Dan Vadas

Hi All,
 
It was this time last year I last worked on Borodino and spent this Christmas Break getting back into it concentrating on the rear decks.
 
Started with the railings again using individual PE stanchions and bending the 0.2mm rails to shape from the templates.

 
Painted with NATO black as this is greyer than full black and matches the black paper printing of the kit and black water colour I use for touch up.

 
On to the 3 rear cabins.
 
These are pretty simple
 
Parts layout

 
Laser cut forms spaced apart with scrap balsa and card.

Finished bottom cabin with side skylights, treated using my usual method for portholes.

 
The 2 upper deck cabins

 
I was looking forward to doing the Compass Platform as it is a nice little piece on its own right.
 
Parts laid out ready for assembly.

The handrail built up. This was more frustrating than the large deck railings.

I decided to use some generic PE ladders rather than make up the paper ones for a change but still hand to make the handrail from 0.2mm wire.

 
The centre support column has 2 ‘cones’ but I lost one so made one from styrene.  I had 2mm styrene sheet so cut and shaped it from that.  However when I was having a clean up I found the lost part on the floor and ended up using both paper parts.

The finished compass platform.  I didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped but still acceptable for me.
 

 
Made a start in the little deck attachments and there are a couple of hose reels which are fixed to the underside of the deck.
 
Parts laid out.  The spokes are 0.2mm x 2mm.

Starting assembly

Finished hose reels

 
I decided to do a mock up with the parts of the rear decks made so far.  Nothing is glued and there is a lot more little bits and pieces to be made before I can start assembling.

 
That’s about all.  I have relocated to Melbourne for work but my family and modelling is still in Perth so little will be done on the odd times I get home so likely the next update will be in a years time LOL
 
Cheers
Slog

Hi Adrie,
 
thanks for the suggestion. Does require some practice and trial. my first folds where far off the folding line  (and did you start closing revenges hull without showing in your buildlog?)
 
Today I did the first guntower (of a total of four). The Ruyter was a bit undergunned: she had a total of 7 guns, of a 15 cm caliber.
Three towers with two, and one with only one gun. The standard practice of three guns per tower was discussed, but deemed to expensive.
 
The guntowers can be turned and the guns can be elevated. Why you should want to do, I don't know, but I succeeded in realizing the mechanism.
 
pics are self-explaining.
 








 
aThe guns look tiny, but to be honest: at this scale they even should be slightly thinner. Rolling card is not the easiest way to get the thickness right: only after the whole thing is glued, you can see the thickness....
 
Jan

The front hatches only have one hinge each, so it's larger than the others with 2 and 3 sections. This of course makes it a bit harder to construct :




 
The engine cover hatches are a more complex arrangement, with ventilation for engine cooling :


 
There are also some small details, like these "fairleads" (for want of a better word) that support the tow cable :

 
With all the hatches finished it's time to fit the track guards :



 
Also the air filters :

 
Danny

Words can’t describe the quality of your work!

Aiee! That is a very daunting task to complete successfully. Good on you, Dan.

Well done!!  I would love to see your approach to a few of the individual tracks.  Greg

You can use the individual tracks as spare tracks. These were often attached to the front or the side. These served also as extra armor.
If you want to do this. let me know. Then I post some pictures.
 
Sorry you had some problems with the teeth on your sprockets
 

Time to start on the tracks. Here are all the ones needed for them. They come as an inner and an outer :

 
As you can imagine there is a bit of cutting to do :


 
I didn't align the sprockets quite right - the teeth of the inner sprockets don't quite align with the outer sprocket. This one isn't too bad, and I'll probably get away with it, but the other is worse so I'm going to have to cut it apart and fit the sprockets properly :


 
I've overlapped the inner and outer tracks to avoid have a "hard" joint - two sets are needed for each side :

 
Just when you think the amount of cutting needed can't get much worse - here are the "teeth" of the tracks. One is needed for each track segment :



 
There are also just as many locating lugs, which fit to the inner track and run between the double rollers.
 
The kit gives three options for the tracks - a simplified belt without any of the "teeth" or lugs, the option I chose which is a continuous belt with all the details, or the individually segmented tracks.
 
