Clearwater Models

Monday, 22 July 2019

CHROME KNIGHT (Amai)

This is the knight known as Sir Corey Van Zandt, the Chrome Knight of Texas. The original kit is the Amai Armoured Knight series 1:12 scale model of Kaiser Maximilian II (B-1395).

In the mid-1980s a young chap named Corey Van Zandt was taught by his art-teacher mother how to polish metal to a mirror-like finish. He used this skill on a suit of armour he bought and custom built for the local Texas Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), where he took part in mock battles of knights with swords. His highly-polished armour reflected the sun from all angles, and usually resulted in his opponent being blinded just enough to allow Corey to win many battles. Corey was a friend of my wife, who passed along this story.

Paint is mostly Rustoleum "chrome" spray can, with pin wash of Vallejo steel.

UPDATE: This model placed first in the giant CAPCON biennial model contest on 28 September 2019 at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. (Collections - Theme (groups of 5 knights in armour))

Sir Corey Van Zandt, the Chrome Knight of Texas

This model placed first in the giant CAPCON biennial model contest on 28 September 2019 at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. (Collections - Theme (groups of 5 knights in armour))

Tuesday, 16 July 2019

LIBERTY SHIP K66 (Skywave)

This is a 1:700 scale model from Skywave of a U.S. Navy "Liberty Ship" numbered K66.

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.

I built the model in one day, then painted it the next day. Paints are Vallejo acrylics. The kit was from the Bill Wilson collection. Thank you Bill.

Liberty cargo ship

A real one...

Liberty cargo ship

Friday, 5 July 2019

I.N.S. SINDURAKSHAK (Bronco)

This is the 1:200 scale model (BB2005 of 2010) from Bronco of the modified Type 636 attack submarine shown in Indian Navy markings. It is an out-of-box build. Paints are Vallejo acrylics, washes and powders.

Sindhughosh-class submarines are Project 877 Platus (Halibut) hunter-killer diesel-electric submarines in active service with the Indian Navy. The Sindhughosh submarines, designated 877EKM, were designed and built under a contract between Rosvooruzhenie and the Ministry of Defence (India). It cost Indian taxpayers $113 000 000.

The submarines have a displacement of 3000 tonnes, a maximum diving depth of 300 meters, top speed of 18 knots, and are able to operate solo for 45 days with a crew of 53. The last sub was the first to be equipped with the 3M-54 Klub antiship cruise missiles with a range of 220 km.

INS Sindhurakshak (Sanskrit for "Protector of the Seas"), pennant S63, was constructed at the Admiralty Shipyard in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Construction began in 1995. It was launched in June 1997 and delivered to India in December 1997. It was commissioned on 24 December 1997, and was the ninth of the ten Sindhughosh-class submarines in the Indian Navy. It took part in the Kargil war with Pakistan in 1999. The submarine suffered a major fire and three munitions explosions on 14 August 2013 and sank at Mumbai's naval dockyard with the death of 18 crew members. After being used for commando training, the wreck was sunk in the Arabian Sea in mid-2017.

Length:72.6 m Beam: 9.9 m Draught: 6.6 m
Propulsion: 2 × diesel-electric motors, 2,722 kW each
Speed: 19 km/h surfaced; 31 km/h submerged
Range: 9700 km at 13 km/h snorkeling; 640 km at 5.6 km/h submerged
Test depth: 300 m
Complement: 53
Armament:
Club-S missile
Type 53-65 torpedo
TEST 71/76 anti-submarine, active-passive homing torpedo
24 × DM-1 mines in lieu of torpedoes

(data courtesy of Wikipedia)

O.O.B.

INS Sindhurakshak, 877EKM #S63

Salvage operation of remains of Sindhurakshak

Crest of the INS Sindhurakshak S63

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