Viking Longship - tiny Aoshima model

[johnlattanzio]

I followed Harry Houdini's suggested method for wood effects: see here and here and here This is my first time using this technique, which requires the Stylynrez primer. It took me some time to get it to work - it is surprisingly viscous, considering that it is "ready for airbrushing". But Harry helped with some advice (use at least 30psi and a 0.5mm needle) and I got it to work. Then covered it with lifecolor pigments and...it looks quite convincing!

 

[johnlattanzio]

Shields now finished and cleats added to the side railings, for sheets and tacks. Not too long to go now! Once the deck is finished and attached, I can start the rigging, which is a little less involved than the Golden Hind I am working on.

 

[johnlattanzio]

Beitass added...with some rope coils for the lines controlling it.



I also added some rope coils for the sheets, tacks and braces. My first attempts, and some are neater than others. But I expect the Vikings were not as disciplined as sailors in the Royal Navy.

I have started adding the oars...the last step!

 

[Mikes shed]

Looks great air brushing takes awhile to master dont buy cheap airbrush sets they are rubbish and you will get very frustrated with it.

 

[johnlattanzio]

I added a sling to hold the yard to the mast.

 

[johnlattanzio]

And it is finished!















You will notice that I did not add shrouds. Technically I think there should be two or three (per side). But they are not always seen in contemporary iconography, although I think they are always present in the reconstructions. I decided to leave them for two reasons....
1) I did not have the right sort of blocks - they are not the usual deadeye arrangement
2) I did not have enough room to add them!

So... it's a compromise. C'est la vie.

I hope this log helps someone in the future. I appreciate the feedback, Thanks everyone.

 

[Mikes shed]

John tgat is a great build. I like the detail on the sail and cown the gunwhales

 

[Buster]

Excellent build with a detailed write-up.

Just bloody marvellous!!

 

[johnlattanzio]

Excellent build with a detailed write-up.

Just bloody marvellous!!

Thanks so much!

 

[johnlattanzio]

I was contemplating a separate little case for the Viking ship. It fits easily in my display case, because it is so small! But it is also adorably cute - and it should be seen more widely than it would be if it were located in my hobby room. So, I was thinking of getting it a case of its own.

Then a friend said that it would look good if I had others on the same scale; they could all go in the same case. That got me thinking!

There is a Greek and a Roman warship in the same scale...so I bought those! A nice little trio!



A warning to any one interested in these: they were initially made (I think) by Imai, then Aoshima. I think some are now marketed under Academy.

The Roman one is harder to find than the Greek. I have no idea why. Scalemates info is available for the Roman ship and the Greek ship.

But - be warned, there is a 1:72 scale version of each and I found that many sites (eg ebay) had them listed as the 1:72 scale version but the box gives the length as about 17cm. That is most definitely not the 1:72 version. So be careful. Different incarnations of the kit list it as "no scale" or "1:250" or "1:350", but the best way to be sure is that the model is about 17cm in length.

In doing the searching for these items I discovered there is also an old Imai Santa Maria in the same scale:



So I might have to get that as well...and put all four in the same display!