Battle of the Coral Sea Group Build 4 May, 2017 - 8 May, 2018

That was luck.

Are there PE depth charge racks as well?  Not that I wish the torture on anyone to try to fold a 1/700 scale depth charge rack.  But I'm crazy enough to try it.  

Thanks, Scott.

I spent all day yesterday attaching rails around the hull.  The PE set included netted rails, so I used them around the bow.  They're a little heavy, but give an unusual look.

Test-fitted the torpedo tubes, and it looks like they'll clear the ladder.

Currently working on a permanent base, since this thing is so small, I don't think it can be handled without one.  

One miraculous thing happened today.  I lost one of the life rafts days ago.  Today my wife was sweeping the kitchen floor, so I looked in the dust pan before dumping it.  And there it was!

Fine work CM.

Some progress on Hammann

Been working mostly today on the stern.  Couple of issues I need to resolve.  The life raft fixture blocks the site for one of the K-guns, so that will have to be relocated.  I found a couple of other builds of Hammann on the web, and both moved this K-gun--but neither one moved it to the same place.

Other issue is that ladder coming off the front of the end superstructure.  I think it's going to interfere with the torpedo tube.  If it does, I'll have to eliminate the ladder.

Thanks, Scott.  Spent today adding rigging to the mast, using stretched sprue.  Looks like the top of the superstructure would interfere if I waited till later.

Progressing well CM.

Progress photo:

And speaking of small, here's Hammann's hull painted up.

Next thing I did was install the hatch covers.  Kind of tiny.

Tamiya didn't put much detail into the gun turrets or superstructure--no molded doors or ladders.  Tom's Modelworks thoughtfully provides these in PE, so that's what I'll attempt next--if I don't lose any of them.

Thanks for posting the link, stik.  Great subject; very remarkable discovery.

Here's a link I found with the combat reports from the Lex regarding the battle.  Makes interesting reading.

https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/logs/CV/cv2-Coral.html#pageD1

Scott:  decals that small will ruin your eyes! 

scottrc

 

 

stikpusher

Here is a timely find related to the battle...

USS Lexington has been found in her watery grave at the bottom of the Coral Sea after 76 years. For anybody wondering what some of her aircraft looked like during that battle, look no further... they are here to be seen as they looked that May morning... simply fantastic 

 

https://www.paulallen.com/uss-lexington-wreck-located-rv-petrel/

 

 

 

 

I wonder how hard it would be to put a Felix the Cat decal on a 1/700 Wildcat?

 

I wonder how hard it would be to make that Fighting 3 decal in 1/700...?

stikpusher

Here is a timely find related to the battle...

USS Lexington has been found in her watery grave at the bottom of the Coral Sea after 76 years. For anybody wondering what some of her aircraft looked like during that battle, look no further... they are here to be seen as they looked that May morning... simply fantastic 

 

https://www.paulallen.com/uss-lexington-wreck-located-rv-petrel/

 

I wonder how hard it would be to put a Felix the Cat decal on a 1/700 Wildcat?

Hey CM, I am happy to see you making progress on the Hamman.  It does have a cool camo scheme.  I really need to get this kit.  The Hamman ran plane guard and anti-aircraft protection for the Lexington so it would be nice to have them both.  

Here is a timely find related to the battle...

USS Lexington has been found in her watery grave at the bottom of the Coral Sea after 76 years. For anybody wondering what some of her aircraft looked like during that battle, look no further... they are here to be seen as they looked that May morning... simply fantastic 

https://www.paulallen.com/uss-lexington-wreck-located-rv-petrel/

USS Hammann DD-412

Masking the hull for painting.  I sized the painting diagram on the back of the box, then cut out the masks from plain ol' masking tape.

Masking the superstructure for painting.

I used poster-tack for the irregular shapes, supplemented with masking tape. 

This is the base of the stack/funnel.

