Sunday 28 February 2016

The 'Nautical' Bonus Theme is Now Live!

'The Fighting Temeraire tugged to her last berth to be broken up, 1838' 
by J.M.W. Turner

As the title says, the Nautical bonus round theme is now up for your viewing pleasure!

We have a higher than average turnout for this theme, which is great, and I think you will find the entries amazing, not only for their range of topics and various scales but also for the impressive skills shown in their completion.

As for myself, I present a fairly simple entry, a BK-2 Russian Riverine Gunboat from a century ago.


This 28mm resin model is from my very talented friend Alf, over at Barrage Miniatures.


These small gunboats saw operations during the First World War, the Russian Revolution, the Polish-Soviet War and World War Two.



Interestingly, due to the complex design which required a very small hull, high speed and a balanced weapon placement, the Russians had to look abroad in order to have them manufactured. As the Great War was raging, all the European shipyards were either enemy states or busy building their own wartime watercraft. Undeterred, the Russians turned to the United States, who at that time were not in the war, and in 1916 a contract for 18 boats was filled by the Mullins & Company of Salem Ohio. 


In this final shot we have the enchanting Madame Ting-Ting and her salty associate Capt. Douglas (DSC/RN Ret) 'negotiating' with a Russian sailor for a BK-2.  She simply HAD TO HAVE the BK. As she was heard saying after the gunshot, 'This little dreadnought will look so darling with my flag waving above it...'


Okay everyone, remember to take the time to vote for your favourite entries after you've gone through the gallery. You can cast your votes on the sidebar tool in the gallery or you can follow this link as well.

40 comments:

  1. Curt, a lovely boat and an epic set of entries. The voting panel is for the L'amour round. Obviously the survey monkey needs a banana, "BANANA"

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    1. Thank God! It wasn't just me! I'm NOT going mad!

      Well, at least I'm not going madDER...

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    2. Sigh...

      Corrected and updated.

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    3. Thanks for catching that btw! Survey Monkey apparently doesn't do incremental saves of their templates. Technology... whatever.

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    4. Don't sigh, we are just the slaves on your chariot whispering "Remember thou are mortal"

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    5. Haha! Thank you, but don't worry, Lady Sarah reminds me of this every day, bless her soul. ;)

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    6. Then I'll be screaming in his other ear " Smash the red button! It'll be fun" ;)

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    7. Always found those are the best sort of Ladies to be with. Stops you getting complacent

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  2. Now that's a rather splendid little runaround.

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    1. Thanks Michael. It is rather cute, isn't it.

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  3. Great stuff dude.
    Did you have one of those in 15mm too?

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    1. I have a Bronekater in 15mm which is unbuilt. That gunboat is a nasty bit of kit.

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  4. Really like that little boat! Very smooth finish on her and all sorts of applications for her use too! ;)

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    1. She's a sweet little ride for sure and will probably make her debut in a Pulp game sometime soon.

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  5. What a lovely bijou battlecruiser! :)

    I was thinking of painting up a couple of boats I got from Barrage with my prize from last year. They are lovely models

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    1. Alf has lovely stuff and he's such a stickler for detail, so you know you're getting quality work.

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    2. I bought a load of boats with my prize last year and they are great, he even threw in an extra one. Also bought a cool armoured car from him. Please to buy from

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  6. Nice boat Curt and thank you for the history behind it.

    Because I know where Salem, Ohio is I looked up Mullins & Co., the builder of this boat. The thing they were most known for was building weathervanes. And for huge metal statues. They built an 18 foot statue of the goddess Diana, which sat in New York for years. I have to wonder if they kept secret that they built ships for the Russians.

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    1. Ha, I did the same Anne. It seems the company kept this little contract on the down-low. I can't imagine what kind of scrutiny they would have received during the McCarthy period. Providing gunboats to the Communists a year in advance. Get the stakes!

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  7. A wonderful little armer runabout - the design looks very early chris craft - we may yet make a sailor out of you!

    Since I'm a boat nut, I really liked this bonus round topic - thanks!

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    1. I'm delighted you enjoyed it Miles, you have a stonking entry for this round.

      I'm a prairie boy from Saskatchewan, the only thing I care about boats and ships is that they keep me dry and moving towards land. ;)

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  8. Hmmmmm..... Very nice indeed sir. You've just changed my mind for the tenth time what I'm doing with my prize voucher for Barrage.

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    1. I know, Alf has so many nice toys on offer.

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  9. The shrapnel would go ting-ting on this as well!

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    1. Ha, I think that is what may have caught her eye. :)

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  10. That's a nice little gunboat for an enterprising businessperson - I suppose she could claim it as a legitimate expense?
    : )
    Great work, Curt, nicely finished!

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  11. Very nice and in character both with the theme round and with Madame Ting-Ting!

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    1. Thanks Sander. Yes, M. Ting-Ting needed something for those afternoons on the coast.

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  12. A nice boat I just wish I had a reason to get one.

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    1. Reasons. Reasons? What funny ideas you have Mr. Clint. :)

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  13. I love that Turner painting. Stood looking at it in the Gallery for over an hour once (admittedly it was raining outside mind you!)

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    1. It's one of my favourites. His use of colour and texture was amazing.

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    2. Me too , a fine painting

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  14. Very nice work Curt and she's right her flag looks great on that boat :)

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