Attention: Yak_V and other shipbuilders

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Aye, Jacques. Currently installing rivet no. 245 of 1,200,320 on the Gorshkov.

 

Re:Typhoon, methinks me gets instead the Dragon Typhoon then. It's cheaper, larger scale, and more accurate as you say. Yeah, the Revell's tile detail does look over-sized, looking at all the Typhoon pix that I have.

 

Now, if only the shop orders in bulk an Admiral Kuznetsov, then I'll be as happy as a cloud.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Taking a break from studying, the superstructure of the Baku conversion isn't done yet, but progress has been made on where the 100mm guns would be. Thanks to Lev and LuckLucky at the Gorshkov thread back at the GenMil forum, I've finally found the location of the VLS for the SAM.

 

As for the Kirov, haven't touched that one for now, but instead am making the container for the mold for the Helix. The Helix that came with the Kirov as very detailed considering the scale. All the Hormone helos of the Kiev (looks more like the Dauphin really) will go away and be replaced with epoxy putty copies of the Helix. I'll be making several kinds of Helix helos, using the base kit as the master, and modifying the rest with additional epoxy putty for the radome (apparently, there are two kinds - one with the big, round buldge radome, the other with a flat bottom. Which is the AEW version from the AShM version I have yet to know). The Trump Kiev's helos are a disappointment (haven't I said that already?), while the Yak-22s will need new legs (the ones only have stubs for landing gear). I'll also be making epoxy putty copies of the Yak-22s. The original plastic Yaks will have their wings folded up, while the epoxy putty copies will have their wings deployed.

 

I noticed that the 76mm guns of the Kiev kit and the 100mm guns from the Kirov kit have big differences in size - as if the former is scaled larger than 1/700. Same thing with the RBUs of the Kiev kit - larger than those with the Kirov. Since the Kirov kit looks very much proportioned, I think the error is with the Kiev. Besides, making observations with the Kiev kit, the RBUs and guns look too big for the carrier itself IMO.

 

Still figuring out a way to produce better radars for all three ships (but, having learned my sis has a Mastercard... hehehehe ).

 

BTW, gots my HMS Victory by Air Fix and I must say, I was a bit disappointed. Instructions were unclear to me and there's a lot of flash to deal with. Unfortunately, I couldn't return it because the shop where I got it has a policy of once-opened-considered-bought. This kit's box was sealed with plastic, so break it open to inspect the contents and it's considered sold. I tried to argue but decided to get it anyway - maybe I could do something about it.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Update: Continuing the work during my spare time, I've made great progress with the superstructure which has been mated to the deck already. The top part of the main island has been made, now all I need is to detail it with platforms and radar. I have been able to scrathcbuild a Cake Stand drum from an X-Acto No. 11 blade container, some EP, and thin styrene. I was able find very nice pix for the Plate Steer radar on top of the Cake Stand.

 

I was able to scratchbuild 1 twin launcher of the Sandbox SSM but it needs a bit of work. I haven't started making the mold for the Helix nor Forgers. The flight deck of the Baku has been extended by approximately 2cm. The ship now doesn't look like a regular Kiev but more of the Baku. (thanks to Lev and Lucklucky)

 

Jacques: Your Cake Stand pix helped a lot. Could you take pix and post them here for the other sensors, e.g. Bass Tilt, Cross Sword, Front Door, Palm Frond, and Strut Pair? Thanks.

 

I finally decided to do a diorama for my Kiev (it'll be the Minsk). In 1979, the USS Elliot conducted some "open surveillance" when it met the Minsk battlegroup in the Indian Ocean. Details of that one are here. For that one, I got meself a nice Dragon Spruance DDG, specifically the USS Connoly ABL kit. I'll be backdating it to the Elliot in 1979 (i.e. the Phalanx and Tomahawk box launchers will go to the spares box).

 

As for the Peter the Great, it'll be either stand alone, in a dio with the Baku, or in a dio with the Kuznetsov (if I get that kit).

 

So I have four ships at the shipyard right now hehehe

 

EDIT:

 

I LOVE AAA HOBBY!

 

I checked their site and I gots nice pix of most of the sensors I need. Now, all I need is a nice pics of the Cross Sword and Front Door.

 

[Edited by Gennady I. Beregovoy (28 Feb 2004).]

[Jacques]

Hiya Gennady,

 

I'm working on a pic for the Cross sword, the kit part is ok for the scale. Have not even found the Front door though.

 

Also Gennady, PM me with your snail mail address...I have a PRESENT for you!

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Jacques: Oooh! Surprise! PM on the way...

