yvesvidal

1: 64 HMS Surprise prototype build - Vanguard Models

Before we can tuck into a plate of 'eggs 'n bacon' next year, we have the not very small matter of HMS Surprise to attend to. We believe this kit will make many, many folk very happy indeed! There's been so much interest in this that it was about time we saw it released in typical VM style. This is the build which will feature in the instruction manual and here you'll see mostly images that will appear there, plus maybe a few other less polished photos which show the clutter that I really surround myself in!
 
Here's an in-progress profile that Chris is currently working on, of Surprise. This will feature in the plans, along with a whole ton of extra folding paper for you to study.
 

 
This extremely heavy box arrived about an hour ago. This isn't the complete kit either, but there are two sets of everything to build the hull up to and including planking. Chris has used an Indy box to ship this in, so those of you who've built Indy, will recognise this behemoth of a packing box. So far weighing in at around 12kg.

 
A statement? A fact?
Definitely one of those.

 
I'll shortly be digging through all of the contents and doing a few iPhone photos for this build log.

...coming very soon 🤪
 
 
 

Hello, Eric --
  Thanks for the welcome, sir. Sorry to take so long to get back to you. We have a lot of interests in common, regarding steamboats, and I didn't know where to start! So, I will have to make several posts...
  It was neat seeing your nice Far West model, as I am currently halfway through my second book on the Battle of the Little Bighorn "The Last Stand." I was pleased to see that the very first Paragraph of Chapter 1 is all about Grant Marsh and the Far West.
  I just bought "The Conquest of the Missouri" (2019 Expanded & Annotated version) about Captain Marsh, and am looking forward to that arriving. [I am a better reader than modeler!]

 
  I have been really into the excavation of Bertrand, Arabia and Cairo, and any similar riverboat archeology. I have seen the Cairo several times, even before it was re-assembled, and the other two museums are near the top of my Wish List to visit.
  I have a little Arcadia-Craft wooden kit of the USS Cairo which I have started. I also have the Scientific Robt E Lee wooden model that I have worked on a good bit. I have the Bertrand plans and have made the hull, main deck and boiler. I found a signed copy of "Treasure in a Cornfield."

 
Regards,
Michael

First batch of hull parts cut out and base plate + internal frames assembled.
 

Hello, and welcome to another new adventure in card! This time around I will be building the Adler IV published by HMV.
 

 
A little back story: When I was an exchange student living in Aurich, West Germany, in 1980, I had the opportunity to experience a Wattwanderung -- a hike across the mudflats between the mainland and the East Frisian Islands. We hiked over to Baltrum, had lunch, and then took a ferry back to the mainland. I don't remember the name of the ferry, and sadly I no longer have the photos I took that day, but I feel fairly certain it was a small ferry much like this one, perhaps this very ship or one of her sisters -- they remain in service down to the present and do operate in the area.
 

Adler IV, launched in 1977 (courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
 
I have many HMV kits in my stash, but I have only completed a few of them. My early HMV efforts were more or less doomed from the start for one reason or another. One incorporated PE brass, which I decided I did not like working with. The other was simply "too much model" for a builder of my experience. About half of my current HMV inventory consists of civilian vessels, and a number of them are ferries and coastal excursion ships. Adler IV is the smallest of them. It seemed advisable to start small and then work through the incrementally more difficult builds.
 
Adler IV is a small ship, only 104 ft long overall, so at 1/250 she'll be a small model, about 5" in length, with a small parts count -- there are only two pages of parts.
 

 
Curiously, the 'diagrams' for this kit consist of a single one-page series of in-progress photos.
 

 
I have the laser-cut detail set as well.
 

 
Look for first cuts soon!
 

I've finished the stern structures, with the exception of one fitting (see below).  Since my last post, added the rear railing, plus wire winders, life rings, chocks and fairleads, as well as the second boat with davits and rigging.  Also added tall vents and the mast.
 
The one fitting I haven't added goes in front of the capstan housing at the rear.  The problem is that I can't figure out which of the cast parts to use based on the plans, and the instructions (which just have a numbered part listing).  My pictures from the internet shed partial light.  So I'm going to wait to the end and see what cast parts are left over, and see if that sheds light on what to install.  🙃  This one of the continuing challenges of working with the instructions for this ship -- but it's still an interesting build.
 
Regards,
David

I have started rigging the Foreward SS area still waiting on some brown EZ-line used for flags for the most part.The first pic shows were I had to add an upright extension to a foreward yard off the SS upper deck still not painted yet and the line heads to a piece I made last week.I am finding these little tri-leg projections all over the SS found four more tonight using a magnifying glass.
 
https://i.postimg.cc/P5w6g8Rz/scharnhorst_001.jpg
 
This pic shows where I used black metal line between the outrigger yards of the SS from front yard  to rear and around the front yard to the tri-leg on the SS is EZ-line.The metal line on the sides and back will handle much in rope this will allow the lines not to sag no were as much and look more natural ...I hope.
 
https://i.postimg.cc/d0cWwVMM/scharnhorst_006.jpg
 
You can see just off to the side of the searchlight a new pole added still have to add the V for tri-leg to the bottom it's a beotch.These go to the forward control room and then  to the rangefinder right below
https://i.postimg.cc/9fPLMHVD/scharnhorst_011.jpg
 
The other side where another tri-leg was located and is complete a bit of trial/error here took about 20 minutes and third fold was correct just a PIA but guys rigging is one of the most important elements in bring these ships to life.
https://i.postimg.cc/G2cqTghq/scharnhorst_016.jpg
 
You can see the little mooring lights I made out of brass below the upper yard.I am just to gullible in thinking these manufactures will include this stuff such as the lights and parts for a successful rigging process but then again I am going 1943 other years where different.You would have to be a Scharnhorst fanatic to know what I missed.
https://i.postimg.cc/0QcZYGzx/scharnhorst_021.jpg
 
 
Thanks for looking in.

