Greetings.
First build post here. Not so long ago, I acquired a Lindberg North Sea Trawler in a trade. Not being one to leave well enough alone, I decided to try a variation of the VENTURE tramp steamer, as found in the 2005 version of the movie KING KONG ( see Josh Baré's digital 3D model here
http://www.joshbare.com/Gallery/kk_venture_model2.html ).
The intent is that the end product will be suitable for 15mm tabletop wargaming, from 1895 to 1939.
Dumb luck struck, since the movie company did their own 1:1 style kitbash. Scroll down to the SS Manuia - she was a Dutch coaster built in 1956, bought in 2004 to become the 1930s tramp steamer used in the movie!
www.nzcoastalshipping.com/dutchcoasters.htmlSo after re-watching the movie and scouring the interwebz for more still images, I raided a Revell Robert E Lee steamboat kit (from the same trade deal, already looted for it's hull and paddle wheels
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lindberg-1-163-Robert-E-Lee-Steamboat-Kit-p/lin-70864.htm ) for some decking and acquired a Revell Tugboat for it's superstructure (
http://www.revell.com/germany/ships/80-5207.html#.V3JymI-cGM8 ).
Massively large cargo hatch is floorboarding from a 1:24th scale tractor trailer kit.
Had a few false starts on design concepts.
So after whittling away some extraneous plastic and raiding the spares box (for iron balcony grating from AHC's HO scale San Francisco style houses), this is where she is at the moment.
Obvious remaining work is obvious.