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Robert Stuart

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Posts posted by Robert Stuart

  1. 7 hours ago, marvinneko said:

     

    I've broken a few. I think it might help to keep the bit perpendicular to the surface (no sideways movement) and to remove by turning the opposite direction. If the bit sticks, might help to alternate directions of turn until it frees up.

    Add to which, reverse turn every few turns forward, and pull out as you are drilling.
    This is to break up the plastic swarf, and to clear the same from the hole.

    Hope this will reduce your breakages.

    p.s. really like that exhaust

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1
  2. Thank-you guys for the likes.
    We are well overdue for a follow-up post here.

    The hull is assembled on bulkheads attached across a keel, shown here with the lower deck and support beams for the upper deck.

    _MG_3943.jpg

     


    False upper deck and bulwark cores added:
    _MG_3948.jpg

     

    This was followed by the first layer of planks (first of two planed).

    That looked OK in profile
    _MG_3952.jpg

     

    But, looking from below, the bow planks were spaced too far apart.
    _MG_3953.jpg

     

    Those planks were removed
    _MG_3956.jpg

     

    And replaced
    _MG_3968.jpg

     

    This involved a change of approach, by using the plank bender to iron each row of planks to conform to the bulkheads.

    Current state of the build
    _MG_3976.jpg

     

    _MG_3974.jpg

     

    _MG_3975.jpg

     

     

    • Like 8
  3. Following a couple of quiet months, these GBs seem to be coming around quickly now, at least from my perspective.  See how this one goes.

    Back when a flag against our names was a strong hint as to which country we should build, Portugal was selected for me.
    OK, they are now decorative, maybe a gentle hint ... but my choice was made in earlier times.

    Portugal
    Now, I know little about Portugal or its armed forces, but I took a look to see what I could find.

    After rejecting ground forces as (nearly) impossible to model, two aircraft stood out as possible in 1/48.
    An F-86 and an F-16A.

    Already overcommitted on GBs, and with Denis's F-86 GB due to follow soon, I settled on the F-16A.


    OK, what is needed for a Portuguese F-16A?

    _MG_3982.jpg


    An F-16A kit, and some appropriate AM stuff, a selection from Model Maker Decals, and a 3d printed ADF tail from 3D-Chute Expert and a 'pit from Quinta Studio.
    Actually, the AM stuff isn't essential for a Portuguese build from the Kinetic kit.

    The ADF tail isn't shown in Kinetic's instructions, but the necessary plastic is in the box, the key detail is shown here alongside the 3d printed tail.

    _MG_3990.jpg
    The difference is subtle, but I feel the 3D printed part is better.

    • Like 14
  4. Thanks guys
     

    23 hours ago, Bobby No Mac said:

    I attempted building the Heller Renault 4 about a year ago, but the chassis parts were badly warped and it quickly got downgraded to paint mule status.


    Think I dodged the warped chassis with this one.
    Not to say it isn't a weird kit.  I've stuck a few pieces together.  Everything is a butt fit, with just two location pins so far.
    Many parts are glued against a ridge (the radiator, front seats, and boot), which is helpful, but the only location pins were in the engine block - to keep the sides a fixed distance apart.

    _MG_3979.jpg

     

    Anyway, engine, boot, chassis, seats, differential, silencer, radiator and ?petrol tank? ready for priming.

    • Like 11
  5. 20 hours ago, raider of the lost part said:

    how do you replicate the chrome later on?


    Most likely silver paint.
    If I can find it, I do have some gold size and silver leaf which would do a much better job.

    My problem with the model's chrome plating is the quality of reflection; it'd be fine at full size and viewing distances, but (IMO) looks gross at model scales.

    • Like 1
  6. Thanks @Noel Smith, I'll take a look

    I've made a tentative start by removing the 'chrome' plating (is it really aluminium plating?).

    _MG_3965.jpg

     

    This was remarkably easy.  I had planned on ten minute soaks, but, these only took about 2 minutes each in domestic bleach - the usual warnings about using chemicals apply.
    Rinsing after took more effort.

    There are a couple of pieces that need another go, but on the whole this worked well.

    I can start glueing next ...

    • Like 13
  7. With my shallop approaching completion, I'm starting a new wooden vessel.

    This is Vanguard Models's HM Armed Cutter Sherbourne – 1763.
     

    Quote

    HM cutter [Sherbourne] was a 6-gun cutter of the Royal Navy. She served in the English Channel for her entire career, operating against smugglers. She was sold in 1784. Sherbourne was built at Woolwich Dockyard under the supervision of Master Shipwright Joseph Harris, to a design by Sir Thomas Slade, and was launched on 3 December 1763, having cost £1,581.8.9d to build and fit.


    Sir Thomas Slade's most notable design was HMS Victory.  Victory was laid down some four years before Sherbourne, though commissioned over a decade after.

    The box
    _MG_3914.jpg

     

    And content
    _MG_3915.jpg

     

    The figures and pin pusher are extras that I bought.


    Strip Wood
    _MG_3918.jpg


    The dark wood at the bottom is pear, the pale stuff in the middle is lime (or bass wood), and the dowels are (I think) walnut.

    The sheet wood:
    _MG_3920.jpg

    Shown here with the acrylic display stand.

    In addition to the book, the kit came with 19 sheets of drawings
    _MG_3923.jpg

     


    And, those figures
    _MG_3921.jpg

     

    I'll take a view on how I use these guys; as presented, they are more appropriate to Trafalgar and the Napoleonic period than to the 1760s.



    Side note: This Vanguard kit is Chris Watton's second Sherbourne in this scale.  The other is still available; this version benefits from additional research and learning.

    • Like 7
  8. About three weeks later ...
    The crew are less skeletal, and even found some clothing:


    _MG_3888.jpg

     

    My main inspiration for this was the work of David Teniers the Elder, a Flemish painter, active about the time of John Smith's expedition (e.g. https://www.artnet.com/artists/david-teniers-the-elder/, https://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/html/t/teniers/jan1/index.html) and the modern statue of John Smith (https://historicjamestowne.org/visit/plan-your-visit/monuments-john-smith/, https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/captain-john-smith).

    On the boat itself, the rigging is finished:
    _MG_3893.jpg

    Including a few loose ends:
    _MG_3886.jpg

     

    With the crew given some colour, the boat looks like this:

    _MG_3902.jpg

     

    _MG_3906.jpg


    _MG_3905.jpg.

     

    • Like 7
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