BSC 2025 Gunbird's Backwater Ferry - 8/2 barge frame

[Gunbird]

Is the idea I've been toying with for a while, so many options and ideas for this....

[Michi]

I‘m looking forward to see what you‘ll bring forth…

[Gunbird]

I‘m looking forward to see what you‘ll bring forth…

Same here! My trackrecord isn't particularly good, but hey, motivation and all that.

After a bit of a brainstorm I've settled on something for my 15mm AK-47 collection, something that can be a POI, a jump off point, or just background scenery.



I've chose for this type of Ferry as it is easier to dock alongside the harbour, and due to its size I can easier store bases of troops or vehicles on deck.

I recently picked up a few Heller 1/200 Trawlers just for that, and it is going to be a lot of work.



With time and effort I want to turn it into this:



I've built one of these before, and the hull is a decent thick and strong plastic, so the base will be fine. Getting the superstructure to fit 15mm.....now that will be the challenge. Making sure the deck is cleared and it has folding ramps seems like less of a challenge right now, and the painting......so much rust and weathering......is right up my alley.

Now to ponder about a name for this vessel...

[Lost Egg]

The Voltaire?

It does look like quite a bit of work but will be cool, good luck sir.

[Burgundavia]

Ooh, exciting. And welcome back to BSC!

[has.been]

For AK47, I'm interested.

[Ragnar]

This will be amazing to see in progress.

[Gunbird]

And it seems I'm breaking the rules before I even got started.

"The vast majority of the piece should be scratch built, and only 0-25% can be commercially bought items or figures, including commercially-created 3D printed pieces.

So, back to the drawingboard it is.

I've sent out a PM to confirm but even I'm pretty sure my current idea violates the rule.

[snitcythedog]

And it seems I'm breaking the rules before I even got started.

So, back to the drawingboard it is.

I've sent out a PM to confirm but even I'm pretty sure my current idea violates the rule.

If you use just the exterior sides, then you should be OK.  May be more work than you were initially looking at but it would work. 

[Gunbird]

If you use just the exterior sides, then you should be OK.  May be more work than you were initially looking at but it would work.

Nah, it would still feel like taking the mick out of the rules.

I'll find something else.

Edit: And then there is rule 7. "Conversion of commercially-bought items is allowed also e.g. as long as it is a major 'refactoring'. Another example could be a plastic aeroplane kit: adding a couple of extra parts to the kit would not be sufficient to qualify, but having some of the parts from a sprue on an entirely new build would be fine. Again, if in doubt, please ask."

As my forte is taking a standard model and rebuilding it a lot, I'm not sure I have the skills needed for this competition. That or I am severely overthinking.

[Burgundavia]

You'd be good if you used the hull and built a whole new superstructure or heavily modified the existing one. The hull is the hard shape anyway, so the superstructure can be jank as all get out.

[Gunbird]

If you say it's good, I'm good. I'll grab the sketchbook and a box of parts, plasticcard etc and get to work this weekend.

[Burgundavia]

Awesome. Sketches and inspiration pictures only until the 1st, so lots of time to plan and think.

[Codsticker]

I'm really interested to see how tackle this as I have been thinking of building something similar for some Pulp Alley games.

[mikedemana]

About the most backwater ferry that I've seen in my travels was on a visit to Belize and the ruins of Xunantunich. There is a hand-cranked ferry for crossing the river:

https://youtu.be/_0TVTLmMKpI?si=TG_N3LYGTo8xqw6a

Not my video, but it's an idea... 

Mike Demana