Shell Welder Coastal Tanker 1/130

[Red Devil Squadron]

Greetings,

Originally issued by Frog many decades ago, this WIP involves the Modelcraft reissue from 1996. Firstly, this has to be one of the worst molded kits ever. This is not a kit that can be quickly or easily constructed - it demands many hours of tedious work and scratch building. Some of the parts are so poor, they really can't be cleaned up or corrected. Every one of the remaining parts required some work, in some cases significant modification, to be useable. In several instances, I decided to discard kit parts entirely and scratch build replacements as this was faster and easier than struggling with the kit parts. There is a PE set available for this kit from Atlantic Models, but I used 1/125 scale brass railings and other parts from Toms Model Works which helped tremendously. I also used similar scale photo etched inclined ladders I had in my spares bin (can't remember who made these). Many kit parts were improved with scratch built details or items from the spares bin. Although there are many faults with this old kit, it has great potential. If you enjoy scratch building and have lots of patience, this is a great project of a unique subject in a large scale.


The first set of images show how I started with the hull and used the kit deck parts as templates for styrene replacements. The upper section of the main deck with all of the pipe detail was completely scratch built and snaps tightly into place against inner alignment strips of styrene glued to the deck.

[Red Devil Squadron]

This next set of images show how I cut away the superstructure bulkhead from the kit parts and mated them to a styrene v-groove deck. The bridge windows are scratch built from strip styrene which are a vast improvement over the kit parts. Support beams were added under the deck. The flared lip on the top of the bridge wings was difficult to mate with the other parts and required a lot of careful sanding. Brass railing was added now to ease subsequent assembly. Holes drilled to accommodate mounting pins on various items of equipment to be added later.

[Red Devil Squadron]

The base for the funnel was cut away from the kit part and will be used on the new v-groove deck with the modified kit funnel. Kit parts for the masts were greatly modified and enhanced with styrene bits, photo etch and parts from the spares bin. Small holes drilled now to accommodate subsequent rigging.

[Red Devil Squadron]

Images of various deck fittings and equipment either scratch built or modified kit part.

[Red Devil Squadron]

The kit air vents were really rough. The smaller ones could not be used and had to be replaced with carefully curved and drilled solder. The larger kit vents were useable, but required a great of work.

[Red Devil Squadron]

Some images showing most of the parts dry fitted. Apologies for poor alignment of parts and dust in these dry fit images. PE ladders need trimming to mate with railing, some of which not shown in these photos. Some more clean up and minor work needed before spraying primer.

[Pieter]

Nice work. Are you going to put a crew on it?

[Mgunns]

Looks good: Your work has really dressed this old kit up nicely. A few crew members manning a valve or standing around smartly would really enhance it.
Looks great.

[JIM BAUMANN]

very very impressive work!

I built this kit back in 1998 --way before the AtlanticModels PE...

looking at your superb work..
alas it does show now!

I am watching this !

Jim Baumann

[JIM BAUMANN]

with the internet now

there are a surprising number of reasonable quality photos of the real thing on-line

I googled shell welder coastal tanker

and there are some most helpful images
!
here is a nice one

Jim Baumann

[Red Devil Squadron]

Thanks everyone for having a look and for your comments! I do plan on including crew figures with this build and will probably use the 1/125 scale figures from the Revell U-47 kit. They are almost the same scale and look correct on the model.

Cheers,

Bill

[Red Devil Squadron]

Greetings,

Thanks to all for having a look and for the comments. Please have a look at these new images of current progress. Most of the major painting is done. Smaller parts, additional railings, ladders, crew figures, rigging and minor details will come next followed by some subtle weathering and washes. The kit decal for the funnel cracked apart in the water, but I was able to save it. I hope the other decals will be easier.

Your questions, comments, and suggestions are always welcome.

Cheers,

Bill

[Red Devil Squadron]

Some more images of current progress:

[Dan K]

Truly great work. Nice to see another tanker project.

[LE BOSCO]

HI RDS
Great work very nice to see
cheers
Nicolas

[Red Devil Squadron]

Thanks everyone for having a look and for the comments!

More progress images to share today. Most of the major work is done now and some of the details have been started. Some of the parts in the photo are only dry fitted at this point, so please ignore any odd alignments. Apologies for any out of focus images and bits of dust in some of the photos, I should have cleaned these up!

Your comments, questions and suggestions are always welcome!

Cheers,

Bill

[Red Devil Squadron]

Some additional images . . . . .

[Red Devil Squadron]

Final set of photos for today!

[biggles2]

The proverbial silk purse from a sow's ear!

[Red Devil Squadron]

Yes, this really is a difficult kit to work with. Every part was flawed to some degree with many being very poor and/or unusable. Replacing many of the major components helps a great deal along with scratch building and items from spares bin. The photo etch from Toms Modelworks in 1/125 scale is working, but the PE set specific for this kit from Atlantic Models is probably a better way to go. Despite all of these issues, I am pleased so far with the results.

Cheers,

Bill