Miss Budweiser 1977 Hydroplane

[Twokidsnosleep]

I am diving into this GB…
This is a boat, a F1 race car and an airplane all rolled into one
Merlin Packard engine and they used to roar around Puget sound on Lake Washington when I was a kid. I had an aunt who lived in Seattle and we would go down and visit a fair bit.
Not sure we actually watched them live, but certainly saw them on TV every summer at the Seattle Sea Fair

The kit:


The Description:


Overall Sprues and Parts:


The Decals: Yikes!



The Hull:


Some Reference Photos:







The Beautiful Engine:

[aur0ra145]

Unusual subject, I like it!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Unusual subject, I like it!

Indeed
I snapped the kit up last year the second I saw it on eBay

[RangerNeil]

Nice and unusual choice!! Looking forwards to seeing how this progresses.

[Garion77]

mmmm....1977... the year I was born ! A beautiful year !
I'm sure it was not what was in mind for this GB at the start ! A really nice choice that will be quite different to follow !

[digger303]

Nice kit and the livery.

[DBMiller]

Super subject!

[Twokidsnosleep]

1/32 Tamiya Merlin Rolls Royce Vs 1/25 Testors Packard RollsRoyce
Don’t even ask about fitment, joint seams and details
But I love making engine details so this will be fun

[Tomcat64]

Stunning piece of kit - I loved watching those powerboats racing on TV but never got to see them for real.

Looks like a nice start on the engine even with the kit's limitations

[Twokidsnosleep]

This is a bit of fun
I found a 3D file for a Merlin engine and managed to get it down to the right scale
It needs a bit more work to separate all the parts out individually and print the parts perfectly
Still you can see the potential here

Supercharger portion


In comparison to the kit’s engine


The file had left and right engine blocks, but no oil pan or headers.


Unfortunately, The block halves did not print out square at all


Lots of potential if I can get a bit versed in a 3D design program and modify things

[Garion77]

Amazing potential indeed ! Nice work !

[Tomcat64]

Superb idea to replace the kit bits with 3d printed ones - the difference is quite stunning

Hope you can get the blocks sorted

[aur0ra145]

Nice work with the 3d prints so far!

[WordenB]

Never seen a kit of a hydroplane before, very interesting!

[Twokidsnosleep]

I have been messing around with printing out Merlin Engine parts

This is the oil regulator/relief valve for the lower side of the block seen here in reference photo


It is moulded flat on the kit as are all the lines and I want them three dimensional.
So I scraped it off and added the printed one overtop with a brass pin to place it





Then I can do the oil lines that you see moulded in there.

[digger303]

Oh that's a lot of work, but I am in awe of the need to get it right. I shall be watching with interest and reading each update with much anticipation.

[Tomcat64]

Looks like you're in this for the long run but looking forward to seeing how the super-detailing goes with all the 3D printed greeblies

[Twokidsnosleep]

Start of some oil line replacement

[digger303]

[aur0ra145]

Looks like the motor build up is chugging along!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Managed a bit of bench time on an otherwise unproductive weekend
Still plugging away at the engine, more lines scraped off, some bolts added and the carb painted
You can see a combo of scratch and 3D printed greeblees on her



To push a bit farther I ordered some candy root beer Splash paint hopefully here next week
There are some rumours that The Maratime Sig may be pushed forward another month

[Tomcat64]

Very cool to see the additional details crammed onto that engine block

[Twokidsnosleep]

Very cool to see the additional details crammed onto that engine block

BTW, The lines are all loosey goosey at the moment, just leads for larger diameters

[ForeverPlasticKits]

Good work, the paint will coming soon?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Good work, the paint will coming soon?

