Aerial Steam Yachts

[Radish]

I've started building some Aerial Steam Yachts, using the 1/400th Airfix and Mirage Hobby kits of destroyers, etc..
They're to illustrate various Rocky Horror fans that we know who visit the show here and there, travelling in the UK and across Europe too.
First up is one based on the Airfix (ex-Mirage Hobby) 1/400 HNoMS St. Albans.
The Hull is together, and fits beautifully. Care is needed as the plastic, although beautifully detailed, is soft and delicate. There are no attachment points, so as I say, care.
The result will be different to the one illustrated below, as it'll be fully unarmed and the colours will be spectacular.
I just like the idea of travelling in a luxurious retro-steam launch, powered by a giant screw.

First to be made will be one based loosely on good friend Norman

[proditor]

Well, there are few things better in the world than a giant screw.

More seriously, I can't wait to see what you do with this one.

[Radish]

The rear end of the hull has been sawn off and some sprue fixed inside to support the large screw that has already been superglued in place. I doubt whether I'll do much more today as I'm cooking tea in a minute....then tomorrow we're out all day, so I suspect it'll be Sunday and Monday before I finish the building.
The longest time in this build will be the painting.....I've got to do Norman and Sandy justice....

[Radish]

Actually built most of the superstructure this afternoon, but it takes forever...each side is several individual pieces. Nicely moulded with sharp detail, but lots and lots of parts.

[Radish]

Finished the plastic bits. It has extra superstructure, no armament of course, suitable "guards" to prevent the passengers/guests of Sandy and Norman from being blown off, a Gazebo and trellis (with added foliage)
The foliage goes on later....white glue with tea leaves sprinkled on. These are then painted with a fine brush, most in green but some in colour (flowers!)
The whole thing will be sprayed white primer tomorrow. The superstructure and decks remain white, the two funnels ( the aft two have been deleted) will be gold with black filligry) and the hull will be bright red with gold pattern. The very rear of the hull will be black, as will the screw which'll end up drybrushed in metallic tones.
I should finish it this week.
Lots of glossyness

[Radish]

Probably spraying tomorrow when everyone's out of the way. I can spray in the morning before lunch with some ex-work colleagues.

In the meantime, I've started another...glued the hull together and superglued the inside too, so that it won't spring apart when I chop off the rear end for the screw.
This one will be named "Kathryn" and will feature a host of upper surface detail with purple and silver paintwork on the hull.
Katheryn is on the right.

[Radish]

The rear end has been breeched, I've stuck my fingers in a box and fiddled extensively to produce and admirable screw.
I needed to add filler to the rather large crack in the bottom of the hull, and also added part of a fuel tank to help fair the screw in.
All quite adorable, but I'm knackered now, been dreaming of a suitable colour scheme and will finish tomorrow with the construction and then a grey primer ready for washes and handpainting.
Bonzer

[Radish]

The delightful, slim and fast "Kathryn" has been completed apart from painting...tomorrow.
I used the Mirage Hobby 1/400 ORP "Mazur" circa 1939.....not many mods but moved the funnel back, added a few bits to the deck, and a big screw.

The colour scheme will be black, purple-magenta, and silver hull, with silver deck and upper superstructure, with detail picked out in appropriate colours.
Also, highly shiny sequins feature

[PR19_Kit]

Also, highly shiny sequins feature

Now there's a surprise..................... NOT! 

[Radish]

Completed the next luxury air yacht called the "Roz and John" as seen here in white with Kathryn...

The "Roz and John" will be white and pink with a very long screw for propulsion.
It's based on the Mirage Hobby 1/400 "Tarantul" corvette

[cthulhu77]

I was more surprised to hear that the rear end had been breached !   

progress pics?

[Radish]

I'll take some pictures tomorrow (when everyone else is out of the way!!) before i spray them, then you can spot the different bits used.

[lancer]

Do any of your friends know that you're making an entire class of yacht in thier honour??

[Radish]

Absolutely...they're enthralled.....they're actually queuing up to have their "yachts" done....one, due to the nature of her tatoo....a big dragon (although she's quite cute)....needs a Viking thingy with oars, and she's SOOOOOO excited!!

I think some of them might need some extra big "bumpers" on the front, and the radar unit on the latest WILL be painted (as it's a dome shape) a flesh tone....surprisingly, it has a small feature topping it too
Roz will be thrilled

[lancer]

one, due to the nature of her tatoo....a big dragon (although she's quite cute)....needs a Viking thingy with oars, and she's SOOOOOO excited!!

PICTURES dammit we need PICTURES....