T040a Lifeboat The Final Push……….

Time to get my butt into gear and take advantage of this unseasonably cool weather, to get into the loft and get the Scalescenes T040a Lifeboat finished. As with the previous session I had, this is all about everything above deck. 

First job this time is to cut it and cover the Anchor Guard base layers. Make sure to cut one edge of the base layer at an angle. Once done, set aside for now. 

Next is to cut out and run a coloured marker along the raw edge of the rails, then glue into place the Deck Toe Rail. Take note of the Bow end, and use the white lines on the deck to get these into the correct position. Once these are in place, glue the Anchor Guards into place. 

Cut out and glue the Bow Fender into place next.

Next, cut out both of the Anchors and the Rudder. Fold and glue them in half and set aside for now.

Right, now for a fiddly bit. Using the Lifeline jig supplied, bend some thin wire into shape. I used 24 gauge white florists wire. In hindsight, I wished I’d used some finer wire. But this is all I had at hand, so it had to do.

Using the same wire, cut out the Cabin Handrail jig and use it to shape the Handrail. Then glue into place. 

Next is even finer for me. I always struggle with detail this fine. My eyes don’t see it too well, and my fingers are far too big. But I’m going to give it a go anyway. 

Again using the supplied jig, cut strips of Styrene and lay them over the jig and tape into place. I’m using the recommended Evergreen Styrene #121 0.75mm for the Stanchions and Evergreen Styrene #100 0.5mm for the hand rails. Once the Stanchions are taped into place, using a suitable liquid poly, I use the Revell Fine tip applicator, lay the handrails into place. Let the rails bond fully before taking off the jig. I waited until the end to add the Handrails, because I didn’t want to knock them off. 

Cut out the Mast cutting jig next. Cut a paper stemmed cotton bud to size, and unwrap a section at the end to make it thinner. Then using a black marker, colour the thin end. 

Wrap and glue the mast base into place. Tightly roll and glue the Masthead lights. Once the glue is dried, cut the three lights out (one is a spare). Glue the two lights onto the Mast. I used a couple of scraps of styrene to fashion an aerial. I used some Evergreen Rod #221 for the Aft mast. Set these aside until the end. 

Starting mid ship, use a suitable glue to glue the Handrails into place. I used a medium thickness CA. Let the glue dry before moving onto the Bow and Stern sections. 

Next, cut out and glue into place the Mast Hinges. After deciding the position of the Mast, glue it into place. Glue the Aft Mast into place.

Glue the Anchors and the Rudder into place.

And that’s it. I’m calling this one done! 

It’s been an extended build due to the heat in the loft, but in the main, I’ve enjoyed this kit. It’s a been bit out of my comfort zone, what with all of the fine detail, but it’s good to challenge yourself now and again. I can’t wait for the accompanying Lifeboat Station. Due to be released shortly. 

 

Until Next Time………….

T040a Lifeboat Pt4…………

More progress has been done on the Scalescenes T040a Lifeboat. Unfortunately I’ve moved onto all of the fiddly elements on the deck, and with my sausage fingers, it’s been slow progress. Anyway here’s what I’ve achieved. 

Construction of the Cabin Hatch is next. Cut the Cabin Hatch Base Layer A out along with the two Cabin Hatch B pieces and glue pieces B onto A.

Once the glue has dried, turn the base over and glue the Cabin Hatch Cover Layer over the top, and glue the Cabin Hatch into place. Make sure the hinges face the thick edge of the wedge.

Next cut out the two Cabin Hatch Side base layers along with the Cabin Hatch side cover layers, then wrap the cover layers over the base layers. While the glue dries, cut out the Cabin Hatch Roof then fold and glue in half. Introduce a slight curve to the roof and glue bingo place.

Then glue the complete Hatch into place.

Cut out both the base layer and cover layer for the Aft Hatch. Then wrap the cover around the base. Then glue the Hatch into place.

Next, cut out and glue together into blocks of two, printed sides out, the Aft Bollard Sides. Then glue these into place. Then cut out and glue the two Aft Bollard tops into place.

Cut out the Side Light Surrounds and glue into place onto the Side Lights. Glue the completed lights onto their respective sides. 

Next, cut out the base and cover layers for the two Life Rings. Wrap the base with the covers and glue the complete Life Rings into place.

Cut out the two Extractor Vent base layers and cover layers, wrap and glue into place.

Cut out and glue the Engine Room Escape Hatch into place.

Next, cut out the base layers for Winch A and Winch B, the glue together using the blue guidelines. While the glue dries, cut out the Winch cover layer. Wrap and glue it around the base layer. Then glue the complete Winch into place.

Tightly wrap and glue the Capstan into a tight tube. Once the glue has dried, cut the Capstan to length and glue into place.

Next, like with the Capstan, tightly roll and glue the Bollard into a tube. Once dried, cut to length. Pierce a hole through the Bollard and glue into place a small piece of tubing or wire, to complete the Bollard. Now glue it into place.

Again as before, cut out, tightly roll and glue the Ventilator Shafts into tubes. While these are drying, cut out and fold the Ventilator Hoods. Gently curve the Ventilator Hoods into a semi-circle, and glue into place on the Ventilator Shafts. Once the glue has dried, cut the complete Ventilator shafts to length and glue into place on the Bow and Engine room.

And that’s it for now. Not much more to do now. I should get it done in the next session hopefully. 

 

Until Next Time………….