Clearwater Models: April 2020

Saturday 4 April 2020

PADDLEWHEEL TUGBOAT (ZT Model)

This is a 1:150 scale (?) model by "ZT Model" of China of an electric motorized side paddlewheel tugboat named "Strongbow" in Chinese. There is no way it is actually 1:150 scale. The kit is awful by representational standards, but it was made as an education toy to be build my middle school children and then operated on water. It could be built in two hours and launched immediately by a child. The fit quality is rather good, especially on the three layer hull and deck.

This is another in a series of COVID-19 models. Previously I had thought it would be discarded or given to a child, but being in lockdown made it an attractive build option.

The motor was not installed. I rebuilt the entire deckhouse to be much taller, and added window frames. The wooden decking on the deckhouse is actual balsa wood. I built the crossbeams over the aft deck, and added chain for the anchor. I added the second exhaust pipe on the side of the funnel. The railings were modified by removing the lower crossbars and sticking it to the wooden deck. The decals were all plastic stickers, and were discarded in favour of nothing. It is heavily coated with clear matte. Most paint is Vallejo acrylic. I used a lot of weathering.

Paddlewheel Tugboat (ZT Model) rebuilt

"Strongbow" Paddlewheel Tugboat (ZT Model)