Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Sea => Topic started by: Antonio Sobral on January 23, 2018, 01:00:23 AM

Title: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Antonio Sobral on January 23, 2018, 01:00:23 AM

Hi guys!

Once upon a time... there was a little WW2 diorama with a Katyusha.

With a guy playing the accordion, and a billy goat with an attitude....:)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/cill7ay8t/Akat-001.jpg)


But times changed....
And with the passing of time, the glue inside the tires (made of soft vinyl plastic) begun to react with the plastic of the wheels and oozed out,
creating a mess and kind of ruining the credibility of the scene.

It was time to give the Katyusha a new life.
So I started wandering what if.... there was an aquatic version of the Katyusha, roaming valiantly the rivers and lakes of Russia?

Nothing like trying, right?

To begin the "surgery" I grabbed the remaining pieces of an Academy Da Vinci submarine kit long forgotten:

(https://s20.postimg.cc/n5fecr8z1/Akat-003.jpg)


Cut the Katyusha body to fit in it...

(https://s20.postimg.cc/b3k0imf65/Akat-002.jpg)


Anda voilá! Behold the intriguing and exotic "Katyusha of the River" :)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/mso06kizh/Akat-004.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/776omlzbh/Akat-005.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/3nkqwtjr1/Akat-006.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/xs97i56tp/Akat-007.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/hh93lu9rh/Akat-008.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/pmr5k1g0t/Akat-009.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/bt2suzv59/Akat-010.jpg)


There are many details still missing, like the engine cover section, exhaust pipe, etc., etc, but you get the general idea :)


Thanks for watching.

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: GTX_Admin on January 23, 2018, 02:41:42 AM

Looking good

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: finsrin on January 23, 2018, 03:09:32 AM

Such a creative redo. 8)
Making connection with Academy Da Vinci submarine is superb insight.  Whoda ever thought?

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Old Wombat on January 23, 2018, 07:24:37 AM

Looking really good! :smiley:

You going to have a fish or two listening to him play, or maybe a rusalka? ;)

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: apophenia on January 23, 2018, 07:40:44 AM

Wonderful concept for a reclamation  :smiley:

Quote from: Old Wombat on January 23, 2018, 07:24:37 AM

... or maybe a rusalka? ;)

I like your thinking  :D

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Frank3k on January 23, 2018, 09:48:31 AM

Great looking model so far; I was wondering how those DaVinci kits could be wiffed.

One thing is certain - it's going to be the fastest boat on the river when those rockets light up!

Maybe my Russian swamp cooler (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=4439.0) can clear a path.

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Antonio Sobral on February 10, 2018, 03:40:22 AM

Hi guys

A few weeks later, this Aquatic Katyusha finally gained some color!


(https://s20.postimg.cc/788i247ct/Akat-024.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/5ugv6akst/Akat-026.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/gss4p0rjx/Akat-028.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/voqnwksnx/Akat-030.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/ghaobq8dp/Akat-037.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/53o513ilp/Akat-031.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/ixchq48m5/Akat-032.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/i7tpdrfsd/Akat-033.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/fqhy6i3lp/Akat-034.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/lspkwghlp/Akat-036.jpg)


There is only one rocket, just to see how it looks.


Now is time to paint the details and start thinking about the water...

Thanks for watching!

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: GTX_Admin on February 10, 2018, 03:49:03 AM

Looking good.

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Buzzbomb on February 10, 2018, 12:17:37 PM

Standing ovation from over here. Fantastic thinking and building

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: finsrin on February 10, 2018, 01:49:05 PM

 :-* Sooooo good there otta be a kit.  Got it covered down to mooring posts and spark plug wires and all in between. :-*
Boat type steering wheel one many many zactly right touches for credibility.

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: elmayerle on February 10, 2018, 02:05:29 PM

Beautiful!!  Having a fish boil just aft of it after firing off all the rockets?

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Old Wombat on February 10, 2018, 07:05:53 PM

Quote from: buzzbomb on February 10, 2018, 12:17:37 PM

Standing ovation from over here. Fantastic thinking and building

Yup, couldn't agree more! 8)

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Camthalion on February 11, 2018, 05:45:09 AM

very cool

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Brian da Basher on February 12, 2018, 04:04:40 AM

The guy with the squeezebox really adds character!