It’s been a while but I’ve been working throughout. I thought I’d paint the hull and then show you guys but I got carried away and decided to paint most of the ship:

Unfortunately I’ll be away for a month but am stopping by Tokyo, which means…models!
 
Cheers!

Crossed wires Jolle, it’s the sonar points at the very front of bow and on port and starboard sides. Just don’t see any photographic evidence if these points existed, easy enough to fix if they don’t exist.  Thanks for your input again 👍🤛

Chuck, I love your new workplace but mostly the Bally Old chicago pinball machine, in the corner. It is one of my coveted machines, as I already own a Bally Mata Hari, Playboy, Silverball, Xenon and Medusa plus a Spanish machine from Recel. 
 
Yves

Chuck, I love your new workplace but mostly the Bally Old chicago pinball machine, in the corner. It is one of my coveted machines, as I already own a Bally Mata Hari, Playboy, Silverball, Xenon and Medusa plus a Spanish machine from Recel. 
 
Yves

A quick update for the rear quarterdeck: 
 

 

 

 
The "glowing" deck is simply a coat of Wipe On Poly, in the process of drying.
 

 
Yves

Chuck, I love your new workplace but mostly the Bally Old chicago pinball machine, in the corner. It is one of my coveted machines, as I already own a Bally Mata Hari, Playboy, Silverball, Xenon and Medusa plus a Spanish machine from Recel. 
 
Yves

Chuck, I love your new workplace but mostly the Bally Old chicago pinball machine, in the corner. It is one of my coveted machines, as I already own a Bally Mata Hari, Playboy, Silverball, Xenon and Medusa plus a Spanish machine from Recel. 
 
Yves

Work continues on the model.  I am working on the hood for the fcastle hatch currently.  But I realized I hadnt yet posted an image of my new workspace for building the actual models.  This is probably the largest work bench I have ever had.  Its actually a ping pong table.  LOL
 
BUT its a pleasure to have such a large uncluttered surface to build on top off.   Speedwell at 3/8” scale is a very big model but it looks puny on my bench.
 

 
Oh and these new and inexpensive LED lights from Amazon are a real treat.  I have them on the forward side of the table and they can be manipulated in so many ways.  Its also very bright (up to 6000 lumens) and can be adjusted in intensity and other colors etc. 
 
In addition I have about 30 green cutting mats many are large and many are small.   I bought these for when my local club members come by for a workshop.  So everyone gets a cutting mat.   But in the meanwhile I can cover the whole front side of the space to keep everything safe and clean.
 
So now I can start being productive on my models again….until I am
compelled to beat my high score in pinball.  Which isnt that high actually.
 
Chuck

Would this be called a "Frame on Bulkhead" model (and if planked a "Plank on Frame on Bulkhead" model)? I don't think I've seen one like this. Will it be planked or partially planked or planked on one side?

A quick update for the rear quarterdeck: 
 

 

 

 
The "glowing" deck is simply a coat of Wipe On Poly, in the process of drying.
 

 
Yves

Stbd side channel wales done today, except for the forward upper plank. After I get a few more planks attached to the front I will pull the forward jigs and fair out the forward portion of the inner hull and then permanently install the beam and finish the last two planks. 
 

Good evening--
  Here's the stempost and the keel that I added today. Everything was stained with Minwax "Red Mahogany."

 

 
--Michael

Made some good progress on the Akitsushima past few days.  Using the Artist Hobby supplied template mask, I drilled the port holes out with a 0.5mm drill.  Having the micromotor really helped to not only drill them quickly, but also fairly cleanly:

Removed all deck details which will be replaced by the Artist Hobby set:

Added the Artist Hobby PE decks.  The fit was perfect on these pieces, really well done by Artist Hobby.

Next I think I'll work on the hull sides, adding plating lines and details like degaussing cables and if I'm feeling crazy enough, maybe PE porthole surrounds.  
 
Thanks for looking in!

I made a second smaller scale outboard motor for the Avon today. I see from older photos that I have the seats wrong on the runabout and will change them. The forward seat should be all of the way forward and the hatch should be painted to match the deck of the boat. .


 

Very pretty, the deck has a nice unique look to it with all those gratings around the sides.

Very nice plank work! Deck looks great, lots Of nice curves there.

1/350

I can't wait for some paint to blend all these modifications into what will be the most precise and prototypical 1/200 Titanic hull on the market.
 
Yves

I am amazed at how you get that brass polished, especially in the locations of the soldering.
You are so good at metal work that it is not surprising that your model would be made of metal, like the prototypes.
 
Yves