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[Dreadstar]

Ok,so I'm not a newbie on here,but this will be my first ever build from scratch,so in that sense,I'm very much a beginner.

  I've decided to try something very simple to begin with,as my skills aren't exactly what you could call brilliant,and although it's not a GG plan,I think it's quite similar in style.
  Now as I'm also a big fan of the lamented Bob Symes classic Model World series,I'd thought of doing the Sea Rider too. However I came across an article and set of plans that really peaked my interest,and I thought to myself,why not try that,so here I am starting off building a model of a Vosper Corvette by Clive Halliwell.(Oct 2009 MMI)

  Now I know that you can buy a kit of this vessel,and that it'll look the bees knees,but my finances won't stretch to buying one of them,not only that but I'd be afraid of messing it up during the build. Can you imagine the expletives that would issue forth if I messed it up,coupled with the fact that my painting isn't very good,it would turn out to be a waste of money.
  This way,even if I make a mess of it,I won't have broken the bank ballance doing it.

  I bought all the necessary balsa,propshaft/prop,rudder assy & paint for just over £40.00. I've still to purchace the weapons suite and ships boats/davits though. As it's 1/96th scale,can anyone give me some ideas as to suppliers of weapons in this scale.

 Hull base started,just waiting for the glue to dry.

[Dreadstar]

First hull side on. Won't be able to do any more today though.

[Dreadstar]

The motor and propshaft and rudder have been installed,though the shaft has yet to be epoxied into place. Next will be the building and fitting of the servo mounts,then I can fit the other side of the hull into place. I'll post photo's of each stage as it's completed.

[Dreadstar]

Second side now on,and motor and propshaft epoxied into place.

[Dreadstar]

Getting there slowly but surely.

[hama]

Hey, that looks great! She will be a beauty on the water, one can tell already.

Good luck!
Hama.

[Dreadstar]

Thanks for that Hama,and even though I was out sailing most of the afternoon,I've now got all the decks finished,and the aft superstructure fitted to the rear deck. I'll post some more pics later tonight.

[Dreadstar]

As promised,here are the current photo's of the build.

[Martin (Admin)]

Well that don't look too bad at all!   

[Dreadstar]

I would say that that was the easy part,now comes the hard part......fitting her out. I've built and fitted the bridge structure,but something doesn't seem quite right about it,so I'm probably going to have to re-do it.

 One thing I've found out,is that there are very few photographs of this corvette,which make detailing her a bit of a swine. I can only find the one view of her,which is taken from the water looking upwards to her starboard side. Does anyone know where I can find an aerial shot of her,so that i can find out details of her deck layout please?

[DickyD]

Hi, not having the plan, which Vosper corvette is this you are making ?

[Shipmate60]

You can get modern 1/96 scale fittings from sirmar: http://www.sirmarmodelships.com.

Dicky its the modern Vosper Corvette similar to the small Deans one.

Bob

[Dreadstar]

Yup,it's the Vosper MkIII Corvette,the version with the twin mounted HA 4" gun turret and 2x 40mm bofors. Max speed 23kts.

[Dreadstar]

The original bridge,as per the plans,though I wasn't too happy with it.



 The bridge as it is now,having found a semi-decent photo of her.







The photo's that I found.The top one is of a MkI,and the second one is of the MkIII

[Dreadstar]

I've got most of the mainmast built now,but don't expect it to be overly realistic.



I also got my ships weapons through today from John Smith,and crackers they are too. Just positioned roughly on the hull,just to get some idea of how she'll look.

[Dreadstar]

Current position,complete with home made funnel,(not too bad for a first attempt),I know that it's not quite the correct shape,but it'll do me.

[hollowhornbear]

looking good

[Dreadstar]

Thanks for that bear,but please don't expect the super-detailing finish that we're all so envious of. Wood is not my medium,so the fact that this has turned out so well thus far is amazing,I've really surprised myself here.  The next headache is going to be the tripod rear radar mast.......EEK
  I've got some ships boats and derriks coming from Reade's models,though I wish that I'd ordered some life rafts whilst I'd been shopping online. I'm not too sure what to make them from though,any ideas anyone?

[derekwarner]

  nice to see Dreadstar that you have Fosters in Glasgow......... - Derek

[Dreadstar]

Ok,so I've still to cross brace the mast legs,but I think it'll do.



 The first of the aerials for this boat.

[Martin (Admin)]

Class workmanship Dreadstar  

[Dreadstar]

A quick blast with the paint can,just to see how it'll look,(using Humbrol Sea Grey).



The rear Radar mast.

[Martin (Admin)]

I would prep the hull with 'sanding sealer' or the like first, gives a much better finish....

[Arrow5]

ARRRRGH Martin NO ! not on the Humbrol painted bits.   Sanding sealer only on bare wood.

[Dreadstar]

Since I don't have much in the way of free cash at the moment,I'll be sealing the hull with multiple coats of yacht varnish,both inside and out. That's what I sealed the RBR speedboat with after all,and that seemed to work out alright.Ok,so it's not as good as resin would be,but we have to cut our coat according to our cloth.

 The good thing is,that there are 3 separate deck sections,which can all be painted away from the hull,which will be getting dealt with separately.