 

I cross-checked my Janes book on the Kirov and apparently the Peter the Great has a Cross Sword according to the book. So, having ID'd the Cross Sword pix from the Gorshkov and Udaloy pix (using elimination from the clear pix of the various sensors), I tried to locate the same on my Kirov kit. And luckily, it DOES have just ONE Cross Sword! Looks simple enough to copy - basically a block of styrene, add a dish, and some extensions. The kit part needs a bit detailing (just an antennae on the dish). Hehehe in my gusto of building the Kirov last night (spurred by the onset of depression) I had already installed the Cross Sword without making an RTV mold of it. But since it's simple to build, it'll be easy to scratchbuild one and make a mold (the Baku has four Cross Sword sensors).

 

I reckon Front Door is a sensor in a radome, since having labelled those sensors on the Baku line drawing, the only ones remaining unlabeled are small and big radomes that pepper the superstructure.

 

I hope to take pix of the builds (Minsk, Baku, Elliot, and Pyotr) sometime soon (or as soon as I can wrest me dad's digital camera ).

[Jacques]

Actually, the two globes are satellite communications devices. I read that the front door radar is normally retracted, so... I just have not found any other reference to it other than it is the guidance radar for the SS-N-12.

 

Yup, your cross-sword is a beter copy to scratchbuild from...the piece I have is fairly simple.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Ah... I didn't know that Front Door was retractable. Hitting "Front Door" at Google gave me a LOT of useless returns hehehe

 

BTW, got my PM?

 

The main Cross Sword piece on the Peter the Great is part H30. Its "secondary" radar is B16. I'll be making epoxput copies of H30 when the master and mold is done.

 

[Edited by Gennady I. Beregovoy (02 Mar 2004).]

[Jacques]

Ok, now that I do not have my son crawling all over me while I am typing...

 

First, the "front door" radar, in the one account I was able to find out about it, is supposedly retracted for most cruise time of the ship. I do not know where it is located though. It is supposed to be the guidance set for the big whoppin' anti-ship missiles carried, but I think they are a version of missile newer than the SS-N-12...SS-N-22? Sorry, I am not sure of the designation and I am too tired to go dig the books out!

 

Second, yes, the piece you have for the "cross sword" radar should be a good one to start with for molds. the one I have with my Kuznetsov kit is fairly basic compared to the DML one. I have not looed at the Trumpeter piece yet.

 

As for your PM...got it. Will let you know when I send the parcel off.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Yeah IIRC it's SS-N-12 Sandbox (IIRC SS-N-22 is Sunburn). Since the Sandbox launchers are at the bow, methinks it's somwhere on the superstructure then or at the brick-like thingy between both sets of Sandboxes on the Baku. Purely speculation on my part.

 

As for the parcel - BIG THANKS!

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

BTW, anyone here has the Dragon 1/700 Ticonderoga cruiser? I just want to know if the kit's helo is a Seasprite or Seahawk. I googled it but didn't find anything that could answer my query. The box art in one also shows a Seahawk, but maybe it has a Seasprite instead. Thanks.

[Ingemar Caisander]

Gennady, I'm currently building the 1/700 Ticonderoga (it will soon be ready for painting) and the kit includes a quite nice SH-60 Seahawk helicopter.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Ingemar: Thanks for the info. I've now set my sights on Dragon's FFG-7 kit. According to an online review, that kit has a Seahawk AND a Seasprite (which I need). Good thing I held-off buying the Ticonderoga kit just for the helo. Do post your Tico when it's done.

[Jacques]

Hey Gennady,

 

INCOMING!

 

 

Parcel went out yesterday...by airmail (cheaper!!!)

 

enjoy!

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Jacques: Just saw your post today. Thanks! Me likes surprises.

 

Re: OHP FFG kit - I was wrong. Yes it contained 2 different helos - and a Pegasus hydrofoil to boot! But the other helo ain't a Seasprite. It's a SEA KING. Oh well... guess backdating the Conall into a pre-1980s Elliot will feature an empty flight deck and a closed hangar.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Anyone here has "Plastic Ship Modeller" No. 24? I'm interested in the drawings of Ray Bean in that issue, at the Infonavtel section. If anyone has the magazine, perhaps scan those drawings of Ray Bean in that section? Thanks.

[Archie Pellagio]

Originally posted by Gennady I. Beregovoy:

Ingemar: Thanks for the info.   I've now set my sights on Dragon's FFG-7 kit.  According to an online review, that kit has a Seahawk AND a Seasprite (which I need). Good thing I held-off buying the Ticonderoga kit just for the helo. Do post your Tico when it's done.

 

Gennady, can you keep us posted, i'm about to start my FFG-7.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Luke: Sure. I plan on having this thread as a journal of sorts (so much for my Nationals secrecy ). I'll restart building after the 23rd of March - that's the last day of my finals and once that's done, it's 2-FRIGGIN' MONTHS OF SUMMER VACATION! WOOO HOOO!