Yes but all the holes for the lines and details need to be established and the moulded lines all removed before primer and paint….that is what I am showing

[Twokidsnosleep]

Thanks to the great and almighty powers that be , we have a September extension for the maritime gb

Three pages deep in my posts, let’s drag this build out and get her going
So Friday night, I glued the transom on the back..and added ca glue, and sprue glue and then filler

and the sponson end plates installed on the side pods

The instructions actually tell you what those are or I would have had no forking idea
If this thing had to actually float, it would have to be called a submarine

Then I did a test fit of the engine mounts and the body top and bottom to get a feel for fit

[Twokidsnosleep]

The details are a little ‘soft’ as the saying goes. The styrene is probably some of the softest I have worked with…it melts vs drills
I will need to add some stuff to jazz her up
First I am making the four lift points as well as these cool circle things that are in the deck.
I copied the end plate one in dental putty

And used resin to make the little plate



Then added some wire rounds


So they look like boaty grabby hooks like this one has on its side, back and front

[Tomcat64]

Nice to see her back at the bench & very impressed by the way you're picking up the nautical terms

The lifting points look spot on from here

[Twokidsnosleep]

Nice to see her back at the bench & very impressed by the way you're picking up the nautical terms

The lifting points look spot on from here

Oh yea, I got the boating terms down pat

[DRUMS01]

Looking good

Continuing to follow with popcorn in hand

Ben / DRUMS01

[Twokidsnosleep]

Looking good

Continuing to follow with popcorn in hand

Ben / DRUMS01

[Twokidsnosleep]

A bit of a push to finish this old girl off
I likely won’t make the deadline, but will finish her

Had to decant some more TS-8 Italian Red as I used up what I had on first coats


Dolled up the engine block and heads; like a hooker putting on too much make up


Little test fit while I let the new TS paint off gas for a few more hours (six is recommended). Flashy paint scheme, not subtle

[Twokidsnosleep]

Next I was wasting more time playing with the lathe while the paint dried
Decided to see if I could make some of those circle lift points out of aluminum
Blue Sharpy marker as poor man’s die keen marker. Eight drill spots marked


Then just polished up. The resin ones are certainly enough for this build and time is precious

[Tomcat64]

Nice I like the vibrant red on the engine block a lot plus all the extras you're still chucking at it

[Twokidsnosleep]

Nice I like the vibrant red on the engine block a lot plus all the extras you're still chucking at it

Yes the red isn't subtle at all. Hope to make it look cool

[Twokidsnosleep]

Got all the Tamiya accent colours I need decanted from the Ts spray cans for use in the airbrush
Red TS-8, white TS-26 and gold TS-21

[Twokidsnosleep]

[Tomcat64]

Neat - for some reason I expected the engine block to look bigger than that, no idea why though!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Neat - for some reason I expected the engine block to look bigger than that, no idea why though!

She is a pretty long boat
The engine isn’t sitting in proper position yet either

[Tomcat64]

Neat - for some reason I expected the engine block to look bigger than that, no idea why though!

She is a pretty long boat
The engine isn’t sitting in proper position yet either

Yah I think that's it - I hadn't appreciated just how big these things are!

[Twokidsnosleep]

Neat - for some reason I expected the engine block to look bigger than that, no idea why though!

She is a pretty long boat
The engine isn’t sitting in proper position yet either

Yah I think that's it - I hadn't appreciated just how big these things are!

I looked up her measurments
28'6" long
13'1" wide
6,250 pounds
big girl!!
A Spitfire plane was about 30' long so they are close

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ever have an “oOH shite” moment during a build??



This is not good. All of the water slide decals are doing this
I am clearing my desk of this PITA until I get some decal solution figured out
What deflating situation

[RangerNeil]

Ever have an “oOH shite” moment during a build??



This is not good. All of the water slide decals are doing this
I am clearing my desk of this PITA until I get some decal solution figured out
What deflating situation

Oh yessss....... That damned Angel Interceptor did exacly the same. I used some of that decal set liquid which made a nice cover film over the decal and would have worked - if they'd have seperated from the carrier sheet. Looks like you don't have that problem though so it should work for you.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ever have an “oOH shite” moment during a build??



This is not good. All of the water slide decals are doing this
I am clearing my desk of this PITA until I get some decal solution figured out
What deflating situation

Oh yessss....... That damned Angel Interceptor did exacly the same. I used some of that decal set liquid which made a nice cover film over the decal and would have worked - if they'd have seperated from the carrier sheet. Looks like you don't have that problem though so it should work for you.

