Looking real sweet, Kev. Al

Excellent work!....quite a unique model!

Cheers,
Joe

Bloody gorgeous Kev, great work, great weathering.Mooring lines are pretty hefty for this size ship but they lie on deck very nicely. Only nitpick is that the lines are already fastened to the cleats, normally the line goes ashore and get put over a bollard, the line is then pulled tied and fastened to a cleat.
Generally two lines aft and two forward: sternline and aft spring, headline and fore spring. This stops the vessel moving backwards and forwards on its berth.

Thanks guys for your kind comments.

Julian I hear what your saying but .....

The one large rope on the stbd quarter is for emergency towing and from the look of pics they tended to use large manila rope for strength and elasticity. Under combat conditions I don't suppose they hung around !

The bow & stern lines are left over from when she was hauled out of the water (My story and I'm sticking to it

The bow stern lines are 0.6mm diameter = to 21mm diameter which I don't feel excessive.

I agree with the need for bow, stern & springs. As a point of interest the MAS boat has no lead for the springs.

Also although they show hefty tow ropes there is not much to fasten them to perhaps the led the rope around everything

Pheeew did I talk my way out of that one

Cheers Kev

you convinced me Kev, I obviously wasn't taking a close enough look,

Glad you've seen the light Julian, would you be interested in a second hand car I happen to have lying around?

Some more window dressing / clutter . . .

Caulking tools










Thanks for looking

Cheers Kev

Most certainly not, I have two perfectly good Volvo's the Swedish tank

Exquisite work!!! Piece of art!!

Daniel

Cheers Daniel.

Few more details, decided the area around the repair was looking a bit bare.

I was pleased with the way the tarpaulin turned out as I had to find a way to create it without PVA glue, reason being I wanted to paint it off the model.

I lay out the tissue paper on glass and sprayed it with acrylics. Use a razor blade to lift it or it will stick to glass. After several top coats I flipped it over and sealed the bottom. I was suprised to find the tissue was still quite flexible, could be handy!

Damaged planks removed







Found some Italian helmets which I've scattered about the upper decks




Thanks for looking

Cheers Kev

The helmet liner is a very nice touch Kev, really nice. Not so sure about the marmite jar

Hi Kev,

Excellent work, things look terrific. One thought through as the boat is being repaired would the torpedoes still be in place? I think it would look better if they were off the boat perhaps sitting on the dock.

I don't know what the chances are of one rolling off during the lift but somehow they don't seem right in this setting.

The interior detail is splendid, well done.

Cheers

Al

Hi Alan,

Thanks for your comments. . . .

My thoughts
A) If the torpedoes stay in place crashing through waves at 40 knots I reckon they will hang in there being towed up a slipway

B) I did consider removing the torpedoes early on but I wanted to show the ridiculous arrangement for carrying and launching same. Plus there's no room on the jetty.

Cheers Kev

[Quoted text] One thought through as the boat is being repaired would the torpedoes still be in place?

Most likely not, at least during routine maintenance. However this was an emergency repair and time was of the essence, so the boat was hauled out as is. How's that sound Kev? Plausible? Besides I believe there is a certain amount of artistic license allowed in displaying a model. Like when the fly-guys show a fully armed aircraft with various access panels open. My Type XXIII U-boat was done with crew on deck, obviously on the surface. Yet I left one torpedo tube loaded, with the doors open and ready for action. Realistically, they probably wouldn't be sailing along that way, I did it just for visual interest. If anyone calls me on it, my story (and I'm sticking to it) is that the boat is returning from a patrol and was damaged by a near-miss during an attack approach and the doors were jammed open! Al

Nice one Al

Hi Kev,

Builders choice, just an observation. I just think the empty racks would have added to the setting adding the thought of a sea action, but it's a grand build as it stands.

Al

A few more of the finishing details

Aerials






Work in progress






Bin for fenders,heaving lines etc


Thanks for looking, getting close to completion now

Cheers Kev

That has become a very impressive build Kev, really great craftmanship.

Looks real good Kev, I particularly like the insulators on the aerials. Al

Right I think I've taken this as far as I can, I declare the MAS boat finished.





























Thank you to all who have helped and encouraged me.

Thanks for looking

Cheers Kev

A long journey Kev but worth every bit of effort you put into it. I will be expecting to see this build featured in a magazine, ( Art of Modelling, www.artofmodelling.nl is the first magazine that springs to mind for me. I am sure the language issue isn't a problem).
Now chuck away the virtual beers and have a couple of real ones. Next project was the Vosper didn't you say

Hi Kev,

Excellent build, enjoyed watching it come together. Are you going to add any crew or workmen?

Al

Thanks for your comments guys

Julian, as you say its been a long journey . . . enjoyed it all (apart from learning to use an airbrush). I think you can say I'm well and truly hooked. I followed your orders but changed the beers for a nice bottle of red.

Definitely wont be the Italeri Vosper yet, need more reference material specifically interior pics. Plus experience with photo etch, I seem to recall there is rather a lot with the Griffon set. ;o)

Al, I hope to add a figure on the quayside. I've seen an Italian officer in whites somewhere but I cant find it now.

Cheers Kev

[Quoted text] I hope to add a figure on the quayside. I've seen an Italian officer in whites somewhere but I cant find it now.

Hello Kev, would it be this one, the Italian Navy Commander Regia Marina, from U-models of France?



If it is, then BNAmodelworld, from down-under, in Oz, has him in stock. Al

Thanks Al,

Not seen that one ! Seems rather expensive or perhaps I'm being tight

Cheers Kev

I know what you mean, resin figures are getting quite pricey. I spent more manning my Vosper than I did on the kit itself. Budget is always a concern, unless you're Bill Gates. I guess that what something is worth all depends how badly you want or need it. Watched a program called 'Toy Hunter', where a fellow paid $20,000(US) for a toy that originally sold for about $13(AUS). Wouldn't have given 50 cents for it myself! Not that I could afford 20 Grand in the first place. Would love to see what the missus would have to say if I told her I wanted a model kit anywhere near that price, Hmmm, on second thought, maybe not. Al (PS) Could be the figure that you saw was from Royal Models of Italy, I know they make some USN crew.