 

BTW, reason why I'm asking about the Blue Marlin line drawings is because I'm planning on scratchbuilding her. Originally, the FFG-7 was supposed to be the cargo of the Blue Marlin, but then with pics of the USS Cole - and an available 1/700 Arleigh Burke class DDG at the shop - me wants to do that instead Crazy, noh?

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU JACQUES!

 

Woo hoo! 1/720 Admiral Kuznetsov! It arrived yesterday at the post office. Me dad picked it up for me a few minutes ago. SPASIBA TOVARISH!

[DougRichards]

Is that Sea Sprite still needed? I have a sprue with 2 Sea Sprites and two Lynxs on it if they are wanted: email me:

 

Doug

[Jacques]

Hey Gennady, glad you enjoyed it.

 

And really, you can thank Doug more than anyone due to his massive generosity in the past to me...I have to admit Doug, since I recieved stuff from you in the past, it has been a lot more fun to "pay it forward". Especially when Gennady gets so excited!

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Doug: is the email at your profile active? If so, email's on the way.

 

Jacques: Methinks me has found me real luv now - ships. As long as they're in 1/700 or 1/720 hehehe They're very fun to build. All my half-built armor is rusting up Finally got to lay my hands on it last night. All I can say is WOW! It's good they placed both kinds of fighters with it. I plan on adding some 1/700 helos (hoping they won't notice the scale difference hehehehe). Can't wait for the 23d! Only then will Gennady's Iron and Steel Works (Ship Division) be fully operational hehehe.

 

[Edited by Gennady I. Beregovoy (18 Mar 2004).]

[DougRichards]

Your email has been received and replied to. If from the old Dragon HMS Revenge vs Soviet Victor 1/700 set, includes markings for both helo types. They are not absolutely brilliant attempts at SeaSprite, but fair.

 

If you want to go a bit better, White Ensihn models puts out a set of 5 Seasprites with brass for all rotors, undercarriage etc. See

http://www.sandlehobbies.com/resindetails/.../seasprite.html

 

that $11.00 cost is $11 Australian, or about $8.00 US a the moment. The brass is a bit finicky but I would say that these would make up superbly. No markings though, you have to buy those separately.

 

see

http://www.sandlehobbies.com/decals/gmm/na...alaircraft.html

 

for a sample of what is available.

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Doug: Aye, that'll do. Just enough to further emphasize that the Spruance kit was backdated to the late 70s - the judges might nitpick that it doesn't have the Tomahawk launchers nor the Phalanx CIWS.

 

Ok, since I've got a weeeee bit some free time on me hands a few hours ago, I started putting together the hull of the Kuz. Having the Kuz, Baku, Minsk, Peter the Great, and the Typhoon together on the table looks impressive. While representing NATO is a single Spruance and OHP. I've told one of my friends here to go build his 1/720 USN carrier so that the Kuz will have a partner hehehe

[Gennady I. Beregovoy]

Doug: Got your email. Thanks!

 

Progress Report:

 

Ok, I had some free time (hey, my brain's tired from all that studying ) and so I continued some work on the Kuz, and started on both the Cole and Blue Marlin.

 

Kuz -

 

Well, I just strengthened the Kuz's hull by laying some steel-filled epoxy on the inside seam. Hopefully this'll make the hull withstand the pressure of sanding. The superstructure also got some attention, having been assembled and in the process of being "improved on" such as the vents at the sides which I sliced out and recessed. I will replace the Cross Swords that came with the kit with hot-glue cast copies of the Dragon version I made weeks ago because the kit's version looks oversized for 1/720. I plan on sanding off the flight deck's raised detail since there are decals for this one already.

 

Cole -

 

The kit is Dragon's 1/700 AB DDG. Before assembling the hull, I thinned the port side's inside and punched it with me knife to make a ragged hole. I also bit it to perforate the hull (mmmmmmmmm... styrene tastes like... plastic hehehehe). I placed some wreckage in it before assembling the hull. The result ain't bad and will do, although could've been better.

 

Blue Marlin -

 

The scratchbuilding has started using lots of online photos of the Cole's recovery and data on the Marlin's size as reference. I think it's safe to say I'm in scale to it, or at least very close. I used Tamiya's big Pla Plate styrene (1.2mm thick). Made the free deck and part of the bow's deck, as well as the hull sides. It'll be a waterline model, bringing the Cole back home.

 

Hopefully, I'll have pix of this next week or so (yeah I know, I've promised that before and didn't make good on it ), as well as the rest of the fleet. I really can't wait for the 23d to arrive so I can go flank speed for these ships. Hopefully, the Nationals will see the Red Banner Fleet in force hehehehe

 

What? Armor? Never heard...

[Brad Sallows]

>Well, I just strengthened the Kuz's hull by laying some steel-filled epoxy on the inside seam.

 

Is this a prepared mixture one can buy, or just epoxy into which you have mixed some scrap metal?