German LSM Eidechse Class
#250

For the 250th build of my second (adult) modelling career I wanted something that would force me to use all the skills I have acquired in the past years. On top of that, I wanted to put emphasis on consistency, i.e. not over-emphasizing one aspect while neglecting another - which I usually fail at.

Result: my interpretation of Revell's German LSM Eidechse Class, with a modicum of scratchbuilding. An unusual choice for me, as I rarely build ships.

The kit has a remarkable price (~ 20€) to modelling fun ratio. Strongly recommended, even if ships usually aren't your thing.

It presents no challenges in construction. The hull can be built in an hour using fast-acting liquid glue. The thing practically screams for the addition of little details: windows for tower (PVA glue) and heli (Mirco Kristal Klear); railings from stretched sprue of (intentionally) varying diameters, loads for the trucks, and so on. I for one, being the adhesively challenged Gluefinger, usually see the building phase as a necessary evil, but this was different.

Still, as usual, most of the fun came from painting and weathering. Applying rust has become a favourite pastime; here, it was done with two shades of brownish acrylics misted on by airbrush, microchipping, pigments scratched from artists' pastels and streaking courtesy of artists' watercolors. I also took special care in representing the sheen (matt/glossy/in-between) of the various components' surfaces.

Not really knowing much about ships, I was unable to decide on how to weather the lower hull. I was about to investigate adding barnacles using tinted putty, but was afraid that might be stretching it a bit. Any suggestions?

I find it hard to judge my own builds, always being either too positive or negative about various aspects. Hence, I now need everyone to sober me up and tell me where I messed up! Note: the blob of Blu Tack currently fixing the heli will be replaced by something more appropriate once the model has been transferred to its final resting place.