Here are a couple of shots of my “Orca” as it nears the point of sealing, painting and weathering. I started this about 6 weeks ago and it’s been built using the plans from Pat Tritle in the USA. I’m sorry that I’ve not taken many shots of the build as up to a point, most of it was covered by a build thread listed by Pat a few years ago on another forum. I shall include more shots now that we are at the paining and detailing phase as this is were I plan to go overboard!

I used the plans, mainly for the templates of the formers ect and deviated on wood choice where I felt that harder woods would be better than balsa. The hull was glass clothed and resin finished. Most of the superstructure was bass wood, obechi, some mahogany and even some pine! Whilst Pat included some basic detailing on the plans, I have done as much research as possible on the real thing, have watched “Jaws” several times (not hard as it’s still my fave film!), I shall try and replicate as much detail as possible!

Radio choice is a simple 540 sized brushed motor, 45mm brass prop, 15amp Mtroniks ESC, Hobbyking servo for rudder and 6 cell car type Nimh battery. I’ll take photos of the internals at some point.

I’ve built it in such a way that all major parts come apart for painting, rear deck, cabin roof and rear wall, front hatch, flying bridge, mast, all brass railings ect.

All that’s left to do before painting commences is the final details on the mast, a final shot of her completed before painting and then onwards! All the deck details, I.e, shark cage, O2 bottles, gaffs, spears, chum buckets, barrels, fighting chair, Rod n reel, Shark jaw on flying bridge, and any other details will all be scratch built. About the only commercial items going on are the post holes, nav light boards and search light, My only other issue now is trying and so far failing to find 3 suitable figures to represent Quint, Hope and Brody in 1:14 scale, anyone know of a solution please le5 me know?

Here are some shots showing my motor, propshaft, coupling, ESC, receiver and rudder servo set-up. All nice, simple and straightforward.

Tomorrow will see the basic model finished ready to sand, seal, sand, prime and start painting and weathering, watch this space......!

Hull primed at Matt black applied, tomorrow start the red on the sides and priming the upper surfaces.

Also stained and varnished the rear deck and started painting the mast prior to Adding additional Details to it I.e winch, weather vain, top lights ect.

Still along way to go!

Some careful mixing of Tamiya and Vallejo acrylics has seen me come up with a red and grey\green I’m happy with. Looking at reference photos, it’s hard to pin down exactly the colours, but I’m happy they are close enough. The airbrush has been a busy boy today! Of course everything will change once I’ve varnished and started the weathering, the “Orca” was a scruffy boat to say the least!

Here is the completed and weathered flying bridge. Weathering with washes, powders and a little dry brushing where needed. Life rings are wooden rings from HK, about 50p For a dozen posted, I’ve got many sizes in stock at that price!

The last thing on the bridge to be completed is to paint the echo sounding fish finder made from plasticard. In fact everything is scratch built except the helm, Horn, searchlight and nav light boards as I had some left over from another project.

A little work on the roof and rear wall of main cabin today adding the base colours. Exhaust painted and rusted, and fish finder painted (thanks Doug for the screen shot, printed and installed with an epoxy window!).

Still looking very bright and factory fresh, but all that will calm down with some serious weathering! That’s it for a few days as I start nights tonight.

Here’s a couple of shots of an hours Work before shift making some of the details to go on. I’ve made the first cage side, 3 more to go! The ballast tanks for the cage, the 2 chum buckets (pvc pipe from B&Q £2.99 for 2 meters!) and the 2 scuba bottles that Hooper used in the last scene of the film. Mostly made from scrap plasticard, tubing, rod and strip from the scrap box!

So, this morning before bed after night shift I painted the Scuba tank bottles finished with yellow and blue trimline. After a kip, I made Quints fishing reel based on An image I found of an Abu Garcia shark reel, all made from various bits of scrap plastic rod, card and strip. Quite please with the outcome if I’m honest! It will of course have real fishing line added once painted.

Today before bed the reel got its coat of paint and varnish. Reel placed next to a 10p piece to show scale. No wonder I wear glasses 😂

This afternoon started the first of those famous yellow barrels, which are simply 36mm pvc pipe from B&Q, balsa ends and plastic strip. Spun up in the drill and sanded to shape.

A little more done today prior to and post kip. Fishing rod made from tapered dowel, brass rings, whipping like a real rod, real fishing line and hook!

Especially pleased with the barrel, primed, airbrushed tamiya yellow then washes, dry brushing ect to dirty it up before adding the ropes. 2-3 more to make!

I’m trying to keep the whole build to under a £100 from start to finish. I spent about £30 on wood, same for the motor/propshaft/prop (already had esc, coupling, servo, battery and RX) and about £40 On a few commercial items and a couple of paints I didn’t already have. The rest has been made from the years of accumulated various wood, metal and scrap boxes I have!