Blue Star cargo liner (1948) 32 feet to 1 inch

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have started moving again on my latest static model, the Blue Star cargo liner Imperial Star, of 1948 I began this last year, but lost interest in it in November. I started again a few days ago, and have now spent a total of 23 hours on its construction. Apart from the image below, I have also assembled the display case. I am currently in the process of painting the hull, having painted the white and red sections yesterday. Once the main black hull colour has been added, the model will begin to look a lot smarter. I don't anticipate a great deal of interest from fellow modelmakers, but the reason I lost interest was because of too many enquiries to purchase the completed model! When that happens, it makes it feel like a private commission, and rapidly becomes a "millstone round my neck!". My mood was not helped by the continual rain, cold and dark weather. In the early stages of a model, a lot of the work has to be done outside where my workbench is open to the elements. Really, I should have got the early work completed before the bad weather began.

It was a lovely mild and sunny day when I resumed work, so things are now getting easier.

Bob

 

Edited By Bob Wilson on 20/02/2017 08:02:06

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hull shaping and smoothing complete, a lick of paint has made all the difference!

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have almost completed the bridge section now, and it is beginning to look a lot better. (Forgot to include the pen)

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Making slow progress –

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hi Bob

Coming along very nicely now, but…..

……..I`ve just got to clear something up………And please don`t take offence?

Your first picture of this build, was extremely rough and very out of charactor………Was there a reason for this?

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

They all look like that when I start them! Every one! It is just that I haven't posted others in similar early stages. It is moving along in exactly the same manner that they all do – from horribly rough and jagged, like they have been hacked out with a machette, to quite neat and tidy!

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Like these pictures. East African in early stages and then when complete.

Bob

Edited By Bob Wilson on 26/03/2017 17:06:44

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

OK, Bob

I have often wondered, but never had the cheek to ask the question!

It certainly is a shock to the system!

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Bob,

I don't mind people asking. Don't have any trade secrets! Here is the pretty little Belle of Lagos when just started, and then when completed.

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Bob

That sure is rough!

From a very ugly duckling to the proverbial graceful Swan!

Is this the effect you're intention?

Bob

Ps………Which of all your lovely models are you particularly pleased with?

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Not really,

I have never been much good at carving. So my shaping is done with quite heavy rasps and files, coarse, medium and fine wet & dry paper. Then, as the whole lot is covered up with paper plates, all the roughness disappears.

Bob

[david taylorParticipant @davidtaylor]

hi bob,

I think you should show more of your building from the very basics, it shows us what detail you put into each model as it develops, also it shows us what skills you have to make a boat turn out like they do. they are a credit to you. keep up the good work.

david

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thanks, I did used to put complete build logs on, but there was very little interest shown, so my enthusiasm has declined over the years. But if you click on my photo album on the left under my name, you will find 174 images.

I have sent you a PM.

Bob

 

Edited By Bob Wilson on 27/03/2017 09:52:03

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I have now painted the funnel, and this one is turning out to be a real beauty, but I am always amazed that so few ship modelmakers like building this sort of ship. Took one to the local ship model club on Saturday, and as usual, eyed glazed over, and hardly a casual glance! Sometimes wonder why I bother! – Bob

[Reg Hale 1Participant @reghale1]

Hi Bob

Your models are things of beauty

I wish I had the skill to model in such fine detail

Please keep the photos coming, I for one and I am sure lots of other modellers

find them superb

Reg

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Thanks,

I dare say you all have the skill if you try it. Miniatures are far easier to build than big ones, and are more convenient. As you can see above, I tend to hack and chop out the rough hulls in a most unprofessional manner with rasps, heavy files and even saws. I make full use of car body filler to plug holes and dents, and replace bits that I have inadvertantly cut off. But as long as the end result is OK, the methods don't matter a great deal to me! Even the rigging is just glued on in short, straight lengths, as I haven't the skill or patience to mess about with hundreds of knots. I find that most modellers say they would like to be able to build miniatures, but know full well that it is totally beyond them – when in fact, in most cases it isn't! When I first saw the detailed miniature ships of Donald McNarry, it never once crossed my mind that I couldn't build them, so I just went ahead and got on with it!

Bob

[david taylorParticipant @davidtaylor]

hi bob,

thanks for your link very interesting how you model them. my interest is in the old lifeboats and would like to make some miniatures of them. what sort of scale would you say is ideal for boats that are anything from 30ft to 46ft full size. I am not to well up on scale sizes. you can see the sort I build in my albums.

david

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi David,

I can't be of much help with lifeboats I am afraid. The boats on my ship models are usually only about half an inch long. It really depnds on what size you want to build them. A 30 foot boat would only be 7.5 inches at 4 feet to 1 inch, but at 2 feet to 1 inch, would be 15 inches long. I suppose it depends on what sort of detail you want to include . Maybe you know Dave Collier, he would probably be able to give better advice than me.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Imperial Star followed the usual course. Virtually no interest shown by fellow ship modellers throughout the build, and I even kept losing interest myself. Snapped up within hours of completion. It has taken months. There was a time when I could build something like that in 3 to 4 weeks, but the constant pressure to build more has worn me down.

Bob

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