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Guidelines for ship building

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  • Member since
    April 2007
Guidelines for ship building
Posted by Leddy on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 8:39 PM

I am branching out to my first ship project, a Russian freighter.  Can you offer any tips for hull construction and painting?  What adhesives are used to hold the top and fbottom of the hull together? 

Thanks for your input!

Leddy

  • Member since
    April 2005
Posted by ddp59 on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 9:31 PM

plastic or resin model?

  • Member since
    April 2007
Posted by Leddy on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 9:43 PM

Plastic by Revell '71

Thanks!

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Carmel, CA
Posted by bondoman on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 11:21 PM

OK I'll bite...what model is it?

 

  • Member since
    April 2007
Posted by Leddy on Friday, January 20, 2012 7:34 AM

It is Russian Spy Fishing Trawler  Volga kit # 379:250.

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Saturday, January 21, 2012 3:44 PM

For a plastic model, as far as adhesives go, good old tube glue for plastic kits will work fine, or cyanoacrylate (CA or super glue), or you can use epoxy if you want, but that can get messy.

For construction, that's what the instruction sheet is for, but I always dry fit (test fit) everything BEFORE I apply any glue, in case things don't fit tightly and need a little sanding or trimming to fit nice and snug/flush/tight. Other than that, it's a matter of taking your time, making sure the major subassemblies are completely dry before adding them to the other subassemblies, and checking the instructions as you go to make sure you don't miss anything.

It's also a real good idea to read through the instructions completely before you start building, and look at all of the part sprues, so you get an idea of where every part is, and where it goes - that helps avoid any ugly surprises during assembly.

 

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Variable
Posted by Lt. Smash on Saturday, January 21, 2012 9:52 PM

Check out Mike Ashey's Building and Detailing Scale Model Ships (http://mikeashey.com/BOOK-FIRST-SHIP.htm).  This is an older book but available in PDF and provides a great overview on approach and various techniques in building ships.

Bob

On the bench:  Tasca M4A1 Sherman (Direct Vision Type)

Build Log: www.ltsmashsmodels.com

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: EG48
Posted by Tracy White on Monday, January 23, 2012 1:35 PM

Generally, work up and out. Assemble main hull, and the major assemblies working from the deck upwards. Apply inner details first so that you're less likely to break outboard ones reaching in to place center details. Painting is based on preference; I prefer to paint he main hull and decks starting from the bottom and working my way up before details are added.

Tracy White Researcher@Large

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