A couple of days ago I was looking through my stash to see what kit I could start without having to shop for paints… I’m pretty sure you are familiar with that unwritten law of modelling : when you have 100 different paints ; you are always short on the ones you need for any random kit you want to start.
Anyway, I finally found a kit that doesn’t need many different colors being the famous Calypso from Jacques Yves Cousteau… even though it isn’t mentioned like that on the kit itself anymore of course.
It’s actually the third time I attempt this kit, the first time was when the kit was first issued under its real name, including a leaflet with pictures from the television series. The kit was doomed of course, since I was too young and unexperienced for this model.
The second time was about 10 or so years ago, and to be honest I don’t even remember what happened and why it never got finished… it just kind of slipped away in history…
Now a new attempt :
A nice pile of styrene that doesn’t even look that bad coming from molds that are almost half a century old…
To the left ; the decals included in this issue, to right a set of originals that a fellow modeller from a Belgian forum donated to me for the previous attempt :
And off we go, the first parts have been glued together :
Now the fun start with paints… Vallejo paints btw :
The most difficult part for the moment is the superstrucure, due to its fit… or rather ; its lack of fit :
But with a bit of force, and some pieces of sprue I got it :
And with its first layers, waiting for some further work tomorrow…
Oh nice. Really love the hull work so far! Dang this reminds me of my youth. Couldn’t wait to see the latest episode. It’s one of the big reasons i got into scuba diving. I’ll be following along in the hopes the 3rd times the charm lol
Thank you TheMongoose, as you may have noticed, I’m not painting her as pristine as she appeared on the show, mainly because I now think she wasn’t as pristine back then either but that we just didn’t see the rust and grime due to the standard quality of television shows back then.
As for third time being the charm… I’m crossing my fingers and I’m already further into the build than at the previous two attempts [:)]
Many years back, a friend of mine was actually aboard the Calypso, and from his comments, it was anything but pristine . . . Ragged would be a better description.
Great box art though; sharks at the bow and divers at the stern !!! And running small boat ops, helo ops, and saucer launch all at the same time. Wow.
I have an earlier issue of thar kit in my stash. Love the work that you’ve done already. I’m glad that you’re going to “weather” it slightly. To me a ship looks more natural with a little “wear” on it. Does anyone make PE or other after-market for this kit? Didn’t Revell issue a kit of the show’s PBY too? Now I regret getting rid of the old Revell Eastwind Icebreaker kit that I had. Good luck going forward.
I think she might have been caught on camera a few times if I’m not mistaken, but in the later years she didn’t live on Calypso anymore because their wedding was not that great anymore either. Most french women have to deal with only one mistress, but with Cousteau there was of course the ocean as another one in addition…
I’m afraid PE is no where to be found, even though I’ve looked a bit for it, if I had resin 3D printer I would have started by printing another helicopter platform to start with, however, my FDM printer is not suitable for fine work like that.
Yes Revell also issued the Coustea version of the PBY Catalina as well, unfortunately, just like this vessel, that one is not available anymore either…
Don’t fret! The old model of the Navy version is identical( I.E. The " Burton Island") so you can still do her. You are going to have to look for her. Not as rare as the Eastwind, but based on the REVELL moldings-The same Class! I think the only thing they changed was the Color.
When you get to putting the main deck on. Build a bulkhead or support at the foredeck stepdown and at the end of the railings as molded. The hull is very flexible and breakable at these points. I have done four to date and sold them all. Geez! Forgot to keep one fer me.
I like your subtle weathering. Surprisingly, the LeSuroit was doggy too. Lotsa sea miles on these Grand Old ladies!
Once in a while I might be home to see a ehow, most of the time I was working nights. I remember when they went to Truk Lagoon looking for a certain sub among a few other boats. ou could see him swim the length of the sub and he looked so small.
John Denver did a song aboiut him and his boat back in the 70s.
I was referring to the ship, The question was if an Eastwind could be found-You know the Coast Guard Icebreaker. The Burton Island is her duplicate. Leastwise according to REVELL… I do know the “Cat” was different as I have it in my stash.
Now as far as aircraft, if it floats and Flies I will have a model of it somewhere including the “Panama” Clippers and the “Emily” and “Mavis” from the Japanese Navy-circa WW2.
This also includes the British one referred as “The Boat”
I feel for any woman who has to compete with the Oceans. The Sea is a very Demanding and UNFORGIVING! Mistress at that. Even to taking your life if you are not careful with her and her moods.
The “neptune” moniker is from the Custeau Foundation wanting royalties for use of any of their logos, trademarks, etc.
It’s my understanding that CF specifically withdrew support for the Catalina kit after the actual plane crashed, killing one of the Cousteau sons, who was flying same.
The ship was a former French Minesweeper. The “bulb” at the front had been a glazed “observation dome” a modification by Cousteau when they purchased the ship.
In actual use, the glass was constantly being broken, and was eventually replaced with marine plywood epoxied into place. Research vessels often have worse rust and peeling paint than average merchant vessels (if not quite to fishing ships).
Nice clean build on this one, which is outstanding given the age of this kit.
