Walrus (Airfix 1/48), NeOmega Catapult, and HMS Albatross (Niko 1/700) by Landlubber Mike

[KevinM]

1 hour ago, Landlubber Mike said:

but kids have been home from school for the summer and I've been too busy or tired to do as much modeling as I was thinking I could this month.

My Wife's classes started back early August Mike I was so Happy When she goes back to work Kevin goes on vacation

[Landlubber Mike]

3 hours ago, HubertB said:

This is going to look tremendous on the 1/48 deck of the 1/48 Albatros (c’mon, why not a small challenge, now that you have plenty of time 😂 ? )

Hubert

I'm hoping it will!  I did a little research and I'm not sure that I will model this on an actual deck.  There was some kind of fixed structure on which the catapult framing sat that differed from ship to ship.  I can't really find too many reference pictures.  Also, the main catapult frame only represents about 1/3 of the full frame.  NeOmega sells add-on pieces for the main catapult frame, but I'd need at least two of those, and would have to modify one of them for a full frame, which means I'd probably be better off scratch building the whole thing, which I don't feel like doing.  On top of that, there is a lot of the piston hydraulics mechanism inside that I just don't think I have the inclination to figure out.  

This is what a Walrus looks like on the frame, but without the rear extension add-on:

Here is what one modeler did by including it on a circular wooden base:

I think I will just use a plain rectangular wooden base, and have the Walrus sitting on the catapult on the back half of the base towards a corner, and sit the Albatross on two brass rods on the near side opposite corner of the base.  Since I'll have the wings folded on my model, and the Walrus will be sitting higher given the catapult, I think having the Albatross sitting on low brass rods should hopefully work.

[CANicoll]

Mike, this looks awesome!  You keep finding things I didn't even know were available.  Cool stuff.

Chris

[Landlubber Mike]

19 hours ago, CANicoll said:

Mike, this looks awesome!  You keep finding things I didn't even know were available.  Cool stuff.

Chris

Thanks Chris!  The Walrus is a bit of a weird bird, so it's kind of cool to be able to model it on the catapult.  

Speaking of the catapult, I ended up attaching the rear extension add-on to the main frame, and added the rigging.  I'm really happy with how this is looking.  I ended up taking off the wheels on the carriage as they won't be seen, and this is what the combo will look like:

 

I ended up testing out my display idea.  I was thinking about a squarish rectangular base, putting the Walrus on the back side towards one corner, and the Albatross on low brass rod pedestals towards the front side opposite corner.  Something like this:

I didn't realize the Albatross was almost as long as the catapult/Walrus, so I'm possibly rethinking how to display the two models.  An alternative would just be to put the two models on a longer skinner rectangular base, side by side rather than stacked front and back.  That might be a better approach so the Walrus doesn't get hidden by the Albatross as might be the case with my first idea.  If anyone has thoughts or suggestions, I'd love to hear them! 

 

[HubertB]

Why not put them staggered, at a 45 ° angle like that :  / / ?
Hubert

[Landlubber Mike]

6 hours ago, HubertB said:

Why not put them staggered, at a 45 ° angle like that :  / / ?
Hubert

Hmm that could work too - hadn't thought of that, thanks!

[CANicoll]

I like Hubert's idea of a staggered display, but I'm thinking on a circular base so that it can be easily displayed at any angle.  The catapult is something that definitely needs to be seen front and center!  The details on that are terrific - love the rigging.  Nice job, Mike!

Chris

[Landlubber Mike]

Thanks Chris!  We'll see how it all comes together.  I could try a circular base, just need to find one big enough.  Thanks for the suggestion!

[belugawhaleman]

I really like the looks of the Walrus....you've done a great job!

Your catapult ....Well, very impressive! 

[Landlubber Mike]

Thanks!  Really appreciate it.  I've got the catapult painted up now, just need to do a little highlighting, shading and weathering.  Eventually I have to turn back to the Walrus itself - having little motivation to working out how to do the rigging.  I might just try the AIMS PE rigging as one log I found said it made things much easier -- and then another said some of the rigging lines were too short -- so who knows.

[Landlubber Mike]

I still plan to complete the Walrus, but got stuck on how to approach the rigging.  Albatross is just about done minus flags and rigging.  Here's the catapult fully assembled, with a base coat and initial weathering and highlighting.

[CANicoll]

Mike,  Looking good. Glad to see you back!

[Landlubber Mike]

25 minutes ago, CANicoll said:

Mike,  Looking good. Glad to see you back!

Thanks neighbor!  Hope you are well!