Airfix Shannon class Lifeboat

[RangerNeil]

As the Gannett and the Kate are waiting for the gloss varnish to dry ready for decals the next small box in the stash was the Shannon class Lifeboat. This is one of Airfix's starter range so nowhere near as complex a build as the Severn class was. It looks like it will be a nice job when finished though.


If anyone fancys building this - I have two spares available as, for some odd reason, Airfix sent 3 of them!!

So to the kit - first the instructions:












Lastly something I've not one across before - a huide for parents overseeing a young ones build!!


The Sprues




Decals
Airfix are getting mean with this one - the Severn class had decals for several boats whereas this only has them for one. If you want one of the others in the fleet you need to buy a seperate decal sheet!!


The build.
Straight off I goofed - I thought I'd taken photos of the intial build phase of the hull & superstructure but I found today that I'd forgottten. The hull goes together very well. There are two internal bulkhead that are a precise fit whilst the two halves have cut outs to locate them fore and aft. I found the best way was to join the hull halves between the two cut-outs and then fit the inner bulkheads. Let them set then add the stern piece, joining the hull halves at the same time from the rearmost cutout to the stern. Tape it all up and allow to dry. Then pull the bows in joining the hull halves as it goes then taping it all till it dries. Once thats dried the deck goes on, again taping down to keep the joint closed.
This is the state of play tonight:


Blasted airbrush started acting up again. I put a dash of thinners tbrough first - that went OK. But the thinned orange didn't want to flow - until the airbrush suddenly coughed a dollop out on the roof... I think I sorted the mess out but....

[aur0ra145]

Pretty cool, I didn't know there was really a market for kits of that sort of subject. Looks like an enjoyable little kit!

[digger303]

These are pretty interesting boats, designed to with stand horrendous conditions.

[Tomcat64]

That's another project that's come together really quickly!

I saw a build review of one of these in glue-sniffer's monthly a couple of issues back and it built up really nicely.

Looks like you recovered the paint blob well

[RangerNeil]

That's another project that's come together really quickly!

I saw a build review of one of these in glue-sniffer's monthly a couple of issues back and it built up really nicely.

Looks like you recovered the paint blob well

Many thanks. Still need to work out why the brush is acting up now though. It was deep cleaned after the last use, I put some cleaner through it before use - that went OK, the paint was well thinned (possibly too much so) but with a cup full of paint pulling the trigger did nothing. Until I let go after the 3rd or 4th attempt - then it spat a huge gob of paint out. It was like I'd just poured it out of the cup - weird!!!

As regards going together - remember this is one of their "Starter" range meant to introduce young people to the hobby. So it's not even half as complex as the Severn class was. I think that kit had more parts in the super structure than the Shannon has in the entire kit!!

And on that note a litte more done today. Superstructure is attached to the deck. Upper hull is painted Blue and the first of the deck fittings is going 0n

[RangerNeil]

Little bit more done yesterday - all the handrails are now on. Just got the radar mast, aerials and decals to do now.
I have to admit - as a kit for beginners to the hobby Airfix have excelled themselves with this one - the instructions even include showing on the sprue diagrams which bits as waste and can be cut off!! Kit itself falls together. I only have one issue and that's the cabin glazing . Its a one piece moulding and a right bitch to fit if you paint the interior as there are two small pieces that have to go on the inside below the glazing. Also whilst the glazing is a great fit in the appertures generally the bottom edges ten to spring out whilst the front window show the rounding at the op where the inner piece is. Had I known this before hand there are steps I could have taken. I did do a dry fit - but, stupidly, - without the lower mouldings in place. Ah well, hindsight is 20/20 as the saying goes!






No works today - got a memorial event tonight for a friend who recently passed away due to Bowel Cancer.
Same issue the wife has got, diagnosed more or less the same time, thus far she's been luckier.

[digger303]

Little bit more done yesterday - all the handrails are now on. Just got the radar mast, aerials and decals to do now.
I have to admit - as a kit for beginners to the hobby Airfix have excelled themselves with this one - the instructions even include showing on the sprue diagrams which bits as waste and can be cut off!! Kit itself falls together. I only have one issue and that's the cabin glazing . Its a one piece moulding and a right bitch to fit if you paint the interior as there are two small pieces that have to go on the inside below the glazing. Also whilst the glazing is a great fit in the appertures generally the bottom edges ten to spring out whilst the front window show the rounding at the op where the inner piece is. Had I known this before hand there are steps I could have taken. I did do a dry fit - but, stupidly, - without the lower mouldings in place. Ah well, hindsight is 20/20 as the saying goes!






No works today - got a memorial event tonight for a friend who recently passed away due to Bowel Cancer.
Same issue the wife has got, diagnosed more or less the same time, thus far she's been luckier.

Sorry to hear about your loss, but glad your wife is having more luck.
We have a national screening program here, but so many don't take the test and it's free. Silly beggars.

[RangerNeil]

Little bit more done yesterday - all the handrails are now on. Just got the radar mast, aerials and decals to do now.
I have to admit - as a kit for beginners to the hobby Airfix have excelled themselves with this one - the instructions even include showing on the sprue diagrams which bits as waste and can be cut off!! Kit itself falls together. I only have one issue and that's the cabin glazing . Its a one piece moulding and a right bitch to fit if you paint the interior as there are two small pieces that have to go on the inside below the glazing. Also whilst the glazing is a great fit in the appertures generally the bottom edges ten to spring out whilst the front window show the rounding at the op where the inner piece is. Had I known this before hand there are steps I could have taken. I did do a dry fit - but, stupidly, - without the lower mouldings in place. Ah well, hindsight is 20/20 as the saying goes!






No works today - got a memorial event tonight for a friend who recently passed away due to Bowel Cancer.
Same issue the wife has got, diagnosed more or less the same time, thus far she's been luckier.

Sorry to hear about your loss, but glad your wife is having more luck.
We have a national screening program here, but so many don't take the test and it's free. Silly beggars.

Cheers Digger. It was bad luck on my mates part - the cancer spread to his liver and despite intensive chemo-and radio-therapy it couldn't be neutralised. Kind of sobering too as he was one of the lads from my era so add that to me being the only one from my lot at the Cenotaph last Nov. it makes for dark thoughts.
But this digresses from the build....

Decals went on today. Followed by the antenna and mast stucture. Adding the white striparound the divide between the blue and black of the hull made me realise I had that divide line a couple of mm too high. Looking at the paint and decal guide on the back of the box its hard to tell where it should be. Oh well - we live and learn..... Calling this one done, it was a quick & fun build and excellent as a mojo restorer!!

[digger303]

[Twokidsnosleep]

Decals bring her alive!!!

[Stokesy44]

Decals bring her alive!!!

My thoughts exactly. Looks really sharp now.

[cor]

Nice looking model of an interesting subject.

[RangerNeil]

Thanks everyone.
If you want a kit to introduce someone, young or old, to the hobby I would recommend this one.