Beyond The Sprues
Modelling => Group and Themed Builds => British Commonwealth GB => Topic started by: Old Wombat on November 05, 2023, 12:34:33 PM
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That's the working title, anyway.
And so the Sun arose, commencing its arc across the blue Southern sky and the Old Wombat slept on.
Eventually, in the late morning, he crawled out of bed and shuffled off to find coffee and perform the usual morning functions associated with transitioning from sleep to wakefulness.
He had a chat with Mrs Old Wombat and Wombat the Younger, then Wombat the Elder Younger video-called and the Wombat family had a chat, including Old Wombat's grandson, Wombat the Youngest.
Finally, Old Wombat found himself with some free time & took some photographs of some strange plastic.
This is a build happening for the " The Buccaneer, Harrier and Jaguar Group Build" over on What If... Modellers &, for those who are visual people (me, for example), I took these first few photo's.
It looks like a Bucc;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-TpHDsf8/0/a60a135c/X3/DSCN8527-X3.jpg)
Until it doesn't;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-GCNgrQd/0/bdde5086/X3/DSCN8528-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-NwhHmpq/0/47480b1d/X3/DSCN8529-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-B6Lh5Tc/0/dff1a908/X3/DSCN8530-X3.jpg)
I have to say that this is the worst Airfix kit I've ever tried to put together! :icon_crap:
Even where the parts are meant to fit flush I've often had to resort to liquid styrene to glue them together because the gaps are so bleedin' HUGE! :o
Still a lot of grinding, filing & sanding to do, even before I get to the PSR phase. ::)
Next up will be painting the insides of the intake & exhaust tubes, putting them together & fitting them. While I wait for the paints to dry I'll try to sort out filling the cockpit space.
But it is a WiP, so these things are to be expected. So, onwards & (slowly) upwards! :smiley:
PS: With the conning tower I find she looks very "Gerry Anderson" but, if you take the conning tower out of the image & think of that little bulge just forward of it as a command deck or bridge, how much does it look like a sci-fi starship!? ;)
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Interesting. Possibly also a candidate for the British Commonwealth GB (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?board=108.0) if you wanted to enter.
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This could also work as an SSC spacecraft. It looks vaguely like a Leif Ericson.
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Definite SkyDiver vibes there . . .
cheers,
Robin.
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Is it recovering a UFO from the seabed ? ;D
:smiley: :smiley:
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Like it! The family Wombat’s heavy engineering department is on full throttle! :o ;) :smiley:
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Thank you, gentlemen! Very much appreciated! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
If you think it's good to go for the Commonwealth GB*, Greg, I'm happy for it to be moved. :))
... Or I could start another thread there. ???
[*: Although I jumped the gun & started it on the 1st. :-[]
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[*: Although I jumped the gun & started it on the 1st. :-[]
I'm not picky...
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Looks cool all around!
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Is it recovering a UFO from the seabed ? ;D
:smiley: :smiley:
Does seem to be.
Looks fast and deep diving. UFO recovery and research submarine. :smiley:
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At the moment it looks like it’s flying through the Mach loop! The rock and vegetation in the background is very convincing.
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That would not look out of place in a Gerry Anderson puppet show.
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Thanks , gents! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
Did a bit this ... yesterday morning before work.
Not enought to justify any further photo's though.
And thanks, Greg, for moving her here! :smiley:
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Here is my choice for Captain and First Officer:
(https://i0.wp.com/cultfaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/stingray.jpg?fit=700%2C515&ssl=1)
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Och! I have found the Buccaneer to be an attractive and malleable form myself, but this is a crackin' idea!
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More a Thunderbirds person, myself, but not bad, Carl! :smiley:
Thank you, Doc! :icon_alabanza:
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And now we come to this morning's photo's tonight!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-KWMCSpn/0/24cffe10/X3/DSCN8532-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-kqjZnTn/0/76c564e8/X3/DSCN8531-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-Dt3jm6s/0/dc17fc73/X3/DSCN8533-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-Vh66nbK/0/2bf3f287/X3/DSCN8534-X3.jpg)
As you can see, the intakes & exhausts/outlets are fitted & the cockpit gap has been roughed in.
The upper fin is only dry fitted for now because the next stage is Putty ... Lots & lots of Putty! ... Then Sand & Repeat, & I don't want to break it off a dozen times whilst I'm doing that. :-\
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Needs diving planes!
This makes me want to start a project! No! Sit boy, sit! Good boy!
