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

[Rhino]

Cap-Holder-O-Matic production line ran today too! These freshly charged units are at the ready.

 

[centaur567]

Great job so far Christ!! Gary S.

 

[Rhino]

Thanks Brothers! I must confess, I'm stuck on the instructions.
Ordinarily I would just work on something else for a little bit, to get the Model Mojo going.

Nope that's not quite it.

Close. Very close.
Grrr. I hate being stuck!
Wait! Where are my "lubricants for the Wheels of Creativity"?
Maybe not on a "school night".

 

[moon puppy]

Go ahead, school be damned.

 

[Rhino]

Damn the Martinis! Full speed ahead, Mr. Gridley!
I just shot 2 turkey buzzards out of the old, dead tree with my finger!

Mk.38 25mm and Mk.75 3" .50 cal. castings.

1/350 Scale turned brass barrels from Poland, installed. These are tedious to install, but produce fine results. I almost wanna build the pre-1986 WMEC so I can use the big gun! Instructions grind slowly forward.

 

[moon puppy]

Boom boom!

 

[Rhino]

Octagonal gun platform for the Mk.38. I cut some p/e life rings for the gunner's shoulder supports. Nobody else should EVER do this.

Round gun platform for the 3" .50 caliber cannon.

Gray finish! Between how much I like the HH-52A and the big gun, I almost want to build the early version of the Ship.
I have too many orders for this kit to build a second, early WMEC to play with.
Thanks for looking in!

 

[jknaus]

Still so damned small, but so cool.
James

 

[moon puppy]

That Orkin was topic of discussion at the round table today. We're all in awe of your eyesite!

 

[Rhino]

That Orkin was topic of discussion at the round table today. We're all in awe of your eyesite!

Orkin? I missed something.

 

[Rhino]

Foredeck and Mk.38 Gun mount test fit.
I appreciate the kudos! Eyesight can be magnified. I do have good, steady hands and that is key.

 

[moon puppy]

Woops. long day, Oerlikon was what I was tyring to type but I think I'm talking about the wrong gun anyway. Point I'm trying to make, we're all like WOW!

 

[Rhino]

Woops. long day, Oerlikon was what I was trying to type but I think I'm talking about the wrong gun anyway. Point I'm trying to make, we're all like WOW!

Right?! Thanks very much guys!
The Bushmaster 25mm comes from Northrup Grumman Medium Caliber Systems and shares only a few features in common with earlier cannons. Such as "Bang-bang-bang! lots of pointy hard things fly really fast out of the other end".

 

[moon puppy]

Doh, it's the Bushmaster! Pew Pew...

 

[Rhino]

From the fishing boats alongside, evening chow might very well be fresh lobster and mutton snapper. They don't always eat chicken.
I really am putting this together! No more fooling around! (Well, maybe a little bit.) Fitting the superstructure to the hull assembly requires some "blacksmithing". This kit is not for beginners! It is NOT an easy cutter model to assemble! The flight deck to main hull joints went together quite well.
For example:

It is wise to install the boat cradles after the main hull is assembled. Mine are too far forward, by .45 inches and too close together.
The boat cradles themselves are too long/wide (?). I advise cutting/sanding them down if you use the modern boats and cranes.
The mast is almost done and the hole in the superstructure for it is drilled in the proper spot. Dome antennas are going on the Bridge.
I promised Ensign Gehman I would do his CGC Active proud and I meant it!

We're going to see Tatum next weekend to deliver his poster and get the return "Li'l Tough Guy" picture to send back to the Cutter.
Thanks for your kind attention!

 

[moon puppy]

Nice, gives a good sense of scale you're working with Chris.

 

[Rhino]

So, you set your superstructure and found a glaring gap (?!) at the foredeck joint? Bummer!
Here's a new trick!

Since Future is a gloss and and an adhesive, insert properly sized bits of scrap plastic or stretched sprue in to the gap. Drop in a few drops of Future and leave it alone!! The acrylic will set up and make a nice, smooth joint. You may have to put drops of Future in more than once.
I put supports on the lower deck to flight deck hull openings that are on the Cutter but not in the kit.

While all that was going on, I painted a few 1/350 Cadillac limousines. Just in case someone important come to visit CGC Active at her berth.

In other US Coast Guard news, we delivered 2 of the Li'l Tough Guy posters this weekend and took a family picture with our own "Little Tough Guy" to send in return to CGC Active and her crew. The framed picture is ready to pack and ship off to Port Angeles, Washington c/o Ensign Thomas Gehman.
Tatum didn't truly grasp the picture process but was excited about having all his People around him. He tolerated his new WMEC-618 t-shirt long enough for pictures. Teresa and I sported our Li'l Tough Guy shirts like Tatum's, but hers is pink!
His next major surgery is scheduled for 4 June 2024. This makes 31 surgeries in his short 10 years of life.

I there is no measuring the boost in the spirits of Tatum's family this kind, amazing gift from the Cutter has made. It's HUGE.
I told this incredible true story one last time on Sunday. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.
Except Tatum. He was SO happy to see all of us at once.

I asked a group of far-away strangers for a favor. What happened after that blows me away, even today!
Semper Paratus.
Not just words.

 

[moon puppy]

God bless'm all!

 

[Rhino]

I shipped the return Li'l Tough Guy picture tonight. I composed an email to CGC Active herself:

"Dear Li'l Tough Guy,

I know how hard you have worked since 1966. I know about how you protect your officers and crew. I know about how well they care for you. I hear about how you have protected our nation, rescued mariners in trouble and sent a whole big bunch of bad guys to the slammer, for decades. You and I are almost the same age.

I learned stories about your seven sisters that proudly bore the name "Active" before you did. I suspect that the ocean you patrol isn't warm or comfy very much of the time.
Not like another sister, CGC Dauntless, that swims in warm seas and sunshine most of the time.

I admire the fact that Cutters like you have had a long, successful service life. It is my hope that experienced cutters like yourself continue to play a key role in maritime security for decades to come.

Since the dedicated, professional, generous people that are your compliment have done such an exemplary job boosting the morale of our family while our own "Li'l Tough Guy" Tatum was under the weather, I bought you a tracking number.

9405536105536929823663

Your package should arrive in a few days at your Port Angeles, Washington address.
You have something to look forward to when you get home.
Should we meet one day, I shall call you "friend" and greet you most enthusiastically!

I'll keep womping up model kits of you and your US Coast Guard siblings to increase awareness of your service, honor and history.

Thanks for doing such a fine job!
Fair winds and following seas!
--
c):{)"

 

[Rhino]

Ensign Thomas Gehman responded with underway photos from their current patrol. Doffins, Sunset at sea and picture of CGC Active taken from CGC Douglas Munro. The position of the cutters on patrol was undisclosed.
How cool is that?!