Bridlington & Wolds Scale Model Club Forum

Models => Modelling Projects => Topic started by: zak on May 24, 2013, 02:55:58 PM

Title: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on May 24, 2013, 02:55:58 PM
Supplied as a gift/challenge from Tony B, will give it a go and try to keep you posted as the build progresses or doesn't.
The first two photos are of the box art and kit contents.
Reviews say it should conatin injection moulded railings- I cannot find any.

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: Matthew on May 24, 2013, 04:54:06 PM
Looks a nice kit Zak

If you carnt find the railings dose this mean some more etch brass and bending and been all fiddle lol

Regards matt
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on May 25, 2013, 08:00:52 AM
I hope not, may have to scratch build from plastic. Not sure yet.
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on May 25, 2013, 10:53:44 AM
Following the instructions at present.
Small cabin at rear is made from clear parts, then masked for painting.
Here is the mast, and the small crane for the rear.

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on May 26, 2013, 11:34:55 AM
looked on line for some generic brass railings by Gold medal - around £55, so I had a go a producing my own.
These are from plastic rods and thin invisible mending thread,

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on May 27, 2013, 05:38:49 PM
A little more progress made.
The hull was a little problematical, it was rather warped and had to be subjected to some persuasion to go together.
Some additional plastic was added for strength.
Here it is in the process of being painted.
I did find that most views on the internet showed the ship post its refit and the model seems to depict it before and so I am attempting to follow the kit colours, this is difficult as the colour scheme is not that well printed.

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on May 30, 2013, 08:59:22 AM
I knew that it was going too well.
On removing the masking tape, it pulled tha white paint off, then while trying to rectify this, I masked the black and guess what, the tape pulled the paint off again.
Yes, I stick the tape to my cutting mat and then use it, and it was Tamiya.
My conclusion is that I used Vallejo primer and this does not bond to the plastic as well as car primer.
I did not wash the plastic before painting either, wonderful thing hindsight.
Here it is in a poly bag covered in Mr Muscle for a complete paint strip.
Oh the joys of model making.
Tip of the month - use a better primer and clean the model prior to the build.

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: bridlufc on May 30, 2013, 12:10:28 PM
Hi Zak, wouldn't it have been easier to remove all the paint with the masking tape first , if the paint lift that easily? At least you wouldn't have the inconveinience of stripping it first.

Regards Bridlufc
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on May 30, 2013, 07:14:17 PM
Yes, thanks Tony. your hindsight is nearly as good as mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: Bigkev on May 31, 2013, 07:54:29 PM
Zak, I take my hat off to you sir.

Its a good job you are posting on the forum, it looks a great build, well done.

I'm gonna have to take the bull by the horns and get back to the modelling desk and produce something and post it here for everyone to share. I'm ashamed of my lack of participation on the website at the moment.

Bigkev
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 01, 2013, 08:47:41 AM
I know the feeling.
See you on Sunday Kevin. Looking forward to a good day.
The pitfalls of modelling are just wonderful.
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 08, 2013, 12:29:02 PM
Here is the repainted hull.
Some work done on the rear winches, added some detail and cables.
Now looking at the cranes and searching for photos to see what details could be added.

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 08, 2013, 12:59:06 PM
If you look at the timings of these posts, it appears that I work at incredible speed, this is untrue. I built some yesterday but could not get the pictures to upload.
Here are the cranes and progress on the decks.

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 08, 2013, 02:57:19 PM
First set of railings installed, plastic rod (20 thou) and stretched sprue, may remove them and try again, not sure yet????


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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 09, 2013, 03:12:18 PM
Railings, rear crane and extra steps added to lower decks.
Tony B actually admitted that the kit did have railings but he dumped them as they were far too out of scale.
Mine have now evolved into 20 thou plastic rod and invisible mending thread. Not as good as Tony's would be but the eyesight is failing rapidly.

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: Bigkev on June 09, 2013, 05:32:11 PM
Hi Zak,

Don't worry too much, that rascal Tony B, just likes to make you wince, his natural ability with all things small and fine beats us all into submission. It looks very good so far though.........

Bigkev
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 09, 2013, 07:52:46 PM
More railings, making them is getting a little tedious now.
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: Bigkev on June 09, 2013, 07:55:02 PM
Zak,

As its Steering Group Meeting tomorrow night you can have night off Ow's that??

Bigkev
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 11, 2013, 05:05:51 PM
Had the night off with some steering group or other, done a little more today, it is getting fiddly and I keep knocking bits off.
Dave
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 12, 2013, 07:43:14 AM
More progress, some of the rails seem to have a mind of their own, or maybe its my unsteady hands.
It is coming together, slowly.
As you can see, the usual chaos surrounds the model.

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 12, 2013, 10:59:50 AM
Here is the method for constructing the rails.
The jigs are made from plastic card, the lower one is mine and the others were made by Tony B - much more precise than mine, but mine did the job, Tony allows for different spans and so on.
The top rail is 20 thou plastic rod.
The uprights are also 20 thou rod.
I tried solvent and superglue, not sure which I prefer?
One shot shows the superglue applicator - a cut off eye end of a needle in an old paint brush handle.
I place the superglue on some double sided tape and use it from there, it takes hours to go off.
The horizontal rails are made from stretched sprue,  again I tried solvent and glue and think that solvent is best here.


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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: zak on June 14, 2013, 05:55:22 PM
Here we are the model is rigged and on a base.

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Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: Bigkev on June 14, 2013, 07:45:02 PM
Hi Zak,

FANTASTICO!!!

Your One hell of a great modeller!
Now where is my model room? I've got a lot of (attempting to) catching up to do.

Brilliant stuff Zak.

Bigkev
Title: Re: Heller 1:200 Titanic Searcher "Le Suroit"
Post by: councilman on June 19, 2013, 06:17:29 PM
Looks real good Dave.
The detail is spot on.
Andy.