Oryol 1902 by GrandpaPhil - FINISHED - Orel - 1/200 - CARD - Russian Battleship

GrandpaPhil · September 27

The railings and other small pieces are made and installed on the mine launches:

The rudder structure shown in the instructions/plans won’t fit on the boat in the cradle.

I cut that structure off once I realized.

Once the boats dry I will paint and seal them.

Then, I’ll make the flag masts for them and lay them down in a storage configuration.

After that it’ll be time for the rowed ship’s boats.

Then I’ll finish painting the cradles and get the rest of the yards and running rigging installed.

Edited September 27 by GrandpaPhil

Glen McGuire · September 27

Nice use of Legos, Phil!

Old Collingwood · September 28

Excellent work Phil.

OC.

GrandpaPhil · September 28

15 hours ago, Glen McGuire said:

Nice use of Legos, Phil!

Glen,

Thank you very much! I found out about that trick on this forum. Legos make excellent quick customizable jigs and temporary cradles. I bought a box of 1000 bricks and then a couple of those small suitcase type starter sets from Walmart when they went on various pre-Christmas/Easter sales. They have been immensely useful on several different projects.

Also, they make a great square for traditional POB construction. They are 90 degrees, especially when built into a block and can be clamped into place, thus ensuring square construction of a POB hull.

11 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Excellent work Phil.

OC.

OC,

Thank you very much!

Edited September 28 by GrandpaPhil

GrandpaPhil · September 28

Here are the 40’ mine launches ready for installation:

Here are the first of the rowed launches in progress:

Coyote_6 · September 28

Those launches look great Phil! Wow. Very impressive and nice finishes.

Jsk · October 1

Looks like you're getting down to last steps. She looks great!

SaltyScot · October 3

Yep, you can p[robably see the finish line, Phil. This has been a great build, a joy to watch her grow into the imposing model she has become.

GrandpaPhil · October 4

On 9/28/2025 at 11:19 AM, Coyote_6 said:

Those launches look great Phil! Wow. Very impressive and nice finishes.

Steve,

Thank you very much! The ship’s boats on these are always a challenge at this scale, but I am happy with how they have turned out!

On 10/1/2025 at 4:04 PM, Jsk said:

Looks like you're getting down to last steps. She looks great!

Jeff,

Thank you very much! The end is in sight! This will be the first actual ship that I will have completed since early 2023!

On 10/2/2025 at 8:40 PM, SaltyScot said:

Yep, you can p[robably see the finish line, Phil. This has been a great build, a joy to watch her grow into the imposing model she has become.

Mark,

Thank you very much! This model has been a learning curve! This is my first predreadnought battleship, in addition to my first card predreadnought! I am very happy with how it is turning out!

The first set of the rowed ship’s boats are done:

IMG_2253.jpeg.228d4edc51290aad86d4692f49abc31c.jpeg

I was able to use them to ensure alignment of the cradles, which are now painted and mostly sealed:

Here is the overall ship:

Now to finish the ship’s boats because they are started and then to make some yards and run some running rigging!

TerryPat · October 4

That is an excellent build! Very cool !!

GrandpaPhil · October 11

On 10/4/2025 at 5:31 PM, TerryPat said:

That is an excellent build! Very cool !!

Thank you very much!

Thank you to everyone who has hit the “like” button or stopped by!

All twelve of the ship’s boats that sit in the cradles are now complete:

I’m working on finishing the last two, which will sit in davits.

The ones in the cradles sit side by side and the running rigging (braces) runs between them.

So, I’m going to add a couple more small fittings (vents to be exact) and then the inner rows of ship’s boats and then add the yards and the running rigging.

Then, I’ll add the outer boats and the rest of the navigation lamps before I finish the outer superstructure/bulwarks details.

Next up, will be all outer deck fittings and then the rest of the hull fittings.

Lastly, it will be time to add the flags, which is typically the absolute last step for me.

Still have a fair amount to do, but we’re getting there!

Edited October 11 by GrandpaPhil

Glen McGuire · October 12

Those ship's boats are really well done, Phil.

GrandpaPhil · October 12

22 hours ago, Glen McGuire said:

Those ship's boats are really well done, Phil.

Glen,

Thank you very much!

Thank you all for the likes and just for stopping by!

I realized that with the ship’s boats in place, it would be impossible to secure the braces on the main deck so I am going to find somewhere else to secure them.

I have also seen them secured to the opposite mast.

So, I installed the two sets of steam boats:

Definitely making progress!

