The Ship Model Forum

Hi Dave
coming along nicely, the trouble with detail is always one of "when do i stop" with me, it's a case must stop or else i would not get anything else built due to my limited modelling time. Have done very little over the past year and i'm playing catchup.
How much more detail is there to add the superstructure.

Roy

Hi Nick I'm not sure regarding the loading pram on Kirov. I have a number of shots of Kirov which indicate a loading cradle on the port side towards the forecastle but I'm really unable to determine whether it's the same as the type fitted on all the Kiev class.
More detail of the pram on the Kiev’s .

Dave Wooley

Hi Roy I trust you had a good day at Cosford .How much more detail to add to the superstructure? . This may sound odd it's a bit of the chicken and the egg. Apart from some additional handrails to the lower platforms I can't add the finer detail until the upper deck levels are painted . I would say I've got about 30% more work not including the painting . With this model it's trying to avoid completing parts of the model out of sequence which would only make it more difficult for other parts of the build , I think that has been the real headache. But as ARH would say we are getting there, slowly, thanks for asking .
Dave Wooley

...

There is a great idea.... But if the pram is large in size (by the way, how big will it be in 1/144 scale ??) the PE might look a little "thin" to say the least... And there is always the problem of finding the plans for it, if there are any...

Waiting for Dave to do his magic...

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NIKOS (NICK)
ΜΕΓΑ ΤΟ ΤΗΣ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΗΣ ΚΡΑΤΟΣ
(GREAT IS THE NATION THAT MASTERS THE SEAS)

Hi Peter good to hear from you . The more I study that device the more the word punishment comes to the fore. Will you be attending Dortmund if you are it will be good to meet up.
Dave Wooley

Hi Nick 1:144 is small for a big scale modeller but large for most of the guys on this site . I will "attempt" to build the pram , more as a challenge but now that I have the photos what a challenge.
Dave Wooley

Before any other painting could be considered further preparation work has
to be undertaken which involved deck details, such as the rail system,
SS-N-12 pram tracks , and various hatches , as these would all eventually
be painted the same colour as the deck . The rail system on Kiev is used to
transport ordinance from one part of the deck to another. There are dedicated
elevators to allow this equipment to be brought up from below and then moved
to various parts of the deck as required. As stated previous because of the
shape of the track it became imperative that all the fittings that were close
to this rails were sited correctly and the rails markings adjusted accordingly.
The entire track was cut using Evergreen item 120 sizes 0.5mm x 0.5mm.
Commencing from the stern a straight edge was used to ensure that the first
straight lengths of rail were straight.

To ensure that the width between rails was maintained and the second rail
was also straight and free from kinks a simple jig or spacer was employed.


As the track altered direction, slightly smaller lengths of the spacers were used.

This photo shows how much the track weaves from one direction to another;
it is not a straight line from point A to point B. As mentioned the reason for this
is to work round major fittings such as the cranes and two of the deck mounted
ships boats .

Creating the circular portion of the track was relatively straight forward following
the markings and using the small spacers.

A view from amidships following the track towards the bow .

The circle completed

Next SS-N-12 pram track and loading system .
Dave Wooley

Good Idea Dave. Might even give it a try myself. Great job! BTW can you give a bit more detail how you did the circle and where are good places to join up the tracks.
Currently in Wagga Wagga with Brian and his Kiev Class at 1/72. Will post when I can. A 2 day Taskforce 72 running show. Great shots of the USS Enterprise but alas I was the only Russian there and wrong scale 1/50 but having fun anyway.

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Building
1/72 Admiral Kuznetsov
1/72 Frunze Russian Battle cruiser
1/72 Steregushchy-class corvette

Mick
Tumut Australia

Hi Mick Good to hear that you are all having a good run I would certainly appriciate some shots of the meeting give my regards to all the guys . As for the circle . These were formed initially by using a compass and marking out the shape . Laying the track to the circle was really quite easy providing you use the spacer on the first rail and again with the second. Joining sections of track is just as simple , joint each rail were ever is convenient. On the circle it's best to avoid jointing , if possible .
Dave Wooley

Dave, again you demonstrate your great modelling ability its alway good to read your up dates, the model is coming on fine, lookingforward to your paint work. ARH.

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Simple but effective.

What can I add??? Excellent, great progress !
The cradle on Kirov is not the same, Kirov does not have the SS-N-12. The cradles you see on port and starboard on Kirov (although on Port there is an additional erectable RAS station) are used to load/reload the SA-N-6/ Rif VLS. I'll try to get some pics, must have them somewhere. Practically they put the Rif SAM horizontally on the cradle, it has a conveyor which moves the missile towards the middle of the ship, as you will be able to see, there is a hatch just next to it. The missile tips over into the hatch, then it is put below decks and moved by rail cart towards the SAM launchers.

As for Kirovs cradle, it must look more similar to the one used on Oscar class subs, as basically they have the same launcher for Granit.

Anyway that's off our subject at hand! Great ship there Dave, can't wait to see it finished!

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The merchant shipyard

Here is the link to the photos of the Taskforce 72 run over the Easter weekend.

Saturday run
http://picasaweb.google.com/TF72au/20090411TF72MickElst
http://picasaweb.google.com/TF72au/2009 ... Batcheldor

Sunday run
http://picasaweb.google.com/TF72au/20090412TF72MickElst

Main site for others of Taskforce 72
http://picasaweb.google.com/tf72au

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Building
1/72 Admiral Kuznetsov
1/72 Frunze Russian Battle cruiser
1/72 Steregushchy-class corvette

Mick
Tumut Australia

Dave that is awesome. Laying those rails looks tedious.

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Timothy Dike
Owner & Administrator
ModelWarships.com

Just returned after a short break . Thanks for all your comments and great photos Mick of the TF72 event , thanks for making those available. .Roel regarding the loading hatch for the SS-N-12 I noticed that there was a circular hatch and I assumed that the pram cradle came to the verticle and loaded from the hatch but I have no idea how the cradle elevates , is it hydraulic , any ideas?
Tim once you have a jig to lay the rails it really doesn't take that long. The real trick is avoiding all the fittings and getting the right angles .
Dave Wooley

I seem to be experiencing problems posting photos the word forbidden keeps appearing . Help please.
Dave Wooley

I'm going to try posting the pictures in smaller batches .
With most of the rail track in position it’s the turn of the SS-N-12 pram tracks.
These are formed by 5 separate rails.
The athwartships tracks in this particular photo are the ones used for the SS-N-12 pram . The photo was printed the wrong way round but its gives some idea of how the tracks are laid

Dave Wooley

Is this what you want Dave, I flipped it and then rotated it,

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Simple but effective.

Superb, thanks Ron that's just the photo I wanted.
Dave Wooley

As far as I know that circular hatch is actually a SA-N-4 Gecko/ Osa launcher... The tracks going to it are easily explained by the fact that this missile can be loaded manually. The rail launcher for it turns upside down, the missile(s) is laid on top and then the rail turns the missiles nose down and retracts. Then the missile is stored below deck in the magazine (again nose down) and then the rail launcher comes up for another batch. For launching, the opposite sequence is followed.
As for where the Bazalt reloads are being brought up is still a question to me though. I guess you have more footage of these ships than me, so possibly you are have a better view at this. Wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have any reloads at all though. I haven't seen them reloading anything at sea, except by crane barges or replenishers.

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The merchant shipyard