M_M_I_2015_04_

32 APRIL 2015 http://www.marinemodelmagazine.com

Starting the hull

Again this is a kit I purchased a few years ago to save for my

retirement. Well that time has now come so building these kits has

begun. The kit itself follows the same format as all Deans Marines

kits; containing a detailed fibreglass hull, sheets of printed plastic, a

scale plan, instruction book, three trays of fittings which include the

running gear and a few lengths of balsa and ramin wood and also a

sheet of printed ply.

Work started with the planning of the build and making various

notes that would help me throughout its construction. A stand was

made so the hull could sit upright while the interior work could be

carried out.

Starting with the hull it was sanded down so all the centre joint

line was removed, then all excess around the top of the hull was

removed using a circular cutter and completed with a sanding

block. Masking tape was placed onto the hull where all the holes

were to be drilled to prevent the fibreglass cracking. Next all the

holes required were drilled and these included the portholes. The

hull was then washed in soapy water and just left to dry. The two

holes for the prop shafts were elongated then when satisfied with

the alignment they were fitted in situ along with the 'A' frames. Fast

setting two-part epoxy glue was used to temporarily hold the tubes

in place while the rudder was attached. Once all the running gear

had been fixed to the hull it was placed onto its cradle and car body

filler was applied around both the prop tubes and rudder tube to

strengthen these joints.

the Bilge KeelS and Completing the hull

All the material needed for the bilge keels was made ready and

then they were attached. Firstly I marked onto the hull their correct

positions and a length of right-angled styrene was glued just below

these lines using thick superglue and held in place with pieces of

masking tape. Then when these pieces were secure two pieces

of styrene, to represent the bilge keels, were attached using small

clamps, then using plastic weld both parts were secured together.

Once both sides had been done I added some car body filler to the

HMS TanaTSide

great britain

AllAn describes the building of the deAns MArine kit And gives

soMe useful tips auTHor: AllAn Miller

A view of HMS Tanatside bow on

Kit contents The stand Running gear installed

p32_MMAPR15_HMS Tanatside.indd 32 9/3/15 09:47:58