Brian da Basher

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Antonio Sobral on February 19, 2018, 01:02:18 AM

Thanks for the kind words!

Finally I manged to finish the base painting, including the details.

(https://s20.postimg.cc/fk66jux65/Akat-042.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/cdbn097l9/Akat-043.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/qjrdvidbh/Akat-044.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/n05g5ov65/Akat-045.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/47tl22w71/Akat-046.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/ie9bxbmhp/Akat-047.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/6cdy36sot/Akat-048.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/l8chargy5/Akat-049.jpg)


(https://s20.postimg.cc/47tl24tn1/Akat-050.jpg)


Regarding the water, I will probably use some acrylic gel, but still no definite ideas on the subject.
But it has to be fast, cheap and easy :)

Some weathering with oils is still due, but lately I have been very lazy regarding this particular point.
It used to be my favorite...

Thanks for watching!

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Old Wombat on February 19, 2018, 01:35:09 AM

Sweet! 8)

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Antonio Sobral on March 08, 2018, 07:34:06 PM

Better the late than never, right?

So, here comes the story behind the "Katyusha of the Waters". I hope you enjoy it and forgive my English mistakes.

Katyusha of the Waters - Myths and Legends

1. Introduction and geographic coverage

Everyone knows that Russia is the biggest country in the world.

From Moscow
(https://s20.postimg.cc/yk26uvlsd/Kat_His-01.jpg)

to Leningrad / St Petersburg
(https://s20.postimg.cc/lh6kbn5v1/Kat_His-02a.jpg)

there is a network of rivers, canals, lakes and floodgates, which allows one to go from one city to another without having to step on land...

(https://s20.postimg.cc/q1sqqkhul/Kat_His-03.jpg)

And on the way one passes the two biggest lakes of Europe: the Onega and the Ladoga.

And it is precisely in a small island on the Lake Onega, located in a beautiful region called Karelia,
that our history takes place ....

(https://s20.postimg.cc/v0g953dxp/Kat_His-08.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/54wilwrjh/Kat_His-09.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/g4hpxipod/Kat_His-10.jpg)


2. Katiusha of the Waters - Historical background

Legend has it that one night, Josef Stalin woke up startled. Coming to the window of his room overlooking the Kremlin,
he found a strange, brilliant shape that seemed to hover over Lenin's grave...

(https://s20.postimg.cc/54wilvoyl/Kat_His-04.jpg)

As he rubbed his eyes to try to figure out what it would be, he heard a deep voice that seemed to come from beyond:
Kizhi is in danger. You have to save it!

What the hell! ... He thought. I gotta see what's going on in Kizhi, and went back to bed, falling asleep.

The next morning he hardly remembered what had happened. Thinking that he had had some vodka induced hallucination,
he called his deputy and asked him: Do you know where Kizhi is? I think it's up north, but I am not sure.

To which the deputy replied: Yes, comrade, it is in Karelia. It is a small remote island, situated on Lake Onega,
where the famous wooden monastery of last century is located.

(https://s20.postimg.cc/l358c0qwd/Kat_His-07.jpg)

 "But was there any problem reported in this area?" Questions Stalin.

"Yes," replied the deputy. We have had some disturbing news about the Germans moving in that direction and trying to surround the region.

"But that is in the middle of nowhere, with no natural resources or strategic importance," exasperated Stalin.
What the hell do the Germans want?

"Well, they probably believe in the legend of Katyusha of the Waters.

"It smells like BS to me," growled Stalin.

"I do not know about that," the subaltern replies, "but the locals attribute miraculous properties to the monastery,
and it is said that whoever controls it dominates the whole of Russia.
The legend also says that it is inhabited a mysterious damsel that goes by the name of Katyusha of Waters, that protects it.

- I see! Only superstitions on top of superstitions. Needless to say, this Katyusha of the Waters also seems to randomly appear
during the night to hover over the tomb of Lenin, to ask for help. Get out, I want to think!

After being alone again and reflecting long on the problem, he came to a conclusion:
I definitely cannot let Kizhi fall into the hands of that Hitler bastard. It can demoralize the most credulous populations and troops. 
But for that I need a fast attack force that can move in that tangle of rivers and lakes!