After looking at doing the tracks as individual "articulated" ones I decided against it. For one thing there are absolutely NO diagrams as to how they go together, although I did eventually work it out. There isn't much point, as the finished articles look identical anyway, and there is a lot more cutting and folding involved. In fact the only instructions regarding the tracks in the kit is one short paragraph listing which tracks go with each option - and they got the whole lot WRONG anyway 🤬.
 
Danny

Time to start on the tracks. Here are all the ones needed for them. They come as an inner and an outer :

 
As you can imagine there is a bit of cutting to do :


 
I didn't align the sprockets quite right - the teeth of the inner sprockets don't quite align with the outer sprocket. This one isn't too bad, and I'll probably get away with it, but the other is worse so I'm going to have to cut it apart and fit the sprockets properly :


 
I've overlapped the inner and outer tracks to avoid have a "hard" joint - two sets are needed for each side :

 
Just when you think the amount of cutting needed can't get much worse - here are the "teeth" of the tracks. One is needed for each track segment :



 
There are also just as many locating lugs, which fit to the inner track and run between the double rollers.
 
The kit gives three options for the tracks - a simplified belt without any of the "teeth" or lugs, the option I chose which is a continuous belt with all the details, or the individually segmented tracks.
 
After looking at doing the tracks as individual "articulated" ones I decided against it. For one thing there are absolutely NO diagrams as to how they go together, although I did eventually work it out. There isn't much point, as the finished articles look identical anyway, and there is a lot more cutting and folding involved. In fact the only instructions regarding the tracks in the kit is one short paragraph listing which tracks go with each option - and they got the whole lot WRONG anyway 🤬.
 
Danny

No.
 
As you will see from the next lot of pics. I've now glued on all the upper panels, and most interior detail has vanished. Here are the bits you CAN still see (just as well I took lots of pics earlier ) :









 
And just for you Richmond :

 
Danny

I had planned to make the roof removable to show off the interior, but it turns out I can't. So I decided to make the four hatches with working hinges so some of the interior will be visible. Here are the first two - they work perfectly :





 
Danny

Maybe. I'll have to actually install the barrel and then make some modifications to the elevation pivot if needed.
 
Now we're really getting ridiculous. These are by far the smallest diameter tubes I've ever had to roll - a mere 0.6mm in diameter. They are the handles for control wheels, and are rolled around a 0.4mm drill bit (a 1.0mm drill bit is shown for comparison). The second pic is of three sizes of tube for the gunsight assembly, with the largest being 1.5mm diameter :


 
The gunsight and gunner's seat completed and glued in place :


 
More pieces of the breech fitted, including the catch basket for expended shells :


 
Danny

The main gun assembly was particularly difficult to work out due to the VERY poor instructions. I'm not at all happy with the effort, or rather lack thereof, that GPM put into these. Why on earth would they bother "detailing" how to assemble a bucket, axe and German helmet for instance, but show only a very basic drawing of the really complex assemblies? Makes my blood boil 🤬.
 
Not to worry, I eventually worked it all out . The pics below are of the breech and the elevation/sweep support bracket. I've managed to make it work both ways. I used a piece of 3mm PVC tubing for the elevation pivot, as the kit probably didn't allow for this assembly to actually work :



 
This whole assembly, including the outer skin, is still only dry-fitted, there is quite a bit more work needed before I can permanently mount it :



 
Danny

Time to start on the tracks. Here are all the ones needed for them. They come as an inner and an outer :

 
As you can imagine there is a bit of cutting to do :


 
I didn't align the sprockets quite right - the teeth of the inner sprockets don't quite align with the outer sprocket. This one isn't too bad, and I'll probably get away with it, but the other is worse so I'm going to have to cut it apart and fit the sprockets properly :


 
I've overlapped the inner and outer tracks to avoid have a "hard" joint - two sets are needed for each side :

 
Just when you think the amount of cutting needed can't get much worse - here are the "teeth" of the tracks. One is needed for each track segment :



 
There are also just as many locating lugs, which fit to the inner track and run between the double rollers.
 
The kit gives three options for the tracks - a simplified belt without any of the "teeth" or lugs, the option I chose which is a continuous belt with all the details, or the individually segmented tracks.
 
