The PE work you've done looks great Russell, keep the updates coming so this MSW noob can keep learning!

Great work on the wings-thingies too mate, a very impressive little display you have there.

Cheers, D

Great stuff Russell, good to see you back on this one

Si

Looking good Russell.

Thank you guys!

Currently all that PE's in the paint shop. Should be ready to install in a few days, then it's on the masts!

a little more progress

all those ducks are now painted

and shipped.






more soon

Hello Russell, very nice work. The result makes the battle with PE parts worth the effort. Al

Immaculate work Russell, not a fault to be found.
Beautiful,
Julian

Thank, you Al, thank you, Julian. I'm currently trying a new way to replace the masts, as I'm not a big fan of kit masts-too soft & never quite round.

Ps Julian, the camera does hide a lot

You are doing one sweet job on this one Russell. Very good indeed.....Cheers mark

Hi Russell.

Not wanting to be picky or anything but I noticed on the picture of the bow area that a ladder there is going up to a railing but there is no break in the railing to let people climb onto the platform. I had a look at the Eduard plans and there is supposed to be a break there.

Looking much more detailed than the OOB one I built back in 2005.

Cheers mate
Warren

Thank you Mark

That's okay Warren. To be honest I've not been overly impressed with the GMM PE so I wouldn't be surprised. However, in their defence they have put a 'sag' in the areas where you're referring to, so I wonder if that's meant to be a removable area of chain rail? This would seem logical since there's an access hatch at the rear of the platform and a watertight door just below it, allowing 'jack' to scupper down internally rather that using the external ladders?

Hi Russel,

have a look here:

http://inphotos.org/files/2012/10/289315809_9fbb78a6c9_o.jpg

looks like chains which can be removed.

Greetings from Shanghai

Russell this is absolutely impressive! Even though you're keeping it simple you're doing a nice job sharing your progress and all the detail mind-crampers as well. I've begun minor work on a sea dio and was hoping to use the O'Brien - but in 1/700 - so thanks for this - Dave

I couldn't see the sag before mate. You may be right.

Thanks again guys!

Just a small update today to show you what I've been up to. Now, I might have mentioned before I'm not a big fan of moulded round parts (masts, barrels etc). This is nothing against the kit manufacturers as they do a pretty good job within the limits of what can be achieved with plastic. But you'll always end up with a not quite round mast, and weak spars etc that can never stand up to the tensions placed on them with rigging. Here's the moulded kit masts:



For years I have been replacing these kind of masts with different diameters of plastic tube and brass rod. This can be a pretty expensive exercise given all the different diameters required.



So I've been toying with the idea of buying a small lathe. This would give me the opportunity to turn up my own masts from brass stock which is relatively inexpensive. To that end I thought why not give it a try. So here we go. These were turned up by friend to the dimensions I supplied.



And now I'm starting to add the details:





There's still a few details left to add but there's no comparison to the plastic parts supplied in the kit or the plastic tube. The top mast is brass rod I inserted into a micro chuck in the dremel then tapered them on sand paper, using a block of wood to apply pressure.



And the base is now ready too.



Guess I'm buying a lathe! More soon

Outstanding job Russell. Keep those pictures coming.

I missed your latest post Russell, that is stellar work on the masts. Compliments sir
cheers,
Julian

Great idea on those masts Russell and well executed. I was thinking of getting my own photo-etch maker to see how that went. But I need a job first...

Luckily most of my detail sets come with pre-made masts, well the Pontos ones do anyway.

Cheers
Warren

Naseby, Thank you

Julian, Thank you There's a few threads i don't receive emails on, even though I've subscribed to them-this one included.

Warren, Thank you I'd love to see how one of those photo etch makers works.

Ok, masts all painted as are the life raft slides. Lots of grey here so all pretty monotone, but she's starting to look like a real ship now... well, almost









more soon

Hello Russell, Really nice work, the masts and slides look great. Al

Russell,

I'm with you about the expense of brass rod/tube for masts, it bugs me every time. The lathe idea is interesting... and you get more precise control over diameters, taper, etc. Anyway, it is really paying off for you - your Liberty masts look fantastic!

Tim

Many thanks Guys.

Tim, I know what you mean. The trick is trying to find a lathe cheap enough so that doesn't give 'her indoors' any reason to put me in the 'dog house'

She is really getting there Russell and looking Fab......Cheers mark

Thank you Mark

I just bought this from ebay, 6 tools in one, so hopefully it'll come in handy!