1/700 USCG 110 Ft. Island Class Patrol Boat

[Rhino]

Proper pilings for the dock. Short bits of .008 wire sunk into the "sea bed". I've also prepared a weather radar (?!?) tower to go along with the meteorological duties a lighthouse keeper be responsible for. Some vegetation and few palm trees may also be included to make the islands look less nekkid. Oh! The beaches are tile grout stuck to Future.

These are the original issue islands and lighthouse from the 2016 molds. A contemporary lighthouse and upgraded islands will be included in the limited re-issue of the TLAR models 1/700 US Coast Guard "Diorama-in-a-Box".

Thanks for looking in!

 

[Rhino]

Finished Islands on their base. Trees and doppler weather radar populate the bigger island without making it look too crowded, I hope. I nstalled a railing on the lightouse tonight as well. Detailing the crude day-sailer and the weather station's RHI boat coming up. I'm trying to keep true to the contents of the 1/700 Island class WPB kit, but wouldn't it not be fun if the Cutter had a smuggler submarine stopped for a "safety inspection"?
Thanks for looking in!

 

[Rhino]

Upgraded cottage and a modest lighthouse went in this new 1/700 mold. "Blue Crab Cay". This uses the beach-making tape-trick.

 

[Rhino]

The upgraded 1/700 US Coast Guard Island class WPB Master is ready. I always thought the details on the first issue was pretty scanty, so I spent some good, quality model time improving the 1/700 WPB. Life raft canisters, improved spray shield stiffeners, and a hatch in the lazarette on the hull. Bridge and flying bridge winders, fire hose racks, new ladders, hand rails, engine fresh air intakes and engine room exhaust vents adorn the upgraded superstructure.

In the new, smarter mold you may also see the new 1-piece lighthouse, improved WPB rescue boat, an RHI boat for an upcoming 1/700 FRC Sentinel class 153' cutter, a 45' dive launch that goes with the 1/700 YMS-1 Minesweeper/ John Wayne's Wild Goose yacht set, and a 32' trawler to give the Island class cutter crew something to stop and inspect.

Never mind the little Brig that closely resembles the 1778 Enterprise. She's a secret!!

2025 skills on the 2016 kit, see?!
Recent 1/700 Island class WPB customers will be receiving the upgraded 110' Island class cutter bits on the house.
I take care of My People.

(big sigh) There. Now I feel better.

 

[Rhino]

The new 1/700 WPB mold RTV was poured around 1400 hrs. today.
Nothing to do now but wait.

 

[moon puppy]

 

[Rhino]

The new 110' Cutter mold has been cast, along with some other TLAR Models essential parts. The molds will be cleared close to 1530 hrs.
I just realized I left the Mk.38 gun out of the new mold. sheyit.

A continuing parallel USCG project went awry. I sanded the waterline of the 1/700 Sentinel-class FRC too far. She'll look like she's in a hurry when I'm done! That might be pretty cool.
Good old Rafy is being relied upon again, but this time for Sentinel reference pictures.
Thanks for following along!

 

[Rhino]

NO complaints about the performance of the new mold, except I forgot to include the gun. This first casting goes to Mr. Rivera, down Florida way, as an improvement to his original 1/700 Island class kit.

 

[moon puppy]

Mr Rivera is getting a really nice kit to build. Zoom in on the casting, it's first class!

 

[Rhino]

Mr Rivera is getting a really nice kit to build. Zoom in on the casting, it's first class!

Young Max Whitaker from Ralston NE, among others are getting the cool new cutter tooling too!

Not every casting comes out this well. I just don't show you Men the Turds!
I do take pride in making excellent products. I remember when I started getting Rafael's pictures, and I might have rushed up the Masters a little bit. Mebbe. A little.

I've been watching a USCG series from Cape Disappointment in Washington state. The new lighthouse looks a little like that one.
No. No it doesn't.

 

[Rhino]

It is obvious by now, that the 1/700 (former) Shapeways 3D print FRC is grossly inaccurate. It is plain that this will be molded, cast and butchered about 3 times to fix the flaws and make an accurate bridge and gun well almost everything. I put the metal stuff on the main deck.
USCG Sentinel class cutter crews deserve better than this gaming-piece-of-felgercarb!

Why "Attack from the Sea" needs a 45' refueling launch, I cain't say. A submarine wouldn't carry such a thing to a forward area to refuel seaplanes. I can add this model to the PT boat drydock & service kit too, I suppose.
Just a little bit (?!?) of "Crazy" and my laid-off-ness drags on. And ON and ON.

 

[Duke Maddog]

Man I love seeing all these castings! I need to get some work so I can pick up some of these items!

 

[Rhino]

USCG Island Class 110' Cutter Island base artwork

Find here the 1/700 scale Island base artwork that goes with TLAR Models Kit 916. I printed mine, stuck it to a piece of foam board, trimmed the edges and used Saran Wrap to create a water texture. Oh! It's on the house!

tlarmodels.com

Now the base artwork for kit 916 is available for download in the TLAR Models Library category.