Clearwater Models: June 2019

Tuesday 25 June 2019

HIMEJI CASTLE (Doyusha)

This is a Himeji Castle in 1:800 scale from Doyusha Models of Japan (kit #JJ-1-1200).

Himeji Castle 姫路城 is Japan's foremost castle, and the jewel in the crown of Japanese castles and castle architecture. It is often referred to as the White Egret Castle or the White Heron Castle due to the beautiful white exterior. It is the largest and most popular castle in Japan. I visited on a national holiday and found it rather crowded, but very orderly. It is an easy walk from the shinkansen bullet train station. Thank you Japan!

The first castle on this spot was built in 1333, but was torn down and rebuilt over and over again for another 200 years. The current form took shape about 400 years ago, and has survived earthquakes and US bombings. It is a Japanese and UNESCO treasure.

The model kit comes with grass, trees and shrubs. It cost Yen 1080 (about $13.)

Himeji Castle

The real Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle under construction

Saturday 22 June 2019

DEATH STAR II (Bandai)

This is the 2018 BanDai model in 1:1000000 (?) scale of the "Death Star II" from one of the endless Star Wars movies. Please make them stop!

The most entertaining part of the build was reading the box which states this is the second Death Star, "but the project ran behind schedule" and had to be visited by the emperor to encourage more work to be done. So even in a future of laser beams and anti-gravity devices, dictatorships will still be the worst at successfully completing high-quality projects.

It is about 60mm across. BanDai says it fits in the palm of your hand. I bought it at a flea market. It took two hours to spray paint; highlight; and assemble. The exterior was painted Vallejo flat black, then rubbed and sanded off to leave only the panel lines. The same was done to highlight the decks under construction. Those were also brushed with dried silver off a toothbrush.

"Death Star II"

Wednesday 19 June 2019

BATTLE OF BRITAIN CLASS "BIGGIN HILL" STEAM LOCOMOTIVE (Airfix)

This is the old 1964 Airfix 1:87 (OO/HO) scale kit of the Battle of Britain class steam locomotive named "BIGGIN HILL" after an RAF airfield near London.

Engine #34057 was built in March 1947 for British Rail (Southern Region) as a main line engine for both passenger and freight service. It is a 2-3-1 axel arrangement. The engine was temporarily converted to oil burning in 1957, then converted back. It served until 31 May 2967, and was cut up later that year.

The model kit is very poorly engineered, lacking detail, and rough as a badger's bottom. The nine decals somehow survived the past 55 years and were perfect condition, if not a little thick.

The basic colour is malachite green, or British racing green (BRG), with a black top and bottom. I built the road bed from scratch from a bit of HO trackage, plastic sheet, small ballast, white glue, and toners and powders. There is no track in the kit as is common in newer locomotive kits.

OOB.

British Rail (SR) "Biggin Hill" steam locomotive

The real locomotive

British Rail (SR) "Biggin Hill" steam locomotive

Tuesday 18 June 2019

BRAZILIAN BANANA BOAT (Skywave)

This is a 1:700 scale model from Skywave of a heavily-used "Liberty Ship" in post-war service as a banana boat freighter flagged in Brazil.

USA shipyards built over 2700 of these freighters for use in WWII. So many survived the war (2400) that they immediately went on surplus sale and became a key component of the worldwide post-war shipping trade. It is the largest number of ships ever built to a single design. After the war the guns were removed, and some (very little) additional paint was added by the new owners.

I built the model in one day, then painted it the next day. The base was done on the second day using an old trophy plaque, gesso, and Tamiya blue with washes and highlights. The kit was from the Bill Wilson collection.

UPDATE: This model placed first in the giant CAPCON biennial model contest on 28 September 2019 at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. (ships -- out-of-box)