SMS VIRIBUS UNITIS IN 1:350 BY TRUMPETER.

[Haddock]

Latest project, started a week or so ago.
The pictures probably speak for themselves.
More to come shortly.
Haddock.

[MSea]

Another masterpiece in the making

[chriswil42]

Another good star Mr Haddock.

[Haddock]

Thanks chaps.
More stuff.

3.  Just a general view of the main deck, not much fixed in place, just a dryfit.

4.  Then the start of the masts. There's some nice detail moulded into the plastic which I didn't think
I could replicate in brass so I decided to graft brass topmasts in place, a bit of crafty cutting and
drilling did the job. The topmasts taper from 1.4 mm down to 0.6 mm, great stuff this Albion Alloys
tube.

5.  Then the foremast, the mainmast is more or less the same except for height. The crows nest is supplied
in etched brass, it looks like a parrots cage so what you see is my version which looks more
like the those in the old photo's.

6.  Funnels and boat handling cranes.

7.  A searchlight platform.

8.  Ships boats.

9.  Main armament.

Haddock.

[Bigkev]

Hi Haddock,
That looks an impressive beast.
Watching and learning.
Cheers,
Bigkev

[chriswil42]

There's quite some detail there.

[Haddock]

Got some paint sloshed on the hull, also secondary armament fitted.
Yes, the boot topping is pink and historically correct according to the experts.
Haddock.

[Bigkev]

Oooh La, la,   M'seiur Haddock,
Very Parisien
Watching and learning.
Bigkev

[chriswil42]

Makes a change from shades of grey.

[Haddock]

Slow progress folks. This is where the time goes.

                            I've included a couple of pictures of the instruction sheet which should help with the explanation of some of the problems.
I need to build the bridge structure so I can put it in place to determine where the rigging will land on the deck without
colliding with anything, in particular, the bridge wings.

                        First problem is, the etched brass doesn't fit thr plastic, this is quite normal for Trumpeter and I know it's going to happen,
it just depends how bad it is.

                    In this instance, the wheelhouse brass (PE A29) is too long for the plastic.
My solution is to add microstrip all the way around it's associated deck (G23) to increase the overall size by 0.5mm. In hindsite
1mm would have made the job a little easier.

                            The same problem arises with the compass platform (G9) and it's mating brass (PE A3). I've used the same solution.

By now you must be getting bored.

                         All the heights are wrong, not by much, but enough to make the whole lot "drunk". Ive chopped lumps off and added shims of varing thicknesses to improve the looks.

                    Finally, there's a stairway (PE A14) that connects the bottom level to the wheelhouse deck. After many dry runs, I decided it just wouldn't fit so I've use some artistic licence, microstrip and the spares box to create something I can actually put together.

                   If your still with me, well done!!

                         The pictures hopefully speak for themselves. If it's grey, it's plastic, if it's white, it's a plasticard shim, if it looks like brass, it is brass, if there's any red spots, that's my blood.
Haddock.

[zak]

Masterly work, your perseverance is endless.

[Haddock]

Thankyou kind sir. It's the thoughts of wasting my money if it goes wrong that spurs me on.

                  Painted and stuck together, not finished by a long way but enough done to attach to the deck and fit the mast (both temporary of course) and plan the layout of the rigging.

Haddock

lousy pics again.

[chriswil42]

What an amazing amount of work you've had to do Tony. The results are looking great.

[Haddock]

                                               DISASTER.

                     Reaching over to close the window so's the windowcleaner could do his stuff, I caught
the mast with my sleeve, should have known better. You can see the result.

                     Not to panic, I've drilled a 0.85mm hole, fair as a flower up the middle of each piece,
inserted a 0.8mm X 8mm long brass pin and secured with Revell Contacter, a bit of pressure gave
a good bead of glue around the joint. I'll leave it overnight to cure and clean the joint up in the
morning. Should be fine.

Phew!
Haddock

[chriswil42]

Good rescue!