discussion Combrig kits of IJN Ironclad Fuso (1900) and IJN Gunboat Heine (1895)f

[BigGrandad]

Found these two Combrig 1/700 kits in my stash. don’t imagine they ever served together but they will be sharing the same base when completed!
First go at a Combrig kit and smaller than my preferred scale but they look interesting. These kits might be harder to source in future now that Mike at Starling has decided not to stock them anymore.

 

[BigGrandad]

Done some initial work on both, including scratch built support work for the middle decks on Fuso (made a right ‘Horlicks’ of the kit part so had to rebuild from plastic bar).
Gonna play aroud with the composition next and work on the base before I get too involved with the kits themselves.

 

[BigGrandad]

Cut base and finalised layout, hull positions marked out ready for a coat of paint and some texture (will work on this in gaps between build stages. Now to start on the models themselves. Priming first, then look at the build sequence, a different one with every model till I find the best solution (if there is one).

 

[Dave Ward]

Combrig are a Russian outfit, so sales in the west would have dropped & exports from Russia may be difficult - so I think you'll be dependent on ebay for any more, and if they are becoming scarce, the prices will rise.
Dave

 

[BigGrandad]

Yup, have been looking at various kits from them over the last few years. The two I have were relatively cheap and in stock at Starling models. So I bought them a couple of years ago to check out the quality. The 1/350 kits are (were) expensive and Mikes stock (or at least the ones I was interested in) was always a bit ‘hit and miss’.
I will complete these two and if the go well I might well be trawling EBay in the future.

 

[BigGrandad]

All parts primed with Mr Finishing Surfacer 1500 thinned with Mr Colour Levelling Thinner - my current fave primer. Thought the detail of the mouldings were good when I first opened the boxes but the Matt finish shows how ace (IMHO) they really are.

 

[eddiesolo]

They are tiny! I would be barely able to see them, never mind glue them into place.

Looking good though Graham.

 

[BigGrandad]

Not really my scale of choice but they ARE nice.
on another note, I have just finished another 1/700 kit, Atlantic Models HMS Kelly, which I found in a sale and has languished in the ‘Work-In-Progress’ wilderness for 6 months or so.
Just got to rig it, finish off the sea base and do a bit of work on number 2 torpedo entering the sea.

 

[eddiesolo]

Nice work, love the torpedoes.

 

[BigGrandad]

Thanks Si
The kit is so small and my build/paintwork is so crud that I thought if added a bit of interest (the torpedoes) it might distract from the low level of quality.
I have no idea whether HMS Kelly ever fired her torpedoes and it is a total guess as to the mechanics of it, but I think it is an interesting ‘angle’.

 

[eddiesolo]

Thanks Si
The kit is so small and my build/paintwork is so crud that I thought if added a bit of interest (the torpedoes) it might distract from the low level of quality.
I have no idea whether HMS Kelly ever fired her torpedoes and it is a total guess as to the mechanics of it, but I think it is an interesting ‘angle’.

Your building and painting isn't crud, believe me Graham. I, and others on this site, will testify to seeing 'so-called' professional made pieces that are not that great. The colours and effects are great, the dio is dynamic and for me, looks really good mate.

 

[BigGrandad]

Concentrating on Fuso, wooden decks and boat woodwork base charts on and starting to build up white on main hull and superstructure.

 

[eddiesolo]

Looking good Graham.

 

[BigGrandad]

Realise now that I should have used white primer, only had the grey in my current ’go to’ (Mr finishing surfacer). Need to shop!!!!!!!!

 

[adt70hk]

All parts primed with Mr Finishing Surfacer 1500 thinned with Mr Colour Levelling Thinner - my current fave primer. Thought the detail of the mouldings were good when I first opened the boxes but the Matt finish shows how ace (IMHO) they really are.

That's excellent quality considering the size!

 

[adt70hk]

Not really my scale of choice but they ARE nice.
on another note, I have just finished another 1/700 kit, Atlantic Models HMS Kelly, which I found in a sale and has languished in the ‘Work-In-Progress’ wilderness for 6 months or so.
Just got to rig it, finish off the sea base and do a bit of work on number 2 torpedo entering the sea.

That's brilliant, especially the torpedoes!!

 

[adt70hk]

Concentrating on Fuso, wooden decks and boat woodwork base charts on and starting to build up white on main hull and superstructure.

Coming on very nicely!

 

[BigGrandad]

Got bored with painting so decided to move on to mast work. These kits do not have any included but provide dimensional details for construction from brass rod. Unfortunately they are at a random scale so had to convert/scale down illustrations to get an approximate diameter for each piece of rod. Then pick closest equivalent from my stock..dry fit for lower masts, next step is a first for me, soldering yardarms etc. as opposed to my usual practice of glueing, which is a bit ‘blobby’, especially at this scale (see HMS Kelly - above).

 

[BigGrandad]

More work on masts/yard arms.

 

[Mark1]

Shaping up nicely.