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Needs diving planes!
Yes, it does, & I have some put aside but, considering I'm of the opinion that the upper fin is likely to get damaged multiple times during PSR on the hull, there's no way I'm putting the hydroplanes anywhere near the hull until the PSR is finished! :o
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Are you using the horizontal stabilizers from the Buccaneer?
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Are you using the horizontal stabilizers from the Buccaneer?
No, they're far too big.
I'm going with tail planes from a 1/72 WW2 British fighter.
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1st round of Puttying done.
A bit of the 1st round of Sanding under weigh.
:smiley:
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this so good, very impressed
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It only took four major & two minor rounds of PSR, plus a few minor touch-ups, to get her to the point where the following could happen:
All four hydroplanes on, now.
A fix-up of a slip-up needed.
Finishing off the hydroplane attachments, checking for any remaining visible or "feel-able" blemishes, then a final blast of primer.
I'll take a few photo's then & have a think about any more greeblies to add (Oh, & some scribing work). ;)
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Can’t wait! :smiley:
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With the cat dying yesterday I was in no mood for modelling when I got home from work.
Tonight, however, is a different story!
We'll see how far I get. ;)
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Man, I am sorry to hear about you cat. As a cat person myself, I sympathize. looking forward to the next pictures.
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Thanks, Craig! I'm mostly a general "animal person" (not that that stops me hunting) but cats are, pretty much, the pinnacle of pets. I like their independent attitude. :))
Now, on with the build!
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-2qX96jn/0/1563e32a/X3/DSCN8535-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-84qgxwJ/0/142d879e/X3/DSCN8540-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-WgfrqFM/0/f1cbe14f/X3/DSCN8536-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-vP6DwK3/0/85341a7b/X3/DSCN8541-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-bp7v8jM/0/2cc062e4/X3/DSCN8539-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-8J9cK7G/0/ea2b8a68/X3/DSCN8538-X3.jpg)
The fairings at the bases of the hydroplanes need more work to get them right & the conning tower bridge needs to be done (deck, bulkheads & periscopes, etc.), plus, while I'm doing those, I can finish off the few small panel/seam lines that appeared on this pass.
Not too bad, really. :smiley:
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Condolences on the cat front mate… :(
The model is looking very cool - Gerry Anderson would have been proud! :smiley:
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Condolences on the cat front mate… :(
The model is looking very cool - Gerry Anderson would have been proud! :smiley:
I second these sentiments!
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Thanks, guys! (On both counts.) :icon_alabanza:
Just as a bit of an addendum:
This is outside of my primary Alt. History & the base scenario is made up just for this build (it's how my mind works best). In this scenario Australia becomes a member of the nuclear family in the 1950's (either with/without British/US support). They develop (again, either with/without British/US support) IRBMs (possibly based on Blue Streak), nuclear-powered submarines & SLBMs, cruise missiles, etc.
In my mind Buccaneer is the second of the Privateer sub-class of the Pirate-class* of submarines (HMAS's Privateer, Buccaneer, Corsair, Seawolf & Marauder) which are SSBNs.
Then there is the Bushranger sub-class (HMAS's Bushranger, Highwayman, Outlaw, Brigand, Bandit, Blackleg, Hunter, Huntress, Stalker & Tracker), which don't have the bulged top & are attack (hunter-killer) submarines, which carry a lot of VLS cells & 6 torpedo tubes. [Note: Brigand, Bandit & Blackleg could be considered a sub-sub-class, as they are fitted out for covert op's insertion, extraction, command & control.]
Finally, there is the Smuggler sub-class (HMAAV**'s Smuggler, Gunrunner, Bootlegger, Freebooter, Drummer, Merchanter, Trader & Courier) which do have the hump but, rather than missile boats, they're submarine freighters designed to re-supply the other submarines & supply ground forces operating adjacent to heavily contested waters & where air superiority/supremacy has not been attained. They retain the self-defence suite of the Privateer sub-class.
[*: Pirate was the prototype/test vessel of the class &, although commissioned, was never operational.]
[**: HMAAV = Her/His Majesty's Australian Auxilliary Vessel]
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I like the class names, but I am, ah, piratically inclined, shall we say? ;) The only thing I'd do differently would be to square off the tips of the dive planes-the rounded tips don't jibe with the rudders and the sail. Does the Buccaneer use shrouded props or a fancy MHD propulsion system?
