Bridlington & Wolds Scale Model Club Forum
Models => Modelling Projects => Topic started by: Haddock on June 16, 2016, 02:04:17 PM
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This will have to be the next project folks. I got the kit at North Shields for £55, sounds a lot at first but there are 840 plastic parts and 200+ etched brass parts, railings included.
The finished model is roughly 500mm long by 90mm wide so I reckon that's good value for money, I guess between 3 and 4 months work.
If you look at the pictures, the first two are as she is now, the only preserved dreadnought type warship in the world.
Look closely at the third and you'll see she's wearing a camouflage scheme, as she was in late 1944.
The fourth is as she was in 1945 painted in " measure 21 " the same scheme as USS Laffey wore in her short career.
Five and six are " measure31a design 8B ". This is the scheme I have chosen because I think it looks a bit more interesting than just " navy blue all over " albeit two shades of navy blue.
Seven is a pack of " authentic colours " . I know I said I thought that type of thing was a waste of money but they didn't cost any more than buying individual paints, so there!
Eight is the main hull parts ( I had to open the box and bash some plastic ). The seams between the armour plates look enormous but if you look at pic 2, they can be seen, so some chiselling and sanding will be in order to knock 'em back somewhat.
Watch this space.
Haddock.
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My type of ship.
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Quite handsome in an ugly sort of way, looks a bit of a thug!!
Haddock.
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This looks a very business-like vessel. Them seams are certainly visible in all the pictures but I agree, they do look a touch overdone on the kit. I imagine it would be easier to take them down a bit that try and add them to the hull if it were moulded flat though? If that WERE the case, how would you do it? Stretched sprue or plastic rod and then bring it down again if needed or is there some special engineers/modellers magic I've not learned yet?
I'll be keeping a close eye on this Haddock.
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Dunno yet, but I'll let you know when I do.
Haddock.
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Where is she presently moored?
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San Jacinto State Park. Near Houston. Texas.
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If you would like to look at lots of photo's, google " USS Texas photo tour by Steve Backer ver 2 steel navy.
Haddock.
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Thanks Haddock for the web site - she looks like it will make a good model.
I still like the older ships, they seem to have more about them than the newer ones - but each to his own and as long as you have fun making it, thats all that matters.
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Made a bit of a start whilst the water is drying on the two destroyers.
Hull halves are well distorted, needed some force to close up to acceptable limits.
Getting ready to mark and cut below the waterline.
Note to self, don't chuck away the wrong bit.
I'm always a bit apprehensive when I hack to death fifty odd quids-worth of kit but it seems to have worked out reasonably well.
Haddock.
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Fortunately, I kept the right bit!
Decks I place, looks reasonably flat up to now.
Haddock.
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Interesting stuff Tony.
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The mystery is solved, I think.
If you look at my first post I mention the huge seams between the armour plates which some modellers thought they would be welds. These aren't armour plates, they're the outer skin of the anti-torpedo bulges and as such would be relatively thin compared with the armour plate (10-12 inches on this ship). The bulges would be part filled with water, the idea being that they would absorb and dissipate the forces generated by an exploding torpedo, isolating it from the main hull ( not a very good explanation, but the best I can do). These bulges were added sometime during the 1930's and were certainly there by 1937.
The detail we can see is either a joggle in one plate so that it can be riveted to the adjacent plate(s) or a joining strip (strake) so that two plate can be riveted together, one row of rivets in the first instance or two in the second.
Whichever method, they're quite prominent as the pics show.
Haddock.
On occasions, one side would be completely flooded, inducing a list, thus increasing the range of a broadside!!
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I guess this is what you would call "busy", painting should be fun.
Haddock.
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This is already a stunning piece of work Sir. I have just acquired this kit having watched two excellent documentaries on BBC on Jutland and Scapa Flow - which included visits to this great ship. However, having seen your diligent work thus far - old Kate Dewar's offspring is quite 'feart' at the prospect of its build. Maybe I'll just rustle up another couple of less damaged Panzerschiffe instead!
Look forward to seeing more 'Big H' (Only the purists will understand that!)
