Spot the omission.

[Gordon Williamson]

This Soviet "Sovremenny" Class guided missile destroyer is from a Chinese kit. The quality of Chinese tooling is coming on in leaps and bounds and in many cases easily matches the best that Japanese manufacturers can offer.

Rather strangely, despite some very fine moulding, this one came with a rather obvious and fundamental error (one which isn't present in a smaller scale kit of the same vessel by the same maker). You don't need to know anything about Soviet warships to spot it ! Let's see who notices it.

[Gordon Williamson]

Some close ups

[Gordon Williamson]

More

[Gordon Williamson]

.This "before" fixing shot shows the area is where the error is. Just think waht's going to happen when they let go anchors.

[Jim Baker]

Hmmm..... I see what you're saying.

[Chris Boonzaier]

I dont ??

[Gordon Williamson]

I dont ??

Okay, here's the "after" shot. Compare with the previous image.

Having designed a very well detailed model, the manufacturers omitted a rather important feature of any ship - anchor chains.

If the anchors as depicted had been "let go" they would have gone straight to the sea bed - nothing to connect them to the ship. The designers provided the winches, capstans, chain supports etc, but no anchor chains and no hawse holes on the focsle for them to go through.

I'll wager the designer must have had an "Oh F*ck" moment when he realised (no doubt after the dies had been cut and hardened) this the new (and expensive) kit had such an obvious error, and not exactly one that a ship modeller isn't going to notice..kinda like designing a model aircraft and not giving it a propeller.

[JimZ]

Interesting observation. Perhaps the designer shall design no more and his family has been billed with the price of the bullet.

What's the price of chinese vs japanese models nowadays? When I used to assemble models some 20 years ago or more, made in Japan is what you wanted to buy!

Jim

[Gordon Williamson]

Interesting observation. Perhaps the designer shall design no more and his family has been billed with the price of the bullet.

What's the price of chinese vs japanese models nowadays? When I used to assemble models some 20 years ago or more, made in Japan is what you wanted to buy!

Jim

Jim,

The big name in China is a firm called "Trumpeter". They are very prolific. Their kits can be relatively expensive (but still cheaper than Japanese) This Soviet destroyer kit has a recommended retail price of around $100.

Japanese used to be the best and indeed they are still very, very, good and very high quality. The problem for the big Japanese companies is that the Chinese can produce equally high quality kits at far lower prices. Probably the big name at the moment is Dragon, based in Hong Kong. This company has pioneered moulding techniques that allow levels of detail that have to be seen to be believed.

[Bob Lyons]

Woops, no chain lockers, kinda like making the engine room and forgetting to put the engine in......

[Tiger-pie]

Wish I had got here a bit earlier, as soon as I saw the FX (foc'sle) I could see it. Even as a techo I have helped "drop the pick" a few times.

Regards;

Johnsy

[Guest IMHF]

Very beautiful model: Love the water work: did you use plaster and what paints did you use to get the ocean effect.

Thank you for sharing

God Bless

SSG Luna, Lorenzo

[Gordon Williamson]

Hi Lorenzo,

The sea is fairly simple, its just fine grade Pollyfilla from the loyal DIY shop (not sure what the US equivalent is) painted with ordinary model paints then given a heavy coat of gloss varnish.

Some people get fabulous results using a thick top coating of clear resin. It looks great but is very, very expensive.