Ratch Posted July 1 Share Posted July 1 As i have started the Shannon, it only seems fair that I tackle the older, and larger, Severn Class. The Severn class lifeboat is the largest lifeboat in the RNLI fleet introduced in 1995. As an all-weather vessel, she can take on the worst sea conditions and comes into her own on long offshore searches and rescues. When lives are at risk out at sea, time is of the essence. With a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 250 nautical miles, the Severn class lifeboat can reach casualties fast in calm or rough seas. She carries a small, powered Y boat, ideal for rescues near rocks and shallow waters, and can be launched using the Severn's integral crane. A minimum of £1.60 from the sale of this product will be paid in support of the RNLI. This is a re-issue of the 2005 tool 1/72 scale kit designed by Philipe Goulard shortly before Airfix was acquired by the Hornby Group. It was actually first issued in 2007. This box is in the new Type 18 style, which first appeared in 2022. Dimensions are 236mm x 78mm with 186 parts. Skill Level is two and two Flying Hours are printed on the box. Moulded on five frames, this is the last kit designed before the new Hornby era. As such, the frames are not identified by letters, so the numbered parts have to be searched for. Detail quality is quite adequate. The kit enables you to build a detailed model of this RNLI Lifeboat. Full details of the outside deck, hull and fittings are moulded, and you can view the detailed interior by removing the cabin roof. The country of manufacture is India. As usual, Airfix provides reference images for paint colours and decal placements. Decals are by Cartograf, ensuring good registration, sharpness, density of colour, and unobtrusive carrier film. The decals provided will allow any one of the current operational RNLI Severn class lifeboats to be modelled. Names are included. Paints advised: 11 Metallic Silver 15 Gloss Midnight Blue 18 Gloss Orange 19 Gloss Bright Red 21 Gloss Black 22 Gloss White 27 Matt Sea Grey 33 Matt Black 55 Metallic Bronze 127 Satin US Ghost Grey 209 Fluorescent Fire Orange These are not included in the kit. RRP £36.49. The runners were washed, rinsed and dried. I had heard about fit issues with the vector thruster at the bow and was therefore prepared for a bit of fettling and filling. This was an early design from an inexperienced team and I’m sure that with hindsight it would have been done better. Filler on the inside. Ready for silver paint. Hull assembly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren-345957 Posted July 8 Share Posted July 8 I'm doing mine at the moment as well. That hull is a bit of a three handed job to put together but seems to be a nice fit apart from the thruster tunnel. Currently painting the interior for which i found this virtual tour to be a goldmine for painting details, https://www.panopticmotion.co.uk/virtual-tour/severn-lifeboat-virtual-tour/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 10 Author Share Posted July 10 I have added spacers to the stand. And started painting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 12 Author Share Posted July 12 I masked the line of the boot topping and brush painted that too. Removal of the tape revealed that some touching up will be required. I masked the upper edge of the boot topping and brushed Dark Prussia Blue over the upper hull. When this was dry, I removed the masking tape and touched up where necessary by hand. I used masking tape to hold the deck in position as the glue set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 16 Author Share Posted July 16 A little assembly at the stern and more painting today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 17 Author Share Posted July 17 The painting guide is vague so I’m unsure whether my paintwork is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 20 Author Share Posted July 20 I have made more progress. My computer has been down for a few days, so I have been working through the instructions. Much painting and little additions. No major dramas. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 21 Author Share Posted July 21 Now we get to the part of the build where I can see why there were so many criticisms of the fit of this kit. The location of parts is so vague the odds are that they will misalign. I had cemented part #43 at step 6 as per the instructions. There are no locating points for this, and when I offered the sides (41 and 42) it was obviously misplaced. I broke it off and started again, fixing the sides first. Still the front (43) isn’t a good fit. The ‘roof’ to that section has no location points and floats on the edges. Same with the windscreen, and when the main roof was offered, I had to spread the sides slightly to get it in, and when the front matched, the back didn’t. A very frustrating business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul71 Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 that looks like a big problem ratch, i can see how people just put it in the bin best of luck with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modeling maniac Posted July 21 Share Posted July 21 Good luck Ratch, it looks like it has just crashed. 2hat will you do to fix it, lot of filler? Or use some spare plastic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted July 22 Share Posted July 22 Errk! Order a LOT of filler. And good luck. Regards, Jeff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 22 Author Share Posted July 22 Thinking about this, I should have ignored the instructions and built the top as a removeable lid. Maybe it will not work, but I'll have to wait for my second attempt to try it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 23 Author Share Posted July 23 I have bridged the major gaps with plastic card, and filled the remainder with plastic putty. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 24 Author Share Posted July 24 I have brushed Humbrol Acrylic 18 Gloss Orange again, moving on to my third potlet. This one is wishy-washy, and several coats will be required, or I may resort to Vallejo Model Air 71083 Orange again. Checking my references, I repainted some areas then set aside to dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 25 Author Share Posted July 25 I’m not at all happy with the way this build is progressing. So many things could, and probably should have been done differently. Overcoming the debacle experienced so far is somewhat daunting and I should probably bin this and start afresh. But binning kits is not in my nature and I shall continue to try and turn the build around and learn something along the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted July 26 Share Posted July 26 9 hours ago, Ratch said: I should probably bin this and start afresh. But binning kits is not in my nature and I shall continue to try and turn the build around and learn something along the way. G'day Ratch, I've occasionally felt like ditching a build, but I've always pushed them through to completion. And always been glad that I did. The may not have looked as good as I'd hoped but still looked better than trash in the bin. The only one I didn't complete is one I didn't even start, but then I cannibalized the kit for parts. HTH. Regards, Jeff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted July 31 Author Share Posted July 31 Unhappy with the coverage of the orange in some areas, I brushed white as an undercoat to hopefully enliven the top coat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modeling maniac Posted July 31 Share Posted July 31 Hmmm, I think your patience is wearing thin with this one Ratch. Seems as though it's about to go out the window. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailorman Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 Brave of you to tackle such a drastic fix at this stage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john redman Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 It's frustrating when you have to guess the fit and don't find out you guessed wrong till later. I quit building the old Honda CB450 for this reason. For the life of me I couldn't fathom how key bits went together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted August 2 Author Share Posted August 2 Not my best paintwork, but the coverage is better. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailorman Posted August 2 Share Posted August 2 Wow, You managed! much better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul71 Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 it might not be the best work you have done but above all you will have the satisfaction that you didn't give up and let it beat you, well done ratch👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john redman Posted August 3 Share Posted August 3 The two RNLI lifeboats together with the RAF launch would make a nice themed display trio, especially being different sizes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratch Posted August 5 Author Share Posted August 5 A few bits added, and detail painting. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.be5580842a11593b051319c249d760ad.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now