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Thank you kind sir, I should reserve judgement till it's done.
Haddock.
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Bit more progress, lots of little bits to stick together and plenty of dry-fitting before pulling it to bits for painting.
Haddock.
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Hi Haddock,
From that last post, do I understand that you paint many sub-assemblies and bring it all together at the end prior to finishing.
If so, how do you get such a great uniform finish on the final item, as surely each separate painting session will bring subtle differences in colour and tone?
Cheers,
Bigkev
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I'm not really bothered if there are subtle differences, I think it looks more natural. If there are, it's more by accident than design, I'm not that clever. A coat of matt or satin varnish seems to bring it all together though
Haddock.
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Hi Haddock,
thanks for the enlightenment. I know we have talked about varnishes with a tint in before and was unsure if you used that method to bring it together.
I must have a go at a ship model sometime soon, your work is just so inspirational.
Cheers
Bigkev
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What Bigkev said!!!
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Catapult constructed.
Main armament in place.
The catapult could be the subject of a separate post when I get my head together, but for now, it's done!
Haddock.
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That is such a wonderful looking vessel. I may put this on my wish list for when I am competent enough in naval stuff. I have a couple of simpler ones to try out first though which will be started this year!
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Bit more done, there will be two of these. Need ladders and some more railings adding yet, not in the kit but I can see 'em quite clearly in one of my photo's off t'internet.
Haddock.
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So here's an aircraft/boat handling crane with all it's railings. Not sure about the ladders, on closer inspection, it looks as though what I can see are actually work-mans ladders as the pictures were taken during the year 2000, when the ship was being painted. More research needed.
Quite awkward this, in fact it was Kipling. The next one should be a lot easier now I've got the hang of it.
Haddock.
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Some lovely etched brass work.
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Thank you kind sir. You can only do this if it's nice brass to start with, so credit to Trumpeter cos they don't always get it right, the catapult was a nightmare.
Haddock.
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Thank you kind sir. You can only do this if it's nice brass to start with, so credit to Trumpeter cos they don't always get it right, the catapult was a nightmare.
Haddock.
Impressive though.
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How do you do it - its excellent. Would we expect anything less ?????
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Hi Haddock,
I can only 'echo' all the words said by the others. Your skill and patience is astounding.
Bigkev
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Hi Haddock,
I can only 'echo' all the words said by the others. Your skill and patience is astounding.
Bigkev
I think it's more a case of being tight-fisted, I like to get my moneys- worth out of a kit, even if it was a bargain.
Haddock.
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Now if you're not fond of multiple small parts, this probably isn't for you.
Haddock.
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Here's a few guns, 100 to be exact although 40 0f 'em are mounted on 10 platforms so not so mind-blowing.
As seen.
5in X 51cal 3in X 50cal
40mm AA guns 20mm mg's
Haddock.
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And here's some floater-net baskets and a couple of radar scanners thrown in for good measure.
I always thought the baskets were to store scrambling nets but not so. The idea was that in the event of the ship sinking, the nets would float free and provide something for the crew to hang on to whilst awaiting rescue. It strikes me that if the ship went down in the North sea or the Atlantic, they would probably freeze to death, in the Pacific, they would be eaten by sharks (remember the Indianapolis). Not a nice way to go.
Bending these was a bit of a problem to start with, they just wouldn't play ball so I devised a crude bending fixture. Hopefully the pictures speak for themselves.
Haddock.(brassed off).
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North Sea and Atlantic freeze to death and Pacific eaten by sharks - thanks for reminding me of my time at sea !!!!!!!
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But it's only if you happen to sink..........or be daft enough to fall over-board!!!!
Haddock.
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I think I will stay on shore !!!!!
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Here's a bit more "brass bashin'". I've reinforced the lattice yard with a bit of 0.4mm brass tube with some 0.2mm rod stuffed up it to make it solid otherwise I'm sure it will just crumple at the least provocation.
The second bit will be a good test of the adhesives I'm using.
Haddock.
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Intricate work.
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Good stuff, this Thin blend Gator glue.
Haddock.
