Bigdave22014 Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 Okay, I've built enough airplanes for a while so let's come down to earth for a bit. Actually, forget the earth, let's make a big splash! The next project on the workbench is the Airfix 1/72 RNLI Severn Class Lifeboat. WARNING - I WILL BE ATTEMPTING TO USE CORRECT NAUTICAL TERMINOLIGY THROUGHOUT. EXPECT MANY MANY MANY MISTAKES! Introduced to the RNLI in 1995, the all-weather Severn Class Lifeboat is the largest in their fleet. It has a range of 250 nautical miles and a top speed of 25 knots. It carries a powered Y boat that can be launched and recovered by a lightweight crane to enable rescues close to shore. It propellers are protected so it can take ground without damage. So, as with most boats, we start with the hull. This comes in 4 main parts, a lower hull, two sides and an upper stern (transom?). I started by gluing the upper stern to the lower hull, then started both sides at the stern end gradually gluing them down until they both met at the pointy end (the bow - wow! I'm good at all this nautical type speak aren't I?) You can see the tube like thing at the front which represents the bow thrusters. Propeller shafts and rudders fitted. I'll fit the actual propellers later, after the hull is painted. Right, that's the keel laid (more nautical speak) and into the paint booth for a coat of white primer. Why white? well you can just see the white dividing line at the bow in the picture. I figure it will be easier to mask this then paint the antifoul and blue, than try and paint the white line later (plimsoll line?) 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celt Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefy66 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 First build of a floaty Brave man picking this kit you have your work cut out. From my own experience of this kit my advice would be check all your joints fit is not the best on the upper cabin area and bridge Beefy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Good call BigDave, I have one of these waiting in the cupboard. Just wish Airfix would produce further 1/72 marine offerings. It'a great shame that White Ensign never released a "railings" update - they were considering it. Beefy obviously cites some fit concerns but for me the major drawback is the overly large railwork, hard to correct and devilish to refashion in metal I suspect Still looking forward to seeing how you get on. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted October 13, 2016 Author Share Posted October 13, 2016 Thanks both. Not my first floaty build, I have done a 1/700 HMS Sheffield complete with etched railings and fittings (ping! - where the *$%* did that go?) I have heard about cabin fit issues before, but thanks for bringing it up - someone else might not know. As for the railwork, it is a bit on the thick size. I'll have to have a look and see what, if anything, I can do about it. Now, a slight problem.... I sprayed the keel a lovely shade of red (Humbrol 19 as per instructions), picked it up carefully to move to the designated drying area as I had something else to spray - and promptly dropped it on the floor! Aaarrgghh! Dusty bits everywhere! So. I'll let it dry, sand it down, and start all over again. Abnormal service will be resumed when ever it starts again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevecombeboy Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Dave, while you've got the opportunity, I suggest Humbrol 177 'Hull Red' or something similar - anti-fouling paint isn't gloss red! Before you paint the blue mask a strip round the gunwhale (just under the top edge) so that the coloured stripe decals sit on white rather than blue. I didn't and they don't look too good...! Nice to see another Lifeboat. Good luck. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin56 Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 These are beautiful ships but the Airfix model is one of my builds is "one that got away". I ran into the same problems Keith/Beefy mentioned. Good luck with your build though, Julian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimpion Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 It's not just the coloured stripe decals that have that problem. The white letters and numbers are also semi-transparent and the blue shows through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Looks good! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 9 hours ago, Chimpion said: It's not just the coloured stripe decals that have that problem. The white letters and numbers are also semi-transparent and the blue shows through. I think I would be looking at white rub down transfers for this, the Decadry range is quite extensive. Martian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted October 14, 2016 Author Share Posted October 14, 2016 Stevecombeboy, I'm going to stick with the Airfix colour call-out on this one as the photo's I've seen of a new boat show a shiny keel. But thanks for the advice. I've also had a look at the transfers and agree with you - they are a bit translucent! I'll certainly mask off where the stripes go before I lay on the blue. And thanks for the advice about Decaldry Martian. I'll probably stick with the moulded handrails for the stern and upperworks, but the stuff for the bows and sides certainly needs looking at. I have some ideas which I'll try before I post the final decision. