I want to convert the venerable Pyro/Lindberg 1/87 Diesel Tug into a rc 1/144 WW2 Assurance Class Admiralty Rescue Tug. They have deceptively similar hulls but one is a peewee and the other an armed ocean-going titan. It is odd how little the hull form was changed for a very different and demanding role.
Here’s a similar Envoy Class tug with a better view:
The first issue was how to handle the hull break and raised foredeck. Looking at online builds it seemed like just a strake of plastic sheet atop the rail would do but thinking it over that seemed a pretty flimsy support for the entire superstructure. I was tempted to go simple and glue the foredeck atop the rail and skip the hull break but that is a big feature to just skip. Then yesterday it occurred to me; just glue a sheet of balsa atop the rail; the thickness of the break. It can have a large opening for hull access then a styrene sheet deck on top held on by magnets or whatever. That will have the right shape, be strong and more seaworthy than the kit as designed. As a bonus, the front end can overlap the rail and get contoured with putty underneath to better capture the sliight flare at the top of the bows.
After fussing over all the photos online I splurged and ordered the 1/48 plans online to take the guesswork out of dimensions. To offset the cost this time I might scratch-build the weaponry.
Now to figure out the best glue for styrene to balsa that won’t have bits breaking off every other minute.