Clearwater Models

Sunday, 21 April 2019

HUMAN BRAIN and SKULL (Skillcraft)

Half-scale human brain and half a skull model from Skillcraft.

White paint is a Tamiya white primer. Brain flesh and blood is Vallejo acrylics and some sepia wash, with a gloss coat of Future Floor Wax to make the brain shiny and give it a wet glossy life-like appearance. And I added a gold tooth for extra flash.

I bought it at a flea market outside Ottawa. I sold it to a woman whose daughter was just finishing her neurology residency and Mom wanted to make it the centerpiece on the dining table. I could appreciate that sentiment.

Thursday, 11 April 2019

CHINESE JUNK BOAT (Aurora)

This is the very old (1956) Aurora model of a Chinese JUNK sail boat. It was part of their warships of the world series, despite showing a trading cargo boat. It came from the Bill Wilson collection. For a model tooled in 1956 it is surprisingly good.

The word "junk" may be derived from the Chinese word 船 meaning boat or ship or sailing vessel, but more probably from a Malay word for boat later used by the Chinese. Generally it means a boat with fully-battened sails. The type reached its apex in the 15th - 17th century.

The basic wood colour is Vallejo's mahogany weathered with oil pastels. The plastic masts were replaced with wooden masts, then it was fully rigged. More coiled rope will be added, as will some general cargo on deck.

It is very difficult to photograph something this dark.

Update: It won a first place ribbon at the IPMS Ottawa May 2019 contest.
UPDATE: This model placed first in the giant CAPCON biennial model contest on 28 September 2019 at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. (non-powered ships)

This model placed first in the giant CAPCON biennial model contest on 28 September 2019 at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. (non-powered ships)

Best Boat or Ship (Civilian) at the 27 Oct 2019 Ottawa Scale Auto contest.

Monday, 8 April 2019

"LA REALE" GALLEY (Heller)

This is the 1:450 scale model from Heller of the French galley ship "La Reale" 1694 (Royal).

La Reale (1694) was built in two years and launched in 1694. It was finally decommissioned in 1720. It took a team of 360 rowers (all slaves and prisoners of war) and two massive diagonal sails to keep the ship moving in the Mediterranean Sea. Over 57 m in length and the pinnacle of galley technology, this flagship of the French galley fleet was hopelessly outclassed by full sailing ships armed with many more cannons. Only the stern decorations survive, and are displayed in Paris' Marine Museum.

The last great sea battle between galleys took place off Cape Matapan (southern Greece) in 1717.

The model is incredibly small, but most parts are robust except for the frame for the canopy on the rear deck. It was replaced with card stock as it shattered in the box. All of the paper banners are printed as part of the kit. This model was a gift from a fellow IPMS Ottawa member who said he wanted to give me the kit because I built weird things.

La Réale (1694)

The drawing...

La Réale (1694)

This model placed third in the giant CAPCON biennial model contest on 28 September 2019 at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. (non-powered ships)

Monday, 18 March 2019

Tu-160 WHITE SWAN STRATEGIC BOMBER (Eastern Express)

This is the 1:288 scale kit from Eastern Express of the gigantic strategic bomber called the Tupolev Tu-160 White Swan (Белый лебедь).

The USSR designed and built some 36 of these bombers, which are now operated exclusively by the Russian air force (after they bought a number from Ukraine in exchange for writing off gas bills).

The aircraft first flew in 1981 and entered service in 1987. The type has been used in combat, striking targets in Syria in the past few years. All remaining in-service aircraft are based at Engels Air Force Base in Engels, Saratov Oblast, Russia.

The aircraft shown here is the short-lived Ukrainian Air Force version then sold to Russia in about 1998.

I bought the kit in Leningrad in 2003 and started it ten years ago. It took me as long to build as the factory took to produce the last three airframes.

UPDATE: Winner of the 2019 ANTONOV AWARD for best Ukrainian subject at Heritagcon-13, Sunday 24 March 2019 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton Canada

Winner of the 2019 ANTONOV AWARD for best Ukrainian subject at Heritagcon-13, Sunday 24 March 2019 at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton Canada

Tupolev Tu-160 White Swan (Ukraine Air Force)

A real Ukrainian Air Force Tu-160 White Swan bomber...

Tupolev Tu-160 White Swan (Ukraine Air Force)