R.N. Pegaso 1/200 scratchbuilt

[Emanuele]

Hi everyone,

I would like to show you my last work, the R.N. Pegaso, an Italian escort vessel that sunk three English submarines, between them, the Hms Thorn and the Hms Upholder, the most successful submarine of the Royal Navy during WWII. I'm not very practical with 3d program, so I designed only those part that I was unable to "unfold" by hand.

 

[Emanuele]

Nearly twenty years ago, I tried to build the Pegaso with paper in 1/350. The results were for me disgustive, so I drop that project. Couple of months ago, I found that horrible model on a box...

Here it is!

 

[Zathros]

Nice work Emanuele. You CAD work looks really good too. What kind of software do you use? This looks like it will be a very nice model of a historically significant ship.

 

[Emanuele]

I used Blender... not a very use friendly program. Thank God there are various tutorial on youtube that explained what to do step by step, but the all design took me over one month (as I said, I'm not very practical with 3d design).

This is the hull completed. Until there, I didn't have any problem. The hull was filled and sanded, then painted in bottle green (all Italian ships of wwii were painted in this colour).

 

[Zathros]

If you came up with that within a month, let me tell you that is great. CAD is not easy, no matter which software package you use. I use Rhino 4.0 and it gives me fits too. I also look for tutorials. Great job. Hulls can be a challenge especially the bottom part of the bow, making it look good that is, you have obviously figured that out.

 

[Emanuele]

It was a nightmare Zathros.
I used the option to make a round object from a spine to create the bow, than I "glued" it to the rest of the hull. In order to made it symmetrical, I designed only half of the hull and then mirrored it, but all the lines and vertices remained inside, making the model an absolute nightmare to fix. Well, I was satisfied with the results, but I didn't dare to project other parts in 3d... the rest is Gimp designed. Most of the time I projected each part 3 of four times. The hull was unfolded with Pepakura, but because it didn't have at the time Hi-res, once I got the shape, I redesigned them with Gimp (so double of work again).

 

[Zathros]

Believe it or not, usually, you are supposed to design ships in a half model. This makes the model symmetrical. I join the hull plating when I unfold the parts. I usually do that within Rhino. Whatever way you find that works is O.K., because the ship looks great!!

 

[Emanuele]

Thank you Zathros, is nice to hear that I was doing correctly!
Here is the hull completed.
I made a stupid mistake with the sections. When I designed the model I gave a number to each sections, then I used only half of them, reassigning them a new number, unfortunately, I made a mistake, and section 12 was 13 and viceversa... result, the rear bridge was too short. I had to brake section 13 in order to reach the correct lenght.

 

[Emanuele]

These are the pictures of the main bridge, the OTO 102/35 gun completed, and the chest for the searchlight on top of the main bridge.

 

[Zathros]

How did you make that railing! It's beautiful!! This whole ship is beautiful. Bravo to you!!

I'd really like to know how you did that railing though? Is it glued together?

 

[Emanuele]

I cut the vertical pieces at the same height, then shaped using the plan of the ship.
I made nearly the double of them, then I choosed the most similar ones.
To cut all them at the same height, I normally glue together three o four pieces of cardboard, until I reach the desire height, then I make four holes with a needle. I put the wire on them and cut. The orizontal pieces are just wrapped around a whiteboard maker, then glued together.

 

[Zathros]

I cut the vertical pieces at the same height, then shaped using the plan of the ship.
I made nearly the double of them, then I choosed the most similar ones.
To cut all them at the same height, I normally glue together three o four pieces of cardboard, until I reach the desire height, then I make four holes with a needle. I put the wire on them and cut. The orizontal pieces are just wrapped around a whiteboard maker, then glued together.

I think I did not phrase my question accurately. I was wondering if you soldered or glued the "metal work" around the gun. I have read some people use cyanoacrylate, and some solder, your look like they are just held together by "magic". I'm, really hoping you don't say "magic"!

 

[Emanuele]

Just glue Zathros, just glue.
Once i glued the vertical pieces, I put up side down the piece, and glued the two lower rings with a toothpick.

These are the pictures of the Breda 20/65 machine guns, the searchlight tower, and one of the arm for the paravanes

 

[Zathros]

Looking better with every picture. I thought you were gluing them, I wasn't sure.

 

[Emanuele]

Thanks Zathros.

These are the paravanes (obtained from a toothpick), the carleys (just tin solder), the deep charges (again toothpicks: as a matter of fact I designed them on paper, but I found building them too boring)

 

[Zathros]

The detailing on this is incredible! Educational too! Really, I have run out of superlatives!

 

[Emanuele]

Grazie Zathros!

The ship is nearly completed now, some overall pictures

 

[Zathros]

:goldcup:I don't even know where to start. The foredeck looks outstanding, I love the colors. The life rafts, the railings, the torpedoes, paravanes, all the detailing, you left nothing out it's fantastic. What a beautiful ship, and fantastic model!:thumb:





.:wave7:

 

[Zathros]

Another bump, in case anyone missed this beautiful model, scratch built.!

 

[Emanuele]

Many thanks!

Golden Bear, the ship was originally 1/250, as for your Magenta and mine Bande Nere, but it was too tiny for that scale, especially the hull. So I zoomed everything in 1/200.
The model is now nearly completed, these are my last update.