The Ship Model Forum

Well it is official, I have caught the multi ship modeler's disease - I now have 3 builds on the go and one on standby

I am the proud new owner of an APS Semi kit. I have purchased the partly built model from Perth_Shipyard.

Unfortunately she did not handle the trip To Brisbane so well. The pics below show how she is as I begin the fitout task.

I have to say that the APS hull is simply fantastic


This is pretty much how she arrived. most of the completed superstructure will be abandoned, but the funnel is in good shape.


One bilge keel is damaged, but is repairable.


The main cross member has snapped off on one side


The motors have broken away from their mountings and have wedged themselves amongst the steering gear and prop shafts


Both rudders are bent, but should be able to be saved provided the rudder posts are not bent


At least one blade on one prop is bent, not sure if this can be saved or if it is a George Sitek job

I will need to cut away the flight deck and create an access hatch into the tiller flat for the stern tube filler pipes and the rudders/steering gear.

I would really appreciate any advice that is available. I have not really prepared well for this build so photographs etc., are thin on the ground for me. I was thinking of turning the build into HMS Leander (I served in Leander), but I might think again about this.

The RN marks a departure from the Soviet ships for me, but provides a real "cold war" feel to my growing task group.

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Ex RAN. Anzac, Duchess, Vampire, Yarra, Betano, Bombard, Brisbane, Swan, Melbourne (Carrier), HMS Leander

Hi Ticonderoga
You can work on two because you have two hands .

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If you are not living on the edge then you are taking up to much space

Hi Andrew
nice to see new model from you.
now you have a lot o f work to do

You do have a lot of builds on the go! Was your business trip to Western Australia really a cover to buy a semi-kit?

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Give me a ping, Vasily. One ping only.

Work out what fittings have come with it Mate ( I shall e-mail ya the parts list out of the APS Cat on Charybdis and Leander ) and then you can see if you need more bits!
Get a pair of new Raboesch props for her from Float-a-boat in Melbourne just work out what dia props you need and what shaft size is? If they have em it should take less than a week!!
Also check those motors out 2 see what RPM they R before you stick'em back in. IF they 2 high an RPM on 12v you could run em on 6v or get some nice Bueller's from Mike Brown once your in the Club!!!

Cheers Bruce

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building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

If only, I am afraid it was hot and dusty work

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Ex RAN. Anzac, Duchess, Vampire, Yarra, Betano, Bombard, Brisbane, Swan, Melbourne (Carrier), HMS Leander

Hi All,

One of my first challenges on this build id to work out how to make the Bridge Screen bulkhead (wall). It slopes backwards and has quite rounded corners, so I have to make a "compound curve" in Styrene sheet. I am not sure how to draw such a curve on a flat sheet.

Any ideas or experiences to share?

Andrew

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Ex RAN. Anzac, Duchess, Vampire, Yarra, Betano, Bombard, Brisbane, Swan, Melbourne (Carrier), HMS Leander

Well I began my journey of discovery today.


Here is the Cherry B "placed" on the Build Board - Does not take up as much room as Varyag





After some internal debate I decided to take up all of the flight deck and the quarter deck. Glad I did. The steering gear is not up to par. I will replace the mechanical gear with proper tiller arms and dual steering arms from a servo located close to the rudders. Will have to think about how the quarter deck and flight deck securing will work, but I will think of something.


Stern tubes fitted with oilers already


Released the motors - they had broken loose in transit. They are Johnson 550 motors - Does anyone know anything about these motors?

Well that is it for today. Glassing is complete on Varyag, just waiting for the final pieces to dry. Lots of sanding tomorrow before I head off to watch the Queensland Red's opening Super Rugby match of the season

Andrew

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Ex RAN. Anzac, Duchess, Vampire, Yarra, Betano, Bombard, Brisbane, Swan, Melbourne (Carrier), HMS Leander

Who are APS and were are they based as I have not heard of them. I am building Andromeda and have the Jeobin 1/96 two page plan and have made the main gun and funnels and a few lifeboats and then cast them in resin to a scale of 1/96, but if there is a hull and fittings available form other soures, then it might be worth investigating that option.

APSmodels is based here in Australia and has a catalog of over 80 ship kits in 1/72 scale ranging from small patrol craft up to Typhoon class Subs and Yamato and North Carolina class Battleship hulls....there is a looooong waiting list for orders as Alan Pew is a one man operation and us guys at TF72 keep him very busy with orders!!
He can be contacted thru the TF72 clubwebsite as he doesn't have a website for orders.

Bruce

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building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

Thanks Bruce and I'll have a look at the website.

you are a glutten for punishment andrew .building three at the same time must get a little confusing once in a while,also having to fix up a bunch of damage also on the charybdis.if i even had two 1/144 builds going i would probobly be living by myself .the more power to you ,you are a very dedicated modeler.

I think it's great and look forward to the pictures of the models as work progresses. I have just started scrutinising my drawings of HMS Andromeda and will start on the frames shortly. The ship above is HMS Fearless in 1/192 which was made as a partner to HMS Leander. The submarine is HMS Resolution again a scratchbuilt model and to the same scale.

Hi Russ,

Model making is strange form of addiction, it seems to sneak up on you. We had very severe storms (again) last night and so for one reason or another did not progress any physical work, just forums, research, email and stuff like that. Somehow I felt guilty that I made no progress..........


Andrew

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Ex RAN. Anzac, Duchess, Vampire, Yarra, Betano, Bombard, Brisbane, Swan, Melbourne (Carrier), HMS Leander

atually I am like that as well. I've been stuck in the house all day waiting for the heating engineer. I can see the workshop at the end of the garden but achieved very little and desperate to go out and cut something, or stick a plank on or similar. Trouble is I am all settled now and can't bring myself to start.

Hi Andrew I have just returned from the FAA museum and what do I find "MORE BUILDS" . Amazing it takes me all my time to focus on one part of one ship , but non the less best of luck and I am saddened to see the model was damaged in transit .
Dave Wooley



"There is no such thing as an accurate model only degrees of interpretation"
DW

Thanks Dave,

you are right, I have probably bitten off a bit too much, but I could not give up the chance to get my hands on an APS hull at such a great price.

Hopefully all can be a bit patient with me....


Andrew

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Ex RAN. Anzac, Duchess, Vampire, Yarra, Betano, Bombard, Brisbane, Swan, Melbourne (Carrier), HMS Leander

It'll be good to see photos of the model as work progresses on any of the three actually. The hull and parts have the makings of a very nice model.