1204m Shmel Riverine gunboat by RGL - Tiger Model - 1/35 - PLASTIC

[RGL]

Time to get back to ships (well boats), I bought this monster and after doing some weathered 1/35 military stuff I’m ready for this. As it’s So yet era I can weather the absolute hell out of it and add some decent size figures. 

[RGL]

This thing is certainly going to take a LOT of paint. Not a hard build and being Soviet it’s pretty industrial 

[yvesvidal]

That should be interesting. I know that when you are done, it will be difficult to distinguish the model from the real ship.

 

Yves

[patrickmil]

Question: Is the deck a dark brown or is it that orange/red that larger Soviet ships had?

[RGL]

Photo time, there is a Russian language modelling site which I have gotten the images off. It appears that the boats were a brown water navy during the soviet era.

[RGL]

And in more modern times, in a camo (which I will not do)

[RGL]

Hull together, some big seam gaps fixed up.
 

next will be to scribe in some hull welds , 

[Canute]

The turret looks like the ones used on their amphibious tank, the PT-76. Yes, very industrial, Greg.

[BANYAN]

Nice to see you back to your maritime roots Greg.  This looks like it will be a very interesting build and I am sure you will enjoy going to town with your weathering on a model of this size.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[RGL]

Lower hull, I still need to do some scribing but I’m also tossing up as to if I’ll put it in a resin base. 
 

anyways, the kit completely omits the fender which is on the stern. I glued two small strips of hardwood together and sanded it to shape. You can see from the white bits I’ve done a lot of putty so far. 

Edited July 15, 2024 by RGL

[clearway]

gonna be a beast-you gotta do the guy with the guitar😁

 

Keith

[deerstalker36]

Can i ask where you got the kit from. I've been looking high and low for one of these

[RGL]

So all the big bits done. It’s so damn big! 

[yvesvidal]

13 hours ago, RGL said:

So all the big bits done. It’s so damn big! 

Yes, but so detailed !!!!

 

Yves

[RGL]

Some of the deck features. I have them a red primer coat, then a clear coat. Next a layer of chipping fluid then a green coat. Rubbed it back now I with repeat with lighter shaders of green to make it look like it’s been repainted lots of times by some poor conscript. 

[yvesvidal]

That is so realistic. Fantastic work.

 

Yves

[RGL]

So I’m going to go with the Ukrainian colours, so the upper works are white. Once it’s all painted I’ll then weather it heavily with grunge 

[RGL]

On 7/26/2024 at 3:08 PM, deerstalker36 said:

Can i ask where you got the kit from. I've been looking high and low for one of these

Sorry, completely missed this. I got it from a mate who imports directly from Asia. I’d have a look at Hobbyeasy perhaps or the eBay’s hobbylink Japan have them in stock 

Edited September 8, 2024 by RGL

[RGL]

Adding some wiring as per the reference photos 

[RGL]

The bridge is a big open area you can look into and see nothing. There is plastic glass which is still clear and it needs some details . Using spare parts I did a window ledge and some details and eventually there will be two sailors inside 

 

also some water bottles and Voka bottles of course 

[RGL]

The one interior photo of the bridge i found

[RGL]

The fly bridge and search light. The kit one is very very plain. I’ve also added some old speakers which a probably a little too big but when finished this kit is so massive it won’t matter 

[RGL]

Progress

[RGL]

The base coat on the bridge structure done. A clear coat and weathering next 

[RGL]

The grunging of the Shmel begins 

[RGL]

And the bridge pretty much complete 

[RGL]

So as a distraction I’ve painted up all the nuclear waste drums that will be under the Shmel in the seascape. Weathering to go and I’ll have them on the sea floor in radioactive mud so the paintwork does not need to be perfect 

[RGL]

Grunge & rust, just need a clear coat tomorrow. The two figures in the background will be in the cabin 

[deerstalker36]

I've just gotten mine through the post as a christmas present. The references here are going to be really useful

[RGL]

Great stuff, no one else is building her at the moment that I can find