On a recent winter cruise in Norway I picked up a kit of the MS Finnmarken at the Hurtigruten Museum in Stokmarknes. The ship has been retired from the Hurtigruten shipping line for a number of years and is being restored as part of the museum. It used to ply the regular Hurtigruten mail ship line along the coast of western Norway. It was launched in 1956 and was retired in 1993.
The model is 1 to 100 scale and the hull measures some 32 inches long. The kit has thousands of parts - an ABS plastic hull and the rest is mostly laser cut wood.
I did not realise that apart from being an accurate scale model it is also designed to be operated as a radio controlled model with parts such as a turned brass propeller. I have an open mind on that at the moment as I was really only interested in it as a static model on my forthcoming Norwegian layout.
One further complication is the instructions are in Norwegian..... ::)
Here are pics of the parts. This is a long term project but I thought I would post this on the forum as I might need some encouragement along the way!
Mike
Hi Mike,
That's quite a project but it looks like it will be a really fun and interesting build. I'll keep an eye on this one! :D
Looking forward to this one Harry...... :)
Mike,
Very interesting kit. I'll follow you on this as well.
Tom ;D
Looks like a lot of fun to follow. Encouragement
(https://media.makeameme.org/created/come-on-mike.jpg)
Following.
Thanks Bob, Greg (Gregory?), Tom, Jan and Curt for following ..............Now where is Google Translate?
Mike
Using Google Translate on the first line of the instructions produces this little gem.......
"Building a model bat requires a lot of thoughtfulness, nudity and patience" ;)
Mike
Quote from: madharry on March 08, 2018, 05:36:14 AM
Using Google Translate on the first line of the instructions produces this little gem.......
"Building a model bat requires a lot of thoughtfulness, nudity and patience" ;)
Mike
Just don't drop your knife in your lap!
dave
This will be a fun build to watch. I will be following along. No nude pictures please.
That's if you are building a "bat", you need the nudity and patience. Since it's a boat, carry on as usual.
Then again, if you patiently model boats in the nude anyways, then hey, go for it, but I'd heed Dave's advice. :)
Too funny.
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Cheers Dave, John, Curt, Russ and Tom.............I've rechecked the word on its own rather than typing the entire sentence.......and it comes up with "accuracy"............so at least I can remain fully clothed now while modelling the bat (boat). :)
Mike
Quote from: madharry on March 08, 2018, 04:55:35 AM
Thanks Bob, Greg (Gregory?), Tom, Jan and Curt for following ..............Now where is Google Translate?
Mike
Greg is just fine Harry.....I don't think we're too formal around here. :)
Quote from: madharry on March 09, 2018, 03:28:25 AM
Cheers Dave, John, Curt, Russ and Tom.............I've rechecked the word on its own rather than typing the entire sentence.......and it comes up with "accuracy"............so at least I can remain fully clothed now while modelling the bat (boat). :)
Mike
Thank goodness.....wouldn't want you getting goose bumps and catching cold while modeling. ;D
What's wrong with modeling in the nude? That's how I get my best ideas!
Saying this and that there is a very good chance that no one will ever buy our kits again!
Following along as we love boats!! Just not enough of them available.
So I have finally got together a set of instructions in "google-english".
I find that the hull is used for several models of similar ships and is not correct for the Finnmarken without making some alterations.
The kit is supplied with card templates for both the correct profile of the bow and stern. The instructions call for bolts and nuts to be affixed to the model through portholes.
The card template to be taped to the hull and the hull is then cut to the correct profile.
Here is a picture of the template attached to the bow and a pic of the stern template.
Mike
This otta be interesting.
Hey Mike:
Will be following along.
Karl
Thanks Lynn and Karl.
Continuing..............
Using the template I scored the top of the hull and then used my craft knife to cut the toprail. Additional portholes had to be drilled into the hull using the template as a guide.
Next the stern. This looks more difficult as apart from drilling more portholes there are some large verandha type windows to be formed...... ::)
Mike
Contiinuing..........
The kit comes with full scale plans of the ship.
Continuing............
The verandha windows circling the stern have to be cut out of the thick ABS plastic. The template does not really do the job. I decided to use dropouts from further along the deck and cut them to the size of the verandha openings required. I used a couple of clips to hold the ABS template to the ship's side. I then scribed around it before cutting the opening out. Only another four to go...................
Mike
Mike,
Listen my friend, this is not an easy kit to build from what you are showing us. However, you are doing a fantastic job as usual. Well done sir, very well done.
Tom ;D
Thanks Tom. The kit is/will be a challenge. I'm finding I am running out of blades as ABS blunts them fast. Cutting through the ABS takes some muscle power and I am conscious that I do not want to cut myself at the same time.
The instructions are in Norwegian and I am having to deal with a badly translated set (Google Translate). But the ship kit cost a lot of euros so I am determined to press on....
Thanks for your very kind comments. The ship is destined to be sitting in the harbour on my future Norwegian exhibition layout.
Mike :)
Continuing............
I have successfully carved the hull (as the instructions describe it) and I have not injured myself. The stern looks good and I have also made openings in the bow for the anchor chain. Oh it was six more openings in the stern not four - I cannot count!
Mike
Looking good, will this be painted afterward?
Speaking of Euros, I'm going to need about 1500 , going to Italy in September. Any idea what is driving up the Euro and when will it go down? Just kidding don't even try to answer that. ;D
Quote from: Lynnb on March 21, 2018, 12:54:49 PM
Looking good, will this be painted afterward?
Speaking of Euros, I'm going to need about 1500 , going to Italy in September. Any idea what is driving up the Euro and when will it go down? Just kidding don't even try to answer that. ;D
I'll give you a hint , it's not the Euro that is going up, but................... ;)
Hi Lynn,
Yes it will be painted all of three colours. The kit instructions are rather vague at what stage to do this however I need to glaze the portholes below decks after painting the hull before adding the three internal decks.............
Yes and the £ is rising as well........
Mike
Last week was my fifth model railway exhibition of the year. I love exhibiting but it does get in the way of modelling........my apologies.
Also I needed some dry weather to paint the ship. I spray outdoors with rattle cans and what with all the snow and rain............
So here is the Finnmarken nicely painted. The little ship in the third photo is an Artitec Harbor Tug kit some 9.5 inches long just to give some perspective. The Finnmarken is 31 inches from bow to stern.
Mike
Mike,
WOW, fantastic job on the MS.
Tom ;D
You're doing great Mike.
Thanks very much Tom and Jan.
Mike :)
Hi Mike:
Looks just great so far.
Karl
That is amazing, I had no idea it was such a large ship.