My first ship build Is Done!!

Looks very clean. I think the CA-35 would be a good choice. It will keep you busy for a while. I have not built it,but my experience with Academy kits has been positive.

The kit you show points out why the use of photo etched details used to be so much harder than it is today. Kits now generally are designed without much in the way of cast on detail that would have to be removed, like those railings.

Take a look at the T-2 that Fred just completed. All of those etched railings involved taking off cast ones first.

That looks pretty sharp.  What type paint did you use?

Looking good J, keep up the good work.  I am looking forward to your Indianapolis build as I have my eye on that and the San Francisco for an in between build.

Steve

Very nice!  If this is your first ship build, I sure want to see some of the succeeding ones!

Nice clean job so far.You're doing fine.Keep those pics coming.

Here is a quick up date of the work done today. I painted the black belt line but I'm going to have to touch it up due to some bleed through. I also worked on the main mast. Time to learn hoe to scratch build due to the fact I broke the antenna. UGH!

how are you going to put the rudder on if you glued the hull together without the rudder sandwiched in between the 2 hull halves?

I lost the rudder that came with the kit. So I'm going to have to scratch build one from a old credit card or something like that. I was thinking on using a peice of rod then super glue the rudder to it after that.

Here are some more pics. I had to learn how to scratch build. I broke off the antenna off frome the main mast and lost the rudder as well.

For your first Ship you are doing a very nice job of her.....Cheers mark

Getting close to the end! I have been busy on this long weekend. I was having a hard time on deciding on what color to paint the life boats so I went with the hull color.

Outstanding job with her!  And extra thanks for the pictures too.

Paul

You have a range of choices. Lately I've tried a thread called EZ Line. It's pretty cool stuff. It is elastic to several times it's original length, it is black, and it superglues well. Drill a tiny hole, like a "50" for one end, stick it in and touch with a tiny bit of glue on a toothpick tip. Pull just a little and either wrap the other end around where it goes or just hold it against that point and glue it again. Almost right away you can let go, and trim later. I can fly along with the stuff. It is scale too thick for this ship, but anything scale would be pretty invisible.

Also once installed, you can snag it with tools or fingers and it stretches and returns rather than snaps off.

Oh, and work from the inside out.

Thanks for the input. I will have to pick up some of that line for my next build. I had a heck of a time with the thread. i did drill holes as needed. I'm so close to the finnish! Here are some more pics for you all to enjoy.

Well here is the final product. I had fun, anger, and many more feelings. I learned alot and thank you all for the great advise. Share your comments good and bad.

Looks really good. She needs a proper base.

hello :

 Now , heres a real , no b.s. critique . You did a darned fine job .I don't remember how many of those I have done , but I think the number is now seven .Folks seem to like her sooo . I like the way you handled the whole job and you showed that if a part is broken , it's  not the end of the world or the build . I congratulate you for a job " Well Done " . Now where did I put that conversion to the Pennsylvania  ?   Thanks for the photos too .   Tanker - Builder

No lack of effort here!

Well done.

I must admit I wouldn't mind building this kit again.

Thank you all for the comments. I really learned alot with this build. I'm starting a quick build of the Revell USS Missouri. This kit has got to be one of the worst mold jobs i have ever seen. Onec this is done i will be starting Academy's USS Indianapolis with no PE then the build I have been working up to. Big Mamie the USS Massachusetts from Trumpeter. Once again thank you all for your input and I look forward to sharing more builds.

Excellent build!

tankerbuilder, what version are you going to do the pennsylvania, pre-pearl harbor or post?

Good work, you got her done!  I built that same kit at 12, it was boxed as the USS Pennsylvania when I built it.  Haven't seen the molded on detail since I went off to join the Coast Guard in 1975!  I had a younger brother who I'm sure took care of a proper burial for it while I was away at boot camp.

Fantastic job!

Groot

Hi :

  I am still up in the air about that , Probably post Pearl Harbor .