Calling all Science/Research/Exploration, & Coast Guard fans

[D-Boy]

Two versions of the same kit?

HMS Endurance in 1:700 scale out this month from Seals Models: http://www.hlj.com/product/INTMT001. Resin and white metal.

One in the same with the MT Miniatures kit?: http://www.anticsonline.co.uk/2232_1_106430861.html

[maxim]

I guess no. I have the MT Miniatures kit of HMS Endurance and I have also some resin kits by Seals Models/Interallied (e.g. the icebreaker Fuji)- and the kind of material, style of casting, details etc. are very different.

You can see the parts of the MT Miniatures kit here:
http://www.modellmarine.de/index.php?op ... &catid=330

I am not sure, if you would like to have a better kit of the 1991 HMS Endurance (ex Polar Circle) from Seals Models or the older 1967 HMS Endurance (ex Anita Dan). Both had the A-171...

[D-Boy]

I'm guessing two different kits as well.

Loved the pix of your Soya and Burton Island - hope to achieve a similar result. Well done!

I have the Soya (70% complete) and Shirase (just arrived in shipment). Wonderful kits in plastic - perhaps the best plastic casting I've ever seen. Was impressed with the size difference between these two models - was not expecting Shirase to be as long or wide as she actually is.

Also have the 1:350 Soya in the stash, after enjoying the initial 1:700 build so much. Saving up for the PE for that kit.

[maxim]

Does someone tried to built Calypso in 1/700? She is a former YMS, BYMS-26

Here is a review about a 1/350 kit of YMS-260 by ISW
http://www.steelnavy.com/ISW%20YMS-260.htm

In 1/700 there was a kit by Samek, which perhaps still can be found somewhere:
http://www.modellmarine.de/index.php?op ... 9&Itemid=1
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

There are some card kits for research ships, e.g. for the German Polarstern, Meteor (I and III) and a kit for Maria S. Merian is announced. There is also a card kit of the Danish Nella Dan, which was also used for the Australian Antarctic research (and was sunk after grounding in Australian service).


@ D-Boy: the size difference between Soya and Shirase is really impressive.

[D-Boy]

Revell Germany re-issued the model, although not in Calypso name or colors, in spring 2010.

Now known as "Neptune," RG kit # 05101, "Ocean Exploration Vessel"?

Somebackground as well as pictures of this kit's build at: http://www.hobbytalk.com/bbs1/showthread.php?t=293935. Some discussion and links here as well: http://cs.finescale.com/FSMCS/themes/fs ... tID=680080

Original Revell kit(s) occassionally seen on US EBay site - noen currently listed. Google just turned up an asking price of $176 US for a 1976 release of the kit.

[D-Boy]

Yes, according to posts on other modeling sites, Revell and Calypso Society could not reach agreement, and the reissue has been re-branded "Neptune." Same molds, same kit.

Revell's kit and a 1/45 scale kit from Billings (Denmark) seem to be the only kits marketed as "Calypso:"
http://www.ahrensdesign.net/calypso/. Here are some other photos of the Billings model: http://www.naturecoast.com/hobby/bil560.htm

1/45 too big? Check out this 1:1250 scale model: http://www.djibnet.com/photo/1%3A1250sc ... 26079.html

Or search under BYMS (British Yard Minesweeper) Mark 1 Class Motor Minesweeper for naval versions of the basic ship and scratchbuild the Cousteau Society changes.

Ships plans in 1:48 scale are here: http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/aca ... r2384.html

See Maxim's post earlier in this thread:

"Here is a review about a 1/350 kit of YMS-260 by ISW:
http://www.steelnavy.com/ISW%20YMS-260.htm

In 1/700 there was a kit by Samek, which perhaps still can be found somewhere:

http://www.modellmarine.de/index.php?op ... 9&Itemid=1

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Or post for assistance in the "Calling all minesweepers fans" thread: viewtopic.php?f=52&t=43881&p=292004&hilit=BYMS#p292004

[kennylibben]

Filipvs, try ebay. I looked at buying a Calypso kit a few years ago and ebay had quite a few listed at good prices.

[Seasick]

I found a ex-BYMS-26 at my LHS. Complete with Neptune decals. Sure looks like the kit I built when I was 12.

[maxim]

Recently I have finished the deep see research drilling vessel Chikyu (1/700, Bandai):





http://www.modellmarine.de/index.php?op ... d=112:lars

I have modified a lot of the lattice structures, e.g. at the drilling tower, below the helicopter deck, the mast etc. etc. But there is much more, which could have been done.

