Amati Riva Aquarama by Ken [COMPLETED BUILD]

Hi. With nothing to show on the Riva at the moment, to keep your interest in my log I’ll show you a couple of pictures. I use to build and fly model aircraft, these photos were taken about thirty years ago, ( when I was much younger ) they were quarter scale built from plans and flew very successfully. You will probably recognise the Tiger Moth, the other is a Spacewalker, a small home build for enthusiastic amateurs

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Ken said:
Hi. With nothing to show on the Riva at the moment, to keep your interest in my log I’ll show you a couple of pictures. I use to build and fly model aircraft, these photos were taken about thirty years ago, ( when I was much younger ) they were quarter scale built from plans and flew very successfully. You will probably recognise the Tiger Moth, the other is a Spacewalker, a small home build for enthusiastic amateurs

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Nice! I built and flew an Astro Hog... many moons ago as well. ;)
 
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Hello everyone. I’ve now finished the painting and varnishing. It’s always a tense moment when you remove the masking and see the results, there’s much that can go wrong and it sometimes does. This time all went well and I was delighted with the result, a good smooth shiny surface and good clean paint lines with no seepage. I added the exhaust outlet and headlamps to give the hull some detail. The nails that the kit supplied were brass, I didn’t thank that these were appropriate so I got some gunmetal coloured ones, these were much better. So I’m now left with just attaching the detail, there’s lots of chrome fittings as well as the upholstery which I have already prepared. I think that it will only take about another week to finish off.

Anticipating my completing the Riva I have started another build log, my Euromodel HMS Ajax a 38 gun frigate which I recently acquired, please take a look, you will be welcome.

Ken

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Hello Everyone, Thanks for your comment Daniel, I was very pleased with the way that the finish turned out, also thanks to those who gave their likes.

As I mentioned I am now into fitting much of the final detail. As you will see I fitted the bow protector, it was very awkward to get a good fit as being shaped it wouldn’t bend around bow without some work being done on it, you will also see why the supplied brass nails wouldn’t have suited. I fitted out much of the forward deck, vents, cleats, horn and a nice shiny fairlead at the front, there is even a compass at the top of the dash with a decal inside. I have started to fit the upholstery around the cockpit and sun lounge, as you may have seen in an earlier post I had already prepared and painted them, It’s all coming together nicely.

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Dean62 said:
Nice! I built and flew an Astro Hog... many moons ago as well. ;)
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Hi Dean, When I read through the logs it surprises me just how many builders use to build and fly model aircraft so I'm not surprised that the same applied to you. I also had an Astro Hog, it was a good reliable go to model to take down to the club field. I found this picture of mine to bring back memories for you.


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Ken said:
Hi Dean, When I read through the logs it surprises me just how many builders use to build and fly model aircraft so I'm not surprised that the same applied to you. I also had an Astro Hog, it was a good reliable go to model to take down to the club field. I found this picture of mine to bring back memories for you.


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Nice! Memories indeed! Mine was a single low wing version.
 
Coming back to your Riva - Congratulation for this fine and accurate finish
This model is getting really a Beauty :cool:
 
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Uwek said:
Coming back to your Riva - Congratulation for this fine and accurate finish
This model is getting really a Beauty :cool:
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Hi Uwe, Thanks for your like and thumbs up for my Riva. It’s now finished, all the small detail added and a stand made, I’m just taking some pictures and will get them into my post for the weekend.
 
Hello Everyone. FINISHED!

Well that’s it done. The final hurdle was getting the screen to fit half decently and it really wasn’t easy, once curved around you couldn’t get it to bend across the deck, got there in the end though. If anyone does this kit I would suggest that you arrange to get the screen to fit at an early stage of the build rather than leave it until after you have varnished. I fitted all the upholstery, seats and edge trimmings and all the detailing, cleats, air intakes lettering etc. The success or otherwise of this build was always going to come down to the finish that I could achieve and I think I got that about right. It looks beautiful, I can’t go near it without running my fingers along its lines, and I don’t have a fetish. My friend is delighted, he hadn't expected a model to come out so good.

I’ve taken quite a lot of pictures, I started with a few indoor shots then the sun came out so I took it outside and shot some more from just about every angle so excuse me for showing quite a few.

I would like to thank each and every one of you who followed me on this build, your comments were kind and complimentary and were really encouraging. Now I feel that I know many of you almost personally and would love to get you all down to my local pub for a good chat, I’m sure that it would be an interesting evening.

It’s now on to my Ajax, a very different build, so please join me.

Ken

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Ken said:
Hello Everyone. FINISHED!

Well that’s it done. The final hurdle was getting the screen to fit half decently and it really wasn’t easy, once curved around you couldn’t get it to bend across the deck, got there in the end though. If anyone does this kit I would suggest that you arrange to get the screen to fit at an early stage of the build rather than leave it until after you have varnished. I fitted all the upholstery, seats and edge trimmings and all the detailing, cleats, air intakes lettering etc. The success or otherwise of this build was always going to come down to the finish that I could achieve and I think I got that about right. It looks beautiful, I can’t go near it without running my fingers along its lines, and I don’t have a fetish. My friend is delighted, he hadn't expected a model to come out so good.

I’ve taken quite a lot of pictures, I started with a few indoor shots then the sun came out so I took it outside and shot some more from just about every angle so excuse me for showing quite a few.

I would like to thank each and every one of you who followed me on this build, your comments were kind and complimentary and were really encouraging. Now I feel that I know many of you almost personally and would love to get you all down to my local pub for a good chat, I’m sure that it would be an interesting evening.

It’s now on to my Ajax, a very different build, so please join me.

Ken

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Excellent job Ken! I’d say your friend is lucky, and owes you a few rounds at the pub! ;)
 
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