ccoyle

Ah, indeed they do. Here is the link. GPM Arizona

The Chinese versions are probably illegal copies of the Digital Navy version. Have you tried contacting Roman through DN's email? He hasn't kept up his website, but he may still sell you a copy of the kit.

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

Allan beat me to the suggestion about the Rogers Collection. Most maritime nations have at least one national maritime museum with many great models. You've already discovered the NMM. Another that I know off the top of my head from your side of the pond is the Hamburg Maritime Museum. I'm sure our members can suggest many others. If you surf through our scratch builds gallery, you will also find many outstanding models built by MSW members, many of whom are based in Europe. Also, search the site for models built by our member DORIS (that's her username) -- she does scratch builds in paper and card stock that simply have to be seen to be believed. She lives in the Czech Republic and has been featured on TV there.

Slowly, slowly adding more pipe work. I had to use two of my printed spares for this latest bit. 😬

If you haven't read it yet, a wonderful book for beginners is Ship Modeling Simplified by the late Frank Mastini. Some of it is a bit dated, but it's a very encouraging read. Your local library may even have a copy, or can get hold of one through an inter-library loan.

I think we all do -- unless we happen to be Polish.

Ha! I lived in Eureka for two years when I was a kid.

I have used EZ-line for rigging ships and aircraft. I don't know what its width is, but it is not round in cross-section, which might be apparent at 1/700 scale. The best thing about EZ line is that it is elastic, meaning it can be stretched between contact points and will create a nice, taut line when fixed in place. Another option that I haven't tried myself but have heard of others using is fly tippet line. 6X tippet is typically 0.13 - 0.14 mm in diameter. Some tippet is available in black, but you'll have to shop around to see if it is available as black 6X.

Bingo! Once correctly rolled, I simply wick thin CA into the joint.

This is par for the course for MS kits - most of them assume some prior experience on the part of the builder. In addition, MS kits typically require some components to be scratch-built from supplied stock, using dimensions taken directly from the plans; those same components are often supplied in the form of pre-made parts by other kit manufacturers.

Another fantastic design, Tomek!

Just be aware that red alder is not rot resistant, so don't keep your model permanently immersed in water. 😉

No, but many times such things are available as after-market accessories. But, just as with plastic models, the cost of accessories can really add up, which partly negates one of the basic appeals of card models, namely their low price relative to kits in other media.

Nope, not really. I do the really tiny folds with tweezers tips, larger fold over the edge of a metal ruler.

It is a great improvement compared to the plastic original and is an excellent match for the colors of your model.

The ladder was part of the laser-cut details set.

More pipe work and the funnel's starboard-side ladder. I had a "duh" moment when I was looking at someone else's build log recently and saw a third hand vise being used. I suddenly remembered, "Hey, I have a third hand vise, too!" And ya know, it is actually quite handy -- holds my work up higher for better illumination, allows me to position my work at any angle I desire, and gives me two hands free to work with! Wowsers!! Well, better late than never, I guess. 🙄

1:400 Waterline Battle of Tsushima Series Modelik Catalogue #s 2105 - 2108 Available from Modelik starting at €5.00 All photos courtesy of Modelik. Introduction Modelik is one of the older and well-established Polish card model publishers. They publish a wide variety of subjects including buildings, vehicles, aircraft, and of course ships. One of the first big card models I ever built was Modelik's 1/100 scale Flower-class corvette, HMCS Agassiz -- I had to punch above my card modeling weight to finish it, but it produced a very detailed and striking model. Until now, Modelik's other ship offerings have also been in either 1/100 or 1/200 scale. But now, Modelik are offering a new series of waterline warship kits in 1/400 scale that I think will appeal to both skilled and novice card modelers alike. Overview Modelik's new 1/400 line-up has so far focused on ships that participated in the Russo-Japanese War. To date, there have been four kits published in the "Battle of Tsushima" series, and more are in the works, along with other 1/400 kits featuring both sail and steam subjects that weren't participants in that conflict. Some of the first kits in the series even include more than one model, which is a nice extra. Each kit is rendered in eye-pleasing computer-drafted artwork, has a non-intimidating and modest total parts count, aims at an intermediate level of difficulty (all rated a '2' on a scale of 1-5), and exhibits a satisfying level of detail. Let's take a look at the kits that are presently in print. #2105 Russian icebreaker YERMAK 1895 and tugboat RUS 1904 The 2-for-1 offerings in this kit will produce finished models 130 mm (5.1 in.) and 76 mm (3.0 in.) long. Yermak Rus #2106 Russian pre-Dreadnought NAVARIN 1891 The finished model will be 265 mm (10.4 in.) in length. #2107 Russian armored cruiser VLADIMIR MONOMAKH 1882 This kit will produce a model 226 mm (8.9 in.) long. #2108 Russian pre-Dreadnought battleship SISSOI VELIKIY 1896 + two torpedo boats, BLESTYASHCHY ("Brilliant") and BEZUPRECHNY ("Irreproachable") The three kits in this offering produce models that are 285 mm (11.2 in.) and roughly 132 mm (5.2 in.) in length. In addition to the basic kits, Modelik is offering some nice upgrades. A kit-specific set of laser-cut details is available for each kit. These sets include fine details such as anchors, boat chocks, davits, and thwarts. Modelik also sells laser-cut railings and ladders in 1/400 scale. These are all modestly priced -- buying everything needed for Sissoi Velikiy, for example, will set you back only an additional €7.50. Modelik will also soon offer a quay set from which the modeler can build a visually engaging dockside scene in which to set the new 1/400 subjects. Conclusion I don't normally build in 1/400 scale, but the price, quality, and subject matter of these kits has me sorely tempted to undo the padlock on my wallet! I hope we may see one or more of these attractive models soon being attempted by someone from among our august membership. If you do choose to buy one, remember to tell our friends at Modelik that you saw these at Model Ship World first!

Your project is well on the way to being a very striking completed model!

Prairie and Masker featured in Tom Clancy's Red Storm Rising.

It probably stacks up decently. Kit manufacturing has advanced tremendously in the past two decades, and innovation forces all manufacturers to raise their game.

Very neat work -- your model is off to a great start!

Just an observation of mine regarding the wonky photo orientation. I noticed that our photo software has a hard time with photos that are tall in relation to the subject matter in the image. I had this happen with one of my photos over the weekend. I cropped the photo so that it was more square, and then the image software oriented it correctly, no problem.

Back on the water. A bit chilly today. Caught a gargantuan unidentified shiner species and a few bluegill. EDIT: So, apparently this was a golden shiner. Supposedly the most common shiner in Eastern North America, but new to this here California ex-pat.