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Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: August 5th, 2017, 12:50 am
by dollar19
Looking very good.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: August 10th, 2017, 2:06 am
by JohnRatzenberger
Seems like I am limping along, and I am in some respects due to external things, but also because this kit takes so much work to clean up.

Not complaining, just that most parts have mold seams, ejector marks, and other flaws and then there is the issue of getting things to fit together with the foreward bulkhead and the foredeck being an example. What you see, after some work and study is that the bulkhead has been added and the foredeck is just sitting there waiting its turn.

Image

Meantime I have started painting molded-on details on the main deck while cleaing up the various parts to be fastened to both decks.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: August 10th, 2017, 1:13 pm
by PaulBradley
There is much to be said for old kits, but the clean up is definitely a disadvantage. Of course, there are exceptions but most of them need some fettling and, as you say, mould seams, pin marks, etc, need eradicating. Looks good though, John!

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: August 10th, 2017, 9:29 pm
by gnomemeansgnome
I second what Paul says, John. Anyways, as I found with the Stranraer, slow and steady wins the race! That tanker will look pretty fine eventually.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: August 10th, 2017, 11:57 pm
by dollar19
Couldn't agree more. Those old kits do dress up nicely but boy do you have to scrub them up. I'm sure she will look fantastic for the ball!

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: August 16th, 2017, 1:33 pm
by CementNotGlue
http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/sea ... r&x=24&y=4;

Photos before and after modification?

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: August 16th, 2017, 5:46 pm
by general rocket
Keep it up, still following.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: August 16th, 2017, 11:34 pm
by chrism
progressing pleasantly John.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: September 12th, 2017, 1:33 am
by JohnRatzenberger
chrism wrote:progressing pleasantly John.
You are too kind, sometimes progress is just a by-product of my effort.

Nonetheless, here we are as of today.

Image

Image

The hull, fore/cable deck and main/pipe decks are well on their way.

It's about time to put decals on the hull to ready it for a spray-down once I get some more bits on.
It lacks the railings -- I have PE for them, still considering.
All mast parts are done and painted but won't be put on until I'm done the rest.

The white blocks on the deck are there to make the PE stairs/rails fit better. I am not using the kit stairs and if you remember I cut off the four chunky stairs from main to pipe. That meant I had to splice the fuel pipes for the gap, but I used a thicker tube section and the PE stairs don't fit quite right. I am going to have to think my way out of this. Sigh !!!

The big work left is the entire cabin deck which I have been holding off on because of "glassing" the portholes and the final varnish spray. I have a plan, cunning maybe not so much, but we will see. I am pretty comfortable that the cabin deck will be a drop-on with only minor touch-up needed.

It's been a long haul, what with all the cleaning up of parts that I have had to do.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: September 12th, 2017, 2:00 am
by PaulBradley
Very nice work, John!

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: September 12th, 2017, 5:58 am
by iggie
Very impressive indeed; the pipework details especially so.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: September 12th, 2017, 8:36 am
by chrism
Coming together well now. Definitely a fiddly project made more so when like now you are up against it.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: September 12th, 2017, 4:39 pm
by celt
Its looking really great,hats of to you.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: October 1st, 2017, 7:04 pm
by JohnRatzenberger
Been a while, I've been puttering along, but a test fit shows that it is getting a lot closer.

Image

I have made a tactical error. I was undecided about the kit plastic rails vs photoetch and having finally opted for PE, I realized I had left all the mounting holes for the kit railings open and had built/painted right around them. Duh. Anyway, I am filling them and repainting.

Meanwhile you can see lots more deck furniture, decals, and other things have been added. In between repairing the railing holes I have the stack to finish, the lifeboats being painted, the funnels on the cabin deck working, and a few other small parts.

It's getting there, and slow as it is, I'm enjoying it more as I go. Be neat if it weren't for the SMW mailing deadline.

Re: Frog's Shell Coastal Tanker - a build thread

Posted: October 1st, 2017, 7:40 pm
by gnomemeansgnome
Great looking build, John. It looks as though you are really knocking this one into shape.