Meanwhile the torture continues.

The Liberty ship is now rigged.

Quote from: Bigkev on November 01, 2025, 05:33:06 PM

Quote from: chriswil42 on November 01, 2025, 02:41:41 PMI need some 'go faster' juice.

Dave is the man to see...............

Sorry, secret family recipe!

Quote from: cph64 on November 01, 2025, 05:57:36 PMYour filling and sanding is a masterclass in itself. I rarely get it as smooth as you.

Patience grasshopper!

Quote from: cph64 on November 01, 2025, 06:09:07 PMHaddock gave me a couple of tips when working with etch brass, 1) put a thin coat of Klear where it's going then when dry put a dab on the part you want to fit and bring the two together. Once all dry then touch up with CA. 2) cut the tip off the eye end of a needle to form a prong to take the CA. Needless to say I haven't mastered either yet!!! I like the tip about placing the needle in an old brish handle and like you I use an angled cocktail stick for placing little parts. Great work so far.

He gave me the same tips, but he was very slow and ponderous, I have sort of developed my own technique.

I have been struggling today, I even contacted AJM Models in Poland by email, he admitted that some parts are missing and is sending me some by air mail.
Here I am tearing my hair out (well I would if I had any) and using nautical language!

There are some parts labelled and some not, its a bit of a nightmare at the moment, vague instructions, repeated in different ways,
I am making progress, but why is it so difficult.

Look at all this etched brass and detail, once the deck is on it can hardly be seen, it will hopefully make a nice model in the end.
Rant over for now!

Another model that will be perfect.

Quote from: chriswil42 on October 31, 2025, 01:47:26 PMAmazing brass work - excellent. I don't know how you deal with it.
The Liberty ship is looking good.

My eyes are wondering too!!!!

The Liberty ship has now had a pin wash, dry brushed and decal transfers applied. It awaits a coat of matt varnish and then the sea, rigging as well.
This was a really nice kit from Trumpeter.

More work on the forrard part of the ship, as Martin would say. The bow to me.
The amount of detail is really good.
The etched brass would have kept Haddock busy for a while.

Quote from: Bigkev on October 30, 2025, 04:20:03 PMThis is fabulous Zak. I've never seen an early aircraft carrier in this scale. Hats off to you with that etch brass, the cocktail stick tip is great and probably better than one of those sticky sticks.
Nice work.

I have one of those pencil like sticks, but forgot, DOH!

Etched brass of the miniscule variety, the gun has 3 of the tiniest piece I have ever dealt with - absolute madness.
I can only see they do not sit square when I took the photo and enlarged it.
Microscope required!

The resin, well lots of large chunks to remove and some sanding required.
Not the best way to spend an afternoon. Most of this will probably be hidden under the main deck.

While the Liberty ship is drying I started this.
It took me an hour to check the parts list.
The instructions are exploded like views, no writing, no warnings about resin or anything about glues, so probably intended for an experienced modeller. So< I hear you mutter, Why is Dave building it! Thought that I had better say it first.

This is from AJM Models, a Polish company. I bought this on EBay for a lot less than the usual price.
The resin has large lumps attached that need to be sawn off.

The hull is a large lump of resin.

Lots of etched brass, some of it very small.

I pick up small pieces of etched brass using a cocktail stick cut at an angle, when slightly wet this picks up pieces easily. (I use saliva!)

The first to go on are the doors down the side of the hull.

The essential tools for dealing with the etched brass, sharp small scalpel blade, fine tweezers and a cut off needle mounted in an old tooth brush handle.

Meanwhile, the Arctic Convoy PQ -?? assembles.
The escorts:
Light Cruiser, destroyers, corvettes and a Cam Ship

The Merchant Ships

The Convoy
Not in the required spacing, some selective compression was required! (Sorry, It would be too large)