This
is my model of the Revell 1/142 scale fishing trawler the ‘Arctic
Corsair’. This kit has been previously released as the ‘Spy Trawler’
and possibly under other names as well. The kit actually bears only a
passing resemblance to the actual Arctic Corsair; the kit has a single
bridge level and a symmetric boat deck – the actual vessel has a double
level bridge and an asymmetric boat deck along with a number of other
differences. The Arctic Corsair was a ‘side winder’ type trawler
(meaning the fishing nets go over the side) and was built at Beverley Ship
Yards,
East Yorkshire
in 1960. She sailed from the port
of Hull
as part of one of the largest fishing fleet in the world; the Arctic
Corsair is now open as a museum not too far from where I live.
Click on
images below to see larger images
I
started this model with the intention of just building it out of the box and
ignoring the differences, but I just could not bring myself to leave it as was.
I constructed the hull, deck, crew accommodation and the forecastle as per the
kit. The boat deck was then modified to give the port side a straight edge that
follows the line of the hull. The next major bit of work was to modify the
bridge. I had to scratch build the lower bridge (this was the Captains cabin and
the bond store) and then create a new Bridge Deck. The kit’s Wheel House was
modified and installed on to the Bridge Deck and a new Chart Room was scratch
built and installed behind the Wheel House. The kit funnel was too narrow so had
to be made wider and installed on a scratch built enclosure behind the Chart
Room.
Most
of the deck fittings required Modification. The Breakwater and a new winch were
fabricated to go on the Forecastle. Both of the masts had to be modified and the
rear mast re-located to its correct position; a number of ladders had to be
scratch built as the kit does not include any. I re-used the kit’s hand rails
as I didn’t fancy scratch building them; they are however a bit too thick for
the scale.
Painting
was done using Humbrol Enamels over Halfords White auto primer, When the ship
was at sea, there would be numerous rust streaks across the hull, however the
Arctic Corsair as it is now is in immaculate condition so I choose to represent
my model as the Museum is – nice and clean. The white areas are the auto
primer with a top coat of Klear. The lower hull is #70 Brick Red and upper hull
#85 Coal Black, both with a top coat of Klear. The deck is a mixture of browns
to try to simulate a wooden deck and the inside of the hull is a mixture of #60
Matt Scarlet and #100 Matt Red Brown. The last thing to do was to apply decals
and seal them in with another coat of Johnsons Klear.
As
this was a gift for my father on his 60th birthday, I mounted the
ship on to a wooden plinth and then made a cover out of sheet Perspex cut to
size and glued together using EMA Plastic weld.
Thanks
for looking.
Karl
Click on
images below to see larger images
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