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:smiley:
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REally moving ahead... still really liking this. A lot
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The fairings for the hydroplanes have gone somewhat awry, so the build is in a hiatus for a bit, while I consider what to do about fixing them or, more likely, removing them & rebuilding them from scratch. :icon_crap:
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The fairings for the hydroplanes have gone somewhat awry, so the build is in a hiatus for a bit, while I consider what to do about fixing them or, more likely, removing them & rebuilding them from scratch. :icon_crap:
Use Thruster tech for axis control. Hydroplanes are so last century ;)
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I've started the rectification process on this & have some parts* ready to (hopefully) create better fairings but, as I'm on night shifts for a while, there won't be much happening for a few days, at least.
[*: I'm pretty sure they're poorly detailed 1/72 BL.755 Cluster bomb halves ... But I could be wrong, I just don't think I am. ;) ]
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Ten days?! :o
Finally, I've had a chance to do a tiny bit more work & fit the fairings. :D
First round of putty should happen on them tonight. :smiley:
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I've started the rectification process on this & have some parts* ready to (hopefully) create better fairings but, as I'm on night shifts for a while, there won't be much happening for a few days, at least.
Mate, you need to kick that work nonsense into touch! To misquote: ‘If work offends, cut it out’ ;)
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I've started the rectification process on this & have some parts* ready to (hopefully) create better fairings but, as I'm on night shifts for a while, there won't be much happening for a few days, at least.
Mate, you need to kick that work nonsense into touch! To misquote: ‘If work offends, cut it out’ ;)
Unfortunately, I'm not in a financial position which allows that. To retire right now I'd need to win the lotto. :icon_crap:
I should have stayed in the military (on the old DFRDB* scheme) & retired 20 to 15 years ago on 75-80% of my final annual pay, tax free, un-means-tested. ::)
[*: Defence Force Retirement & Death Benefits]
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I should have stayed in the military (on the old DFRDB* scheme) & retired 20 to 15 years ago on 75-80% of my final annual pay, tax free, un-means-tested. ::)
Ah yes. MSBS is nowhere near as nice as DFRDB...
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Blimey, 75-80% and tax-free… nice…
I’ll put a word in with the lotto dudes! ;)
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1st round of putty, sanding & primer has happened on the new fairings, & they're looking pretty good.
Do need to do some more work, though, & photo's will happen after I'm happy with them. :smiley:
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After a delay due to illness & injury ...
Photo's of where I'm at tomorrow! :smiley:
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Photo's of where I'm at:
Photo's were taken in the garage as there's a bit of a stiff breeze outside. making photography a bit difficult against the usual backdrop.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-6ppfnG9/0/3ad1a1c7/X3/DSCN8542-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-9NV5tzC/0/378a2760/X3/DSCN8546-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-N2CFPvn/0/12459015/X3/DSCN8545-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-fNRV3GR/0/a89bce69/X3/DSCN8544-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-J6rhGrV/0/fea2d7a4/X3/DSCN8556-X3.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-LHj2wzk/0/21ea3def/X3/DSCN8557-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-GkN3KBn/0/32e087ec/X3/DSCN8552-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-38kZkjD/0/d6c55c54/X3/DSCN8551-X3.jpg)
Now a few edited shots:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-mQDP4f2/0/e0b0e9ec/X3/DSCN8542.1-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-CnhsWNX/0/a357ac72/X3/DSCN8550.1-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-phhQNts/0/2d8de0aa/X3/DSCN8545.1-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-5H9b95v/0/36004bf2/X3/DSCN8549.1-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-hwdkVXf/0/a6f1d8bd/X3/DSCN8554.1-X3.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-r8qwx6f/0/1380ed0f/X3/DSCN8555.1-X3.jpg)
Hope that satisfies the current cravings! ;)
Next up is a bit of scribing...
...followed by the paint scheme! 8)
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Does satisfy current cravings. Looks on its way to being in a starring roll in a movie. :smiley:
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Submarine or Sci Fi Corvette.. either way, really great work. Smooth as the proverbial.
Great stuff.
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Thanks, gent's! :icon_alabanza:
It has taken a while to get her that smooth &, even so, there are a few little rough spots left, but the effort of removing them is more than the improvement in the smoothness is worth.
Now to work on the sensor suite & scribing panel lines.
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This is looking spectacular! And, as finsrin said, tamps down the cravings for now :smiley:
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Thanks, mate! :smiley:
"Panel lines" for the hatches of the 15 Trident II sized SLBM's scribed.
