Guys,
High time on back on this project (this year).
For those who might not be aware this project started some 3 plus years back.
Initially I ordered a Defence Models and Graphics Collins - that was not to be so I ordered a 1/72 scale APS Collins class kit (which is has a completely wrong upper hull - a situation that Allan at APS models acknowledged some time back), and set about modifying it in late 2007.
The main problem with the APS Models kit was the upper casing on Collins - it was too narrow not high enough and not round enough.
I somewhat ambitiously decided to use a mix of materials to rebuild the upper casing (I supply photos later), using styrene and GRP. I came up with a dead on shape and dimensionally correct upper casing and upper hull, ambitiously thought about using this as the upper hull in the boat.
As David aka God jumped in he said forget using it as the actual boats hull- use the upper hull as a master, make a mold, and do so in a timely fashion as what I had was a mix of materials that had all differing expansion properties (in fact styrene was underneath GRP). What happened next - the styrene expanded all on its own and cracks appeared everywhere before I could make a mold or add details to the master and then mold.
I was disheartened and was going to chuck it, when Andy (Subculture) suggested I could save it. But disheartened and with Defense Models and Graphics now saying Collins was back on their radar I shelved the project......Then DMG refunded my money and I now 3 and half years after paying them still no boat. So I took Andy's advice and fixed the cracked master.
I had previously contacted Allan at APS Models to get his permission to make a mold and one upper hull for myself. I contacted Allan again to let him know again of my re-interest in this and he assisted with the process.
The result is I now have a superb correct upper hull half for my 1/72 scale Collins Class Submarine, HMAS Rankin.
A big thank you to Allan at APS models, David for his no nonsense encouragement and Andy for putting some wind in my sails.
This year I hope to have this boat put together and sailing.
The upper hull half is pretty much devoid of details. I found the master I made very unstable and as you can see it pretty much ****ted itself after the mold was made.
Here you see the upper GRP hull produced from my master and mold sits on top of the lower APS GRP hull. The middle upper hull is the master. The mold is in the front of the picture.
Next is a close up showing the now rather had it master and mold
Finally a shot of inside the mold
John
High time on back on this project (this year).
For those who might not be aware this project started some 3 plus years back.
Initially I ordered a Defence Models and Graphics Collins - that was not to be so I ordered a 1/72 scale APS Collins class kit (which is has a completely wrong upper hull - a situation that Allan at APS models acknowledged some time back), and set about modifying it in late 2007.
The main problem with the APS Models kit was the upper casing on Collins - it was too narrow not high enough and not round enough.
I somewhat ambitiously decided to use a mix of materials to rebuild the upper casing (I supply photos later), using styrene and GRP. I came up with a dead on shape and dimensionally correct upper casing and upper hull, ambitiously thought about using this as the upper hull in the boat.
As David aka God jumped in he said forget using it as the actual boats hull- use the upper hull as a master, make a mold, and do so in a timely fashion as what I had was a mix of materials that had all differing expansion properties (in fact styrene was underneath GRP). What happened next - the styrene expanded all on its own and cracks appeared everywhere before I could make a mold or add details to the master and then mold.
I was disheartened and was going to chuck it, when Andy (Subculture) suggested I could save it. But disheartened and with Defense Models and Graphics now saying Collins was back on their radar I shelved the project......Then DMG refunded my money and I now 3 and half years after paying them still no boat. So I took Andy's advice and fixed the cracked master.
I had previously contacted Allan at APS Models to get his permission to make a mold and one upper hull for myself. I contacted Allan again to let him know again of my re-interest in this and he assisted with the process.
The result is I now have a superb correct upper hull half for my 1/72 scale Collins Class Submarine, HMAS Rankin.
A big thank you to Allan at APS models, David for his no nonsense encouragement and Andy for putting some wind in my sails.
This year I hope to have this boat put together and sailing.
The upper hull half is pretty much devoid of details. I found the master I made very unstable and as you can see it pretty much ****ted itself after the mold was made.
Here you see the upper GRP hull produced from my master and mold sits on top of the lower APS GRP hull. The middle upper hull is the master. The mold is in the front of the picture.
Next is a close up showing the now rather had it master and mold
Finally a shot of inside the mold
John
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