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Tamiya 1/35 US Navy PBR 31 Mk.II Patrol Boat 'Pibber'

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  • davecov
    SMF Supporters
    • Jul 2014
    • 840
    • Dave
    • Stow, Scottish Borders

    #1

    Tamiya 1/35 US Navy PBR 31 Mk.II Patrol Boat 'Pibber'

    I always intended this build to be a quick one and it has caught me by surprise a bit as it is close to being finished already, even though I only started it a week ago. However, I have taken plenty of photos so you can see what I have been playing about at!

    The box artwork which is similar to how I will be painting it although I won't be giving it a red hull nor a red lifebelt:
    [ATTACH]370371[/ATTACH]

    Every part was been cleaned up and some parts glued together and PE fitted as appropriate. Here a lot of the major parts have been dry-fitted:
    [ATTACH]370372[/ATTACH]

    Painting is now underway. I sprayed the gunwhales with dull aluminium and these will be overpainted later with Olive Drab and sanded back to reveal the aluminium underneath:
    [ATTACH]370373[/ATTACH]

    The stand was painted with Alclad 2 Dull Aluminium and then out came the H66 Matt Olive Drab:
    [ATTACH]370374[/ATTACH]

    The "tub" for the forward twin .50 Cal M2HB machine guns:
    [ATTACH]370375[/ATTACH]

    Some of the other components including the aft single M2HB (the gun itself will be painted H53 Gunmetal later), ammo boxes, oil drums, canopy, bulkhead, mast:
    [ATTACH]370376[/ATTACH]

    The wheelhouse had some photo-etch added and was then painted:
    [ATTACH]370377[/ATTACH]

    Two M16 rifles were mounted on the dividing bulkhead. Slings were Eduard PE jobs:
    [ATTACH]370378[/ATTACH]

    Ammo boxes, drums and ammo boxes were Kleared and then decals. Most importantly, three bottles of beer were painted and labelled too:
    [ATTACH]370379[/ATTACH]

    The crew figures have been cleaned up and will be handpainted later:
    [ATTACH]370380[/ATTACH]

    I started glueing some of the stores around the boat. Here I have put the oil drums in place. They still need a coat of matt varnish but all varnishing will be left until later:
    [ATTACH]370381[/ATTACH]

    The navigation lights of the mast have been painted and the mast fitted in place as was the radar housing:
    [ATTACH]370382[/ATTACH]

    Pump-jets were glued in place:
    [ATTACH]370383[/ATTACH]

    Ammo boxes, grenade launcher and various containers glued in place:
    [ATTACH]370384[/ATTACH]

    Hot/cold food and drink containers in place. Note the cassette player and a couple of beer bottles:
    [ATTACH]370385[/ATTACH]

    Forward gun tub. I can't fit the guns until the gunner has been glued inside. Just in shot are four cassettes that require painting:
    [ATTACH]370386[/ATTACH]

    Canopy has been dry-fitted. Anchor and rope has been glued:
    [ATTACH]370387[/ATTACH]

    Thread was tied around the six tyres:
    [ATTACH]370388[/ATTACH]

    Tyres were tied in place and the whole build was sprayed with matt varnish. The "rope" was painted a very pale khaki:
    [ATTACH]370389[/ATTACH]

    View from above:
    [ATTACH]370390[/ATTACH]

    That is all for now

    Dave
    Attached Files
    DaveCov - Founder of The Airfix Tribute Forum 2006
  • Jason Crausby
    • Apr 2018
    • 658

    #2
    Looking good Dave... I saw one of these for sale at a model show yesterday and seriously thought about adding it to the stash... Looking at what you’ve done... I wish I had done!
    jason

    Comment

    • Steve Brodie
      • Sep 2014
      • 4652

      #3
      looking good

      Comment

      • minitnkr
        SMF Supporters
        • Apr 2018
        • 7621
        • Paul
        • Dayton, OH USA

        #4
        "...never git out of the boat..." Just lovely. PBR Streetgang comes immediately to mind, although I think they used a slightly earlier version in the movie. PaulE

        Comment

        • colin m
          Moderator
          • Dec 2008
          • 8863
          • Colin
          • Stafford, UK

          #5
          Beer, a kit that provides you with beer (ok - scale beer) brilliant.

          Comment

          • Ian M
            Administrator
            • Dec 2008
            • 18272
            • Ian
            • Falster, Denmark

            #6
            An interesting project but not to sure that the hull was metal, I thought they were plastic.
            Boring fact but did you know that the water jets were built by jacuzzi! And could stop the boat in 10 meters from full speed!!!
            Group builds

            Bismarck

            Comment

            • davecov
              SMF Supporters
              • Jul 2014
              • 840
              • Dave
              • Stow, Scottish Borders

              #7
              The hull was made of fibreglass but the gunwales were aluminium.

              Yes, I knew about the Jacuzzi water-jets.