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted October 19, 2016 Author Share Posted October 19, 2016 Right me hearties, pull up a bollard whilst I spin you a yarn. Having dropped the hull whilst the paint was wet I decided to just strip it and start again... Now, I've taken on board (get it?) some of the advice. I decided to paint the stripes as the decals are very weak in colour The hull was re-primed in white, then the white plimsoll line was masked, then I painted where the stripes go in yellow. After masking the hull was painted red. This time I've forgone Humbrol 19, and instead used Vallejo red as it's slightly subdued. Then the red part of the stripes was masked and the blue applied. (This is before a second light coat was applied). So, hands up who wants a sneak preview? Oh, okay then! Strange, photo makes it look like I need some more blue on the stern but it looks alright to the eye. I'm letting this dry for now, then I'll mask off and paint the black bits. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted October 20, 2016 Author Share Posted October 20, 2016 (edited) The mouldings were painted black, all the masking carefully peeled off and I've now got this: Right, next up - the deck! Edit: need to paint the mounting points on the stern and there are 4 vents each side that need to be chrome. Edited October 20, 2016 by Bigdave22014 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollsroyce Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 Hi BigDave. Nice job on the strips and they look the business. All that extra effort has really paid off. Cheers Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 1 Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 (edited) It's looking good now, and with lots of tricky stripes and lines nicely done - I know how difficult they can be to get just right and looking neat and even. Edited October 20, 2016 by Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 20, 2016 Share Posted October 20, 2016 That is looking extremely smart! It bodes well for the rest of the build. Martian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted October 21, 2016 Share Posted October 21, 2016 Looking Neat ! Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted October 21, 2016 Author Share Posted October 21, 2016 Thanks all. There's a few errors in the strip thickness/alignment if you look closely - so don't! Very happy with the way it came out. Now on with the rest! The deck has been sprayed, just waiting for it to harden so I can mask off some bits to paint them in the correct colours. Nothing to see here (yet) - move along there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 16 hours ago, Bigdave22014 said: Nothing to see here (yet) - move along there! Shan't! I want to see more and I want to see it now! Martian 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 To hopefully satisfy Martian The Impatient I produce for your delectation and consideration... One Deck! Woohoo! The rail bases have been painted white, as have some of the interior moulded blocks (or black depending on what my finite research has suggested - there's not a lot of interior pics, but it's mostly black!) The orange on the forward (forrard) hatch and the capstan bases shows red for some reason, but 'tis orange I tells ye! Yarggh! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 Coming along nicely......... Don't bother trying to keep Martian quiet, it's never going to happen Kev 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JosephLalor Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) On 10/13/2016 at 0:30 PM, robgizlu said: Good call BigDave, I have one of these waiting in the cupboard. Just wish Airfix would produce further 1/72 marine offerings. Same here. I'm an aircraft enthusiast myself, but I'd love to see the Airfix Severn joined by a Trent and a Tamar. I always look out for the Trent at Howth whenever I fly into Dublin past Howth Harbour. BigDave, job looks very promising indeed. Edited October 22, 2016 by JosephLalor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share Posted October 22, 2016 7 minutes ago, longshanks said: Coming along nicely......... Don't bother trying to keep Martian quiet, it's never going to happen Kev You're right. Bit of a pointless task really. Bit like Sisyphus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 23, 2016 Share Posted October 23, 2016 8 hours ago, longshanks said: Coming along nicely......... Don't bother trying to keep Martian quiet, it's never going to happen Kev Kev should know, he has certainly tried hard enough. Nice painting on the deck though. Martian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigdave22014 Posted October 23, 2016 Author Share Posted October 23, 2016 Thanks, Looks even better now I've tidied it up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now