Deck assembly

HI-piflo1; I usually do it this way. I paint the hull ,waterline and all. Then I paint any and all verticle surfaces. The deck,if,three piece or less I glue together first,rescribing any lines I might have to.I then paint it and set it aside. I paint any other deck that needs the color I am using.Then I go back and paint any deck areas that need a different color.I paint As much as I can,depending how the ship goes together. Then I assemble all the deckhouses that do not have tiny details. If it has them I install those parts after painting.I then go back,from the main deck up, and paint details that need painting now.I paint all guns before installation.The masts and such are last.The one thing about masts,is,I paint any area between details and such.After all that is done, I have ,A ship that is ready to be touched up and finished.(I use a lot of photoetch!)That is one more thing.Any photoetch that looks like it can,t be put on after a step should be mounted before assembly if possible.Use ALEENS white glue on the p.e. and touch up ,install decals and your ship is done!! I hope this helps you.   tankerbuilder

This might help.

Greetings:

I paint the hull first. Then secondly I paint the deck usually by hand and then glue it to the hull. Anything attached to the deck I paint first and then glue it on the deck. Any features molded on the deck I hand paint them also with a fine brush . I then go back and touch up any areas as needed. So my method is: 1)paint hull, 2)paint deck to include any molded on features, 3)glue deck to hull, 4)paint any subassemblies and glue to deck and 5)touch up paint as needed.

 

Michael Lacey

I most often use the method described by Mike Ashey in his book 'Basics of Ship Modeling; an illustrated guide'.  Its a Fine Scale publication. 

His methodology is to spray paint the deck the underlying color first.   Then go back and mask around the deck fittings and superstructure edges.  Then spray them.   The process is time consuming, with the myriad of small masking tape snippets, but the results are good.  

I also will spray from below the main deck level and let the deck edge provide a mask for the upper 3/4 of the superstructure.   I then hand-paint that

OK, another question. What painting order do you do? Do you paint the hull before attaching the deck? Do you paint the deck before attaching? Superstructures painted before they are put on the deck?

Thanks for all the help guys.

Greetings:

Yes, I glue the deck to the hull and then everything else to the deck.

 

Michael Lacey

yes

So you add the deck to the hull before you add the superstructure? You put the superstructure on, after it is already glued to the hull? Just clarifying...

Greetings:

What I do is assemble the 3 pieces of the deck together and then add it to the hull. I try to sand each edge of the deck pieces as flat as I can. I then use a plastic solvent such as PRO WELD which will melt the seam together as I hold the 2 pieces tightly together. I let it dry thoroughly and then scribe the planking across this seam. The solvent creates a slight bead along the joint. I then add the superstructure and other items to the previously installed deck. Hope this helps.

Michael Lacey