Smârdan/Brutar-II-Class River Patrol Monitor

[TRM]

Hey Guys,

It seems I need a mind-clearing build. I have a few things on the go at the moment, but I need a little fix. I was thinking the Smârdan/”Brutar-II-Class River Patrol Monitor form RB Productions would be just the ticket! This is a small multi-media kit of a unique subject in 1/350 scale. Recently I put together a review for this kit on Model Shiprights.

Link to Review - modelshipwrights.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=11376

So not wanting to waste any time here, I will get right to this...The Kit:



This is a well manufactured kit. The bulk of the building will be in the form of photo etch as the hull is solid resin and there is a low part count of peripheral items in resin.



Nothing like a floating tank to clear the head! Yes, that is a T-54/55 turret on the bow. Add a couple 14.5 mm turrets, to quad mounts, a twin 30mm rig on the fantail all tied together with two 40-tube 122mm multiple rocket launching systems a midships.....a floating tank!



Okay....time to hit the bench! Hope to be back soon with a little update!

Thanks for taking the time to swing by!

[Leon]

I'll be following Todd! A floating tank indeed.

[JimD]

How many WIPs do you have going exactly

Neat looking craft for sure. Lots of potential here. I'm watching.

[TRM]

Thanks Leon!! Mean little beast! I think our CG needs a couple of these bad boys! LOL!!

Thanks Jimmy! It a solid kit and the subject is just off the norm enough to peak the interest! "on the go"? Umm....well that depends! 3 or 4 things for Demos at the shows...the D7, Naiad this, and maybe 3 more...LOL!!! Tough to say really. I am banging some out, so this is a good thing!!


Not letting any moss grow on this one....out comes the PE!






There is still plenty to go here..but I managed to work up a few things; watertight doors, hatches and a few other bobbles. Here I added some "conduit" with copper wire. Not going too far overboard on things!











Also took a bite out of the props! Nice setup since hey provide a turned shaft, blades and brackets.



Like a dope though, I added the props...LOL!! I needed to make a quick base to work off so I wouldn't destroy what I did! Empty dog food container to the rescue!



Well, that is that for the night I think! Hope to have more real soon!

[thechaos]

Interesting.
A cool Project

[Leon]

Nice start on the PE Todd! Really dresses up that resin hull.

[deafpanzer]

Great start! I don't think I have seen this before so I am glad you are doing this!

[tobias5555]

That one looks very interesting.

[wbill76]

Now that's a cool subject. Armed to the teeth that's for sure! Looking forward to seeing you work the usual magic here T.

[JimD]

Cracking start. I was thinking this was larger (scale). Sure is small. Bet that PE is loads of fun.

[TRM]

Thanks a bunch fellas! I appreciate you hanging about while I make a fool of myself umm, way through this! LOL!

Jimmy, looks bigger in the picks. There is a pic or two below that kind of show the scale...at some point I will try and make some sort of scale representation...but yeah, not too big! LOL!!  As you can tell, I am struggling with macros...oh well! 

I did get the chance to play around with the guns...as I threatened. RBP does supply turned barrels for the 105 and 30mm's but only photo etch barrels for the 14.5mm, and even the 7.62mm's located in the flanking bow turrets.




As you would figure, the 105mm mounted in the T-55 turret was an easy one! I had to clean out the hole slightly but the barrel wen right in.



Even the 30mm mount was not too bad to construct. This is a resin base with a few PE parts and the turned barrels added.





Similar to what I mentioned above, personally I wanted to add a little to the 14.5mm guns. I like the setup and the PE provided will render a decent gun for sure...just playing around is all.







I modified the quads a little using some 40mm bofors I had lying around....actually forget what they were for, but anyway, a quick snip of the mounting pin and I think they pass for some heavy 14.5mm's



Last was the two turrets straddling the 105mm cannon at the bow. I snipped a little more off the barrels as the mountings are inside of course and added a small piece of copper wire to give the appearance of the 7.62's.



With the guns all but out of the way, I made my way around the hose reels...



Not perfect...but plausible for the task at hand!!

Next up I will go after the rocket assembly and then try and get this puppy together!

Thanks for dropping in!!

[afvfan]

Interesting little skiff there, T. Need that for some of the water skiers around here.

[Leon]

Nice work on the barrels and PE work Todd!

[TRM]

LOL...that would be cool Bob! Unless the skiers were the ones using it! With twin 2400hp diesels under the hood, it must rip right along!

