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Post by rod on Sept 12, 2009 5:19:05 GMT 1
Well its been a while since I've done another ship kit so I went down to the local hobby shop and had a wander. Strangely enough as I walked out, this big box was attached to my arm. I've heard a lot about the Revell 1/72 Gato and I've been keen to give my 1/72 snowberry a cousin so after a little research on prices, I came away with this baby: Now I have only ever built a 1/700 scale sub before and that was a long time ago so I approach this as a learner. When I opened the box, I suddenly understood just how big this thing really is. ITS BIG!! It will be as long as the 1/200 Bismarck when finished. Here are the parts: Now there is a fair few after market kits for this but looking at the details so far, I'm not convinced yet I'll need too much. I can see straight away the gun sights are horrible solid plastic affairs, but everything else looks pretty good, even the decking detail: This should keep me busy in between Bismarck issues. cheers Rod
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 8:54:37 GMT 1
Nice looking submarine. I intend to build 1 sometime.
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Post by Baz on Sept 12, 2009 9:23:02 GMT 1
I will not be tempted !!!!!!! Should give you hours of enjoyment Rod Baz
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Post by Mark on Sept 12, 2009 12:30:48 GMT 1
drool, slobber...... That's going to be a cracking model Rod. You must have big arm to get it round the box !
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Post by Deleted on Sept 12, 2009 12:48:00 GMT 1
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Post by rod on Sept 13, 2009 0:09:11 GMT 1
Well I've ripped straight into her. The two unassembled hull pieces have to have all these little pins inserted into their holes so the two halves fit together - strange way of doing it if you ask me, why not just mold the pins onto the hull halves. Anyway - left these to dry overnight. I'm trying out some new glue to see how it goes. Its not quite a plastic glue, but more an all purpose stronger bonding glue. Painted the insides like the other guy did in Skyfire's post. I'm going to have my diving planes in the down position so people will be able to see inside the vent holes. When doing the stern piece, I note they have the diving planes and rudder in the fixed position, which given the size of the model seems a bit strange. I decided to leave the stern diving planes in the fixed position but modified the rudder so it was moveable. It wasn't a hard modification, but it makes me wonder why Revell did it this way, particularly as its a great candidate for R/C. Anyway, the stern came together nicely and the rudder moves quite freely. It would have been easy to do the planes but I felt they might have been a bit too loose and probably just hang down. To do it properly you'd need to put some vaseline or even blue tack in there to make it a tighter fit. Then there is the anchor - a few mold circles, nothing too bad, just have to use a bit of filler to get rid of them. In fact this is probably about as bad as anything in the way of mold faults I have seen - the whole kit is extremely crisp and free of flash. She should all go together in one big piece this afternoon. cheers Rod
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Post by Mark on Sept 13, 2009 0:39:07 GMT 1
Looking good Rod
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2009 1:07:23 GMT 1
I'm getting more and more tempted, only problem, nowhere to put it once finished.
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Post by rod on Sept 13, 2009 4:07:27 GMT 1
I haven't worried about where to put it yet Skyfire, that will come once I work out how big the display case will be. I've put the main parts of the hull together: I must say, I am enjoying this build very much. Its going together very easy and the molding is absolutely superb. Its a big sucker once its all together. Here is the Bissy for a comparison. cheers Rod
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Post by rod on Sept 13, 2009 11:18:04 GMT 1
I've managed to slap a few drops of paint onto the hull today. I like to paint as I go. This is one full spray can of Tamiya semi gloss black and its still not enough. Have to go down to the hobby shop and buy another one of those incredibly expensive little fellas. I do like Tamiya paint though.. This picture shows the decking just placed on top of the hull, nothing glued down yet. The way the parts are done, its very easy to paint the camo scheme without having to worry too much about masking tape. Here is a close up of the bow. Revell made the bow planes moveable, but the rear ones fixed, weird. Some modelers like to weather their boats and give them that realistic finish, but I've always preferred the pristine look to show off a model. Maybe one day I'll have the courage to roug up a nicely fresh painted boat. I think its time to rest, at this rate I'll be finished in a day or two. cheers Rod
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Post by Baz on Sept 13, 2009 13:19:18 GMT 1
Really Nice job Rob ................ still not going to weaken .................
Baz
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Post by eric on Sept 13, 2009 19:23:48 GMT 1
Go on Baz....you know you'll crack.....
Great model Rob, keep up the good work!
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Post by Achtung!! on Sept 13, 2009 21:00:17 GMT 1
Build me Baz Build me Baz - its the sirens of the seas.
And it's a monster !
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Post by rod on Sept 13, 2009 23:38:24 GMT 1
I was searching the web for some ideas on detailing and came across this. This is how they turn these monsters into working R/C models. Definitely something I have no intention of doing after seeing this guy carve through the hull. It would be really nice as just a normal surface R/C model though. www.pier72.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=4123682cheers Rod
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Post by mike on Sept 14, 2009 21:16:37 GMT 1
Hi Rod great model submarine I was lucky enough to go on board the USS DRUM Gato sub at battleship memorial park, in Mobile Alabama a couple of years ago I was impressed by how big she was inside hope the build goes ok. mike
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