Rhino
Super Moderator
The US Coast Guard 52' steel-hulled Motor Lifeboat SPC-HWX (Special Purpose Craft-Heavy Weather) entered service in 1956 and served the Cape Disappointment area of the Columbia river bar until 2021. Only 4 boats were ordered and delivered, but since they have such a storied, long history of service I chose this vessel as my next 1/350 U.S. Coast Guard project in January of this year.
One other reason this project is a "Special" is because one of our own, 3D printing artist Greg Kimsey helped create the Masters. He made a dozen of so, full hull, waterline hull and lower hull plate and deck house prints. The limits of scale kept the 3D prints from being detailed enough to be truly complete, but did make an EXCELLENT foundation for my usual mastering process! Special thanks to @Greg Kimsey
Going forward, I chose the best of 2 deckhouses and chose to fit out a promising full hull and deck assembly for my newest kit. Bilge keels, propeller shaft struts, skeg and rudder were added underside of the hull. As my Smooth-On LPP resin sands readily, the kit will be issued in the full-hull configuration. Waterline builders may cut, shape, sand (and cuss) to their hearts content.
I expect to issue 2 1/350 USCG SPC-HWX 52's and a resin copy of the award Coastguardsmen win when they become qualified surfmen in "The Graveyard of the Pacific" in each kit. Decals will be the post 1967 USCG "Racing Stripe" format.
I spared my mates here the on-going, lengthy, often boring, phases of this project and advance all y'all to the "ready to go to mold" stage of the process. I expect to pour RTV molds later this week.
Cheers!
