Kingfisher

Very nice.  The "water" looks great.  The plane, too. 

Thats very nice, and great work on the water.

Very nicely done ,the base compliments the Aircraft perfectly

I'm blown away by the water; may I ask what scale Kingfisher?

Glenn

Looks good. I've got one of those in my stash. I'll have to think about a base like that.

Thanks for all the comments.  The scale is 1/72.  Sorry I don't even remember the maker, I've had this around for a while.

Fred

mississippivol

I'm blown away by the water; may I ask what scale Kingfisher?

Glenn

Couldn't agree more.  Could you share how you did the water?  It's amazing!

Thanks!

Eric

The water:

Most of the ship builders use some form of silicon for water bases, but I find it hard to work with and often produces unrealistic effects.

For this, I started by pouring plaster onto the wooden base.  Getting the right amount is tricky, as you want it to cover the base but not run over the side.  Shake the base to get it to spread out evenly and get air bubbles out.

When it is dry, dimple the surface with the dremel tool.  This is messy!

Carve out the spot where the pontoon will sit.

I primed with an acrylic paint, then put on the  blue color, which was enamel, but acrylic would be just as good. Overcoat with future to get it shiny. 

Airbrush a lighter aqua color around where the wake will be.

I used light spackle compound to make the "foam" around the pontoons.  Set the plane into the hole you made, on top of some spackle.  Let the spackle ooze out the sides.  

Then just do some dry brushing with white color to touch up.

It's really pretty simple.

Fred

For this, I started by pouring plaster onto the wooden base.  

I use plaster too, but I pour the plaster into a mold-box, and the plaster-pour is the base, then use crumpled aluminum foil to get the "ripples and waves".. But I do 1/48 and larger only... That method might be out of scale for 1/72, though..

Nice !!!

Great picture!  There seems to be something ahead of the plane making a lot of white water.  I think I recall the ship towed a mat or something for the plane to run up on.

Would it have improve it more if the propeller is replaced by something that will make it appear to be rotating? I t would complement the wake on the float.

Yes, I thought of that.  Also, one wing float is out of the water, and I thought to use some clear acrylic water effects to model water streaming off the pontoon.  But I'm mainly a ship guy.  This was just practice for my next ship model.  I am relatively new to making these water bases.

Fred

The water is fantastic! Love the shadow of a splash on the right pylon.

Thanks Fred and all you guys.  I am impressed with your methods and model workmanship.  I'll give one or more a try.  By the way, what Dremel burr or bit did you use?

Thanks again.

onyxman

 I think I recall the ship towed a mat or something for the plane to run up on.

Yupper.. Seem to recall that as well, since the pilot would have to continue taxiing while being recovered otherwise...

Good to see you back Fred. The Bogue will be out of the ways some time this year.

The interesting thing is that the Kingfisher has a history of so much action, although they were a small part of the shipboard aircraft effort.

The Monogram kit IMO is in the top three "classic aircraft kits of all time". You have made the best dio of one I have ever graded, Better than Shep's. GASP.

Don't know how to edit a post yet, but yes. Seaplanes were run up onto a trailed steel mat that was on a line off of the bow of the ship. There was a hook on the bottom of the float that was engaged when the pilot backed off the power.

navsource.org/.../013802a.jpg

Bottom left of your post, there a little pencil icon, next to the triangle.

Dremel bit: I don't know what you call it.  It's kind of shaped like teardrop.  I used the side of it. Make all the dimples holding the tool at the same angle, because ripples are wind driven and it should look like the wind is from a single direction.

Do it outside if possible-it makes a lot of dust!