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Sunday, 5 February 2023

My model flatiron gunboats

In response to my ongoing series of blog posts about flatiron gunboats, Kev Robertson (who is one of my very regular blog readers) has built a wonderful model of one for one of his imagi-nation navies.

As a result, I decided to share a couple of photographs of flatiron gunboats that I have built and used over the years. The first was converted from the kit of a model tug that was originally intended to be used on a model railways layout ...

... and the second was made from scratch using FIMO modelling clay.

Both have done good service on my tabletop over the years and are on show in one of my display cabinets. The latter would certainly fit in well with my current (but temporarily stalled) Belle Époque project, although I may need to build some more at some time as I don't want any of my navies to have a flatiron gunboat gap!

8 comments:

  1. Bob,
    Splendid Flatiron Gunboat models- I do especially like your FIMO model- very well thought out and built. I always like scratch built models - that is I like to turn raw materials into something useful using simple methods to achieve the desired design. Well done Bob. Best Wishes. KEV.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kev Robertson (Kev),

      Cheers! Once I got the hang of how to use FIMO, making the model was quite simple. The funnel and gun barrel have lengths of wire in them to make sure that they didn’t droop during the curing process.

      You are right about the good feeling one gets from building something from scratch. It’s hard to beat!

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  2. Two fine looking gunboats there. I especially like the FIMO one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter,

      Cheers! The joy of using FIMO to make the model was that it didn’t need painting.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Rob Young,

      Thanks for your kind comment. I’m glad that you liked them.

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the link to Kev's boat build and the two images of your own two gunboats. You are both to be applauded for the simplicity and elegance of your designs. Very inspiring.
    Can I ask you both how big your models are? eg maximum length via maximum width and height (to funnel top)? Carl

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    Replies
    1. Carl,

      I'm very pleased that you liked them.

      The measurements you requested for my models are as follows:
      Converted model tug: 18cms x 6cms x 5.2cms
      FIMO model: 11cms x 5cms x 4.5cms

      All the best,

      Bob

      Delete

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