I used mostly WEM's and Sovereign's Colourcoats naval paints.  Colors are 20-B Revised 1942 Deck Blue; 5-0 Ocean Gray; 5-N Navy Blue and 5-H (early 1941) Haze Gray--which appears slightly more grayish-purple than late 1941 Haze Gray, which seems more bluish-gray.  I don't remember where I got the early '41 tins; can't seem to find them anymore:  just "late 1941 Haze Gray."  But they are clearly marked as early 1941.

Hammann's hull and superstructure pieces.

These little tubes fit into holes in the hull and superstructure for mounting the guns.  Then, a base glues over the top of them.  The idea is to push the pin on the gun turrets through the base, where these tubes grip it and hold it, allowing the gun to traverse.  I haven't seen this kind of engineering before on a ship model.

Photo shows the gun turret base in position.

I ran across the Tamiya Hammann from Tower Hobby a few months ago; it was the only one they had in stock, or I would have gotten two.  Found it by accident while looking for something else.

I see this month's Squadron flier has them listed, so maybe they'll be more widely available.

I'm building it as the Hammann.  I found more information about the camo measure for her than the Sims. 

Hopefully, I'll be able to put in a few hours tonight and tomorrow, and move things along.  Basically the painting is finished--I do need to shoot and post some photos.

Currently, I'm messing with the PE pieces.  

Cool,

I was going to get this kit when I ordered the paint and SBDs for my Lexington project, but the place I was ordering from had it out of stock.  It will look good with your Yorktown or are you going to make it Simms?

Scott

GMorrison

A 1/700 DD with photoetch? What are yeh, nuts?

That's a great subject.

A 1/700 DD with photoetch? What are yeh, nuts?

That's a great subject.

After several false starts on various kits for this GB--and some spectacular failues in construction--I've settled on Tamiya's USS Hammann, DD-412.

Here are the sprues with parts.  Seems like a nice little kit.

Also picked up a set of PE for it, from Tom's Model Works.  The image below is from their website; saved me from getting out the camera!  

I've been working on it for several weeks, but haven't posted any photos till now.  I'll add some in a bit.

Thanks for looking.

Thanks Check and Scott. It was a fun build and ejoyed the painting.

Congrats PJ on your remarkable build.  Nice that you were able to add a little history about the aircraft.

Scott

Great looking, Kate, pj.  Your workmanship is excellent.

It'll be difficult to choose a photo, but I'll do my best!

Thanks very much for being part of the GB.  It's been a pleasure watching your project come together!

I'll update the finished-roster right away.

keavdog

PJ - stellar finish on the Kate.  I have yet to dive into the Japanese aircraft but this is inspiring!

 

Thanks kdog! The Japanese had some really cool looking paint schemes, one in particular was a blue Dinah that looks incredible.

PJ - stellar finish on the Kate.  I have yet to dive into the Japanese aircraft but this is inspiring!

Yes and the Japanese Carrier Air Groups took heavy losses at Coral Sea. For this aircraft to have flown at Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, and Santa Cruz is downright remarkable. More than likely it also flew at Eastern Solomons as well. 

stikpusher

Very impressive history on that particular aircraft. What did she do at Coral Sea? 

In any case you did a great job on the classic Nichimo kit. I’ll use your build here for pointers one day...

 

Thanks. Not much information that I could find on this one, just bits and pieces. The paint schemes ranging from green mottle over nmf, mottle over grey and mottle over Ame-Iro. Who in the heck really knows is uncertain so I like these colors  so I went with them. The Shokaku was at the Coral Sea battle so I’m sure she flew against the US Navy there.

Very impressive history on that particular aircraft. What did she do at Coral Sea? 

In any case you did a great job on the classic Nichimo kit. I’ll use your build here for pointers one day...

My Kate is finished. I did more research on this particular Kate and she had quite a career on the Shokaku. She took part in the second wave that attacked Kaneohe NAS on Dec. 7th, 1941. She also fought at the Battle of the Coral Sea and on Oct.26, 1942, she torpedoed the USS Hornet off Santa Cruz Island. Right after her torpedo run on the Hornet she was shot down by one of the CAP fighters ending her career.

Check you get to pick the picture for the completed page. Thanks for hosting and letting me part take.

Nice choice, stik.  I remember having it years ago.  I'll update the roster.