 Our first 'Truckfest' update - The Renault Magnum from Italeri. The detailing on these kits is absolutely superb. We utilised spray cans for the painting giving this truck 'themodeldock treatment'!
 Another close up of the detailing. Ready now for assembly.
 Our Renault Magnum is now almost complete. As indicated the detail on these Italeri kits is superb. One great thing about 'Plastic Magic' is that a very satisfying result can be achieved in a relatively short time as opposed to the marine construction taking many months to complete - I think I would describe it as a quick 'Modelling Fix'!
 Rear view of the Magnum. The paint finish achieved with our good friend Halfords spray paints - a super realistic finish.
 Side view of the Italeri Renault Magnum - Ready now for the finer detailing of the light lenses and decals.
 This is our Scania truck & trailer. Fully remote control with sound and light functions - A nice piece of kit from Robbe.
 Superb realism on our Scania Tractor Unit!
USS Crockett - Final stages.
 Quite a tricky journey along the way to bring this kit to this stage. In my opinion the scales are all over the place and for a kit there is far too much scratch building which could put off a new modeller to our hobby. For the paint job I have gone by the old navy addage - If it don't salute paint it Grey!!
 Boot topping now applied to the Crockett and really beginning to look the part.
 Just the final mast detailing to finish before painting plus the flagstaffs to construct and she will be ready for her maiden voyage - Sure looks darn quick!!
USS Crockett - Ready for her maiden voyage
Very busy here at themodeldock at the moment - TWO Happy Hunters 'in-build' and a modelslipway Al Khubar on the horizon docking mid December!!
 Two Happy Hunters arrived a few weeks ago - Double Vision!! This iconic tug on early inspection is not for the beginner but will surely be magnificent when complete. As we are building two together I have been commissioned for an article in Model Boats magazine, which is quite unique to see two identical tugs built side by side!
 We have decided that the best way for us to build two identical tugs without getting what we call 'model fatigue' is to put one weeks work in on one vessel and then a weeks work in on the next alternating till at least most of the major construction is complete - This is Hunter 1, now playing catch up on Hunter 2!
 It's Twins!!! Both Hunters are now past the initial stages of decks fitted and superstructure assembled. Ready to add the detail - Rubbing strakes, bulwark stanchions (the fiddly bits) and then onto the intial painting of the hull. Full build cd and article on the horizon but my only comment at the moment is - Phew, theres a lot of work in them there Hunters!!!
 The Grey Twins!! Decks primed and ready with further hull colour to follow. Much detail already with the many bulwark stanchions and hull rubbing strakes standing out in bold relief - All good stuff!
 The first spalsh of Spring Colour - No not daffodils but the funnels! Sometimes I go off at a tangent steering away from the slavish instructions - In this case completing the rear deck hatch and painting the funnels - Starting to look the part.
 Look Boss its a Crane!! (Or should it be plane - You know Fantasy Island and all that). Nice model in its own right the crane assembly. Primed with red oxide and ready for the top coat before the Mammoet signage.
 About halfway through the build and the Hunters are looking the business - Check out 'Eddie Stobart Man' on the bridge deck!
 Eddie Stobart Man inspecting the bridge deck back lit from the cabin with a green led - Cool!
 'Mammoet Magic' - The two Hunters sat side by side - So far around ninety pics for the build cd making this a bumper build edition!
 Heres the part we all love - Reams of paper and miles of masking tape! Patient and careful application gives good reaults though and well worth the effort - Tip - Use white plain paper for the masking, not newspaper - The print comes off on the model!
 At Last - This looks familiar - The Happy Hunter in her splendid yellow livery - Looking forward to the reveal!
 Hunter one in her fine yellow livery -Using 'Modellers License' I have gone for a two-tone yellow finish. A brighter shade for the hull and a little darker on the funnels. For me the contrast works - A more solid metallic feel to the stacks and less 'toy like' if thats the expression!
 Double Impact! - Hunters 1 & 2 up to speed and looking splendid. Note the two-tone yellow livery on the hull and funnels. Next step is the fine detailing of the model along with the mast arrays - Hunter Heaven!!
 Deck detail on Hunter one is now being added - Hatches vents and the crane has been finished in red! - Modellers license again folks.
 Looking Good Houston! No need to describe too much here - I think the pics tell the story - Hunter Heaven!!
 Really coming to the stage which we all enjoy the most with the finishing of the fine detailing - Still a bit to go though with the main mast and radar array next on the agenda.
Al Khubar from modelslipway - Really looking forward to this one - A real 'chunky tug', full of character, the kit 'docking' for construction very soon - What with two Hunters and an Al Khubar - 'Tugtastic'!!!
 Ok, here we go with the initial installation of the running gear - A tricky bit made easier by the cylindrical jig discs to line up the prop shafts.
 Ok - I know we have jumped ahead but so far we have about fifty images for the modeldock build series cd for the Al Khubar. When finished a really in depth photographic history of the build. Love this model - it's Tugtastic!!
 'Bold and Blue'!! Al Khubar superstructure with an alternative colour scheme - To contrast the deck house we are going for a darker navy blue hull & Grey decks - Should be 'quite striking' on the water!
 Al Khubar in her fine blue livery as used by the Ostenoj Rederi line - Pretty striking stuff!
 Ready now for the fine detailing - A lot of the fittings will be white, where appropriate, giving a nice contrast to the vessel. Here we see the aft end of the boat showing the cwl line in white and the upper bulwark lighter blue trim line set against the darker blue of the hull - I think it works quite well.
 Superstructure detailing well underway and the mast has been constructed and painted. Really like this colour scheme and already have another commission for the same in the pipeline.
TITO NERI - This build has been on the website for some time now but we are leaving it on due to the high level of interest we receive regarding its construction. For the visitor to this website we are fortunate that a lot of our builds flourish into review material for Model Boats magazine hence we need not portray every build we undertake on this page.
 Tito Neri in final stages of construction. A super project. Power & propulsion for the model is via the twin Graupner speed 900 turbo motors and twin Schottel drives - very impressive if you wish to delve into 'tug towing' - She will not disappoint!
 'Crowning glory', the complicated but impressive mast array.
 Detailed view of the superstructure.
 Rear view of the superstructure with the fine detail beginning to appear.
 Superstructure & Hull complete, primed and ready for the next stage of painting and fittings.
 Of all the models we have constructed the Tito Neri deck support structure makes it one of the most robust models afloat!
 Close-up of the rear deck supports. The side deck beams are installed precisely 1.5 mm below the wash ports so when fitted the deck is flush.
 Close-up of the main towing bollard which continues below deck and is resined into the hull. Also the detail of the hawse & wash ports can be seen along with one of the deck cranes.
 This particular part of the build requires precise filling & painting and has taken many hours to achieve this result. The wooden deck has received two coats of sanding sealer, two coats of primer and two coats of the finished colour.
 Bulwark stanchions fitted in this case with a little bit of modellers license - Holes drilled both in the top bulwark section and the deck gives a very strong and rigid assembly.
 Detail of the superstructure and the completed 'paint job' on the hull, ready for final fitting of the monitor platform, railings and deck 'furniture'.
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