Revell 1/108th Harbour Tug Boat Step By Step Full Build

Revell Harbour Tug Boat Model

So this is the Revell Harbour Tug Boat model. It didn’t have a fantastic rating or reviews, but I purchased it anyway because I thought this is a really charming little subject. So yeah, I picked up one of these guys, I think it cost me around £15 cost me. You can see a review video HERE. 

Revell 1/108th Harbour Tug Boat Unboxing & Review Video
Revell 1/108th Harbour Tug Boat Unboxing & Review Video

A Rather basic kit the Plastic is horrible. I don’t know what makes up the plastic actually is but it’s not a nice plastic quite fragile and brittle in places. There’s a fair few parts there. One thing I’ve noticed straight away on this kit though is there’s going to be a ton of there’s a ton of flash. It’s not a great cast in some places, I think there will be quite a lot of filling on this model. 

Building The Revell 1/108th Scale Harbour Tug Boat

So first two hours into the build As expected absolutely tons of sanding, you can see in here the casting marks. They need to be scraped off. And sanded down but as you can see from the next picture we got there. We’ve got a nice smooth finish on that. So, you know, we can progress It’s taken a hell of a long time to get to this stage. I think this stage was about three hours. The next stage came along quite nicely. 

The Hull Of The Tug Boat Model
The Hull Of The Tug Boat Model.
Sides Of The Boat, A Lot Of Work Needed To Clean Them Up
Sides Of The Boat, A Lot Of Work Needed To Clean Them Up.
Starting To Sand Down The Parts Of The Tug Boat Model
Firstly Starting To Sand Down The Parts Of The Tug Boat Model.
The Sides Of The Boat Cleaned Up And Ready For Fitting
The Sides Of The Boat Cleaned Up And Ready For Fitting.
The Hull Of The Tug Boat Model
Secondly Joining The Hull Of The Tug Boat Model.
The Hull Of The Tug Boat Model
The Hull Of The Tug Boat Model
Sticking Together The Bridge For The Tug Boat Scale Model
Thirdly Sticking Together The Bridge For The Tug Boat Scale Model.
The Tug Boats Funnel
The Tug Boats Funnel.
Lower Cabins On The Revell Tugboat Model
Lower Cabins On The Revell Tugboat Model.
The Remaining Parts Of The Kit That I Want To Paint Separately
The Remaining Parts Of The Kit That I Want To Paint Separately.
Test Fitting The Parts Of The Revell Harbour Tug Boat Model Before Priming
Finally Test Fitting The Parts Of The Revell Harbour Tug Boat Model Before Priming.

After cleaning up all the parts they fit pretty well together. There are no windows with this model. So we’re gonna need to figure out something for those clear portholes and whatnot. But yeah, that’s it test fitted together again a ton of sanding and a ton of bits and pieces but it’s gone together. I’m going to paint it up and separate parts and hopefully put it together quite nicely.

Painting And Weathering The Scale Model Tugboat

Painted The Hull And The Cabins Of The Tugboat
Painted The Hull And The Cabins Of The Tugboat.
Masking Off The Hull To Paint In Some More Detail
Masking Off The Hull To Paint In Some More Detail.

So the painting on this is a little bit tricky. To Start there is some masking on the hull. Most of the painting is on the cabins exterior. As most of the detailed parts are pre-moulded there is quite a lot of fine detail work left.

Connected The Bridge, Cabins And Most Of The Rest Of The Parts Of The Tugboat
Connected The Bridge, Cabins And Most Of The Rest Of The Parts Of The Tugboat.
The Hull Of The Ship After Some Weathering
The Hull Of The Ship After Some Weathering.
Another Angle Of The Top Of The Tugboat, Painted And Varnished Ready For Some Weathering
Another Angle Of The Top Of The Tugboat, Painted And Varnished Ready For Some Weathering.

This definitely hasn’t been the easier of models to build or paint but now I can get on with the final stage of weathering.

A Little Bit Of Weathering On The Tugboat Model
A Little Bit Of Weathering On The Tugboat Model.
Weathering The Hull On The Tugboat Scale Model
Weathering The Hull On The Tugboat Scale Model.

I have started out with a few layers of oil washes and some streaking down the sides of the hull.

More Weathering On The Revell Tugboat
More Weathering On The Revell Tugboat.
Close Up Details And Weathering On The Boat Model
Close Up Details And Weathering On The Boat Model.
The Front Of The Tugboat Scale Model After Some Weathering
The Front Of The Tugboat Scale Model After Some Weathering.
I'm Going To Add Some More Rust To The Tugboat Model
I’m Going To Add Some More Rust To The Tugboat Model.

Now on to adding some rust to the boat, using both paints and pigment I’m quite happy with the results. Just a couple more bits to do on this guy.

Finished The Weathering On The Tugboat Model
Finished The Weathering On The Tugboat Model.
Using White Sewing Thread For The Lifeboat Support Ropes
Using White Sewing Thread For The Lifeboat Support Ropes.

Now I have added the rigging and the ropes to the lifeboat. I guess at this point I’m going to call it done. Check out this little video of the build.

The Finished Revell Scale Model Tugboat

Revell Scale Model Tugboat
Revell Scale Model Tugboat
Tugboat Scale Model Kit
Scale Model Tug Boat
Completed Tug Boat Model Kit
Rusty Tugboat Model
Revell Scale Model Tugboat
Completed Revell Harbour Tug Boat
Completed Revell Harbour Tug Boat
108th Scale Tug Boat Model
Tugboat Scale Model
Scale Model Boat Kit
Revell Tugboat Model Kit
Scale Model Boat Kit From Revell
Old And Rusty Tug Boat
Top View Of The Rusty Tug Boat Model

All in all, it has been a fun build. Frustration at the amount of flash and the pre-moulded part but I don’t really see another tugboat model on the market. At under £20, it is quite good value, and with a little bit of love, you could get a really nice result.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE REVELL HARBOUR TUG BOAT