1/350 US Coast Guard Reliance class Cutter TLAR Models #723

[Rhino]

A tlarmodels.com customer from Phoenix requested a 1/350 USCGC Dauntless. A 210' Reliance class cutter model.

Internet searches reveal that this vessel, in this scale, has in fact, been ignored by mainstream resin ship model makers. The pictured version is of the late fit USCGC Reliance with a stack to vent the gasses from the diesel engines HH-65A Dolphin and Mk. 38 25mm Chain gun mount.
Just to see what Mr. Baker wished for we watched Peter Benchley's 1980 film "The Island". USCGC Dauntless is featured prominently in the second half of the film. Model references are everywhere!

The only complication could be the mold box for a 7.2 inch long 1/350 Master might not fit in the current pressure pot at 9.25 inches max diameter.

Now, since almost no ship model request goes unanswered, Mr. Brandon Lowe wanted a 1/350 model of his lake/river boat. Brandon owns a 2006 Caravelle Interceptor 232. And a speedy, loud, sexy thing she is too!

Brandon started this website for Caravelle boat owners http://www.caravellefans.com/

 

[Rhino]

She's too broad in the beam at .312"
.285" is accurate.
She measures .783 overall, less the swim platform. On the money!
The bow rider could be just a little oversized. Hmm. Curved metal windscreens will need a little shaping after they are cast.

I need to add the folding panel on the windscreen before I mold Brandon's boat. I made the seats out of oversized deck ventilators, and I made 4 per mold incase any get lost during construction. I plan a couple of other 1/350 pleasure boats to round out a set that is more marketable.

I want to make a Midnight Express 60' Pied-a Mer boat they call "The Beast" in the same scale!

The sexiest, most muscular beotch in the water! I mean, if such things impress you.
Brandon's Interceptor 232 is a "warm up". I tried a new technique that worked pretty well.

Thanks for looking in!

 

[moon puppy]

I remember that movie. The great David Warner and Michael Caine was in it if I recall. I'm sure Sir Michael had his often spoke "Do you mean to tell me...!" line in it somewhere.
There's two movies named The Island. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080934/
1980 is what you're talking about.

 

[Rhino]

You are quite correct! The 2005 film has nothing to do with Sir Michael, pirates or the US Coast Guard.

 

[Rhino]

Fly-by of a Reliance class WMEC at the pier.

 

[Rhino]

Properly scaled profile drawings make the shape and sanding much more precise. I apply the plans to the Master and shape & sand from there.

The 1/700 Cutter progresses much more quickly than her bigger sister. I'm still laminating .040 styrene sheets, one at a time and sanding the new layer to the proper shape on the 1/350 version. Six .040 layers will make up the basic waterline hull. My 100 grit "wrecker" sanding sticks are getting the work-out of their lives!

Thanks, 'Pup for looking in!!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Looking good Chris!

 

[Duke Maddog]

Chris I'm enjoying this as well. I love Coast Guard ships and wish I had a lot in 1/700 scale.

 

[Rhino]

Shaping the bow of the 1/350 WMEC requires that it be solid. Pouring/sanding/refilling/sanding C/A glue in bow seemed like the best way to make this happen. You are looking at the bottom of the waterline hull.

1/700 WMEC: A similar trick using Tamiya filler on the foredeck. The sheer of the bow, minus spray shields is correct. Shaping continues.

We drove to Marion for birthday fun for my Sweetie this weekend. My "other" brain worked on methods to engineer these models to include as much visible detail as possible and still make them fun to build.

 

[moon puppy]

All that symmetry

 

[Greg Kimsey]

I want this when you are done!

 

[Rhino]

I want this when you are done!

It shall, of course, be as you say. 1/350 or 1/700 scale cutter? Logistics must be considered before that day, Kind Sir.

"Daddy, can we go bust druggies today?"
"We'll be pretty busy rescuing people and inspecting shit today, m'boy."
"Just One?!"
"Okay, Son, Maybe just one law enforcement mission then."

