MODeller Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Hi All, This one has kept me quiet for around 8 weeks, a scratchbuilt 1\350 Blue Star Line vessel circa 1985. This particular ship is the third vessel to be named Auckland Star and I have built this one as a "warm up" before starting vessel two in which I sailed in! The hull has its origins in the Imex Nedlloyd Bahrain but with a completely new stern and heavily rebuilt bow section. All the superstructure has been made from plasticard, rod, tube and pieces of sprue. The deck cranes were made by shaping a large piece of sprue then cutting slices for the cabs, the pedestal bases are courtesy of some gas lighter adapters. Etched brass railings and ladders are a mixture of White Ensign and Lion Roar. Decals are home made, paints Revell Aqua and Xtracrylic Light Aircraft Grey. The sea base is polyfilla painted with artists acrylics with several coats of Klear applied. Any questions please ask and all comments welcome. MODeller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ancient mariner Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Good to see some merchant tonnage for a change. As an ex KIWI coaster this one is particularly interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Reeder Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Great build modeller!Nice to see a merchant ship for a change,very colourful,and well built. Cheers Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iain Ogilvie Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 That's beautiful - really nice - and, yes, different! Iain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyT Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 Love it, and it always amazes me to see how folks model water so superbly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MASH4077 Posted November 30, 2009 Share Posted November 30, 2009 (edited) Tasty , thanks for sharing. Tony Edited November 30, 2009 by MASH4077 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martian Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 Great work! We don't see enough merchant ship models. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MODeller Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 Thanks for the comments everyone, much appreciated! Would anyone be interested in a "work in progress" thread when I build the next one? MODeller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richellis Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 oh, let me think about that... YES! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Tango Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Fantastic work, scratch built? Then even more fantastic, we would love to see a WIP thread on your next one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sinnerboy Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 luvly.....how do you do the sea-scape looks so real Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Rogers Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 That's a nice build, and a great seascape too! Would love to see a WIP as I've got a couple of sea based kits coming up in the stash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 Nice to see a merchie Well done, Julien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MODeller Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 luvly.....how do you do the sea-scape looks so real The pre-painted ships hull is firmly glued to the base, this makes it less likely that things will get damaged whilst attaching the etched rails and ladders. I then mask around the base edges and cut straight lines using a new scalpel blade which forces the tape into the base and means it is almost impossible for paint to run underneath. Mask the hull sides leaving the waterline exposed then trowel on Fine Surface Polyfilla from a premixed tub stippling the surface with a coarse hogshair artists brush which "pulls" the surface up into wavelets. I then use a smooth flat brush and water to smooth it away from the ships side forming the wake, reference to photos is recommended! Leave to dry for 24hrs before painting in tubed artists acrylics, I use a mix of blue/green adding a spot of black and plenty of white in the wake. Once this is dry I apply several coats of Klear leaving to dry before final touch ups and drybrushing over the wave tops. Hope this makes some sense but I will cover this with photos on my next build, guess it had better be started sooner than I had planned! MODeller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 This is a stunning build. I remember this vessel calling into our local port at about the same time as you've modelled it, and her predecessor in my youth, handsome vessels, I always liked the Blue Star ships with that marvellous funnel, long after other lines had gone to streamlined stacks. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MODeller Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 This is a stunning build. I remember this vessel calling into our local port at about the same time as you've modelled it, and her predecessor in my youth, handsome vessels, I always liked the Blue Star ships with that marvellous funnel, long after other lines had gone to streamlined stacks.Steve Thanks for the comments Steve. My next effort will be Auckland Star (2) in which I sailed as a Jun/Eng, leaving London Docks 5th Dec. 1970, Christmas day anchored off Cape Town then coasting around OZ and then over to Bluff for a full cargo of frozen lamb! A real kick for me as I had spent many hours fishing off the piers at Napier marveling at these wonderful ships! Looks like I had better start planning some keel laying! MODeller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romeo Alpha Yankee Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Very nice work there Brian! I would not know where to start with a build like that. I would like to do a WWII HMAS Sydney or Canberra from scratch one day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted December 11, 2009 Share Posted December 11, 2009 Very nice work there Brian! I would not know where to start with a build like that. I would like to do a WWII HMAS Sydney or Canberra from scratch one day Sydney would be a marvellous tribute to a gallant ship, Canberra too. I'd have to vote for Canberra though, one of those in 1/350 would be incredible. I've always thought the County class cruisers were out of their own for sheer good looks. Canberra was a Kent wasn't she? Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootneck Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Hi Modeller, I've just passed the Auckland Star in Panama Bay. She's virtually in the same livery except the red band has been removed from her funnel but she still has the blue star. I took a couple of photos and will post them when I get back home , if you want them? bootneck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MODeller Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 Hi Modeller,I've just passed the Auckland Star in Panama Bay. She's virtually in the same livery except the red band has been removed from her funnel but she still has the blue star. I took a couple of photos and will post them when I get back home , if you want them? bootneck Hi bootneck, The answer is yes please! I am suprised that she is still sailing and carrying her original name as Blue Star Line ceased to exist some time ago! MODeller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 (edited) Now owned by Star Reefers, see HERE some familiar names. Damn, wheres the wave of nostaglia emoticon? Picked up the link from HERE Steve. Edited January 25, 2010 by stevehnz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MODeller Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 Read em and weep I think! MODeller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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