After looking at doing the tracks as individual "articulated" ones I decided against it. For one thing there are absolutely NO diagrams as to how they go together, although I did eventually work it out. There isn't much point, as the finished articles look identical anyway, and there is a lot more cutting and folding involved. In fact the only instructions regarding the tracks in the kit is one short paragraph listing which tracks go with each option - and they got the whole lot WRONG anyway 🤬.
 
Danny

You're a braver man than I Danny.  The tracks just look daunting enough and then having minimal instructions to boot.   Makes my head hurt.

Time to start on the tracks. Here are all the ones needed for them. They come as an inner and an outer :

 
As you can imagine there is a bit of cutting to do :


 
I didn't align the sprockets quite right - the teeth of the inner sprockets don't quite align with the outer sprocket. This one isn't too bad, and I'll probably get away with it, but the other is worse so I'm going to have to cut it apart and fit the sprockets properly :


 
I've overlapped the inner and outer tracks to avoid have a "hard" joint - two sets are needed for each side :

 
Just when you think the amount of cutting needed can't get much worse - here are the "teeth" of the tracks. One is needed for each track segment :



 
There are also just as many locating lugs, which fit to the inner track and run between the double rollers.
 
The kit gives three options for the tracks - a simplified belt without any of the "teeth" or lugs, the option I chose which is a continuous belt with all the details, or the individually segmented tracks.
 
After looking at doing the tracks as individual "articulated" ones I decided against it. For one thing there are absolutely NO diagrams as to how they go together, although I did eventually work it out. There isn't much point, as the finished articles look identical anyway, and there is a lot more cutting and folding involved. In fact the only instructions regarding the tracks in the kit is one short paragraph listing which tracks go with each option - and they got the whole lot WRONG anyway 🤬.
 
Danny

Time to start on the tracks. Here are all the ones needed for them. They come as an inner and an outer :

 
As you can imagine there is a bit of cutting to do :


 
I didn't align the sprockets quite right - the teeth of the inner sprockets don't quite align with the outer sprocket. This one isn't too bad, and I'll probably get away with it, but the other is worse so I'm going to have to cut it apart and fit the sprockets properly :


 
I've overlapped the inner and outer tracks to avoid have a "hard" joint - two sets are needed for each side :

 
Just when you think the amount of cutting needed can't get much worse - here are the "teeth" of the tracks. One is needed for each track segment :



 
There are also just as many locating lugs, which fit to the inner track and run between the double rollers.
 
The kit gives three options for the tracks - a simplified belt without any of the "teeth" or lugs, the option I chose which is a continuous belt with all the details, or the individually segmented tracks.
 
After looking at doing the tracks as individual "articulated" ones I decided against it. For one thing there are absolutely NO diagrams as to how they go together, although I did eventually work it out. There isn't much point, as the finished articles look identical anyway, and there is a lot more cutting and folding involved. In fact the only instructions regarding the tracks in the kit is one short paragraph listing which tracks go with each option - and they got the whole lot WRONG anyway 🤬.
 
Danny

Time to start on the tracks. Here are all the ones needed for them. They come as an inner and an outer :

 
As you can imagine there is a bit of cutting to do :


 
I didn't align the sprockets quite right - the teeth of the inner sprockets don't quite align with the outer sprocket. This one isn't too bad, and I'll probably get away with it, but the other is worse so I'm going to have to cut it apart and fit the sprockets properly :


 
I've overlapped the inner and outer tracks to avoid have a "hard" joint - two sets are needed for each side :

 
Just when you think the amount of cutting needed can't get much worse - here are the "teeth" of the tracks. One is needed for each track segment :



 
There are also just as many locating lugs, which fit to the inner track and run between the double rollers.
 
The kit gives three options for the tracks - a simplified belt without any of the "teeth" or lugs, the option I chose which is a continuous belt with all the details, or the individually segmented tracks.
 
After looking at doing the tracks as individual "articulated" ones I decided against it. For one thing there are absolutely NO diagrams as to how they go together, although I did eventually work it out. There isn't much point, as the finished articles look identical anyway, and there is a lot more cutting and folding involved. In fact the only instructions regarding the tracks in the kit is one short paragraph listing which tracks go with each option - and they got the whole lot WRONG anyway 🤬.
 
