by John Griesbacker
1/350 Otchayanny (Trumpeter)
This is my first serious attempt at a ship model since I was about 12. This is the Trumpeter Sovremenny with Gold Medal Models photoetch. Using photoetch was very frustrating, but I like the result - a much more "finished" look. I had nothing but problems with the forward mast - I knocked the radar and yardarm off twice, and it looks like it. Purists will have issues with my blue helicopter, but I liked the look and went with it. The missile launchers are unarmed - the missiles looked terrible after a couple of coats of white paint, so I left them off. I used Future floor polish as a clear gloss for decaling and weathering (due to the cold weather in my painting area, the flat coat will have to wait). The base is made from a blank wooden sign from the craft store, along with cut pieces of square wood stock. I learned a lot of lessons on this build which I hope to use to improve my next project.
