1/100 Chaconia LPG carrier

[Neptune]

Hi Dave,
thanks for the comments, always an honor coming from you!
The lifeboats, yes you got me there, will be the next challenge, although I'm a little short of source material for now. They're fully enclosed, gas tight lifeboats with a full spray system. It's going to be a challenge on its own and honestly I'm not really looking forward to it. Also the davits, which are located aft of the broad part of the superstructure to protect them from any cargo area fire, will perhaps need soldering (not sure yet to make them out of styrene or brass). It's not the davits themselves which pose the problem, it's rather the structure around them, to enter the boats that will be the challenge.
Currently I'm working on some small items like doors (yes, one by one, no jig, no molding) and ventillation ducts. I'm pretty much ready to start some painting (primer) and put some extra strengthening inside and then close the whole structure and mount the facing and bridge.

A lot of work, but I hope to have most of it finished before my next voyage. I've also started thinking and designing the rudder and the deck tank.

[Neptune]

Ok, got some work done the past days. The next attempt on the facing was done and up till now it looks good.
A picture will follow with the facing in place. All that's left is gluing the steps below the windows along with glazing.

The bridgewings have to be adapted once the facing is in place.

[Ticonderoga]

So much detail to take care of Roel, looking good mate.

Andrew

[Neptune]

Much like the Slava's missiles and Top Dome, the facing of this ship (along with the rest of its superstructure) is one of the prominent features. Can't leave out the spray system and escape route there as that would be very odd looking.
Another reason for doing all this is that she might, as Dave's Kiev (although of course lower quality) end up as a show-case model instead of a true R/C ships, places along with opportunities to sail are very scarce in my region. If I add the details, she's allowed to stand in the living room (under a yet to be made case), if I made it true R/C without any detailing, she would stay somewhere on the attic or garage...

For the facing I did make some jigs. One for the parts for the windows, one, which I later modified to drill the holes for the steps. I modified it later on to make the steps themselves.

[Dave Wooley]

Roel This is fine detailing on the bridge face superbly mastered. . You are certainly progressing towards a model that will be seen inside a display case . But then you may wish to see your build afloat!
Dave Wooley

[Neptune]

Ok, she's in place now. One step further I guess. Now it's off to sanding and detailing the rest of the superstructure. This was the last "big" piece of styrene!

Now the biggest question is, how to make a conical (cut off cone) shape without a lathe?

[Capit�o Norbert]

hI Roel
the quality of your superestructure have very good appearence.
nice project from you

[Ticonderoga]

Ok, she's in place now. One step further I guess. Now it's off to sanding and detailing the rest of the superstructure. This was the last "big" piece of styrene!

Now the biggest question is, how to make a conical (cut off cone) shape without a lathe?

This might help?



Andrew

[DrPR]

Andrew,

Thanks for posting this. You should also post it in the "Tips and Tricks" section.

[Neptune]

Thanks for that Andrew, haven't quite tried it yet though. I did try one in paper and that worked, but now I have to make it in 0.5mm styrene, but even at such thickness it's pretty sturdy and resisting, so I'll have a try and see, otherwise I'll have to sand it somehow after all.

Monday I received a huge number of reference pictures along with some nice plans of some parts I needed. I must thank both the persons in the company who helped me for this, it's great to receive help so quickly.
Of course this meant that I could advance again. I set a goal to myself to get the funnel finished by today and that sort of worked (except for some touch ups to be done on the E. I'm very far from an expert in airbrushing and that's fairly visible... I'm happy with the result so far though. The only things to be added are a flagline attachment stanchion on the side and the aft horn on the funnel. There is also a big pipe on top of the funnel from the main engine, but I'll add that later once I have a better plan on the smoke generator which I intend to install.

[Neptune]

Lots of small details to do now. I was planning to make the grills for the engine room myself along with all the other grills for ventilation. The first results weren't encouraging and it would be a long and tedious job to do. So I thought perhaps Evergreen would have something I could use. For the first time in my life I bought some Evergreen stuff now. The thing I used for the small grills is called "Clapboard" and it has a sort of sawblade structure.

I also tackled the bridgewings. The inside frames were placed, sides cut to height and the front, which bends back and forth to reduce the wind were all done. Afterwards I put some white primer on that deck.

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Roel excellent work on the funnel paintwork . I am glad you have been converted to Evergreen , great material to model with .

[Ticonderoga]

Great work Roel.

Andrew

[Capit�o Norbert]

i agree Wooley and Andrew
very good job Roel

[Neptune]

Thanks for the comments and support!

Dave, I haven't been converted to Evergreen, sometimes you just have to admit to yourself when machines are better than your skills... And it just saves a lot of time too.

I'm now in the process of putting primer on the whole structure, part by part. I'm using a spray can, white primer, from Graupner. Took some time to figure out how it goes, but I seem to have found the right technique now. The facing (after putting some extra brackets above the escape windows) was done along with the starboard side. The lower level was deliberately left without primer, and has now received the largest part of its details. I'll continue on the portside with the detailing of that level and work on the aft side as well. The bridge has been painted in its "normal" colours, but I feel the grey for the roof is still too dark, so I'll retake it and add some more white. I still have to redo one part in white as well, but I will wait for the rest of the superstructure before I do that.

On with the pictures then.

[Neptune]

While painting the superstructure (still on the white now), I'm making some fittings as well.

The wooden blocks you see are the tank domes. Technically part of the cargo tanks inside the hull, protruding through the deck. I'll be plating them with Litho, kindly provided by Master Ron.
The smaller fittings are mainly ventilation ducts of different types. The big angled one is sitting just in front of the swimming pool and provides cooling and air for the emergency diesel generator. Apart from those you see one, partly finished Lifeboat winch (for lowering and heaving up the lifeboats and davits) with a split drum. She's about 1cm long.

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Roel your attention to the fine detail is coming through so well , this is going to be an excellent model when completed. Glad you are making use of the litho ,the material is so versatile.
Dave Wooley

[Neptune]

Yes it is, it's strong, yet very thin and that has its uses when detailing things.

Here is the bridge, nearly finished, I'll make that "F" on the firebox a little smaller and thinner, but the main work on the bridge is done. Also some small paint job to paint the door handles. I'm still in progress with the main superstructure. One side still needs a finishing coat of white and then I can add the grey for the decks. It looks a little too dark, but I guess once the ship is outside it'll be nearly correct in shade.

[Capit�o Norbert]

GREAT quality on the model work. i like so much

[Ticonderoga]

Yes it is, it's strong, yet very thin and that has its uses when detailing things.

Very good work Roel, coming along very nicely.

Here in Brisbane, I have not been able to source any of the Litho plate so far

Andrew