Building the Airfix Air Sea Rescue Launch
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/8/1/7/810817-10800-62-720.jpg)
The kit´s fit was quite OK, with minimal filler needed at the wheelhouse corners and at the rear of the superstructure.
![Album image #2 Album image #2](/albums/img/8/1/9/810819-10800-26-720.jpg)
For the windscreen, I made the framework from styrene and the rotating discs from PE handwheels, with all but one spoke carefully sawed away.
![Album image #3 Album image #3](/albums/img/8/2/0/810820-10800-39-720.jpg)
I redid the rear window, adding framing to the wheelhouse roof and making the pane of the window from a blister pack.
![Album image #4 Album image #4](/albums/img/8/1/6/810816-10800-60-720.jpg)
The mast needed a rebuild to cope with the tension of the rigging.
![Album image #5 Album image #5](/albums/img/8/1/8/810818-10800-55-720.jpg)
I was quite happy with the kit´s representation of the Oerlikon, I just added some leftover PE and tubing.
![Album image #6 Album image #6](/albums/img/8/2/1/810821-10800-24-720.jpg)
I added the cooling water outlets to the transom and some representation of the diagonal planking to the hull sides.
![Album image #7 Album image #7](/albums/img/8/2/2/810822-10800-16-720.jpg)
The deflectors around the turrets are represented as solid parts, whereas they consisted of tubing in the real thing. I remade them from annealed wire and styrene.
![Album image #8 Album image #8](/albums/img/8/2/3/810823-10800-51-720.jpg)
In comparison, the difference between the kit parts and the homemade deflectors is obvious.
![Album image #9 Album image #9](/albums/img/8/2/4/810824-10800-77-720.jpg)
My first base, smallish and greenish, and only with churned water right behind the vessel. Mostly like a photo from Wikipedia. But I wasn´t quite happy with it.
![Album image #10 Album image #10](/albums/img/8/2/5/810825-10800-75-720.jpg)
To mount the hull to my vise, I added styrene rectangular profile.
![Album image #11 Album image #11](/albums/img/8/2/6/810826-10800-42-720.jpg)
My second base was larger, with choppier waves, and a bluer hue, and more churned water around the vessel. I fancied it looked better.
![Album image #12 Album image #12](/albums/img/8/2/7/810827-10800-28-720.jpg)
I tried to make the grey of the deck and superstructure a bit varied without overdoing it, using three shades.
![Album image #13 Album image #13](/albums/img/8/2/8/810828-10800-54-720.jpg)
Masking the many panes of the machine gun turrets was tedious, but had to be done. I fantasized about 3D printed frameworks that would only need painting and glazing with white glue ...
![Album image #14 Album image #14](/albums/img/8/2/9/810829-10800-33-720.jpg)
My first cage aerials ever, made after Ulf Lundberg´s method as described here: modellmarine.de/inde..modelle&Itemid=1
![Album image #15 Album image #15](/albums/img/8/3/1/810831-10800-96-720.jpg)
I was a bit concerned about the decals, but they held up well and covered well, too.
![Album image #16 Album image #16](/albums/img/8/3/2/810832-10800-97-720.jpg)
The vessel as completed and weathered.
![Album image #17 Album image #17](/albums/img/8/3/3/810833-10800-19-720.jpg)
So this is what I arrived at - and didn´t feel comfortable with.
Opmerkingen
4 17 July 2020, 15:08
![](/profiles/img/16661-726-s.jpg)
Extraordinary job, especially the mast and rigging look really good ! The teaser pic for the project file really brings out the beautiful lines
of this whaleback . Legendary good old Airfix kit......
17 July 2020, 20:53