Hey Si,

I've been watching your build of this wacky-looking ship with interest. Neat work - she's coming along nicely!

Tim

Thanks Tim,

whacky she certainly is, but that is why I love the transitional era ships, all the strange arrangements of armament, and colourful paint jobs.

Si

I'm with you Simon. They seemed to try every concievable arrangement for the guns until someone worked out the HMS Hood style scheme with the guns one the center-line concentrated towards the centre and except for maybe the Rodney and Nelson it has been the same ever since.. You should have a look at the Zvezda Sevastopol if you want a weird one, or the Fuso and Yamashiro twins.

Hi Warren,

Must admit I am very tempted by the Sevastapol, especially if I can sneak the Pontos set for it into the budget.

First MTB finished, the only thing I have added is a pair of Nav lights from plastic rod.



The triple when built up form 5 pieces of etch and one piece of plastic.



the Funnels sprayed yellow & masked for the tops to be painted black.



Funnels, wheel, vents and some other bits added ready for railings.



Great kit, great fun.

Si

coming along nicely Si, with the speed of a motor torpedo boat! very impressive!

Thanks Russell,

she does appear to be motoring at the moment.

Still quite a lot of work to do, including finishing the other motor torpedo boat, they are quite neat little kits within a kit.

Si

The Guard rails have been fitted around the forward end of the after superstructure. The design of the Bronco railings so far has proved very good, in that all the curved sections are separate and halve etched folds where needed.



The remainder of the railings have been fitted to the after superstructure along with the after turret and the boat racks.



MTB racks added as well.



An overall view of the build so far. I have also completed the assembly of the second MTB, and placed them on their racks.



Next move is a bit tricky, from the multitude of pictures on the web I can there are funnel stays, but how the fit I have yet to work out.

More soon.

Si

On with the boats for the after boat rack. The hulls and thwarts have been painted & cleaned up.



Basic funnel stays added. need to get the torpedo boat davits rigged and the torpedo boats on before I continue with the funnel stays.



Torpedo boat davits added and the bottom boats on the after racks.




the boats need tying down and the davits rigging next.

Si

After a bit of a hiatus I am back on this one. In the down time one piece, the conning tower roof disappeared! therefore a replacement had to sourced, I was hoping a spare funnel cap would work, but no joy, so a scratchbuild was the only option, a sheet of thick plasticard was dug out off the rubble in my workshop and a blank cut.



A bit more fettling a whole cut for the etched grid, sprayed black and fitted. the rest of the bridge and railings also fitted.



The white stuff in the bridge deckhouse windows is cystal clear that has not quite dried yet.

Good to be back on this one

more soon

Si



above

She is looking very cool Si. Like what I am seeing.....Cheers mark

great to see you back on the build Si!

Looking beautiful Simon,

Thanks guys, appreciate you support.

Onward and upward.

The after compass platform, along with the last bit wood is added, as is the lower section of the mainmast.



The yard arm needs some footropes, which are not suppled on kit etch, so alliance modelworks to the rescue.



On to some of the boring bits, vents and davits added on the main deck along with the lower platform on the foremast.

.

A little fettling was needed to get the top to fit, but still proving a relatively trouble free build.

Si

a bit more on the rigging, the MTB davits have had some added, the lower boat on the rack has been lashed down and the next one added.



The foremast mid section has been added as have the boats on the for'd davits, the starboard boat has had some left over etched falls added and lashed.



an overview of where the build is at, also the anchor cable supplied by artwox set has been painted black, and is laid alongside the ship.



Si

More on the masts, rigging mostly. One of the kit's many plus points is that blocks for rigging the derricks are moulded in place, very finely as well.



The foremast all the way up, and anchor chains added to the anchors, as well as the fwd davits fully rigged.



More soon.

Si

a quick update,

The plastic construction, except the props are done, down to the rigging and etch now.



Just noticed the main topmast has got a lean, first job to correct!

more soon

Si

Simon,

It is all looking Superb!

Cheers,
Joe

Thanks Joe,

Will be happier when I have got that topmast sortrf though.

Si

After somewhat f a hiatus I am back on to try and get this build done for Telford.

Maindeck railings on and the first set of ratlines added. As none are included with the kit's etch, I used Alliance Modelworks 1/350th Ratelines.



All for now fitted, narrower ones for the foremast, so as not to restrict the arcs of the main turrets.



Just the rigging to finish now.

Si

Very quick Thursday update.

Standing rigging on the Foremast, just needs painting.



I hope this will the catalyst for the final push.

Si

Foremast rigging all fitted and nearly finished painting.



Mainmast rigging nearly done.



And finally....

Finished.



It has been an interesting build, the kit has few vices, and apart from the lack of ratlines very complete.

I have enjoyed this journey very much,

Si

Looking really nice. What glue did you to attach the wood decking?

Great Build Si, very nice!

A beautiful build Simon, looks really good,
JUlian

Hi Darrell,

The Artworx decks are self adhesive, I did not use any other glue, they seem to stay down fine, this is the second one I have used, and the first is still good.

Russell, Julian, thanks for your kind words and looking in during this build.

As I said it is a great kit, an odd looking ship and I have enjoyed the journey.

I have the Chin Yuen, one of the cruisers from the same period in my stash, maybe after Dreadnought I will build that as a simpler project.

Si