Nope, the decals splatter once the backing paper gets wet. Clear acrylic overtop first didn’t help
Maybe try the micro scale stuff but have little hope when the decals scatter so easily and quickly.

[digger303]

Ever have an “oOH shite” moment during a build??



This is not good. All of the water slide decals are doing this
I am clearing my desk of this PITA until I get some decal solution figured out
What deflating situation

I am always having those moments.
I have this theory about these old decals.
The thin film has dried out and lost its ability to stretch and when it is placed in water the paper quickly absorbs water and expands.
Next time I have a problem with this I'm going to approach it a little differently and do a little test.
I'll try the micro sol again this time leaving it a week to dry.
If that fails then plan b is to float it up side down on the surface of some Micro Sol for a bit then submerge in some water.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Ever have an “oOH shite” moment during a build??



This is not good. All of the water slide decals are doing this
I am clearing my desk of this PITA until I get some decal solution figured out
What deflating situation

I am always having those moments.
I have this theory about these old decals.
The thin film has dried out and lost its ability to stretch and when it is placed in water the paper quickly absorbs water and expands.
Next time I have a problem with this I'm going to approach it a little differently and do a little test.
I'll try the micro sol again this time leaving it a week to dry.
If that fails then plan b is to float it up side down on the surface of some Micro Sol for a bit then submerge in some water.

Yes I agree
The carrier film is toast and just allows the decal to dissolve off the paper once wet
I will try the micro set stuff…I have low expectations

[Garion77]

oooh that's bad
I'm now using the VMS stuff for the decals and quite better then the microsol or microset. You should give them a try. You can order them from sunward hobbies in our big beautiful country.
Other solution if you have another decal is make your own stencil using an acetate sheet. Something I've been doing now for a few markings.
Hope everything is fine on your beautiful side of coast ! Preparing for winter season here this weekend.
Take care !

[Twokidsnosleep]

oooh that's bad
I'm now using the VMS stuff for the decals and quite better then the microsol or microset. You should give them a try. You can order them from sunward hobbies in our big beautiful country.
Other solution if you have another decal is make your own stencil using an acetate sheet. Something I've been doing now for a few markings.
Hope everything is fine on your beautiful side of coast ! Preparing for winter season here this weekend.
Take care !

Yes it sucks
These are disintegrating right on the paper even before water. Worst I have ever seen
We have a late summer continuing on the West Coast…used to be called an Indian Summer when it extends into September/ October…..but that is likely not politically correct anymore

[RangerNeil]

Ever have an “oOH shite” moment during a build??



This is not good. All of the water slide decals are doing this
I am clearing my desk of this PITA until I get some decal solution figured out
What deflating situation

Oh yessss....... That damned Angel Interceptor did exacly the same. I used some of that decal set liquid which made a nice cover film over the decal and would have worked - if they'd have seperated from the carrier sheet. Looks like you don't have that problem though so it should work for you.

Nope, the decals splatter once the backing paper gets wet. Clear acrylic overtop first didn’t help
Maybe try the micro scale stuff but have little hope when the decals scatter so easily and quickly.

Microscale is the stuff I used. It saved the roundels on the A.I. by stopping them shattering and letting me slide a scalpel under the original decal. Didn't work so well on the red stripes as they were too long/too thin. I think it would be worth you trying it as I think those decals are not replaceable??

[digger303]

Ever have an “oOH shite” moment during a build??



This is not good. All of the water slide decals are doing this
I am clearing my desk of this PITA until I get some decal solution figured out
What deflating situation

I am always having those moments.
I have this theory about these old decals.
The thin film has dried out and lost its ability to stretch and when it is placed in water the paper quickly absorbs water and expands.
Next time I have a problem with this I'm going to approach it a little differently and do a little test.
I'll try the micro sol again this time leaving it a week to dry.
If that fails then plan b is to float it up side down on the surface of some Micro Sol for a bit then submerge in some water.

Yes I agree
The carrier film is toast and just allows the decal to dissolve off the paper once wet
I will try the micro set stuff…I have low expectations

Perhaps a high resolution scan of the decals before you do anything. Then you could get them printed if all else fails.