by Tom Lindsay
1/700 Armed yacht Almaz (Combrig)
This kit sat unfinished for two years, until a recent show and a disaster to my intended competition subject compelled me to weather, photo-etch, and rig the model in about 16 hour's working time.
While the contest was more successful than I ever would have hoped, this model was a rush job, and I feel it shows. Perhaps I'll update someday...
The only "major" modification is that I removed the full-length fender wale that the hull has cast onto it. I also removed the solid-cast compass platform and replicated one from bits of the incredibly useful Gold Medal Models 1/700 Japanese auxiliaries set. I may never build a WWII Japanese seaplane tender, but I'll be buying more photo-etch sets for them!
The model is finished with Tom's Modelworks railings and ladders, stretched sprue rigging, hand tapered brass rod masts and yards. Bow and stern scrolls are freehand painted on, then traced over with CA glue on a bit of stretched plastic, and re-painted. The lighting in the photos is less than optimal to show these, though.
