1/250 Caledonian MacBrayne Ferry 'Bute'..... A Card Model.

[Jim R]

Fascinating stuff. I never realised that these card kits were so intricate and detailed. What glue are you using?
Jim

 

[spanner570]

Jim, I just use General Purpose UHU.

Here's the inner superstructure glued to the Car Deck.






The two hull sides cut out. The 'V' shaped nicks along the bottom are to prevent any overlap of the card when the hull is bent into shape. In other words, they will just butt up to each other.


Cheers.
Ron

 

[spanner570]

I'm still here and plodding along.....

The inner bow and stern detail is added (the pale blue card) These have tabs on to make the necessary bends to the hull sides.
Also all the card windows are cut away and replaced with thin clear plastic.




A bit blurred but the bending effect can still be seen.


Again the need for absolute 100% accuracy when gluing is essential, otherwise a warp in the hull is guaranteed.......

Cheers.
Ron

 

[Tim Marlow]

Looks fascinating.....going together really nicely and looks well thought out and clearly printed. Have you got a link to the seller’s site? I’d like to have a look at what is available....

 

[Jim R]

Hi Ron
As Tim says it does look well thought out. I suppose that the further along the build gets the more rigid the structure becomes.
Jim

 

[Dave Ward]

Here's a link to the JSC website JSC Shop, the other major player is GPM GPM Shop , I never really managed with the card aircraft - too many compound curves and the cockpits!
Dave

 

[spanner570]

Thanks boys.
Tim, Dave has answered the question although there is also a good selection on eBay.

Jim - Some builders stiffen the card to start with but as it's a relatively small model I decided against it.

Here's the hull sides fixed to the inner superstructure and car deck sides.





Cheers.
Ron

 

[Tim Marlow]

Wow, just had a look at the links, it’s another world isn’t it....
Looking good by the way, Ron.....becoming more boat like by the day....

 

[Jim R]

Hi Ron
Really starting to look like a Calmac ferry now.
Jim

 

[Dave Ward]

If you really want to frighten yourself, have a look at Digital Navy * digital navy * I've got the Yamato & the Fuso on CD, started them, but never managed to finish one. You need a good printer, and good card stock!
Dave

 

[spanner570]

Thanks boys.
Fore deck detail.

Stiffeners.



Deck, steps and ramp added. this also shows how important it is to be dead on with the cuts. See the joint between the fore deck and hull sides. I would think it would be impossible to fill any gaps without staining the card. There possibly is a product, but as this was my first go at a card model, I was (and happily still am) completely ignorant about such things.......


Cheers.
Ron

 

[JR]

Very very interesting 570.
It seems that a sharp crease in the card is important to get those neat folds .
Of course my interest is compounded by the fact that the whole thing would burn well !
On that point of comment good day and have fun, and joking apart it's great to follow and see this coming on so quickly and well .
Yours
453 .

 

[spanner570]

Of course my interest is compounded by the fact that the whole thing would burn well !
Yours
453 .

453, rest assured there were times during this build when I had seriously thought about doing just that!

Moving swiftly on....

The stern section.


A general view. Observe the red seat plan, inflatable and white life rafts. All to be made from card. It's this soul destroying, long winded very small detail that is really difficult to put together - for me anyway.





Cheers.
Ron

 

[JR]

Hi 570.
Have to say that the whole idea of card seems intriguing . Suppose it's one of those things that's been around for some time, but I've never come across it before.
Looking good, will you be doing any painting in the way of weathering , or just leave it as it comes . ?
453

 

[spanner570]

Mornin' 453.

The MacBrayne's fleet are very well maintained and usually well looked after by their crews, so I'll leave the model 'As is'. - All clean like.

Thanks for sticking with the build. I appreciate it.

570

 

[spanner570]

I'm still here....

Here is the bridge work.

I cut out the card windows of this too.


All windows cut out.



...and added some thin clear plastic sheet to the back. Ready for folding.


The bridge structure complete.


Cheers.
Ron

 

[Jim R]

Hi Ron
Getting better and better. I'm amazed just how good it looks being just flat card. Definitely Calmac ships are well maintained. Even the older ships like the Isle of Lewis look good.
Jim

 

[Fernando N]

Nice one Ron, missed this till now, card models can be quite interesting and end up in some pretty cool works.
Great looking bridge and great looking lines of the ship.

Following your work with interest, maybe it I’ll give me an incentive to look at a Halo Frigate I have in paper….

ps. Great pics of the sub, thanks for sharing.

 

[spanner570]

Thanks chaps.
Fernando - What a sight that sub. was. I doubt I'll get that close up and personal to one ever again!

Sorry, I have no more pictures of the superstructure work, I must have lost them. Apart from sticking the bridge to the model there wasn't anything else to do on it, so you haven't missed anything really.

So it's time to move on to the mind boggling, soul destroying, frustrating, eye popping and yes, the bl***y hard part of a card model - The detail.
We'll start with the vehicles. I won't show all 16, just the stage build of two.

A wagon and trailer.
On the card.



Cut out ready for folding and sticking together.



One diddy model!


A cement mixer next.

Cheers.
Ron

 

[JR]

Hey 570 that's really neat

Loving this mate , keep it up .
453