom need to be rebuilt. So, back to the yard.

Kenny

I need to echo Frank's statement about not knowing how I missed this- I'm usually pretty good about zeroing in USCG stuff. This is really cool and great work! Also to Harry for producing such neat little products.