|
If I'd chosen to make the CMB in its authentic colour - matt grey all over - it would have been very much easier. The surface could have been single planked plywood, botched as much as you like with filler, and the tricky brass fittings could have been wood and plastic. Choosing a finish of mahogany and polished brass made the task massively harder, but the result is an eye-catching model which emphasises the design's beautiful lines. The photos and guidance that follow are by no means comprehensive, as kit instructions would be, but more a personal diary of the construction of this unique model. You'll need to be fairly experienced and inventive to take it on, so some of the detail and technique is left to the viewer to find their own way through. The first thing you need is plans. I used 'Modeller's Draught' plans published by Conway Maritime Press (now Conway Publishing), but you can also buy plans from the Imperial War Museum. Make at least two same-size copies so that you can cut sections out for templates. My plans were 1:16 scale so working from them directly gave a convenient hull length of 30" plus launching rails. But remember that these are plans of the real boat, not a model, so some adaptation is required. You'll also need references for some of the details; I found these helpful. |