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If it's too good, you'll never get the ruler off that lump of Blu-Tac. Fine work in all senses of the word!!
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Bit more progress. Who in their right mind would spend time removing moulded ladders,, then spend more time putting 'em on again.
Haddock.
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You and me is the answer
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You and me is the answer
I would contest that as your answer suggests that you are in your right mind MSea!
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He is, it's just that nautical types and engineers use a different set of parameters, to measure things!!
Haddock.
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CXAM-1 radar. Quite fiddly, partly due to the fact that the development of the mounting frame ain't quite right, so some "adjustments" to be made. The frame touches down on 13 points. Kipling!!. Might look better under a coat of paint. Need to hide those blobs of glue.
Haddock.
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Interesting shot on detail of foredeck...
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Quite, of particular interest are the railings, the colour of the paint and the wear and tear on same, plus of course , the guns are missing atop B turret.
Haddock
Same view, different time or lighting conditions.
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Regarding our most recent conversation vis-à-vis deck colour and treatment. I would suspect the deck once being stained or varnished would be resistant to any paint after a while?
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Don't know when you picture was taken but mine was taken in 2000, probably after the decks were re-covered in pine but before any paint/stain was applied.
My problem is that I'm hoping to depict the ship in late 1944 so I'm going for 20B deck blue, lightened for scale effect and hopefully, to lift out some of the detail. USS Laffey looks too dark overall to me, even though the colours are "authentic" and already faded for scale effect.
Haddock.
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Regarding our most recent conversation vis-à-vis deck colour and treatment. I would suspect the deck once being stained or varnished would be resistant to any paint after a while?
I seem to remember you can slosh deck paint on top of anything, including rust, grease, sand and even seaweed. It sticks to anything. It also takes the skin off your knees better than sandpaper.
Haddock.
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I remember getting the crew to paint the bilges - they painted OVER a cigarette packet and several loose 3/4 inch whitworth nuts and bolts - and made a good job of it.
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I remember getting the crew to paint the bilges - they painted OVER a cigarette packet and several loose 3/4 inch whitworth nuts and bolts - and made a good job of it.
Hope they primed it first!!
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Bet you all thought I was asleep!........been doing battle with measure 31a design 8b.
The first picture is the "official" navy design for both ships in the class.
The second picture is from the team that have been responsible for the restoration of USS Texas and is as she was when wearing this scheme in late 1944. It only lasted for about three months.
The third picture speaks for itself but to me, looks more like the second picture than the "official" scheme.
The fourth is progress to date using the second picture as reference. Not keen on the colours but they are supposedly correct.
Haddock.
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Bit more progress albeit very slow, the following shows probably why.
1. Railings and ladders, more to go on yet.
2. Catapult, looks very nice but is hopelessly wrong. As it is, there's no room to fit the railings around the boat deck. Also, the catapult should lay at an angle of around 10-15 degrees to the centreline of the turret, not much I can do about it but I can create room for the railings by swinging the turret around so it looks as though the aircraft is about to be launched, nobody will know.
3. X turret as fitted is actually touching the tripod assembly and preventing it from sitting down properly, there should be a gap of about 1mm between the tripod and the turret.
4. Here's the "engineering" solution, not quite so easy to do at this stage of the build.
5. Fixed.
You would have thought Trumpeter would have corrected these errors before releasing the kit!!!!!!
Haddock.
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Trumpeter need a Haddock - then they would be correct at everything !!!!!!
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Just thinking again - if we sell Haddock to Trumpeter - WHO GETS THE MONEY - I bet Zak ends up with it.
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We could share it, but 1p each, is it really worth it?
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Flattery gets you nowhere!!!!!
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We could offer him as a free gift.
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I'm starting to feel distinctly unloved.
Haddock.
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I love you Haddock!
Don't get wrong idea Msea, I know your cartoons.............................
Bigkev
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Never thought a thing - now lets flash up the computer program !!!!!!
Don't fret Haddock, you know we ALL love you in our own way.
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Never thought a thing - now lets flash up the computer program !!!!!!
Don't fret Haddock, you know we ALL love you in our own way.
