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Author Topic: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat  (Read 13589 times)

herrmill

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1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« on: March 07, 2008, 05:22:43 am »
Since I know of few of us here tend to think outside the box when it comes to hobbies, I wanted to give all a heads up of a new kit Steve Neill plans to develop for those of us who enjoy building something unique.  Because I'm in the process of starting on a Civil War monitor & also enjoy RC tanks, this subject immediately got my interest. 

If you don't already know Steve, he's the owner of SubPirates forum & an avid scratch builder of RC jets & subs.  He's also a published author recently with his RC Submarine Modeling for Dumbasses & really knows his stuff when it comes to modeling.  His background has been in mainly in special effects for Hollywood starting off with the likes of George Lucas, but with the movie business changing & most of what he used to do now going offshore, he's in the process of making a major course correction in the terms of a career change & going to develop, market & sell a select line of sub & ship kits, in addition to offering custom building services.  He's recently started a new webstore www.subpirateshobbies.com to market this line & has several noted guys in the hobby assisting him with his new startup.  Most notably would be Matt Thor who has recently come out of retirement to develop a line of 1/32 scale early German, Russian & American subs.  The first of these due will be a Russian Pike & German UB-1. 

His first "target" will be a 1/25 scale BK1125 Bronkater river gunboat or "tank ship" that was used extensively by the Russians throughout WWII.  At just under 37", its designed for both RC or display builders offered in a vac ABS & resin kit. I don't know what version he intends to offer but with the simple design, it would be easy to build any number of variants used during the war by offering optional weapon kits.  The rocket equipped Stalin Organ version is what has my interest piqued.  Think of the possibilities....   O0

These gunboats were used by the Soviets effectively throughout the Eastern front from the initial days of the German invasion to the final days of Berlin & engaged in many close engagements with German armor.  You can find a brief history on the vessel at: http://www.avalanchepress.com/RiverGunboats.php

MIG, WEM & several others offer this in smaller resin display kits; MIG's 1/35 version is shown below in the last photo but is quite a steal @ 350 euro & not meant for RC.  :o  I doubt Steve will be offering his at anything close to that price...

More details can be found here at http://www.subpirates.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=3868

Chuck





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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #1 on: April 08, 2008, 02:33:22 am »
Steve has started his build thread for this new kit which you can view here:

http://www.subpirates.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=4020

He's decided to go with a FRP hull for better detail with ABS, resin & metal parts & fittings.

He initially will offering it on his new webstore http://www.subpirateshobbies.com & has several retailers, including one in the EU, interested in carrying the kit.   
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U812

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #2 on: April 11, 2008, 07:02:54 pm »
Thanks Chuck for posting on this great forum. Bare with me guys I run my own forum an post on a few others and it's some times hard to make triple posts but I'll do my best.

Had to take some time out from the BK but will be back to her tomorrow and all weekend. I had a sub kit I needed to revamp to fill orders. Almost done.

The hull is formed and I start evening her out next and shaping before I glass the hull to do the real detail work.

Steve
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tobyker

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2008, 12:13:03 am »
What an excellent piece of kit! I like the mg turret  on top of the wheelhouse.
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U812

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2008, 05:31:51 am »
tobyker ,

Yes it sure is thanks. Should have a good shape to the hull tomorrow at the rate I'm going here. The weather is very warm here in LA. In the low 90s. Not my favorite weather but good for fiber glassing.

Steve
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #5 on: May 03, 2008, 12:50:07 pm »
Steve's been busy with several builds, but he's got the hull plug almost finished with plating & welds completed this week.

He's added a poll to gauge interest in the kit so feel free to visit his build thread posted above.

Chuck


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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #6 on: June 09, 2008, 11:57:40 pm »
Some new photos of Steve's recent work.  Prototype should be completed soon.
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #7 on: June 15, 2008, 11:25:08 pm »
More pics from Steve.


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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #8 on: June 15, 2008, 11:46:23 pm »
More photos from Steve showing deck details & a neat technique using 2 mill aluminum tape for rivet & seam detail.  Fittings & final detailing begin next week.
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #9 on: June 16, 2008, 01:22:57 am »
More pics...
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #10 on: June 17, 2008, 05:09:50 am »
And more...  more fittings, stanchions & detailing the deckhouse are next.  Steve expects to have molds ready within 2 weeks.
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #11 on: June 20, 2008, 04:47:00 am »
More photos of the rivet detail using aluminum tape. 

Steve expects to have the remaining details done over the weekend & will start on silicone moulds next week.
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #12 on: June 20, 2008, 05:02:36 am »
More
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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #13 on: June 20, 2008, 09:09:26 am »
Will kept an eye on this one looks fantastic , will be intresting on the cost with shipping to the UK, will start saving in case I can afford one . I'm sure it will get a lot of intrest also a good size.
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #14 on: June 20, 2008, 09:57:33 am »
Steve hasn't yet set the price, but from what I've been told it will certainly be under what MIG asks for their 1/35 resin kit.   

