Flankerman Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 The release by Mikro-Mir of their 1/350 scale K-Class submarine kit opens up lots of conversion possibility's. The same basic hull shape is used on quite a few RN subs - albeit with longer or shorter hulls and differences in beam. One such sub is the mysterious HMS X.1 - a Cruiser Sub armed with two turrets each packing a pair of 5.2 inch Quick Fire guns. At 110m in length, she is 7m longer than HMS K4 and her beam is .09m wider - so all that is needed is to lengthen and widen the hull and scratch-build the superstructure and gun turrets - what could be simpler??? Having purchased the book I scanned and re-sized the drawings to 1/350 scale - unfortunately they are printed across the binding, hence the dartk line. I cut a piece of 3mm thick plastic card to the outline shape...... The thickness of the card takes care of the increase in beam. Now to lengthen the hull... Mikro-Mir K4 hull compared to the outline of X.1 The K4 hull had the upper casing and keel removed - and it was then chopped in half at the widest point - and strips of plastic card were used to bridge the gap to lengthen it... (this is just a test fit, the front section isn't glued in place yet).... The rear of the K4 hull was then cemented onto the X.1 outline - and the front attached in the same way...... I removed a section from the X.1 outline at the bows - because the K4 bow needs to be 'pinched in' to make a sharp prow. It's all a bit crude and I'm making it up as I go along - but I'm having fun so far. I need to add the other half of the hull (the port side) - then its out with the Milliput to fashion the bulged bows. Ken 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted September 12, 2015 Share Posted September 12, 2015 Very interesting! You must have shares in Mikro Mir by now! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted September 13, 2015 Author Share Posted September 13, 2015 A bit more progress - the K4 hull is now attached to the X.1 outline - so it is now the correct width and length... Almost ready for the first application of Milliput....... Ken 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pappy Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 Superb scratch building skills on display here, well done that man there! cheers, Pappy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted September 15, 2015 Author Share Posted September 15, 2015 (edited) The decking has been added - using thin plastic card........ .... and the first (of probably many!) application of Milliput........... A few sanding/re-Milliputing/sanding sessions to go....... Ken Edited September 15, 2015 by Flankerman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted September 15, 2015 Share Posted September 15, 2015 A classic example of good old fashioned conversion work! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted September 15, 2015 Author Share Posted September 15, 2015 After the first sanding session...... The all-important bow shape...... A quick coat of grey primer helps to see the shape better - its almost there!...... I love Milliput - you can get the approximate shape with a wet finger before it sets - and once cured, it carves and sands beautifully Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted September 21, 2015 Author Share Posted September 21, 2015 After a setback with some rogue Milliput...... I can start adding the sloping casing using thin plastic card.... Ken 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted September 23, 2015 Author Share Posted September 23, 2015 Meanwhile....... The plating in of the sloping sides of the casing is done - with gaps plugged with filler....... A side view...... A quick burst of Halfords Grey Primer soon shows up the areas that need more fettling...... The side profile looks OK to me - it just needs tidying up..... Whilst waiting for the primer to dry, I made a start on the bridge. The lower, narrower, section is made by wrapping thin plastic card around a shaped piece of wood. The 'roof' (actually the floor of the open bridge) is a shaped piece of thicker plastic card..... The upper open bridge is thin plastic card wrapped round the 'roof' - with the front cover made using card and filler.... More to follow.... Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted September 29, 2015 Author Share Posted September 29, 2015 A bit more progress.... Skeg, rudder, dive planes and propeller guards from plastic card, MM K4 prop shafts cut down to size.... I'm not up to scribing the six bow torpedo tubes - so I just used thin plastic card to represent them. I cut a recess for the anchor and made them from plastic card... Various bits of bridge 'furniture' scratched..... The hull is now painted - off-white uppers with red primer lower hull and black boot topping using black decal stripes. The bridge windows are tiny 2mm squares of black decal - and the X 1 codes are from a Modeldecal sheet of RAF letters/numbers - white superimposed on black to get the 'shadow'... The windows are a bit too big - but are as small as my eyesight can manage..... I now have to work out how to do the dark grey horizontal surfaces on the casing without spoiling it - I might use clear decal sheet sprayed grey and cut out the shapes to get a clean edge. Then I have to do the gun turrets........ Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 Coming along nicely Ken, will make a fine addition to your collection. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefy66 Posted September 29, 2015 Share Posted September 29, 2015 These Old subs look far more interesting than the modern one,s these days Beefy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted October 1, 2015 Author Share Posted October 1, 2015 Now working on the two gun turrets...... a completed one at top - the parts for the second one at bottom..... The bridge is almost finished - just a couple more masts..... The close-ups make it look far worse than it actually is ..... honest!!!! Ken 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gimme Shelter Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 That's some very clever and ingenious plastic surgery you have going on there - I've picked up a few tips from this myself. I don't tend to make many kits that require scratch build conversions other than using add-on resin corrective parts, so this build is nice and educational for me. Thank you for sharing your skills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 Great work Ken - love it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 This could well be turning into your best build yet! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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