1:100 Harbour boat Pilot - 9

When I was a teenager I used to build paper models. One of them was a harbour pilot boat in 1:50 scale. I thought to bring back the memories by building it again. I decided to rescale it to 1:100 as more ships in this scale will follow in my collection. I did some research and found reference materials on which the paper model is based. Also thanks to kind help of Gienek - my modeller friend - I got excellent walkaround which is the key in building scale replicas. As you may noticed I don't rush building my models, so be patient and follow the updates of this article.

This build started as usual by studying the plans and choosing materials. Finally first parts were made...

The skeleton of the hull was cut out of polystyrene and PVC sheets.

Then I used acrylic wood filler to fill in the spaces between the ribs.

My tomcat Rossi has checked the hull in search of twists and distortions - at least he swears he did...

Finally the hull was smoothly filled and ready for primer coat.

Primer applied...

Finally I've added bow and stern reilings and coated the assembly with surfacer.

Wednesday, 23 October 2013

Next I have made fenders.

I used some PVC document file to produce the deck pannels. The facture is similar to anti slip pattern.

Then I produced the general shape of bow superstructure.

Now I'm dealing with the wheelhouse. Here's the general shape...

... and some rounded edges.

   

Tuesday, 26 November 2013

Finally I made the roof. 

This way the block of wheelhouse is finnished...

... so I can start to detail it up. First I made the wheelhouse door and some hatch covers.

Next I made gratings and benches.

Wednesday, 08 January 2014

Next I made some interior details like this cupboard. 

And the steering panel. 

Tired with it I made some details for the wheelhouse exterior.

Unfortunately due to severe damage of my shipyard caused by Catzilla, I have to suspend this project and take care with some other model until the damage is repaired. 

PBY CATaway

This is one of my most serious projects. I've started it quite a while ago and I bet I'll need few more years to finnish it. Although many people have been indirectly involved in this project, I got some special help from famous Polish modelers - Mr. Andrzej Ziober and Mr. Wojtek Fajga. Andrzej is my tutor in philosophy of opening models and Wojtek supported me with excellent photoetched and resin parts.

PBY Catalina is one of the most beautiful flying boats. I really admire smooth curves and wonderful constuction of this multipurpose seaplane. 

That is why I decided to build its quarter inch scale replica. Inspired by Mr. Jorge Roberto Wolf's 1:48 Catalina as well as superb opened models of Mr. Andrzej Ziober - I make my Catalina with removed pannels. Andrzej helped me to decide which ones should be taken off in order to  portreit it in the most interesting way. The ones marked with blue outline will be removed revealling a superdetailed interior. 

The aim is to depict a magnifcent construction of Catalina as well as to show the conditions in which her crew worked, lived and fought. 

The first thing I did was removing bow walkways...

... and thinning up the fuselage halves.

Then I've marked spaces where pannels will be removed...

... and prepared new pannels with rivets.

Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Next step was to prepare the bow gun turret. I used a kit part to make its frame.

To detail it up I used PVC 0,1 mm film,, some wire and cable coating and remaining bits from old PE frets.

I constantly check the fit.

To ease up the painting, I first sprayed interior green over all, and then started work on glazing.

It reduced masking to minimum and there was no risk, that I'd damage the assembly while inserting inner masks.

All bits are corresponding to picture reference I've previousy studied.

The bow turret assembly consists of over 70 bits...