Now I can feel a warm glow spreading through my body!!
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Don`t let em bother you Haddock....nice model, amazing really......the usual standard then.
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Bit more progress, must admit to breathing a sigh of relief at getting the fighting top in place, it needed a bit of fiddling. This bit is a kit in itself.
Haddock.
Note to self. Don't break that flippin' yard-arm off!!!
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Impressive model.
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....very!
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Thanks guys. Hopefully it should look better with the rest of the ship stuck underneath it.
Haddock.
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Thanks guys. Hopefully it should look better with the rest of the ship stuck underneath it.
Haddock.
I though you were into Sci-Fi and this was some sort of space cruiser.
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I'll ignore that remark!
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Few more bits and bobs added, some quite large, some quite small. It seems never ending.
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Hi Haddock,
That is a lovely looking model. The attention to detail is astounding. I doff my hat to you Sir!
Cannot wait to see it all together in its glory.
Bigkev
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The detail is provide by Trumpeter, being a tight-fisted Yorkshire-man, I want my moneys worth so I have to use it all!
Haddock.
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This is an incredible looking model......very busy and ship like, if you get my drift. I am not a ship man but this is exciting me :P
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Starting to look rather "busy" around this area now, still more detail to add.
Meanwhile, here's a few machine guns, with splinter shields ready for a coat of paint.
Haddock.
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Out gunned I think.
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Watch and shoot, watch and shoot!
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Is there a collective noun for guns???
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Is there a collective noun for guns???
Arms Cote?
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Could be a nest - for machine guns?
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Bit more progress. Not everything is fixed in place and there's more detail to add but it gives a good idea of what it may look like when complete.
Haddock.
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Now that is a busy looking ship.....and in true Haddock style superbly build.
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More detail added.
I was going to use separate stanchions around the main deck and string them with fly-tying thread, 0.03mm dia or this Ushi van der rosten stuff, same dia.
I had a dry run on some scrap card just to see if it was possible. Then I drilled 0.25mm holes all round the edge of the main deck, stopped counting when I got past 100.
Fitted some of the stanchions and sat back to admire my work......... they were invisible, even with thread fitted they were still invisible, so I yanked 'em all out.
The problem is that the railings that Trumpeter supply for the main deck are really only generic railings so where they are supposed to skip over the fairleads, which are all in the right place, there's not a snowballs chance in hell of this happening, the pitch is completely wrong.
I've resorted to my own generic stuff. By mixing and matching four different pitches, I've managed to fill the spaces between each fairlead reasonably well, still got to skip over the top with separate pieces of rail, somehow.
Watch this space.
Haddock. (brassed off), not really, I've convinced myself it's good fun.
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Railings fitted on the foredeck, portside.
The gaps over the fairleads are now clear to see. If I can get the top two pieces in place, I'll be highly delighted, but I may have to settle for just the top one. There are twenty fairleads in all.
Haddock.
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I thought this was supposed to be a relaxing hobby, still it passes the time, That's a great looking ship.
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I'm still relaxed.
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I really do admire your tenacity, skill and patience. A fantastic looking craft, crafted superbly by the master himself. Thank you for sharing this with us minions.
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I'm going boss-eyed just thinking about all those railings, let alone attempting to get them in place............
A true masterclass again, Thankyou Haddock.
Bigkev
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Those old and cluttered looking vessels are much more appealing to me than the sterile, streamlined things of today. I think I was born about 100 years too late!
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Lot more graft to build the flippin' things an'all.
Haddock.
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That's all the fairleads "skipped" over. Had to try a few different methods before I found one that worked reasonably well. A coat of paint should improve things.
Haddock.
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I really do appreciate your eye for detail. I will watch this closely.
By the way, I have just got back from Greece and allthough I am not a "ship man" I could not resist a ride on this vessel. Now if you can tell me what it was when it was build then you get loadsa bonus points!
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Sorry, not a clue, it's all Greek to me!!
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I think that's it folks, just a few figures to add. There could be more detail but I think this is enough.
On to the next one.
Haddock.
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What a fantastic looking model...well done the master. I can only look on with envy.