              Dave
              DaveCov - Founder of The Airfix Tribute Forum 2006

              Comment

              • boatman
                • Nov 2018
                • 14498
                • christopher
                • NORFOLK UK

                #8
                HI Dave that was a quick build an I liked the bottles of bozze on board must have been a very happy boat for the crew (HIC) lol
                an some nice detail on her
                were these boats used in veitnam ?
                chris

                Comment

                • Ian M
                  Administrator
                  • Dec 2008
                  • 18272
                  • Ian
                  • Falster, Denmark

                  #9
                  Originally posted by davecov
                  The hull was made of fibreglass but the gunwales were aluminium.
                  LOL I have just checked that before reading your reply. The earlier boats where indeed Glassfiber, the MkII had Aluminium Gunwales added to improve wear and tear. My mistake Dave.
                  Group builds

                  Bismarck

                  Comment

                  • scottie3158
                    • Apr 2018
                    • 14346
                    • Paul
                    • Holbeach

                    #10
                    Looking good.

                    Comment

                    • skinflint
                      • Apr 2007
                      • 271

                      #11
                      Super build. Out of interest, Model Boats magazine have a detailed item about a build of this kit (Tamiya 'Pibber') in their current February 2020 edition.

                      Model Boats is a friendly, inclusive, community-led magazine that welcomes everyone, from the complete novice to the seasoned vet, aboard. As well as including a FREE PLAN in every other issue, no aspect of the hobby is off radar, with content embracing everything from scale static display models to radio-controlled, combustion engine-powered and steam-driven working renditions. From model yachting skills to Fast Electric thrills, we”ve got it covered!

                      Comment

                      • scottie3158
                        • Apr 2018
                        • 14346
                        • Paul
                        • Holbeach

                        #12
                        Originally posted by skinflint
                        Super build. Out of interest, Model Boats magazine have a detailed item about a build of this kit (Tamiya 'Pibber') in their current February 2020 edition.

                        Model Boats is a friendly, inclusive, community-led magazine that welcomes everyone, from the complete novice to the seasoned vet, aboard. As well as including a FREE PLAN in every other issue, no aspect of the hobby is off radar, with content embracing everything from scale static display models to radio-controlled, combustion engine-powered and steam-driven working renditions. From model yachting skills to Fast Electric thrills, we”ve got it covered!
                        Built by a friend of mine Gary Radford

                        Comment

                        • davecov
                          SMF Supporters
                          • Jul 2014
                          • 840
                          • Dave
                          • Stow, Scottish Borders

                          #13
                          Thanks everybody.

                          I added a couple of Sixties Playboy Lisa Baker posters to the Wheelhouse. First one is shown here. BTW, I removed the M79 Grenade Launcher from the starboard bulkhead behind and gave it to a crew member instead:
                          [ATTACH]370545[/ATTACH]

                          Second Lisa Baker poster.
                          [ATTACH]370546[/ATTACH]

                          The crew are being painted:
                          [ATTACH]370547[/ATTACH]

                          Chief QM in his "office":
                          [ATTACH]370548[/ATTACH]

                          Gunner in place. I had made the mistake of glueing both arms on before fitting so I had to amputate him in order to get the hands in the right place:
                          [ATTACH]370549[/ATTACH]

                          The sitting crew member was given the M79 Grenade Launcher and glued in place:
                          [ATTACH]370550[/ATTACH]

                          Overall view. Note the armless guy in the forward "tub":
                          [ATTACH]370551[/ATTACH]

                          Not a lot to do now. Forward gunner needs his arms and a pair of guns. I also want to do a little bit more light weathering before adding the rigging and finally fitting the canopy.

                          That is all for now

                          Dave
                          Attached Files
                          DaveCov - Founder of The Airfix Tribute Forum 2006

                          Comment

                          • davecov
                            SMF Supporters
                            • Jul 2014
                            • 840
                            • Dave
                            • Stow, Scottish Borders

                            #14
                            Final update now.

                            I glued a spare box of ammo on the quarterdeck and flooded the tops of the drums with Klear in an attempt to remove some of the silvering of the decals:
                            Click image for larger version

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                            A final touch was adding a noticeboard to the bulkhead:
                            Click image for larger version

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                            There was only a tiny bit of rigging to do:
                            Click image for larger version

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                            The canopy was glued in place and the forward handrails fitted:
                            Click image for larger version

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                            The forward gunner received his arms and the MGs glued in place:
                            Click image for larger version

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                            Finished!
                            Click image for larger version

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                            You can see more pictures here.

                            That is all.

                            Dave
                            Attached Files
                            DaveCov - Founder of The Airfix Tribute Forum 2006

                            Comment

                            • scottie3158
                              • Apr 2018
                              • 14346
                              • Paul
                              • Holbeach

                              #15
                              Dave,
                              That is a cracking result.

                              Comment

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