USCG FRC Emlen Tunnell by highlanderburial - Dumas - 1:48 scale

[highlanderburial]

On 10/7/2021 at 2:56 PM, Dutch builder said:

Hi, I don't know if you want to make the model radio controlled but then you may consider to enlarge the access space to the hull using the large size of the upper deck to cover. It makes the access to the hull easier and in my vessel it came in handy to be able to install motor, servo, esc and batteries. 

Frank

DB 

This particular model will be static. I do have another that I will likely make R/C. I think it would have a pretty tipsy profile at high speed turns like a destroyer.

 

Your build looked awesome by the way I went to your link.

 

Thx for your comments.

[highlanderburial]

I have moved into doing more of the pilothouse. Pics to follow.

Attached is the roof top template for the antennae.

 

Tunnell Pilothouse Antennae Holes.pdf

[highlanderburial]

I started today cutting pilot holes for the pilot house and began the complex edging of the vessel's bridge top.

[Jim Lad]

Lots of antennas to make!

 

John

[highlanderburial]

Mast work begins. I think the kit shorted me a dowel but I had extra. The kit gives you a jig to make to hold up the radars and connecting beams. The main part of the "A" frame is some 3/16 plastruct tubing but you have to push through some very malleable aluminum wire. This keeps the plastic from deforming and lets it hold its shape.  

Edited October 11, 2021 by highlanderburial
Grammar

[Jim Lad]

That's an interesting looking mast.

 

John

[highlanderburial]

The mast so far has been a kit in 

itself and I am still not done yet! I think it would have been easier if the kit had stuck with all plastic instead of wood and plastic.

Edited October 12, 2021 by highlanderburial
Grammar

[highlanderburial]

Buff paint on a ship or boat is one of my favorite colors. Depending on lighting or weathering of a vessel it can look very different to the beholder. I use Apple Barrel acrylic paint colored Autumn Gold to simulate this. I then put in some acrylic gloss sealer in a couple coats to make it shiny. The mast has not been coated so far.

[highlanderburial]

Paint touch ups and I am finished for the night. I put a gloss cote on the mast. The deck was darkened and I am debating on using panels of sand paper to simulate non skid paint. I have some panels laid out in the pics. This is the first ship of a scale it feel comfortable trying this technique on.

[highlanderburial]

I got to visit the 1/1 scale model of the cutter today. I was in a hurry and will grab more pics when I can. I got the CO and XO to pose in one of them. The poster is for the commissioning day. It includes 2 of Tunnel's NFL trading cards.

[Jim Lad]

So she's not even commissioned as yet.  No wonder she looks so well maintained! 

 

John

[highlanderburial]

More paint work tonight and added the mast signal and nav lights. Boot top paint finally done well enough notate make me cringe.

[Dutch builder]

Nice job so far on your model. It will be a beauty. And I love the photos you took. You are lucky to be able to visit it. I looked all over the web for details but most photos are from far away or perspective distorted. I will use your photos to add some detail to my model . Do you plan to add more detail? It will make a big difference to the original Dumas model. 

Good luck with the next steps!

Regards, Frank

[highlanderburial]

I would like to add a bunch more detail when I am able. I have applied flat black window glass but will leave the roof removable so I can add a more detailed pilot house later. Additionally there are a bunch of decals I would like to add to the deck as well. I understand that dumas had to run the line between details and reasonable durability for R/C purposes but I would like to add more.

[highlanderburial]

I made a huge amount of progress but alas was not able to fully complete the cutter by the commissioning date. The officers still wanted it there albeit unfinished. From a distance it looked good but overall I was pretty annoyed with my project timing. I also included some pics from the ceremony.

Edited October 16, 2021 by highlanderburial
Grammar

[Dutch builder]

I think you did a very good job in such a short time. The model is already looking very good!

[mtaylor]

Nice work.  Time is our enemy on date sensitive projects.  I hope they'll let you finish her up.

[highlanderburial]

The cutter left today for Florida. She will head down there before going across to Bahrain for her final homeport. She will likely never come back to the USA. The model will reside in Philadelphia at the USCG base once finished.

Edited October 18, 2021 by highlanderburial

[Jim Lad]

It's a long drive from Florida to Bahrain for such a small ship!

 

Now you can relax and work on the model at your leisure.

 

John

[BobG]

You did a really nice job in a short period of time and I'm sure the crew and attendees at the commissioning ceremony were impressed with your model even if it was as complete as you would have like it to be. Thanks for all the photos also. They stir up memories of my Coast Guard years from long ago. 

[highlanderburial]

A couple shots. I will be redoing the name decal as well as the numbers. The ink bled a bit so I will be adding an additional coating on the carrier sheet.

I also believe the gun radome is reversed so I will need to fix it. Additionally the stabilizers had the paint peel off.

[highlanderburial]

Got some work done today while manning the ship model shack at the Philadelphia Seaport Museum. I got the main ladderway, vents, and Naiad RHI boat started.

[Old Collingwood]

Superb work  - and what a great job  to do there.

 

OC.

[highlanderburial]

2 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Superb work  - and what a great job  to do there.

 

OC.

Members of our club volunteer there every weekend. The museum gives us the space to keep tools etc. Modeling in public is pretty awesome.

[Jim Lad]

Quote

Modeling in public is pretty awesome

I agree, mate.  I home to get back to the museum fairly soon as we continue to open up.

 

John

[Dutch builder]

What a great way to build in a museum that is open for public! Surely must slow you down because of all chats but even so you build with a fast pace :).

I love the FRC and I am so curious about all black squares. As you seem to know a lot about this vessel hopefully you can explain to me the purpose of them. First I thought they were filters of some kind but after a closer look to your photos of the real vessel I doubt if I am right.

Frank

[Johan Louw]

Hi, so I have just bought this kit, from me to me, and am really looking forward to the build.

I will be making it RC. My current build is the Dumas USS Crockett and 1949 Chris Craft prior to that.

 

I still have a lot to learn from masters like you so I am following this build with lots of excitement and can't wait to see what comes next.

I am from Centurion Model Boat Club in Centurion, South Africa.

[Dutch builder]

Hi Johan, as much as I like this build I noticed that the added propeller tunnels as far as I can see are placed here as an extension on the bottom. The real model has it "cut out" from the bottom keeping the straight waterline. If you glue it on the bottom you break the smooth straight line and that can influence the behavior in the water as rc model. So for rc I think you best hang on to the original Dumas build instructions. Maybe I am mistaken and misinterpreted the build photo.

Good luck with the build! It is a really beautiful vessel.

Frank

[highlanderburial]

More work on the NIAID boat. Slow going today. I second coated some of the vents and sanded some wood pieces.

[highlanderburial]

I spent a bunch of time trying to design the unique bow anchor on the computer. I got a decent prototype finished and started the print prior to bed. Results in the morning.