Danny

Time to start on the tracks. Here are all the ones needed for them. They come as an inner and an outer :

 
As you can imagine there is a bit of cutting to do :


 
I didn't align the sprockets quite right - the teeth of the inner sprockets don't quite align with the outer sprocket. This one isn't too bad, and I'll probably get away with it, but the other is worse so I'm going to have to cut it apart and fit the sprockets properly :


 
I've overlapped the inner and outer tracks to avoid have a "hard" joint - two sets are needed for each side :

 
Just when you think the amount of cutting needed can't get much worse - here are the "teeth" of the tracks. One is needed for each track segment :



 
There are also just as many locating lugs, which fit to the inner track and run between the double rollers.
 
The kit gives three options for the tracks - a simplified belt without any of the "teeth" or lugs, the option I chose which is a continuous belt with all the details, or the individually segmented tracks.
 
After looking at doing the tracks as individual "articulated" ones I decided against it. For one thing there are absolutely NO diagrams as to how they go together, although I did eventually work it out. There isn't much point, as the finished articles look identical anyway, and there is a lot more cutting and folding involved. In fact the only instructions regarding the tracks in the kit is one short paragraph listing which tracks go with each option - and they got the whole lot WRONG anyway 🤬.
 
Danny

Thanks David, and all the others who replied .
 
The sprockets are very visible, this part (the tension adjuster) not so much :

I don't think I've got it quite right - the instructions were very vague about it (as usual ).
 
Danny

Five days later and I've made all the sprockets and rollers. To cut the teeth in the drive sprockets I used my punch set. There are 12 of these, a central one that contains the spokes and two outer ones to get the thickness correct :





 
The idler sprockets :


 
And the top rollers :



 
Danny

Time to start on the tracks. Here are all the ones needed for them. They come as an inner and an outer :

 
As you can imagine there is a bit of cutting to do :


 
I didn't align the sprockets quite right - the teeth of the inner sprockets don't quite align with the outer sprocket. This one isn't too bad, and I'll probably get away with it, but the other is worse so I'm going to have to cut it apart and fit the sprockets properly :


 
I've overlapped the inner and outer tracks to avoid have a "hard" joint - two sets are needed for each side :

 
Just when you think the amount of cutting needed can't get much worse - here are the "teeth" of the tracks. One is needed for each track segment :



 
There are also just as many locating lugs, which fit to the inner track and run between the double rollers.
 
The kit gives three options for the tracks - a simplified belt without any of the "teeth" or lugs, the option I chose which is a continuous belt with all the details, or the individually segmented tracks.
 
After looking at doing the tracks as individual "articulated" ones I decided against it. For one thing there are absolutely NO diagrams as to how they go together, although I did eventually work it out. There isn't much point, as the finished articles look identical anyway, and there is a lot more cutting and folding involved. In fact the only instructions regarding the tracks in the kit is one short paragraph listing which tracks go with each option - and they got the whole lot WRONG anyway 🤬.
 
Danny

still not the easy way out, as would be expected ... look forward to see the finished tracks ...

Thanks David, and all the others who replied .
 
The sprockets are very visible, this part (the tension adjuster) not so much :

I don't think I've got it quite right - the instructions were very vague about it (as usual ).
 
Danny

Time to start on the tracks. Here are all the ones needed for them. They come as an inner and an outer :

 
As you can imagine there is a bit of cutting to do :


 
I didn't align the sprockets quite right - the teeth of the inner sprockets don't quite align with the outer sprocket. This one isn't too bad, and I'll probably get away with it, but the other is worse so I'm going to have to cut it apart and fit the sprockets properly :


 
I've overlapped the inner and outer tracks to avoid have a "hard" joint - two sets are needed for each side :

 
Just when you think the amount of cutting needed can't get much worse - here are the "teeth" of the tracks. One is needed for each track segment :



 
There are also just as many locating lugs, which fit to the inner track and run between the double rollers.
 
The kit gives three options for the tracks - a simplified belt without any of the "teeth" or lugs, the option I chose which is a continuous belt with all the details, or the individually segmented tracks.
 
After looking at doing the tracks as individual "articulated" ones I decided against it. For one thing there are absolutely NO diagrams as to how they go together, although I did eventually work it out. There isn't much point, as the finished articles look identical anyway, and there is a lot more cutting and folding involved. In fact the only instructions regarding the tracks in the kit is one short paragraph listing which tracks go with each option - and they got the whole lot WRONG anyway 🤬.
 
Danny