discussion Airfix 1/72 R.A.F. Air Sea Rescue Launch..........'The Sea Shall Not Have Them'

[Tom Rigg]

I can remember building this back in the distant past and thought the Oerlikon looked too big? (and the Revell offering in their various PT boat kits too small). Any chance of a measurement? NavWeaps states an over-all length of 87" or 2210mm so 30.69mm in 1/72.
Tom

 

[spanner570]

Sorry Tom, I don't possess anything that will measure to the accuracy you require.

I've put a rule on the weapon and it measures around 38mm. o.a.l.....This measurement includes the gunner's shoulder thingies.

Cheers.
Ron

 

[Tom Rigg]

Ta for trying Ron,
I don't know if the 'real' measurement includes the shoulder frame, but 6 or 7mm seems about right. It could be that at the time i'm talking about I was building a Revell PT boat as well (and thinking of a 1/72 flower class corvette built as HMS Smilax which would have needed 3 oerlikons to replace the kits rubbish ones), maybe that was under scale ISTR (more of an inkling really) that someone once said the Revell kits scaled out nearer 1/80something but don't know if it's true.
Tom
Just found out Revell 'Higgins' PT kits were 1/98 scale.
https://www.scalemates.com/search.php?fkSECTION[]=Kits&q=PT+boat+Revell

 

[spanner570]

'Protection' fitted.....
View attachment 294280

Cheers.
Ron

 

[flyjoe180]

Nice work Ron, looking good

 

[spanner570]

Here's an update on this. I've been quietly adding to it every now and then, and I've forgotten to update the thread, so.....

Twin Lewis guns mounted, and a few bits and bobs. Angle of guns done on purpose!

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Turrets and rescue dinghy painted and fixed.
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Plenty left to do, but it's getting there.

Cheers.
Ron

 

[Guest]

Looking great as usual

 

[papa 695]

Looking very good Ron

 

[spanner570]

Update for you.....

Mast, lifebuoys and anchor finally fitted. Decals added.

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Still bits to be painted and then the rigging can be done.

Cheers.
Ron

 

[papa 695]

Great work Ron, it looks so much better with the decals and numbers on. ( not that it didn't look good without them ).

 

[Guest]

Great work ron

 

[spanner570]

Thanks Ian and Ken.

Last night I rigged the launch using eezee line. So apart from some minor paintwork and fixing a flag, she's finished.

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Next up, I'll paint the crew and then start on a base.

Thanks for looking.

Ron

 

[papa 695]

Great work Ron. I'm looking forward to the base making

 

[spanner570]

Thanks Ian.
Here's the 1/72 crew. The boss, two gunners and the Lifebuoy chucker. The Skipper looks a bit naff 'cos he fits in his little hatch a'top the wheel house, resting his elbows....

View attachment 296083

Cheers.
Ron

 

[spanner570]

Crew in position. I haven't decided on the ring chucker's final position, so he's just balanced for the picture.

View attachment 296107

Cheers.
Ron

 

[Guest]

Very nice build

 

[flyjoe180]

Looking sharp Ron, very nicely done. The figures set the build off nicely

 

[spanner570]

Thanks chaps....

Time to do the bases. Similar to my Severn Lifeboat dio., I'll try and make a trilogy. 'Setting off', 'Giving it plenty.' and 'The Rescue'

Setting off. A total cheat for this, the first part. I've quite blatantly, and with no sense of remorse or conscience towards my fellow man, nicked the base from the aforementioned dioramas and placed the Rescue Launch in the lifeboat hole.

I promise the other two stage bases will be new builds.

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Next I'll tackle 'Giving it Plenty!'

Cheers, and thanks for looking.

Ron

 

[stillp]

Nice bit of recycling Ron.

Pete

 

[spanner570]

Thanks Pete.

You can't beat a good rummage every now and then!

Ron