Those Veteran parts are seriously better than the Airfix kit pieces. Looking good, Russ!
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Really sharp Details from Veterans. I love them and makes a world of difference Mate…Cheers Mark
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Looking Excellet Russ,
I agree with Tim, The Veteran parts really make a difference. Hope your paint holds out.
Cheers, Si
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Boah, Russell!! Such fiddly tiny work! 
I wouldn’t even see the parts, not talking about painting them … Well done, my friend, well done! 
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Great updates and really like the AM weapons … They make a hell of a difference… Starting to really look like a man o war now … Lovely work
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Thank you Torsten 
It’s true, some of the parts are super tiny, and I even struggle to see them with the Optivisor - I really do need to work in short bursts otherwise I’d go cross eyed…
@surfsup @RedDuster @TimReynaga @Johnnych01 Thanks so much guys for your kind words… Yes, this kit sure needs aftermarket to bring it anywhere near to level
Speaking of which… In another leap forward, Dauntless has now reached harbour and just needs to get to the docks for a finish…
Well folks, she’s nearly there. I’ve some work to do on the lift raft racks and the nameplates, then it’s off to the paint shop for clear coating… Hopefully I’ll have this done before Christmas and will update you all then…
January should see the Lynx built and shipped and her up on a wooden base 
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Wow, Russ, she’s almost there and looking sharp!
I like the Man Cave upgrades too! (I do most of my work at a desk in a corner of my living room…)
Anyway, Commissioning day is almost here! 
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The same is true for me also Tim: I build mostly at our “family” desk in the living room, and the builds in progress reside in the display cabinet alongside their completed brethren. The Man Cave is where the toxic work of painting and filling takes place, alongside any heavy duty work, such as lawn mower repairs. The kids are free to use it also for any of their messier craft projects… I might even get around to setting up the home gym there too 
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It’s turned out to be a great build Russ. The PE & aftermarket detailing has lifted it up many levels, but it’s taken a lot of skill and hard graft to do it.
She looks top dollar and the final touches are going to make it into a very nice addition… Very well done
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Very nice work Russ, an impressive build of a tricky kit.
Will be good to see her finally commissioned.
Cheers. Si
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You, sir, are an expert turd polisher! She looks amazing. Definitely an achievement to be proud of 
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Hi Russ,
great update, great work despite those disappointing yardarms - she looks fantastic now! Your glacier almost made it, mate!
And very nice man cave - my one is still under construction, or re-construction following moving. First week of January should be a week completely off and time to get my flat - including man cave - sorted again and restart work on Gneisenau.
Your patience with this kit certainly paid off now, the great look of your Dauntless makes all the pain on the way forget…
Cheers
Jan
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Thanks Jan!
Don’t worry mate - your man cave will get there eventually allowing you to chase down that glacier - Gneisenau! All your MSW mates are here to encourage and support you when the time comes
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Merry Christmas, Friends! 
Unlike previous years, I’m not closing down the shipyard and the workers have not been granted leave. Work has been pottering along in the final stages of fitting out Dauntless before heading off to the painters for clear coating.
It’s official naming ceremony day! These were painted using Schiffboden Farbe Rot thinned heavily and dabbed on with a hairy stick, before a rub with P600 wet n dry paper to bring out the brass lettering
And the life ring racks were folded up ready for the the life rings which measure about 1.8mm in diameter. I painted them first with white, then using strips of 0.5mm wide masking tape (that’s about the thinnest I could cut it) masked off the “cross” and painted Humbrol 174 (Signal Red - but it looks orange to my Mk1 eyeball)
Fitted to the sides of the VLS and the bridge…
Folks, the next steps are to clear coat her (first gloss then matt) which I won’t bore you with pics of cos, let’s face it, they’re clear - rather, I’ll remove all that flight deck masking (finally) and open up the hangar and RHIB ports, and put some pics up before New Years!
Commissioning is planned for the end of January, as I build up the Lynx (beginning with the “blob” of plastic provided in the kit and working that up with PE and paint) and raising the jack staff!
In the meantime all the best for Christmas - may there be something of a hobby themed element to the gifts under your trees, I know I’ve a couple of awesome books waiting for me which I’ll put up on the Tide thread after the big day.
Till then, best of health to you all! 
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Again some amazing fiddly work there, Russell. Are these life rings provided in the kit or did you do them on your own? I wouldn’t see them if this wouldn’t be a macro shot. And I sometimes struggle with tiny 1/48 parts …
Well done and Merry Christmas to you and your family! I’ll be away to Vienna for a few days over New Years Eve, so I’ll watch from there … 
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Ah, Vienna! Lovely! Hope you and yours and have a great time there!
Yes, the life rings - courtesy of the White Ensign models PE aftermarket set. They’re 2 piece, so just need folding over to give the impression of thickness… still, on the limit of what I can see also… 
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Looking excellent Russ,
Those little details really add depth.
Wishing tou all the best for Christams and the new year.
Cheers, Si
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Thanks mate 
The gloss coat went on last night. Matt coat tonight. So who knows? I might get that masking off before the big day and post one last image before Christmas! 
Merry Christmas folks! 
Matt coat done! Masking tape and sponge masks off for first time in what must be at least a year.
A little bleed through the sponge into the RHIB ports but nothing that can’t be fixed.
Just a few minor details like the props and folding door (which are already painted) and she’s largely done now… Just the Lynx to go…
Thank you to everyone who’s been following along 
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Russ, It has been a long haul, but Dauntless is looking sharp! Can’t wait to see the Lynx come aboard.
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