Soluyanov Sergey

@soluyanovsergey

Military

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Project Summary

Shell Welder – a 1:143 scale coastal tanker model (Ark kit, individually built)

I built this model using an Ark-Models kit, but the quality of the original castings and the soldering of parts turned out to be so poor that the only thing I could keep from the kit was the plastic hull. Everything else – superstructures, deck equipment, fittings, piping, railings, ladders and doors – was either heavily reworked or completely scratch-built from brass, copper, polystyrene and wood. My goal was to create a museum-quality replica of the coastal tanker “Shell Welder”, faithfully capturing the look of a hard-working vessel from the 1950s.

For the railing, accommodation ladders and doors I made extensive use of photo-etched parts (from Atlantic Model), which I then carefully adjusted and fitted by hand. The bridge superstructure is fully glazed, and the interior of the wheelhouse has been reproduced with the helm, engine-room telegraphs and chart table – all of this goes far beyond what the original kit offered.

The paint scheme differs from the standard one: the upper part (superstructure and hull above the waterline) is black, the underwater hull is red, and all other elements – deck, cargo derrick, manifolds, railings, ventilator cowls and piping – are painted white. Light weathering creates the impression that the ship has honestly covered many thousands of miles but is still working dependably.

The rigging, cargo gear and the complex system of manifolds on the centreline deck have been copied from historical photographs and original shipyard drawings. I have built lighting into the model – navigation lights, interior lights in the superstructure and deck floodlights – so that in subdued light it literally comes to life.

At 1:143 scale the model is about 575 mm long. In addition to photo-etch, turned brass parts, an authentic anchor chain and windlass assembly, and many other hand-made details were used in the build. What you see is the result of hundreds of hours of research, painstaking work and painting. This model is my personal tribute to the classic tanker Shell Welder, and an expression of a striving for accuracy, craftsmanship and deep respect for maritime history.

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Military

112 days ago

Soluyanov Sergey

@soluyanovsergey | Military

Unboxing and reassessment

When the long-awaited Ark-Models kit finally landed on my workbench, the contents brought disappointment rather than joy. It took only a few minutes of inspection to realise that the quality of the castings and soldering was not just poor — it was fundamentally incompatible with the goal of building a museum-quality replica. Flash, sink marks, soft contours and crudely assembled parts made the contents look more like rough blanks than a proper scale-modelling kit.

After a sober assessment, I made the only possible decision: to keep just the two halves of the plastic hull and discard, heavily rework or completely rebuild everything else. What was supposed to be the start of assembly became a clean break — a moment when a standard kit turned into a blank canvas for a fully individual build, grounded in historical photographs, original shipyard drawings and hundreds of hours of manual work.

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STUDIO93558 days ago
Great unboxing :p

Biography

My name is Sergey, I'm 60. By trade I'm an automobile mechanic, but ship modelling is my true passion. My first profession was as a pilot — I know aviation inside and out. That's exactly why I chose ship modelling: to step into an unfamiliar world and discover something entirely new.

I was captivated by the complexity of marine engineering and the meticulous handcraft it demands. I work exclusively in 1:200 and 1:135 scales, striving not just to replicate drawings but to breathe real character into every model. My journey proves that at 60 you can take on a new pursuit with the excitement of youth, finding joy in every polished deck and every precise line of the hull.

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Builder's Toolkit

Milling machine Proxxon MF 70

Proxxon TBM 220 – Bench drill press

Proxxon TA 70 – Dividing head for MF 70

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