Jeddahbill Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Greetings, Originally issued by Frog many decades ago, this build involves the Modelcraft reissue from 1996. Firstly, this has to be one of the worst molded kits ever. This is not a kit that can be quickly or easily constructed - it demands many hours of tedious work and endless scratch building. Some of the parts are so poor, they really can't be cleaned up or corrected. Every one of the remaining parts required some work, in some cases significant modification. In several instances, I decided to discard kit parts entirely and scratch build replacements as this was faster and easier than struggling with the kit parts. There is a PE set available for this kit from Atlantic Models, but I used 1/125 scale brass railings and other parts from Toms Model Works which helped tremendously. I also used similar scale photo etched inclined ladders I had in my spares bin (can't remember who made these). Many kit parts were improved with scratch built details or items from the spares bin. Although there are many faults with this old kit, it has great potential. If you enjoy scratch building and have lots of patience, this is a great project of a unique subject in a large scale. Many thanks for having a look, your questions and comments are always welcome. Cheers, Bill 62 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Like it, you've done a good job Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nomore Shelfspace Posted July 30, 2016 Share Posted July 30, 2016 Pretty impressive, another old kit bought up to date! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacificmustang Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 nice job. I have a mate building this at the moment too. Bruce Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 I haven't seen one of these built in many a year, and yours is certainly the best of them. Excellent work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norman Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Oh my lord..... what a great job you have done you obviously have the patience to match your scratch building skills, a very nice model congratulations !! i am building one of these at the moment and its an Eastern Express reissue of the Frog kit and oh boy is it badly moulded , i have the Peter Hall etched set which i hope will lift it i have used clear styrene for the bridge windows and i have sanded and filled and repeated the process till i have lost count ! Anyone who hasn't built one will not have experienced its true horror for example when deck-housing structures etc are split horizontally so seams come across port holes and they don't even closely align You really need to want one , i did see an original Frog issue in a mates collection and it looked super sharp...... Again i commend you very well done Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Badly moulded or not, you have made a great job of it! Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Superb! Like that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevej60 Posted July 31, 2016 Share Posted July 31, 2016 Beautifully built and finished Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Superb job Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollsroyce Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Hi Jeddahbill This looks really good and I remember building this years and years ago and thought it didn't go together very well as a child. I remember glueing on of my dads big spammers to the underside of the hull so it would float on the loaded water line. I have just returned to modelling and think you have done an Excellent job Thanks for sharing All the best Guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansReggelsen Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Looks great - and it shows that you know your subject well! Cheers Hans J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jockster Posted August 5, 2016 Share Posted August 5, 2016 Very tidy, I don't know the kit but I can see a lot of scratchbuilding going on. Very nice model! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankie Posted August 6, 2016 Share Posted August 6, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billydick Posted August 12, 2016 Share Posted August 12, 2016 You've really breathed life into the old girl ! Brings back memories. BillyD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailorboy61 Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Great job. missed this kit on ebay a couple of times recently too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Love it mate, love it! Cracking job and superb paintwork! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seadog Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Nice work! Too bad there aren't more merchant ship model kits out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lifeofbrian Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 That's a beast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeddahbill Posted August 20, 2016 Author Share Posted August 20, 2016 Thank you everyone for your kind words! I am pleased that you enjoyed the images and do appreciate your comments. This old kit was certainly a tedious project, but it was a nice change from a warship build and it is a favorite of my wife! Cheers, Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_opland Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 Thank you for the trip down Memory Lane, Bill! I built the Frog kit in the mid-1960's & have a Modelcraft repop waiting in the attic. Yours is nicer than anything I expected to do with mine! Cheers, -Lars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thorfinn Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 I've done more than a few of these 'old boot' molding kits, and your work is extraordinary! Truly a thing of beauty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 3, 2018 Share Posted March 3, 2018 I have one of these kits,I have started this ship and gave up,so I know when I say ,Superb model.thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeddahbill Posted March 3, 2018 Author Share Posted March 3, 2018 Many thanks for the kind words! Bill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tankerman Posted March 20, 2018 Share Posted March 20, 2018 I watched the full size "Shell Welder" entering and leaving Poole several times during the fifties and sixties and it was her and similar tankers that fuelled my ambition to go to sea. I built the Frog kit when it was first issued and a couple of Novo kits since and you have captured the character and atmosphere of this little tanker perfectly - well done. Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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