Thanks Leon! Some tiny buggers in the mix...LOL!! Good magnification!

[wbill76]

Nice work on those guns and turrets Todd...just don't sneeze around your workbench or you'll never find them again!

[TRM]

Thanks Bill! LOL...there has been a lot of breath holding lately!!

[TRM]

So far, I have to say this has been a pleasurable time getting things together on this one!! Looks like I might have things ready to sling some primer soon.



My apologies for not getting a few more in-progress shots of some minor constructions. I was on a roll and as you all have experienced, when this happens, you just go with it!

I have left a couple of small parts off to make paining a little easier...there is an anchor and chain included. I will probably add a couple of small surface details to the side of the deckhouse in the end. There is a couple of red colored...thinking they are electrical boxes and I was trying to work out a conical shaped basket for the flag deck...not too sure on that yet...LOL!!



Also, there are three small rings that get placed in the bridge windows. I will add these after painting as well as they are teenie-weenie and a different color than the windows themselves.



The antenna mast went together rather easily. The two antennas on the side are turned brass included with the set. For the rigging, I used Uschi van der Rostens "Rig That Thing".

Designed originally for aircraft models, the stuff seamlessly falls in place with ships. 3 different sizes: Standard, Fine and Superfine. This was the Superfine which measures 0.001 OD. There is an elastic nature to it allowing a tight finish. A touch of CA and it sticks instantly and can be pulled about 3 ties it's length.





I will have to try and put together some sort of review of this stuff...LOL!

The rocket launchers were a breeze to construct. There was a one-piece resin base, and the carriage is one large PE section with a small girder which is underneath. The top is two pieces and glues directly onto the tubes. On the real ship, these rocket launchers store below deck leaving only the cover plates flush to the surface. There is the option just to place the top PE sections directly over the mounting holes of the launchers if someone did not want to show these launchers in their deployed status.





The 30mm rounds things off nicely I thought. Also, the mini launch was a 5-/50 attachment for me. Many of the reference shots showed the boat both in place and removed.



You will notice in the picture above there are no brass depth charge rails installed. The rails are cast into the boat already and there was the option to use the PE as well. I chose not to as the detailing was subtle in nature to begin with on the original boat and I think I can pick out the definition of them with a wash or two in the end.







Okay...that is that on the construction...minus the few items I mentioned!! Into the painting queue it goes!!

Thanks for tuning in!!

[deafpanzer]

Loving it... you are on roll!!! What's the secret?

[wbill76]

Very cool look to this one with all the shiny bits attached Todd! Got to love all that firepower...makes you wonder about the safety or rivers when you need something like this prowling around.

[Leon]

Todd,this looks awesome! Really like all that firepower.

[TRM]

Thanks Andy! LOL!! No secret other than staying off the PC frees up a bunch of time on the bench!

Thanks Bill! Mmm...Shiny!! Yeah, I was thinking about that too. There are 5 of these and a few more newer models patrolling the Danube and various inlets in Romania...guessing they don't trust their neighbors too much!

Thank you Leon!! This would make one hell if a bass boat I thought!!

[wing_nut]

HOLY EYE STRAIN BATMAN! For you that is. Very pleasing to my eyes

[mrt51]

Very cool!!

Terry

[TRM]

LOL...thank Marc!! All relative my friend! I look at in terms of one of your radial engines!!

Thank you Terry!!



Okay...well, I managed to break out the AB! Primer is always a good place to start! I think most of you know I will tend to pick up the black primer first. This time though my thought was in utilizing the black primer for the black sections....make sense, right? Below the waterline, the hull is painted black along with a portion of the rear upper hull sections.







I know there is not too much definition in the black primer, but she is clean and primed! I will let this cure for 24 hours or so and let the primer get hard as nails...then onto a little color!

Thanks again for checking on me!!

[Leon]

Lookin mighty stealthy Todd!

[TRM]

Thanks Leon! I am hoping the black will suffice for the hull and I can progress right into some color soon!!

[JimD]

Stealth boat! Lol. Nice to see the paint already flying on this one. Can't wait.

[wbill76]

Now the real fun begins! Looking forward to seeing it come alive through the paint process.

[S e r z h--Rest In Peace]

Interesting prototype of an interesting building! Reminiscent of the work of a watchmaker.

Todd - good luck with paint!

[deafpanzer]

My ninja said you have his seal of approval!