Some more scribing to go & the sensor suite (Just how they jam that much ... stuff, all of it retractable, into a conning tower is mind boggling! :icon_surprised: )
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Great concept, great execution - perhaps a C-130 battleship next? ;)
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Thanks, mate! :icon_alabanza:
Um, I don't think so. If I didn't have two new-mould Buccaneers in the stash, this old-mould would not have been quite so ... available.
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Those last pictures look like it’s exploring an underwater cliff. Just add some bubbles, a blue filter and a giant squid!
Might look good with one of the Bandai mecha dolls Ultraman subs.
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You all thought this was dead, didn't you!? :icon_sueno:
Mojo went for a bit of a holiday, still struggling with it** but I have managed to finish the scribing & apply paint (that last happened this evening).
I need to pull off some masking to see how it's gone &, if it's OK, I may post a photo or two tomorrow ... Maybe. ;)
[**: The modelling room is a mess, to the point that it's next to impossible to do any work in there, because I got fed up with, & distracted from the clean-up. So, when this build is finished, I will be cleaning the damned room out & tidying it up so I can actually enjoy my modelling!]
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By the way, I hope no-one was hoping for Boring-Grey as a colour scheme on this because I'm allergic to Boring-Grey, & this beast is a long way off it! ;)
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Photo's have been taken! :smiley:
Unfortunately I can't log onto SmugMug at the moment to upload them. :icon_crap:
I'll try later, to see if the issue has been resolved. ;)
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Told you it ain"t Boring-Grey! ;D
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-4tpWVzJ/0/4a75eba1/X4/DSCN8558%5B1%5D-X4.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-2XfR6p3/0/98190783/X4/DSCN8559%5B1%5D-X4.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-v6d9PNG/0/956b65b3/X4/DSCN8561%5B1%5D-X4.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-BTPBhGW/0/6da5eb2a/X4/DSCN8562%5B1%5D-X4.jpg)
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That’s awesome! It makes the build!
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Thanks, mate! :icon_alabanza:
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One of those models that deserves a movie to star in :-*
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Thanks, Bill! :icon_alabanza:
Unfortunately, I think the era of the submarine adventure movie/series is gone. :icon_crap:
Movies: 20,000 Leagues under the Sea; Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea; The Atomic Submarine; Around the World under the Sea;
TV Series: SeaQuest DSV; Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea;
OK, maybe there's room for another TV series, but you'll notice that there hasn't been a new one since the mid-1990s, probably because no-one can see any money in it. ;)
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea was a favourite of mine when I was young ... very young.
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Stunning paint job and build, if I hadn't been following the build I would have difficulty in identifying the original kit :smiley: :smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
There was a series called Viligent recently on the BBC series gritty murder investigation on a submarine
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Thanks, 'Mog! :icon_alabanza:
You probably mean "Vigil", but that's a crime drama rather than adventure series. ;)
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Now that came out beaUUUUuuutiful!
Nice to know somebody else remembers THE ATOMIC SUBMARINE - I was watching that again just recently.
(And you can find a lot of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea on youtube. ;) )
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Mate, it has been well worth the wait! What a stunning paint job and innovative camo- what was your inspiration? :-* :smiley:
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Thanks, 'Mog! :icon_alabanza:
You probably mean "Vigil", but that's a crime drama rather than adventure series. ;)
Quite right, my bad, guilty as charged ;D ;D ;D
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Told you it ain"t Boring-Grey! ;D
Fantastic scheme! :-*
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Thank you very much, gentlemen! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
Unfortunately, Craig, I don't actually remember "The Atomic Submarine", I remembered its name but not the movie.
Claymore: In part it was SeaQuest DSV but, mostly, it was remembering flying over the ocean & noticing that the colour of the sea wasn't monochrome dark blue & that white-caps criss-crossed its surface. and having seen the pale silvery-blue of the surface of the ocean looking up from below, criss-crossed by ripples of light.
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I love the undersea camo! It looks great!
"The Atomic Submarine" movie from 1959 is online:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lGEgFY4hA4 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lGEgFY4hA4)
Not good, not terrible.
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Thanks, Frank! :smiley:
Think I'll give the movie a miss, though. ;)
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Thanks, Frank! :smiley:
Think I'll give the movie a miss, though. ;)
Ah, Frank beat me to it. It's also available on the TUBI streaming site. Frank's right, it isn't a great movie, but I give it 'E' for effort, as my Dad used to say. The miniatures and the plot were deserving of a better budget, but the acting and direction were... :-[
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Claymore: In part it was SeaQuest DSV but, mostly, it was remembering flying over the ocean & noticing that the colour of the sea wasn't monochrome dark blue & that white-caps criss-crossed its surface. and having seen the pale silvery-blue of the surface of the ocean looking up from below, criss-crossed by ripples of light.
:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
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Claymore: In part it was SeaQuest DSV but, mostly, it was remembering flying over the ocean & noticing that the colour of the sea wasn't monochrome dark blue & that white-caps criss-crossed its surface. and having seen the pale silvery-blue of the surface of the ocean looking up from below, criss-crossed by ripples of light.
:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
So true!
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It just works... super good in all respects.
The nod to Seaquest and your quite valid RW observations make it even better.
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Thanks, BT! :icon_alabanza:
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Glossed this earlier today & did some pin washing tonight.
Tossing up whether to weather it like this:
(https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/24175ed1c409704a71d852beb06f9eaf?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1920&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=485)
Or like this:
(https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/C0FF/production/_131770494_afae3f40e3f973b33b3ba9a1a17353f099e3e1ce1510_983_6195_34876195x3487.jpg)
But I'm trending more towards this:
(https://www.asc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Farncomb.jpg)
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I personally like new and shiny myself.
Are you also going to build the Mammoet Self-Propelled Modular Transporter?
Mammoet finishes heaviest lift over a freeway Canada (https://www.mammoet.com/news/mammoet-finishes-heaviest-lift-over-a-freeway-canada/)
We used them many times in our rapid bridge replacements here in Ottawa. 2,100-ton bridge.
(https://tomlinsongroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Lees-Avenue-2.jpg)
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I've gone for something between this:
(https://live-production.wcms.abc-cdn.net.au/24175ed1c409704a71d852beb06f9eaf?impolicy=wcms_crop_resize&cropH=1080&cropW=1920&xPos=0&yPos=0&width=862&height=485)
And this:
(https://www.asc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Farncomb.jpg)
So, very light weathering.
And, no, Carl, I'll probably just go for a basic stand & leave it at that.
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Photo's later today (it being 0120hrs here).
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:smiley: :smiley: :smiley:
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Well, this could be awkward; SmugMug is playing up! :-[
I'll keep trying, though! :smiley:
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Right, got that sorted! :thumbsup:
SSBN-404 HMAS Buccaneer
In the late-1950's Australia, fed up with being treated as a useful place to test nuclear weapons without being "allowed" to join the club, denied the UK further use of its territory for testing of its nuclear warheads & the missiles that were to carry them. As the USA was explicitly against allowing any newcomers into the Nuclear Family & would offer no assistance, Australia took what information it had gleaned from its scientists, who had worked with the British & Americans on their tests, & developed their own power stations, enrichment plants, nuclear weapons & missiles. Initially somewhat inferior to those of their allies, by their third generation of weapons they had caught up in both yield & delivery performances.
Australia's first nuclear submarine, HMAS Woomera (possibly named as something of a snub to the British) was commissioned in 1964, & was armed with 8 Wiiny Dunha (Fire Stick) SLBMs & 6 torpedo tubes (4 forward, 2 aft). A further 3 of her class were built by 1970, alongside 6 diesel-electric hunter-killer submarines.
Australia was formally accepted as a nuclear power in 1973.
By 2020 the RAN were bringing their 4th Generation SSNs on line. This was the "modular*" Pirate-class**, designed to be fast & almost undetectable, & the first vessels to be powered by a magnetohydrodynamic propulsion system. The final submarine of the class was commissioned on the 11th of November, 2045.
The Pirate-class SSNs are divided into 3 sub-classes;
The largest number of vessels are of the Bushranger sub-class (HMAS's Bushranger, Highwayman, Outlaw, Brigand, Bandit, Blackleg, Hunter, Huntress, Stalker & Tracker), which are attack (hunter-killer) submarines, & carry a lot of VLS cells plus 8 torpedo tubes (6 forward, 2 aft). [Note: Brigand, Bandit & Blackleg could be considered a sub-sub-class, as they are fitted out for covert op's insertion, extraction, command & control.]
Then there are the Smuggler sub-class (HMAAV***'s Smuggler, Gunrunner, Bootlegger, Freebooter, Drummer, Merchanter, Trader & Courier) which have a large hump along the centre section of their spine used for carrying cargo, as they are submarine freighters designed to re-supply the other submarines & supply ground forces operating adjacent to heavily contested waters & where air superiority/supremacy has not been attained. They have a self-defence suite of two 8-cell VLS & 4 torpedo tubes (2 forward, 2 aft).