Edited October 12 by GrandpaPhil

SaltyScot · October 13

Impressive, Phil - absolutely impressive.

GrandpaPhil · October 13

11 hours ago, SaltyScot said:

Impressive, Phil - absolutely impressive.

Mark,

Thank you very much!

The rest of the cradle stored ship’s boats are installed:

Next up, I will be making/installing the yard arms and finishing the running rigging.

Coyote_6 · October 13

Those ship's boats look really good in place! Nicely done Phil. Nicely done.

GrandpaPhil · October 14

22 hours ago, Coyote_6 said:

Those ship's boats look really good in place! Nicely done Phil. Nicely done.

Steve,

Thank you very much!

The yards and running rigging are now made and installed:

That closes out the inner structure!

Now on to the outside of the inner bulwarks!

GrandpaPhil · October 18

Working on the last of the ladders:

GrandpaPhil · October 20

I have the boarding ladders completed:

Some parts still need sealed, but the entire superstructure is now completed.

I am currently working on the railings around the main deck:

My method, which is modified from a method that I learned from Digital Navy’s how-to section before their website went down, is to draw out a bunch of railings. I usually go down the long side of a sheet of cardstock for bulk railings. Then, I seal both sides with my Folk Art brush-on clear primer. Then, I cut that out. Then, I cut to size and preshape/score the railings. Lastly, I cut out the empty area of the railings.

It takes some practice and a lot of care and patience to avoid cutting the frames. But if that happens you can glue them back together with PVA. It’s not really any big deal.

I usually paint them after gluing them in place.

I like how they turn out and they avoid me having to mess with brass or string. Neither one usually works out well for me.

Edited October 20 by GrandpaPhil

Snug Harbor Johnny · October 20

I wonder if suitably sized 'hardware cloth' (metal mesh found in home/garden supply stores) could serve as railing. GREAT job on the pre-dreadnaught, Gramps ... and someday I may do a paper USS Baltimore seen in a MSW topic last year. I bought a downloaded version from the designers, then enlarged to the biggest size I could print.

king derelict · October 20

It just looks better and better as the details pile up. I still can’t imagine doing those railings myself.

alan

GrandpaPhil · Friday at 08:04 PM

On 10/20/2025 at 8:37 AM, Snug Harbor Johnny said:

I wonder if suitably sized 'hardware cloth' (metal mesh found in home/garden supply stores) could serve as railing. GREAT job on the pre-dreadnaught, Gramps ... and someday I may do a paper USS Baltimore seen in a MSW topic last year. I bought a downloaded version from the designers, then enlarged to the biggest size I could print.

Johnny,

Thank you very much! I really enjoy card models and look forward to seeing your Baltimore! I have a few other Orel pre-dreadnoughts and ironclads that I am looking forward to building in my stash. A metal mesh could work, but you would need multiple sizes.

On 10/20/2025 at 2:52 PM, king derelict said:

It just looks better and better as the details pile up. I still can’t imagine doing those railings myself.

alan

Alan,

Thank you very much! The railings are just a matter of drawing them out and then cutting them out. It sounds and looks a lot worse than it is.

The amidships railings are installed:

Time for the aft deck railings!

king derelict · Saturday at 12:02 AM

3 hours ago, GrandpaPhil said:

The railings are just a matter of drawing them out and then cutting them out.

I still think it’s amazing. Cutting out little red lions for my German knight is driving me dippy enough.

alan

madtatt · Saturday at 04:39 AM

Amazing, the way you cut out the railings is impressive. I'm already cursing when I have to use them as photo-etched parts.

But what you're doing here, respect. 💪

GrandpaPhil · Sunday at 12:02 AM

On 10/24/2025 at 8:02 PM, king derelict said:

I still think it’s amazing. Cutting out little red lions for my German knight is driving me dippy enough.

alan

Alan,

Thank you very much!

19 hours ago, madtatt said:

Amazing, the way you cut out the railings is impressive. I'm already cursing when I have to use them as photo-etched parts.

But what you're doing here, respect. 💪

Jolle,

Thank you very much!

The main deck railings are made and installed:

They still need painted.

The last railing on this model is the decorative railing on the Admiral’s Walk.

Edited Sunday at 12:03 AM by GrandpaPhil

SaltyScot · Sunday at 08:42 PM

On 10/20/2025 at 2:52 PM, king derelict said:

It just looks better and better as the details pile up. I still can’t imagine doing those railings myself.

alan

Yep, I have to go with Alan on this one. Fine work indeed, Phil.