As mentioned earlier, he's doing the final parts & detail over the weekend before starting on moulds.  Initial kits will be done to order, & he expects to have the first ones out the door early July. 

He's already giving thought to the next ones so any recommendations for something that's unique, yet still marketable are always welcome!  I do know he plans to offer a classic sloop in a vac ABS hull for the sailors out there. O0

You can contact him directly at www.subpirateshobbies.com. 

Based on where the dollar is now against the pound & euro, am certain shipping & duty shouldn't cause too much concern.  My son was shipping 1/16 RC tank metal track & accessories to the UK & EU & averaged $15-25 for 2kg parcels from the States.

Chuck
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #15 on: June 22, 2008, 11:57:51 pm »
Here are a few more from Steve. 

You can find more details on the kit over at SP that will make the scratch builders happy.
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #16 on: June 30, 2008, 08:10:48 am »
Steve announced he is officially offering his new BK1125 kit at $350.00.  Compared to MIG's 1/35 resin display model which sells for $875, its a rather good deal for a GRP kit designed for RC.  Based on today's exchange, you lucky folks across the pond in the UK & EU should be scheming to find a way to get this across your borders!  ;)

Steve had mentioned that I am trying to him on future production needs, so I want all to know that I'm doing this as friend & have no plans to make a dime, shilling, pfenning or jiao on his new kit.  This guy has some real talent & needs to see his product hit the market in a really big way.  He may be a pirate, but he'll go far with some ideas he's got up in his head.   O0

He has not yet updated his webstore so visit http://www.subpirates.com/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=4307 for more information & to put your name down for one of the beta kits. 

Chuck
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GaryM

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #17 on: July 04, 2008, 09:35:02 pm »
Just read the post - the guy is fantastic!  What a model!

regards
Gary :)
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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #18 on: July 04, 2008, 10:24:21 pm »
Model looks really good, that they seem to use resin components - it's so fragile it's a worry taing it anywhere.

Have they discussed producing their current resin components in another material?

I recently dropped a very expensive resin model of a robot ( don't ask :( ) and it just shattered. grr

Steve
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #19 on: July 04, 2008, 11:23:06 pm »
Steve wasn't happy with the initial pulls off the mold & amount of repair work needed, so he has decided not to offer the kit at this time. However, that doesn't mean a kit won't be offered in the future; it just won't be be a a hand layup from him.

He's currently making one for himself & one for Dave Welch, while I assist him in locating a suitable FRP vendor to handle his hull & deck production. There is plenty of interest in the kit & Steve is planning to take it forward in a way that makes sense for him while offering the best quality to his customer.

You can follow his progress on the BK1125 build thread over at SubPirates & expect see its maiden voyage at Hansen Dam very soon. 

Chuck
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #20 on: July 07, 2008, 08:06:31 am »
Some recent photos from Steve's weekend. 

You can read the detail at http://www.subpirates.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=4313

Chuck
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #21 on: July 07, 2008, 08:28:02 am »
And more from the weekend.  The last two photos show the extra parts for Dave's kit plus a GW sail he cast in the batch last night.

He's casting the small parts today & then proceed with final assembly & paint for a scheduled maiden voyage at LA's Hansen Dam this Thursday.

Chuck
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #22 on: July 09, 2008, 08:31:20 am »
A few more from yesterday & today's work.  All casting is done using Alumilite, known for its strength & durability.  Several had asked how he can work with this to cast large parts due to its quick set up time so I thought I'd include Steve's words from today's post:

"It just comes from years of working with the stuff. I cool it in the frig. On a piece that size, I pour it in and brush up even until it starts to get thick and up end it and drain. I do this about three times for thickness. Works great and saves me having to do glass."

The kit shown is going to Dave Welch.

Chuck
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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #23 on: July 09, 2008, 09:11:25 am »
Interesting armament arrangement!!
That looks a very big 2nd gun for such a small vessel!!!
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herrmill

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Re: 1/25 BK1125 Bronkater: Soviet Armored River Gunboat
« Reply #24 on: July 09, 2008, 10:04:31 am »
Martin,

These river patrol boats carried just about anything they could get their hands on from old naval guns to any tank turret up to a T34/85 late in the war.  Rocket launchers were a favorite during the Russian advance since many were used to besiege the fortress cities the Germans held during their retreat. 

I've been trying to get Steve to make a fantasy prototype once VS Tank releases their new KV-2.  With that turret you'd have to install an open bridge for the pilot see around the thing, but stability may pose a problem.  {-)

Chuck
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