Hi all well since I've nearly finished the Spits and the Lanc I thought it was time to start back on the Corvette and this little beauty that I've just taken delivery of, I must say I thought the 1/6 bikes box were huge but even they pale into insignificance when compared to this beast.




That said the box could be half this size









The moulding detail is beautiful











The instructions however could do with some work, one written page in english everything else is in French.









and why put these on the top where they could get creased like this, if theyed been on the bottom this would not have happened


Hopefully I can iron them out.

I have taken a very stupid chance and bought a very (well I think its very expensive) guilding kit just for this. I gulp, am going to try useing real gold leaf wherever the ship has gold. I have never guilded anything in my life so we will see, have I wasted my money, am I going to ruin this kit, stay tunefor the next exciting episode.

Hi Ken,

Facinating looking vessel, will be following your adventure.

Si

WOW...okay then!! Count me in!! Looks like a bunch of fun! Ahh, the old "huge box" trick! LOL!! Funny how much that happens. Looks like the parts are pretty clean throughout. Shame about the crease in the paper goods! Slide it between a dish towel and iron without steam, you probably could get them to come back...or in the pages of a heavy book until you need them!! I can't help you on the gilding set, but I have seen the kits and I would think it would make a stunning effect I would thing!! Have FUN!!

Hi Ken,

this specific kit I did when I was a teenager (many moons ago) and I gave it to my grandparents as a gift. I remember there was a lot of paintwork, you will spent many many hours painting golden Lilys but the end result is very convincing. I do remember that everyone who did see it said "whow who did it?". I keep an eye on your build here! Maybe one day I will build another one in real wood; I saw there is one offered in 1:60 from Corel for just a tad over 700 €

Well here is my first attempt at guilding.









not sure wether to do a wash to highlight the detail or not, dont know if it will kill the shine on the gold, and if I did what colour should i use.

Well, the gilding looks good if you ask me! Tough call on the wash. My first guess would be to seal it with something like future first than then tackle it with any number of washes...dark grey or maybe sepia...in either case, the seal coat will allow you to take off the wash if it doesn't look good to you when your done.

I concur.

The guilding really looks the part Ken,

Looking forward to the next instalment.

Si

Hi all well I'm to chicken to do a wash and ruin it so far ( I dont know if oven cleaner will take gold leaf off ) assuming it all goes wrong.
anyway I've got to the first problem with guilding, getting a crisp line, mind you I still yhink it looks good

It does look good Ken! I am diggin that contrast between the blue and gold a lot! With the clean edge on the gilding, I thought a sharp #11 run in the crease would cut off the excess....kind of like with the Bare Metal Foil used in auto builds. Like you said, either way it still looks tops!!

Well here is todays efforts, got to say this will be a long long build, but unless I ruin it, it will be a beautiful ship.

Hi all here is a bit of an update. I have a big problem with this kit and dont know how much further I can go with it. there is supposed to be 2 sprues number 17 and 2 number 18 but there is only 1 of each, I have emailed Heller and asked for the missing sprues to be sent but have no idea what their customer service is like I'm hopeing they will send them as the kit is useless without them and I will have to bin it otherwise. so will do what I can and hope they will send the parts sooner rather than later.

That's not good Ken. I hope Heller can help.

Cheers
Warren

Ken,

I am very sorry the hear that with your missing sprues. Just had a late start watching your wonderful start and progress yesterday when it enden with your last sad posting - I truly hope Heller will be helpful, it would be a shame for such a wonderful project. I love your guilding, it really looks great and makes the build special.

I really hope things will work out for you, would love to see this one progress!!

Cheers,

Jan

Hi thanks for the replys I am going to continue to build what I can on it in the hopes the parts will come I know it could be wasted work but if the parts dont come, maybe I could put it in some sort of dio in dry dock for a refit or something

Sorry to hear about the missing parts! Keeping my fingers crossed here for you that the replacement show up!!

Hi Ken.

That is one impressive beast! Looking superb.

I hope you get the missing sprues, it would real shame if you can't complete her.

All the best.

Si

Here is an update these rib bits are very confusing, dosnt help ther are no english instructions for this bit.

I am having all sorts of problems getting rid of the loose flakey bits that you just cant seem to brush off, so I've decided to try guilding the whole part then painting over the guilding.
I've started by sizing all the parts for guilding






then guilding the whole lot






Now painting it





also I decide to put a wash over some of the solid gold parts to highlight some of the detail

Wow, I would not have thought that the beautiful gold leaf could possibly be improved... but the added depth the wash gives to the dark recesses of the sculptures really makes them pop. Awesome work!

That work with the gilding is superb Tim,

The wash adds so much depth and just tones everything down beautifully.

watching for the next instalment.

Si

Hi all here is last nights work.

Hi all here is todays efforts

Hi Ken,

The guilding looks splendid on. It really is an impressive and colourful beast.

Great work, following with interest.

Si

Ken,

your guilding really looks great, and the washes add a lot of depth - I don't know if had had the guts to try, but it certainly was worth it!! Your colors look fantastic altogether, I dearly hope you'll get your missing sprues!!

Cheers

Jan