The Ship Model Forum

Recently say an interesting photograph on the net of the heavy lift ship MV Transshelf transporting two Victor III class submarines for scrapping and immediately got exited about the project and started working on it.

Here is what its going to look like:


Since the ship is usual (and so was the particular transport operation) there were a lot of photos of it on the net, so I found nearly 200 photos and simple line drawings of the ship and got to work.

The flat part of the ship was done using my usual sandwich technique, but the nose was too tall for that to I had to built it up as a box and make the nose extra thick, and then sanding it down to shape.




I didn't have the exact plans of the superstructure, which is very simple up front and complex in the back, so using the photos I had to figure out the exact shape of it, which was probably the hardest part of the project so far.



The superstructure has the stiffening ribs, so to simulate it I took a thin list of styrene and scribed it and then covered the sides of the superstructure from all sides (not finished yet):


Here is the photo of the hull with the sub on the back for scale:


That is about it, the hardest part of the project will be finding the second Victor, since the I have only one and DML kit is long out of production, so if someone has a kit to sell (in any condition as long as it's the full hull) please contact me.

Vladimir

Like the project. You might as well put the converted Victor I with double screw, a regular Victor I or a November in the back as she's been transporting these too. Although I admit 2 Victor III's is nicer to look at!

Keep it going, always interesting to see something "different".

Excellent project and very different .
Dave Wooley

This should be cool.

Very nice.

Do you have plans, or are you going off of photos? Looks very sharp, especially if it's TLAR (that looks about right!).

Very nice! I think I know which basic plans you used....stowage plans?
For those of you thinking about doing a USS Cole, Dockwise has a stowage plan for Blue Marlin available online at
http://www.dockwise.com/page/fleet.html
Use the plans for Black marlin, Blue Marlin was widened in 2004.

Pieter wrote:Very nice! I think I know which basic plans you used....stowage plans?
For those of you thinking about doing a USS Cole, Dockwise has a stowage plan for Blue Marlin available online at
http://www.dockwise.com/page/fleet.html
Use the plans for Black marlin, Blue Marlin was widened in 2004.

Done! I made this about 2 years ago! Looking good Valdimir. Cant wait to see it finished!

Bob J wrote: Done! I made this about 2 years ago! Looking good Valdimir. Cant wait to see it finished!

Very cool .

Pieter wrote:Very nice! I think I know which basic plans you used....stowage plans?
For those of you thinking about doing a USS Cole, Dockwise has a stowage plan for Blue Marlin available online at
http://www.dockwise.com/page/fleet.html
Use the plans for Black marlin, Blue Marlin was widened in 2004.

Exactly. That is where I got the plans.

Vladimir

reigels wrote:Very nice.

Do you have plans, or are you going off of photos? Looks very sharp, especially if it's TLAR (that looks about right!).

I've got the generic drawings off the shipowner's site. But the superstructure I did using mostly photographs, as the plans were too generic...

Vladimir

Next update.

Finished the main shape of the superstructure, which took a long time since I had to figure out where all of the nooks and crannies go. Covered the structure with the grooved plastic to show the stiffening ribs. Next step is to detail it with various small bridges and other stuff.





Vladimir

Very nice!

Bob J wrote:[
Done! I made this about 2 years ago! Looking good Valdimir. Cant wait to see it finished!

Next update. Continuing adding details to the ship

Detailed the rear bulkhead of the forecastle:


Slowly detailing the main superstructure:




Also built the main pieces of the rear superstructure:



Vladimir

Very good build! I've always found these ships to be awesomely impressive. Btw, second Victor has been secured.

MichelB wrote:Very good build! I've always found these ships to be awesomely impressive. Btw, second Victor has been secured.

Excellent. Thanks a lot.

Vladimir

Hi Vladimir

Just stumbled across your scratchbuild project!
A very interesting subject, and a great way of showing two subs full hull - looking forward for more updates
Keep up the good work!

Cheers,
Rui