Korean turtle ship by MSzwarc - FINISHED - Young Modelers - 1:100, kitbashed

[patrickmil]

The painted mask and dragon's head look great. I like the artistic license you took with them. The flag looks very nice as well.

[wim500]

Mike, I have to echo John and Patrick, great job.

I have some months to go for the decision how to paint the dragon's head and mask.

[MSzwarc]

Thanks for your comments.

 

More modeling madness. I decided to get the anchor out of the way since I didn't want to even think about the spikes yet. The kit anchor consists of two wooden pieces, with a thread wrapping. As I compared it to photos of anchors on turtle ship replicas, though, I could see that neither the construction, nor the shape of the flukes was the same, so I built my own anchor out of 21 pieces of wood, paper, and brass.







With the anchor done, only the spikes remain, so it was time to figure out how I would do them. I considered miniature nails as well as pins, but rejected both as too large and not the look I wanted. Studying photos of the spikes and armor plates on the replica in Seoul, I decided that the spikes should be 0.02" in diameter, and should protrude 2mm from the tile. I decided to make them out of 0.02" dia. brass rod, 4mm long as follows:



1) cut rod to 8mm lengths-- easier to handle in The Dremel than 4mm
2) point both ends of rod in Dremel rotary tool
3) cut 8mm rods in half
4) blacken using Blacken-It

Finally, 0.018" dia holes are drilled in the center of the armor tiles, and the spikes are press fit by pushing in with a piece of plastic rod drilled 2mm deep with a 0.025" dia hole. This tool ensures that all the spikes protrude only 2mm from the tile. On the test section I made up, no glue was necessary for a good, tight fit.


The process works, and results in the desired appearance, but producing the approximately 500 needed spikes will be tedious and time consuming, so I'd best get on with it.

[wim500]

Mike, the anchor looks great, a good decision.

As for the spikes, you don't have to get bored the next days ,

[Adrieke]

you are doing some excelent changes to the kit

 

i always love all these specialy made tools and jigs that are invented to make the model come together

[john46]

Mike, well done. You made it a scratch built of it by those lovely amendments.

 

Regards,

John

[MSzwarc]

To break up the tedium of making the spikes, I decided to begin installing those I have finished. The installation goes quickly compared to fabricating the spikes. I started at midship so I could define the unspiked pathways around the hatches. I've got not quite 2/3 of the spikes made now, and about 1/3 of the spikes installed.

[cog]

Mike,

 

Hats off to you. Those spikes look really great. You must have a rather large fountain of patience.

[WackoWolf]

Beautiful work. The detail is paying off in a big way. Keep the pictures coming.

[john46]

Mike,

 

Great job on the spikes. The result looks very realistic.

 

Regards,

John

[patrickmil]

This is looking really nice! Your build is inspiring to say the least.

[Ship Shape]

Impressive is not a good enough word to describe the work you have done.  This shows no matter the subject and or scale, any kit has the ability to be modeled to a high standard of detail and scale.  I also model in card as well and I never have really thought to do as you have using this medium as part of the process, I have used a strip here and there for bindings, but never as you have.  Master piece is the word I am looking for.  I look forward to more of this most informative thread of a vessel I have never heard of.  Thanks for sharing this,

Rick

[MSzwarc]

Thanks for the comments, everyone, and thanks for taking a look at the build log. The turtle ship is now finished, and I've posted pics in the completed model gallery.

Edited March 20, 2013 by MSzwarc

[john46]

Mike, have taken a look at your turtle ship in the completed model gallery - it is fantastic, a valuable asset in your collection.

Congratulations,

 

John

[Lucius Molchany]

I really like the red dragon head!Looks really fearsome! Is it true it spewed forth fire?

[runner63]

Great build of a unique ship sir

 

runner63

[wim500]

Mike, you've made an impressive model, congratulations with the result.

Very nice pics in the gallery.

I hope I can build mine at the same level.

[slagoon]

Looks amazing - must add to wishlist - congrats on the great finish

[gjdale]

Congratulations Mike on an outstanding build of a unique and interesting subject.

[Tophog]

I am very excited to see this build. I have seen a kit similar to this but in a larger scale, 1/65 I believe, and had been very tempted to purchase. I have seen a documentary on this (The Discovery Channel I believe). I will be watching this very closely as I have always been interested in the nautical history of South East Asia. So far it is a beauty.

 

 

[AntonyUK]

Hi.
A very nice model. Quality workmanship.
Quote from post No #5  "I've installed the oars and cannons, which need to be in place before the roof gets planked over. Unfortunately, the oars will make handling the model for the remaining work a lot trickier."
I have dome something similar to this and used very small magnets in the hull and metal pins inside the oars to hold in place when ready.
I spent many years in Korea. I loved the place
 

Regards Antony.

Edited April 7, 2013 by AntonyUK

[the learner]

an impressively incredible build. The job you have done with the hexagonal tiles and the dragon's head have been outstanding!

 

There is a model of a Turtle ship in the Ventura CA Museum

Edited February 10, 2018 by the learner