 "Call the Commissar of Special Affairs," he ordered promptly.

"Impossible, Comrade Stalin!" He was executed yesterday by your command, replied the deputy. The post is vacant!

"Well," says Stalin, "then call the Commissar of Expedite Solutions!"

"Yes, comrade, but only in the afternoon, that this morning he is solving an urgent situation”.

After lunch, the deputy announces: "Comrade Stalin, here's Commissar Anton Rodriguiev Sobralovsky.

"Let him in," shouted Stalin.

(https://s20.postimg.cc/5ikkmynzx/Kat_His-05.jpg)


"Good afternoon, Comrade Stalin, how may I be of service to our great nation?"

- Commissar, the situation in Karelia is serious and you must immediately arrange a means of attack
that can easily move through the rivers and lakes of the region, to detain the Nazis.

"I see," said the Commissar phlegmatically. You want the impossible, and now!
For that we have to adapt something that already exists on land with given proof, and that can be easily put afloat.
Relatively light stuff, no tanks for sure. Maybe a modified Katyusha with floaters and...

YES!!!! Interrupted Stalin immediately. That's right! Katyusha is the ideal for this situation. 
Even the name fits perfectly. Set up immediately a test prototype and keep me informed!

And this is how the Commissar of Expedite Solutions found himself facing two almost impossible tasks:
To get something that works on time, and to please Stalin.

Next Chapter - What will the Commissar do?

Thanks for watching and the patience for reading!

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Old Wombat on March 08, 2018, 09:02:29 PM

Молодцы, товарищ Антон!

(Molodtsy, tovarishch Anton!)

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Steve Blazo on March 08, 2018, 11:40:50 PM

Fantastic imagination and a great build, I do like the look   :D

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Antonio Sobral on April 22, 2018, 04:30:43 PM

Thanks!

And the final chapter on this saga  is here: The (long due) conclusion of the model!


After some "water" made with acrylic resin, please find below the photos.


(https://s20.postimg.cc/a1d23jafh/Akat-051.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/8z2vl0mh9/Akat-052.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/r1vyc7fr1/Akat-053.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/bgems9qy5/Akat-054.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/fcryo9jnh/Akat-055.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/64zq7ks0t/Akat-056.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/s464usgkt/Akat-057.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/cvg7gzkbh/Akat-058.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/89k38o931/Akat-059.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/pmudnjjtp/Akat-060.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/oxblb6bkd/Akat-061.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/bgemsboe5/Akat-062.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/j95akamnh/Akat-063.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/ciotavuct/Akat-064.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/wq2936cel/Akat-065.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/64zq7mhr1/Akat-066.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/yhv7y6b7x/Akat-067.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/cvg7h2kcd/Akat-068.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/o7ssyv0r1/Akat-069.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/hhcbpgnvx/Akat-070.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/r1vycbxsd/Akat-071.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/8mbhewwil/Akat-072.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/7wsp2k3ot/Akat-073.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/nia0minct/Akat-074.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/lqh1rmjfh/Akat-075.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/aqvug18fx/Akat-076.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/779wq8dfx/Akat-077.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/40fd6m0pp/Akat-078.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/o7ssyx5wt/Akat-079.jpg)

(https://s20.postimg.cc/ko6v94awt/Akat-080.jpg)


Thanks again for watching!

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: AXOR on April 22, 2018, 07:40:03 PM

That's just awesome Antonio,very well done !  :smiley:

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: elmayerle on April 22, 2018, 09:17:59 PM

Awesome concept, model, and back story.  You really hit all the bases with this one.

BRAVO!!

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: GTX_Admin on April 23, 2018, 01:25:39 AM

 :smiley:

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: Old Wombat on April 23, 2018, 06:07:48 PM

Again, with event more feeling:

Молодцы, товарищ Антон! :smiley: :smiley: 8)

(Molodtsy, tovarishch Anton! = Well done, Comrade Antonio!)

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: PantherG on April 27, 2018, 02:36:57 AM

Молодец , отличная робота !   :-*

Title: Re: Katyusha of the River (катюша реки) 1/35
Post by: finsrin on April 27, 2018, 07:38:40 AM

Model and diorama are excellent.  But is more than that; is touching contrast of peaceful tranquility and deadly weapon of war.  Says a lot.  :-*