The next research ship could be the polar research ship Shirase II:
http://www.modellmarine.de/index.php?op ... 0&catid=61

[D-Boy]

[quote="maxim"]Recently I have finished the deep see research drilling vessel Chikyu (1/700, Bandai):

http://www.modellmarine.de/index.php?op ... d=112:lars

I have modified a lot of the lattice structures, e.g. at the drilling tower, below the helicopter deck, the mast etc. etc. But there is much more, which could have been done.[quote]

Congrats, Maxim! I look forward to exploring the link. Will cross-post the link in my review of the kit.

D-Boy

[maxim]

Thank you! I hope there will be more similar kit released. Not necessarily drilling vessels (JOIDES Resolution, Glomar Challenger?), but other research ships. There are many of them with some interesting stories, e.g. RV Knorr, which was used to find the Titanic wreck.

[Neptune]

Yeah exciting times for research ships nowadays. Don't forget the odd-ball Ramform Titan and its sister. Lots of Seismic research ships around nowadays, also the new drillships and semi-submersibles are pretty interesting. Also check out the Stena ships, they have some pretty neat paint schemes.

Congrats on your Chikyu, not exactly a well-known or common kit. Pretty difficult to get all those details right. Too bad nobody produces PE for such ships yet.

[maxim]

Thank you!

I am collecting material about seismic research ships with the X-Bow design, but I have not started to built one. The seismic research ships of the Ramform design are even more odd.

[D-Boy]

Another lovely build of the Chikyu: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=157853&p=641341#p641341

- D-Boy

[Neptune]

Nice Chikyu builds.

Maxim, I believe there is a German RC board specially dedicated to X-bow designs, not sure if they draw all their plans by themselves or whether they have access to some real design drawings. X-bow is quite popular, in only a couple of years since its introduction there are already more than 100 built.
I think I still have some deck plans of a diving support vessel with an X-bow (in relatively smaller scale, somewhere around 1/400 I think. Not sure if I threw it away or kept it during my last move though. If you want I can have a look again. That ship worked with us for a while, the name was Reef Despina. She was more a diving support vessel than a seismic survey vessel though. Some of the common users are Polarcus (survey), Bourbon (offshore supply vessels), and a variety of other companies (forgot who's property Despina was). Currently there is also the X-stern, together with the X-bow it makes a funny look. However by their characteristics in a decent seaway, the combination of both allows quite a stable platform that doesn't require too much effort to keep position. Therefore it's more fuel efficient since the Dynamic Positioning system doesn't have to do that much work.

[maxim]

I found some plans of Bourbon Orca, which are useful (but not perfect) to understand the hull form, plus reasonable good plans of the seismic research ship Columbus. I will probably built either Columbus or one of her sister ships or Polarcus Asima or one of her sister ships. If I find the time to actually start this project...

If you find the plan, I would be interested.

[Neptune]

Hi, well I'll have a look when I get back home. The more I think of it, the more I'm convinced I actually threw it away.
Either way I found the place where they build RC models. Perhaps if you contact them they can provide you with plans. They have some really awesome RC versions and even if their plans aren't perfect on 1/100 or 1/50, if you scale them down to your smaller scales they will be quite close or certainly acceptable.
I believe you have to make time for this

http://s334193509.website-start.de/ig-x ... te-der-ig/

[maxim]

I have written them an e-mail. Perhaps they have something, even thou they write that most of their models are based on photos.

[Daniele]

Hi all
i just bought an Hasegawa kit of the "Soya" in 1/350 , now i am looking around internet for some reference on color and more details from any picture i can find .
I have one thing to ask

My kit says on the description " 3rd corps " , So what is the main difference between the other kit of the Soya that have in the description "1st corps" and "2nd corps" ?

thank you
Daniele

[maxim]

Soya was converted several times and these numbers refers to different expeditions. E.g. the helicopter deck was moved one deck higher between the 2nd and 3rd expedition. Today she still looks similar as during the 3rd expedition.

See e.g.
http://www.modelwarships.com/features/w ... index.html

I had used:
Vallejo Model color:
22 hull
4 superstructure
110 wooden decks
75 helicopter deck
161 steel decks

See also Frank's building report:
http://modelingmadness.com/review/misc/ ... hrsoya.htm

There is a Model Art Special about here explaining the conversions. I think the well deck was closed between the 1st and 2nd expedition. But if you have the kit for the 3rd expedition, I recommend to ignore the first two expeditions - that would be massive conversions.