Well, finished, despite the last minute revelation that the Airfix painting instructions are wrong, but the box top is right!
All I can say is that for 1964 moulds, the fit is pretty good - the detail doesn't compare to any modern models, but for it's day it must have been top line. The decals hadn't stood the test of time, though!
I made things a bit more complicated by waterlining the model - a habit of mine ( I know it horrifies some! ). I originally had thought to make a sea base, but decided that the model didn't really warrant the effort & time to make one!
The box top shows the correct painting of the hull - I haven't been able to find one contemporary photograph of the Mauretania painted as per the Airfix instructions. Apart from waterlining, I opened up one or two small vents & filled the lifeboats with putty to simulate the canvas covers always fitted.
Aside from the Titanic, this is the only injection moulded liner model of that era, so it's the only game in town, and in consequence prices reflect this - £35-40 - a collectors price - too high for a builder, unless you have a reason to build it!
Who knows Hornby/Airfix may someday blow off the moulds & produce a 'new' Classic model.
I got mine off Ebay as 'incomplete' models & managed to cobble together enough bits for one complete model, but that's it.
I did this model, as I had had a dip in mojo for benchtime - I can say this wasn't the best model to choose to give me a stimulus - I almost binned it several times, and had trouble in getting past the finishing line. I'm going to drop out of any Group Builds I've joined, and I think I'm going to do a few builds without blogging them, and see if I can regain some enthusiasm..............
Dave
All I can say is that for 1964 moulds, the fit is pretty good - the detail doesn't compare to any modern models, but for it's day it must have been top line. The decals hadn't stood the test of time, though!
I made things a bit more complicated by waterlining the model - a habit of mine ( I know it horrifies some! ). I originally had thought to make a sea base, but decided that the model didn't really warrant the effort & time to make one!
The box top shows the correct painting of the hull - I haven't been able to find one contemporary photograph of the Mauretania painted as per the Airfix instructions. Apart from waterlining, I opened up one or two small vents & filled the lifeboats with putty to simulate the canvas covers always fitted.
Aside from the Titanic, this is the only injection moulded liner model of that era, so it's the only game in town, and in consequence prices reflect this - £35-40 - a collectors price - too high for a builder, unless you have a reason to build it!
Who knows Hornby/Airfix may someday blow off the moulds & produce a 'new' Classic model.
I got mine off Ebay as 'incomplete' models & managed to cobble together enough bits for one complete model, but that's it.
I did this model, as I had had a dip in mojo for benchtime - I can say this wasn't the best model to choose to give me a stimulus - I almost binned it several times, and had trouble in getting past the finishing line. I'm going to drop out of any Group Builds I've joined, and I think I'm going to do a few builds without blogging them, and see if I can regain some enthusiasm..............
Dave
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