The process of filling with tiny amounts of C/A glue, 180 grit wet sanding continues.
The Sharpie marker makes the hull profile more visible and flaws easier to spot.

Close inspection under bright light. Looking for the "shinies". Those places untouched by wet-sanding stay shiny until they are properly filled and smoothed. The .040 layers on the 1/350 lend themselves to lots of attention. It must be "just so" before I will move on very much more.

Logistics:
(1) I am not sure the mold box will fit in the existing pressure pot.
(2) I am uncertain how much liquid plastic will have to be mixed to pour this model once the mold is made. I AM sure this vessel will laugh at my usual 50 ml mixing cup of resin.
(3) I haven't decided if the the after deck house will be attached to the hull or the underside of the after/flight deck Easier to build attached to the hull. Easier to cast attached to the flight deck. The deck edge bulwarks will be part of the hull assembly.

So far 5 major assemblies will make up the 1/350 scale cutter. Waterline hull, lower hull plate. (Some guys like to do bottoms. I don't!) Superstructure, flight deck and exhaust stack.

2 different masts, Ship's boats, Life raft canisters, boat cranes, Mk.21 3".38 caliber gun and Mk.38 25mm cannon and flight deck safety nets are all separate parts.
The Reliance class WMEC was commissioned in 1964 and served until 1997. I suppose the decals will have to cover all 16 vessels of this class.
USCG HH-1, HH-3A Pelican and HH-65A Dolphin helicopters will be outsourced.
The 1/700 scale ship will be an early WMEC "side smoker" exhausts piped through the hull, rather than into a stack.

Is that enough for now? Hope so!!
Thanks again for looking in!!

 

[Rhino]

All that symmetry

It's all just shapes and shaping. Anyone can do it.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

It shall, of course, be as you say. 1/350 or 1/700 scale cutter? Logistics must be considered before that day, Kind Sir.

Wun threefiddy please. My eyes ain't good enough fer seb'm hunnert.

 

[Rhino]

Wun threefiddy please. My eyes ain't good enough fer seb'm hunnert.

Thayat theyer is wuht ah 'magined, Bubba.

 

[Greg Kimsey]

I am glad you could read it! LOL

 

[Rhino]

The Flight deck will be part of the after deckhouse. After bulwarks will be cast on the hull.

"Bulwark braces too, Rhino? Is that sane?"
In truth I made the portside out of .010 and the starboard side out of .015 plastic strip. The braces are needed to hold up the rail caps on the .010 plastic. OOPS!
It wasn't time to add these yet, but I wanted to see how the fight deck would fit on the 1/700 Master. The fit is damn good!
This procedure will be the similar on the 1/350 scale Master.

1/350 bulwarks will be cut/drilled/punched/shaped with the scale drawing as a guide on .020 plastic sheet. Gator's Glue is excellent for sticking paper to styrene (and many other things). In for a Deep Six and the soaked paper should be simple to remove from the finished plastic part.
I may have gotten carried away again.
Sheyit.

 

[Rhino]

After deckhouse at .210 height. Afterdeck is .020 sheet and fits the foredeck swell! Mooring bit plates are going on.
I used Future to stick the deckhouse to the hull so I could fix the afterdeck to the structure in a couple of spots.
A bath in Windex dissolved the Future so the house and deck could be solidly affixed.

Just for the fun of it, size comparison with other TLAR 1/350 scale subjects.

Time to start on the superstructure! The bow profile still needs fine shaping. She's a hair (?!) too long at the stern.
1/350 USCGC Dauntless is progressing, ever so slowly.
When you rush, that's when accidents happen!
Such was my Saturday morning.
Thanks again for looking in again and again!

 

[moon puppy]

It's big enough to see with the unaided eye!

 

[Rhino]

Note to self. Orange Sharpie does not work as well as Black does for finding flaws. Find the "Shinies" dab them with C/A glue, wet-sand and eval.

This was a good stopping place for today.
Yes. You can see/build such a ship without magnification!
Funny Bob!