U.S.S. MONITOR (Life-Like)

This is the 1:210 scale model from Life-Like Hobby Kits of the U.S.S. Monitor (kit #09527). The ship is most famous for being the first turreted iron-clad warship to engage in combat with another iron-clad, the CSS Virginia, on 09 March 1862. The lower and faster Monitor had the advantage, but the Battle of Hampton Roads saw neither emerge victorious. The Monitor could fire the two Dalhgren guns every eight minutes. The battle lasted about four hours. The ship had a life of only eleven months when lost in a storm while being towed.

This kit is remarkably simple and needed almost no bodywork other than drilling out of vents and grills and boring the cannons. I added the cannon flash and smoke from the funnels and the gun. Paint is a mix of Vallejo burned iron and jet exhaust, with a mix of Tamiya reds for the iron hull. The toughest thing to paint was the flag.

This comes boxed with the CSS Merrimac (actually the CSS Virginia) in 1:300 scale. The Virginia is so much larger that the makers decided to make both hulls the same size by altering the scales.

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

U.S.S. Monitor

C.S.S. VIRGINIA (Life-Like)

This is the 1:300 scale model from Life-Like Hobby Kits of the Merrimac, or more properly, the C.S.S. Virginia, iron-clad steam ship (kit #09257). The Virginia was made from an older vessel, the USS Merrimack, in 1862 and had a life span of just under 90 days. It was built to break the blockade around the slave staes by ramming United States ships and sinking them. The response from the USA was to send the USS Monitor to battle the Virginia at the Battle of Hampton Roads on 09 March 1962 - the first ever battle of iron-clad vessels. The Virginia limped out for repairs and was eventually scuttled.

The design and moulding is atrocious. The upper structure does not fit properly at all, and the upper deck is a disaster. You need significant skills to be able to assemble this kit.

The decks were scraped and sanded to remove the iron plate and rivet raised lines, then engraved with board lines. Chains were added. Cannons were bored out.

Paint is mostly Vallejo burned iron and jet exhaust, with a mix of Tamiya paints for the hull.

C.S.S. Virginia

C.S.S. Virginia

C.S.S. Virginia

C.S.S. Virginia

C.S.S. Virginia

C.S.S. Virginia

C.S.S. Virginia

C.S.S. Virginia

C.S.S. Virginia

C.S.S. Virginia in the shipyard, which just so happens
to be in my spare bathroom!

Inbox review KV-2 heavy cartoon tank from Xinshi Hobby

This is a first peek inbox review of the Xinshi Hobby kid's snap-tight cartoon kit of the Soviet KV-2 heavy tank from the Great Patriotic War, with decals of cute furry animals. Xinshi kit #07317Z (or a big "1" in a circle). Despite being a kid's kit, it is remarkably high-tech. This is a beautifully slide-moulded kit with lots of details in an insulated double-hulled box. Mine showed up from China by post in about 4-5 weeks. I can picture those cute furry animals rolling over Nazi scum now! It is a total delight. The inbox review video is below and at this link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=RBbw9o2Gb1Y