USS Alabama completed w/pics

New Hampshire

Member since
December 2008
From: Goffstown, NH

USS Alabama completed w/pics

Posted by New Hampshire on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 7:42 PM

Hey everyone,

Just finished my first ship model. I tell ya, this was interesting. My biggest interest is in American warships of WW2, and of course they happen to have the craziest paint schemes on them which makes my life miserable . The specimen in question is the Hasegawa 1/700 USS Alabama. Gator makes a mask for the MS 12, but I did not like the looks of it and chose the MS 22 instead, which meant it was all me and nothing but me...uh oh! But overall I think she came out nice. I do actually need to clean up a couple spots from the panel/pin wash I did. Plus I need to add the 4 decals and glue on the airplanes. But for all intents and purposes she is done. Whatcha think?!:

Brian

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DURR

Member since
July 2013

Posted by DURR on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 8:33 PM

in the first 3 pics is that metal flake (metallic silver ) on the guns?

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New Hampshire

Member since
December 2008
From: Goffstown, NH

Posted by New Hampshire on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 9:00 PM

Hey DURR,

No, it is a combination of the clear gloss coat (wich I needed to put down for the panel/pin wash) and a bright flash . The paints used were Haze Grey, Weathered Deck blue and USN Navy blue 5N, all Pollyscale acrylic, and the clear coat was Tamiya gloss. Now that the wash is down I am thinking of spraying a flat coat on it, but the camera flash is why it looks like that.

Brian

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DURR

Member since
July 2013

Posted by DURR on Tuesday, February 3, 2009 9:18 PM

I C

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lewbud

Member since
June 2008

Posted by lewbud on Saturday, February 7, 2009 4:19 AM

Definitely recommend the flat coat. Outside of some touchups, nice job.

Buddy- Those who say there are no stupid questions have never worked in customer service.

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mfsob

Member since
March 2005
From: West Virginia, USA

Posted by mfsob on Saturday, February 7, 2009 11:54 AM

For your first ship, and in 1/700 no less, and a warship with all the fiddly bits the merchant ships don't have, you did a very nice job.

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New Hampshire

Member since
December 2008
From: Goffstown, NH

Posted by New Hampshire on Saturday, February 7, 2009 5:38 PM

Thank you guys!

What is odd is the flash REALLY blew over exagerated the finish. When seen under normal light it looks just fine. Odd that it is so bright in the pictures. But I did clean up the last bits of the wash using a brush and some mineral sirits. Now the details subtely pop out at you. And the Kingfishers are all mounted up and the decals on. She was a fidgety one with all the small guns (50 in all!) that nearly drove me crazy. But she was a fun build and came out better than I thought considering it is my first go both at a ship but also with the quirky paint chemes of the era.

Brian

P.S. Next up I think will be the USS Hornet w/ Doolittle raiders in my stash. But I plan on cheating by using a gator mask

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smeagol the vile

Member since
April 2008
From: Philadelphia PA

Posted by smeagol the vile on Sunday, February 8, 2009 1:16 AM

I quite agree, flat coate. Also, with things like the chains on the deck, try, atleast, drybrushing them with a metalic color, if not outright painting them that color.

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Surface_Line

Member since
August 2005
From: Seattle, WA

Posted by Surface_Line on Sunday, February 8, 2009 1:22 AM

Not to be contrary, but I felt that the anchor chains came out looking pretty good. They could have been painted flat haze grey possibly a bit more accurately than the flat black, but by no means would a battleship have anchor chains with any bare metal showing on deck.

Testors Dullcote will do wonders for this model.

Rick