My next project, the Zvezda Varyag, I am throwing quite a lot at it and it will be my first attempt with a wooden deck. Also, Unusually for me I will be building it full hull.

Here is what is going into the melt.

The Kit



and the extras, the Artworks deck, White Ensign etch, Master turned brass gun barrels and Masts and yard arms.



Hope to get started over the weekend, more when I do.

Si

this is a nice little kit (small considering its a 1-350) with the decking and very much required etch set, you'll have a wonderful display model on your hands, I hope you'll keep us posted and up dated on your build

An excellent kit, Simon! I bet you'll just love it. It is very nicely reserached and offers crisp detail. IMHO it is one of the best kits of the last decade concerning money value.
I'll be watching you!
Guido

Hi Simon,
I have a copy of the Varyag that I raided the guns from for my Olympia build... broke my heart to junk such an awesome kit!
Can't wait to see what you do with it.
Tim

Thank you for the interest guys, I will be getting stuck in over the weekend, and post updates as the project proceeds.

Si

Nice choice Simon, I'll be following this closely, I have the Varyag in my stash.
Cheers,
Julian

I feel a super-cool build coming

Lovely choice Simon. Will be watching this one with interest.....Cheers mark

Thanks for the support guys, much appreciated.

A start has been made.

First a bit of distruction, the moulded on crest has been removed from the bow of the ship, in readiness for the addition of the etched replacement, below shows one side done & the etch.



One done the hull was joined and the centre section of the main deck fitted, all round a good fit. More destrcution the process of removal of the "Aztec temple" from around the conning tower.



This did leave a bit of a hole.



which had to filled & sanded



Prop shafts added, there was a bit of a sink mark on both that needed filling, but the fit was good, the kit stand has been put together as a temporay base for the model.



All decks have been added.



and finally the start of a tedious job, addind steps to the "iron ladders" on the side of the ship.



I will get on with other sub assemblies whilst doing this, save time when it comes to spraying & painting.

More soon

Si

Off to a nice start Simon. Watching this one will be fun.....CHeers mark

Thanks Mark appreciate your interest,

Got into the zone on the iron ladders on the hull, and they are done.





Some more distruction has been done, the bridge and after bridge have had unwanted bulwarks and structure removed ready to receive wooden decks. etched structure and railings.



Finally, so far, the hull has been primed with a couple of mist coats of citedal Skull White.



The English summer weather unfortunately prevented me from getting the green on the lower hull,

More soon.

Si

Nice work so far Simon.....Cheers mark

More progress, the hull has been primed and a better stand found (pinched from the Dragon Z38, which I am building waterline).



The lower hull has been airbrushed with Lifecolour Italian anti fouling green, which has dried a bit darker than I expected, but it is not too bad, hhull above the waterline was rattlecanned with citedal skull white. The base sprayed semi gloss black with the finials light gunmetal.



more soon

Si

Smart looking ship Simon, nice craftsmanship. The hull form of the Varyag is beautiful, long, lean and mean
Julian

Thanks Mark & Julian.

I do like the like lean hull lines, and nasty looking ram below the bow torpedo tube which is why I went against my usual method and am building full hull.

another long and slow bit, portholes and their surrounds next.

Si

Hull Portholes finished, I am leaving them brass, as looking at the Aurora, she has unpainted porthole surounds, and the bring out the decadent Tsarist look.



Also instead of using the etched skylights, as none are being posed open, spae porthole surrounds are being used to keep up the theme.



The deck details are also being painted ready to apply the deck.

Slihgt break in the build, we are having the house rewired so the workshop has to be cleared.

will be back soon.

Si

Afraid the Hiatus in this build will be a bit longer, the C in C has decided that I have "volunteered" my workshop for storage purposes whilst the redocoration of the bedrooms is carried out after the re wiring mentioned above, next month, sometime.... reckon it will be mid october before I get on with any building again.

Si

Look forward to seeing you back into her Simon.....Cheers mark

Thanks Mark,

I must admit it is a bit frustrating not being able to do any buidling, and I am very much looking forward to this build.

moe as soon as I can.

Si

The house is still a building site, and workshop full of boxes, but managed to clamber of them and extract this project to do a bit more work on.

Decided yo start on the wooden deck, this is the Artwork deck and the first one I have used, and the fo'c'sle went well, Following Tim's advise on his Olympia build I cut scrap bits out to fill the holes that fitted round the moulded on Aztec stairs that I hadremoved from the conning tower.



Finnished off the brass surounds to the skylight ports and ftted the centre section of the maindeck, only issue I had, and this is probably my clumsiness was the fine outboard on the foremost 6" guns got left behinfd on the backing.

Photobucket has now started playing up. so I will post the rest f the update tomorrow.

Si

Nice work so far, Simon. I like how you had to dig your way to the workbench to get some building done (there are so many distractions in life)... can't keep a good modeler down!

Nice to see you back on the job Simon,
cheers,
Julian

Great work Simon .....congratulations. I follow the way.

Regards Daniel

Thanks for the kind comments & support guys, very much appreciated.

Back to the pics, the decking outboard of the foremost pair of 6"guns can be missing from the ship and still on the backing sheet here.



Those sections and the quarterdeck fitted.



a more side on view.



I have been very pleased with the fit and simplicity of use of the artwork deck so far. I did have pick out some of the smaller cut outs with the tip of a sharp blade prior to lifting the deck sections from the backing sheet. so far so good, on the the build again soon.

Si

A trip to the Brampton Model show on sunday allowed a bit more progress whilst sat on the IPMS London stand. The funnels have been assembled and the moulded on ladders removed, below shows one funnel done and one with the original detail.



The moulded grill has been removed from the funnel caps



The four funnels test fitted.



Not much done, but a great day talking ships models and ships.

Si