Some "boat thing" that I tried to put together ...

[von der Tann]

Hey guys,

after a long time of lurking, posting more or less helpful and/or intelligent things on this forum, I have finally managed to convince myself to share a little project of mine.
I did this to learn about working with platic card, green stuff, masking tape, spray paint and so on, before I start to tackle the big project.
I found that cutting right angles and straight lines are not as easy for me as it seems for many others on the forum especially if the cuts need to be longer than what my "The Chopper" provides. The pics only hint at the "ramshackle" look you get with the real thing.
I also learned that I have to use thicker stuff than needle threads to symbolize rope. Plus I need to be way more careful and precise when trying to use thread to hold together stuff ...
As you can see the blue bindings at the wheel house are way to thick and not looking the same at all.

Also note that since I don't play tabletop games, the boat is not a waterline model. Enough talk - here are two pics:

What I have done so far is far from complete. The boat still misses the two main turrets (they are not completly build yet), way too many details (for example: handles on the doors of the wheelhouse, wheelhouse canvas cover, etc.), color of course and some stuff at the aft of the boat.

Comments are welcome and appreciated PLUS I would like to know your opinion on two things:

What to put on the aft section of the boat?
I was thinking of a machinegun, heavy bolter or something like that. Not a turret though. Which leaves the two spaces behind the wheelhouse and in front of the aft deck. Maybe a small funnel? I am not sure.

What color to paint the boat?
I was thinking of either camouflage or the white/yellow paint of warships at the beginning of the 20th century. Other colors like black (German Torpedoboote of WW I and the Weimarer Republik), grey or simple olive/green seem a bit boring. High seas camo of WW II era ships seems a bit redundant on such a small boat.

So what do you guys think?

[6milPhil]

That's a brilliant model chum. I like the idea of early 20th century camo, perhaps even a dazzle pattern?

[pocoloco]

That's really fine work already, it will look splendid when finished!

Maybe add the smoke-screen generators?

From wiki:

In order to avoid return fire by the enemy ships, the PT boat could deploy a smoke screen using stern-mounted generators as they escaped and evaded the enemy ships

Cheers,

PL

[von der Tann]

Thanks for the kind words.

Smoke generators ... hmmm ... those should fit on that thing somewhere ... i like the idea ...

[The Dozing Dragon]

Looks great but you really need to waterline it 

[von der Tann]

Looks great but you really need to waterline it 

I am quite sure I will ruin it through my incompetence when I try to waterline it.
I was thinking of maybe building a trailer for it as the normal stand is rather boring.

[Legion1963]

Quite a nice model. Alas not for tabletopgaming.

[former user]

interesting

as it happens I bought the same model to do something similar with it.
waterlining is difficult, but it will allow for increased use.

what are the green rods supposed to be?
if You are going to put turrets on the aft deckhouse too, then fixing a deck gun would be a bit pointless - waterbomb racks are the choice

but the boat is pretty over-weaponized anyway

[von der Tann]

what are the green rods supposed to be?

A very lame attempt of a handrail. Mind that I am not sure if that is the correct English naval term ... heck, I am not even sure what's the correct term in German.
The ones on top will hold a canvas cover but I am sure you didn't talk about those ...

but the boat is pretty over-weaponized anyway

That was the idea, as it is a purely fictional boat and has nothing to do with reality. As it stands - the doctrine of this naval force seems to be "peace through superior firepower" ...

[former user]

The ones on top will hold a canvas cover but I am sure you didn't talk about those ...

I was 
the handrails are OK, try to get some lead foil from a Senftube to make the canvas cover, than You won't need that contraption
I would try to make it removable (btw, a bridge with a canvas cover on a gunboat with four turrets - where is the engine? - rather shouts: shoot here  )

for the aft deck - either waterbomb racks, a lifeboat or simply extend the deckhouse and make the bridge larger

as to the waterling - You could also glue on finns

[von der Tann]

I was 
the handrails are OK, try to get some lead foil from a Senftube to make the canvas cover, than You won't need that contraption

Ohh ... ok. ...
Thanks for the advice on the canvas cover. I was raking my brains how to do that. All I could come up with was aluminium foil but that seemed way to flimsy. I will kill the next Senftube I come along and scavenge the lead foil.

(btw, a bridge with a canvas cover on a gunboat with four turrets - where is the engine? - rather shouts: shoot here  )

Noooooooo ... not 4 turrets. Just the 2 in front.

Hmm ... a James Bond style gunboat. Interesting. As it is ... I got out my Dremel and waterlined another hull I had lying around. No deckhouse on it though, so I simply cannot show a picture yet. But I will keep the ""shoot here" comment in mind and I think I will make an armored bridge on that one.

[former user]

Tomatenmark is useful too
if You do not use either, I can send You some, I have plenty

if it is only the two forward turrets, then some AA deck gun should be useful and necessary. Funnels are only for steam propulsion - is it going to be steampunk?

have You tried Revell - Swift boat and Hobbyboss Landwasserschlepper ?

[von der Tann]

Tomatenmark is useful too
if You do not use either, I can send You some, I have plenty

... I just took a look into the fridge and can confirm the possession of a Senftube.

if it is only the two forward turrets, then some AA deck gun should be useful and necessary. Funnels are only for steam propulsion - is it going to be steampunk?

Nah, steampunk ... I don't know. No, pretty sure it ain't going to be steampunk.
So far I like the idea of a AA deckgun and/or a liferaft (a lifeboat might be too big imho).

have You tried Revell - Swift boat and Hobbyboss Landwasserschlepper ?

2 sets of each lying around, waiting to be cannibalized and turned into something they were not meant to be.

[former user]

a liferaft capsule can do too

btw, when I run out of ideas I switch to something different. I started with the swiftboat, for it is the right scale and there is not much to do - just to make sure

[Johnnytodd]

Suggestion for water-lining:  Rather than cutting the hull away, try sanding it down.... buy several pieces of 8x11 coarse sandpaper + spray adhesive. Glue sandpaper to 1" thick wooden board (8x24" ideally); now "rub" the hull back and forth (while watching weekend TV marathon of your favorite show).

Suggestion for railing:  Use rabbit cage wire mesh (roughly 1cm), cut long strip and then trim away to resemble railing post and wire, like here: