Variag - Russian Cruiser (GPM 281)

[Zé Reis]

Introduction





And now it’s time to building a complete hull vessel.
Is the model that will occupy more space in my showcase.
My attraction to this ship was due to have liked their lines and colors.
I feel that is not easy and many challenges will be waiting for me.



The Ship


The Variag was a battleship of the Russian Imperial Navy.

Presents a very troubled history

1898 to 1899 - Construction in Philadelphia in William Cramp & Sons shipyard
Oct 1899 - Released to water.
Jan 1901 - Transferred to the Russian Imperial Navy
1901 to 1904 - Serving Imperial Russian Navy
1904 to 1916 - After torpedoed in the Battle of Chemulpo (Korea) was sunk by own crew and later recovered by the Japanese and released to service the Japanese Imperial Navy.
1916 - Sold to the Russians. Sent to England for review
1917 - Arrested by the British government because the revolutionary outbreak in Russia. It was destined for demolition.
1818 - Was dismantled.


In Philadelphia






Here was Russian






In Chemulpo
The imbalance of forces was very favorable to the Japanese. Because of that and because have been sunk by own crew, the sailors and the Variag were glorified in the Russian lands.





In recovery by the Japanese





Here was Japanese with new name, Soya






Some features

Displacement - 6200 tons
Length - 129.6 m
Armament - 12 152mm cannon, 12 of 75mm, 8 of 47mm, 2 of 37mm. 6 torpedo tubes launches.
Shielding vertical - 76mm
Command bridge Shielding (max) - 152mm
Top speed - 23 knots
Propellers - 2
Engines - 2 triple expansion steam
Boilers - 30 heated by coal
crew - 580 men







The model






Technical Data

Editor: GPM
Reference: 281
Scale: 1 / 200
Parts: 2974 + 78 to build by modeler
Degree of difficulty: Difficult (3 - maximum degree of GPM)
Length: 650mm
Width: 80mm
Height: 300mm
Pages of instructions: 3
Page layouts: 10
Pages of parts: 22
Format: A4
Instructions: In Polish




The model has two color options for the hull (underwater hull):
Green – Shipyard original color;
Red - Russian painting made more later.


GPM provides laser parts to the ribs and three small sets for very small parts.
I bought both sets.

One of the problems referenced in this model is that the color green and maybe the red (hull options) do not have a uniform color but different shades.

I’m not done yet a detailed analysis but it seems that this also happens in my model.

It’s a big GPM failure, and in a model in which the design is also extremely well done.

If the tones are shaded I will decide if paint or not these parts.



Two sheets of drawings. The first of the ribs and the second with two general schemes.









Three sheets with parts












All ribs are based on laser-cut sheets. Of course it's an option for the modeller, in the book are parts to cut and laminate.









The three small leaves (13x9cm) with very small laser cut parts. Some would not be possible to cut with a knife.








The assembly will be done step by step

[Zathros]

A very interesting history lesson. I had no idea she was refit by the Japanese. In all the history I have read, I still don't know why the British seized her?

Great ship to build, look forward to seeing your progress.

[SJPONeill]

At a guess, I would say the British seized her because the revolution in Russia freed up German forces for the western front and Britain may have felt with some justification that a. Russia had sold the team out and b. the allies were going to need all the help they could get and that included obsolete cruisers...

I love this era though and will enjoy watching this build progress...

[Dancooper]

I will be following this built with great interest since I have this lady in my stash as well... hence not in colored version, I have everything in lasercut and somewhere around a very small bag with brass cannons for her. (although I will have to scan the house with a metal detector to find the latter I suspect..... argh, wifes with a nick on cleaning up :/ )

[Dancooper]

Originally Posted by Zathros

A very interesting history lesson. I had no idea she was refit by the Japanese. In all the history I have read, I still don't know why the British seized her?

Great ship to build, look forward to seeing your progress.

Sounds obvious to me, don't forget that the King of Great Britain and Tsar Nicholas II were full cousins (heck if you compare pictures they could have been twins), so the British gouvernment (read "King") probably wasn't very happy about his family (the Tsarina was also British) being taking presonar... sorry my english just isn't good enough to describe the situation, in 1917 the family wasn't actually taken presonar yet but they were kind of grounded, it was only a couple of months later that they were brought to the village that would become their nameless graves.

Amazingly enough all this is probably the cause of the heamophylia (spelling?) that Nicholas's son (sorry, I'm not sure of the kid's name suffered off and the trust that the Tsarina put in the legendary Rasputin who took the chance to even put his own ideas in the head of Nicholas... which lead to the revolution wich, as we all know still ripples on...

I know this is completely off topic, but suppose what the world would have looked like if that little kid wouldn't have suffered of heamophelia...

[Zathros]

I don't feel this kind of topic is off topic at all. This is the heart of why a lot of people make models. It is a 3 dimensional recording and visualization of history in these cases. History is a great thing. Without it, we wouldn't have all of these great models to build, or even be here!

Thanks for the explanations. I did research it, the British comment was just that she was seized, but your explanations shed some more light.

[Tim Crowe]

You've certainly picked an interesting subject. Those laser cut parts look well worth the money and time saved in cutting the small parts out.

From what I remember of my school history lessons (many decades ago) British Imperial diplomacy didn't get much beyond "might is right" after that "send a gunboat"

Will be following this thread - hoping to pick up some hints and tips

Tim

[Michael Mash]

A wonderful choice for a project.
I found your historical presentation interesting and worthwhile.
Looking forward to watching you build her.
Best of Luck,
Mike

[Zé Reis]

Zathros > I’m according with you…

... “I don't feel this kind of topic is off topic at all. This is the heart of why a lot of people make models.“

...the collection of information and knowledge we collect is another side to this wonderful world of modeling.



SJPONeill > You say “I love this era though and will enjoy watching this build progress...”

I like to, and I think many peoples love this era.

Equipment with a rough exterior but at the same time with beautiful lines. Another aspect of these times was the knighthood ... Old times!



Dancooper > Sure that your wife already threw everything into the trash!
What waiting from modeler's woman?

You say “I know this is completely off topic”

No problem, general knowledge is never off topic.



Tim > Agreed, as I said earlier, some lasercut parts would not be possible to cut with a knife.



Michael Mash > Many thanks. That your wishes come true

[Dancooper]

I'm pretty sure she didn't throw the little bag of barrels in the trash, but who knows where it is now.... and I'm very confident I really can't roll those little things in paper :D