Finally, there are the Privateer sub-class of submarines (HMAS's Privateer, Buccaneer, Corsair, Seawolf & Marauder). The smallest of the three sub-classes of the the Pirate-class of submarines, they are the RAN's "deterrent" force of SSBNs, each carrying 16 Bullroarer nuclear armed missiles (similar in size & performance to the US Trident II) in a hump identical in profile to that of the Smuggler sub-class, two 8-cell VLS systems & four torpedo tubes (2 forward, 2 aft).
Here we have SSBN-404 HMAS Buccaneer, the second of the Privateer sub-class of the Pirate-class
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-whRqJxR/0/21553b1a/X3/DSCN8563-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-VfrwbNz/0/8246e1f6/X3/DSCN8564-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-GcXxw4K/0/bf294901/X3/DSCN8582-X3.jpg)
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(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-L32vqxm/0/a3fc09b1/X3/DSCN8581-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-2JcH5n4/0/d5083ef2/X3/DSCN8578-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-7pn7vDT/0/60de7d66/X3/DSCN8577-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-Jp2RrMw/0/62669c6f/X3/DSCN8567-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-mjpHDwL/0/86da29fd/X3/DSCN8568-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-HWBGJtQ/0/24d61363/X3/DSCN8565-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-Kgq3Sn7/0/861f1206/X3/DSCN8566-X3.jpg)
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(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-p5xFjcv/0/ac6c915f/X3/DSCN8576-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-GLh8dBV/0/aff76053/X3/DSCN8580-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-tJDpD99/0/8645ceda/X3/DSCN8579-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-TLSfhHL/0/97a5b949/X4/DSCN8583-X4.jpg) (https://photos.smugmug.com/HMAS-Buccaneer/i-RxMjPq3/0/e7a59b39/X4/DSCN8584-X4.jpg)
[*: "Modular", in this instance, meaning that various modules could be dropped in during construction to become a permanent part of the vessel's structure, rather than be able to be swapped out once built.]
[**: Pirate was the prototype/test vessel of the class &, although commissioned, was never operational.]
[***: HMAAV = Her/His Majesty's Australian Auxilliary Vessel]
PS: I haven't taken any measurements, so I can't give you dimensions. I may try to figure some out at a later date.
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Pirate-class submarine TORPEDOES
The Pirate-class submarines use 3 primary torpedo types;
White Shark:
Weight: something over 2,000kg
Warhead: 350kg PBX (Polymer-Bonded eXplosive)
Diameter: 533mm (21in)
Length: 7.75m
Guidance: wire-guided, thermal-signature tracking, Advanced Passive/Active Acoustic
Propulsion: gas-turbine pump-jet, solid-fuel rocket booster
Range: up to 75km at low speed (20-25kn)
Speed: up to 75kn on pump jet with the solid-fuel rocket booster providing a 25sec accelerating burst up to 200kn
Operating Depth: >1,000m
Tiger Shark:
Weight: approx. 1,800kg
Warhead: 300kg PBX (Polymer-Bonded eXplosive)
Diameter: 533mm (21in)
Length: 7m
Guidance: wire-guided, Advanced Passive/Active Sonar
Propulsion: high-frequency electric pump-jet
Range: up to 50km at low speed (15-20kn)
Speed: up to 80kn
Operating Depth: >1,000m
Bull Shark:
Weight: approx. 1,000kg
Warhead: 200kg PBX (Polymer-Bonded eXplosive)
Diameter: 320mm (12.5in)
Length: 4.85m
Guidance: Advanced Passive/Active Sonar
Propulsion: high-frequency electric pump-jet and solid-fuel rocket booster
Range: up to 25km
Speed: 50kn to 200kn
Operating Depth: >1,000m
The White Shark & Tiger Shark torpedoes are primarily “offensive” weapons, used when hunting enemy ships & submarines.
The Bull Shark torpedo is primarily a “defensive” weapon, used to kill attacking torpedoes, but can be used offensively to kill attacking enemy ships, should the submarine be detected.
[Note: All information is partially speculative as details of all systems are highly classified.]
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Awesome! :smiley: :-* :smiley:
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Ayup !
Most Excellent :smiley:
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Thank you, gentlemen! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
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WWWOOOWWW! :-* :-* :-* :smiley:
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;D
Thank you. sir! :icon_alabanza: