Revell 1/400 Cruise Ship Aida

Hello!

The mandatory disclaimer first - it's your model, if you hapened to like her in pink plastic, we're all happy for you!

After joining the halves, is it still smooth and glossy? How about the parts joint - wouldn't it benefit from some filling and sanding?

I, for myself, find the best plastic not looking too good - to translucent for me, so for white models I prime them and paint them white. I've had particularily good results with a layer of grey Tamiya primer followed with a coat of white Tamiya primer - gives a nice white surface in just two passes, this can be hard to beat - because if you paint a spotty surface white, those spots tend to show through, even through several layers of white. So I paint the grey layer to make everything nice and uniform, and then good white on top of that finishes the job.

As for the other colours - you need a process called "research" - I bet there are many photos on the net, taken onboar the AIDA ships - those should show the railings and other like objects very clearly. For example this one should help you out nicely:

Just be careful not to get an appetite to model everything exactly like it is on the photo - that would be "superdetailing" - might cost you a big part of your life! :-)

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

You have a somewhat unusual situation where I might depart from my "paint everything, always" stance.

I read a couple of reviews and the model does have a LOT of windows. If you can paint the white first and then install them, ok. But if you can't, it looks to be an impossible masking job. 

So long as the plastic is consistently the same color and opaque, I would think the only real issue would be the seams at bow and stern. Just glue them really carefully and rub them out.

The decal sheet is impressive and you will have to clear coat over them. Use gloss or you will ruin the windows

Pawel

Hello!

The mandatory disclaimer first - it's your model, if you hapened to like her in pink plastic, we're all happy for you!

After joining the halves, is it still smooth and glossy? How about the parts joint - wouldn't it benefit from some filling and sanding?

I, for myself, find the best plastic not looking too good - to translucent for me, so for white models I prime them and paint them white. I've had particularily good results with a layer of grey Tamiya primer followed with a coat of white Tamiya primer - gives a nice white surface in just two passes, this can be hard to beat - because if you paint a spotty surface white, those spots tend to show through, even through several layers of white. So I paint the grey layer to make everything nice and uniform, and then good white on top of that finishes the job.

As for the other colours - you need a process called "research" - I bet there are many photos on the net, taken onboar the AIDA ships - those should show the railings and other like objects very clearly. For example this one should help you out nicely:

Just be careful not to get an appetite to model everything exactly like it is on the photo - that would be "superdetailing" - might cost you a big part of your life! :-)

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

 

I just googled cruise ship Aida.  Lots of pics there.  I like building civil ships, so will be following this thread and maybe pick up the kit.

Don, I did some reading too. Interesting ships. Hybrid run on either fuel oil or LMG.

German tourist market.

Bill

Opened up the cellophane packaging in the box earlier, clear plastic windows are separate from the frames so thats a help. Probably dip them in a clear gloss varnish first. 

One thing that might take forever is the invividual outside cabin balconey deck, the balconey floor looks to be a sorta deck tan there is lots of balconies. If if do paint them it'll be a hairy stick job and take ages, if balconey floor area is too small then I might leave balcony floor unpainted

The hull was a very good fit, just one part of the join needing a tiny bit filler then rub down, having said that it is where it will be sitting on the stand, not really visible. 

I'm looking forward to starting it. My current job (a plane) is almost finished then I can get on with the Aida. I'll try & post some pics throughout.

1st update on my Revell 1/400 cruise ship build.

All the parts so far click into place together with no problems up till now, no excess plastic to shave off except maybe little bit of where it joins onto the sprue if I didn't clip close enough with the sprue cutters. no complaints about the mouldings, if I had to make a complaint it would only be the part numbers on the sprues, small white numbers against a white background, maybe my eyesight but even with specs on looking through magnifying lamp can be annoying trying to find a particular part number.

After two hulls joined together next job was lots of little lifeboats to paint then stick together, also several inflatables the are stored in drum like containers (not sure of the proper name for them)

The main first deck is ready and guard rails on to add to the ship, Ive made a start on handbrush painting the cabin balcony floors, 349 of them on each side of the ship, 698 in total so that will take a wee while, hopefully two coats will be enough.

Looks like the rest of the week is handpainting the balconey's/