THANKS TO MIKE ASHEY AND FSM.

Hey Mike ,
Like everyone else thanks for all your info & I can understand the time element. I have been ship modeling for over 45 yrs , mostly revell models which recently I went back & stripped them & rehabbed them esp a " Buckley " which I used your book to go by. any way I have been one of the people pushing for you to do a video but like i said i understand about the time element. Sometime if you get a chance you could conside a general info article in FSM dealing in detail with scratchbuilding weapons fittings etc. Again thank for all the info.

Wecome to the forum Mike; great to have you here. Forgive me if it sounds corny, but your work (or maybe it's play to you )
has truly inspired me, and I thank you for it.

We'll try not to harass you with too many questions in forum!
Paul

THANKS MIKE FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO CHAT WITH YOUR FELLOW MODELERS. I STARTED BUILDING SHIPS LAST YEAR AND HAVE LEARNED MORE FROM YOUR BOOKS AND ARTICLES THAN ANY OTHER RESOURCE.MY MOTIVATION WHEN I AM BUILDING A SHIP IS TO MAKE MINE LOOK AS GOOD AS YOURS DO, ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOT ACCOMPLISHED THAT FEAT YET.SO, YOU'RE BUILING THE HORNET. THAT IS MY NEXT PROJECT SO I WILL WAIT FOR THE ARTICLE TO START IT.THERE ARE SO MANY DETAILS FOR THIS SHIP THAT IT WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY AND BROKE TRYING TO GET EM' ALL. THE AIRWING SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE THE MOST TIME CONSUMING PART OF THE BUILD. WELL THANKS AGAIN FOR DROPPING IN AND DON'T BE A STRANGER.

Hi Mike

I'm so glad that you made it. I look forward to "picking your brain" as it were. Your books and articles are an invaluable tool to me. I try to concentrate on 1/350 ships, usually USN (I served on 4 between '80 and '92). But I also dabble in aircraft (1/48 & 1/32) and some cars as a change of pace.

Thank you so very much.
Tim H.

With respect to painting here is what I do.

The approach always depends on the ship type and paint scheme. Generally this is what I do. I build up the hull and main decks and the main superstructure area. I add upper superstructure assemblies after they have been assembled and painted.

Everything always gets primed. I paint the lower hull red first and then the upper hull color. Then I add the boot strip. I then mask the hull sides and then paint all the vertical superstructure sides and round deck protrusions the applicable color(s). Then I mask these areas and then paint the deck. I then mask around all square and rectangular shapes protruding from the deck and paint them. This approach gives me nice sharp line between colors.

All the masking is then removed. I airbrush throughout and I use Testors enamel paints. I also mix my own colors. The double cruiser article I did last year showed the above techniques as well as the Arizona article.

I hope this helps.

Mike Ashey

Hello Everyone,

Thanks so much for the kind words. It is good to hear that the books and articles have helped you'all build better ship models. Sorry I have not checked this site before. I do not get a lot of free time with a day job and two growing boys.

I am wrapping up my buildup of the Hornet and the article will be submitted to Finescale within the month. The B-25's are taking almost as much time as the rest of the model. Its a great kit and I can not wait to convert it to a late war Enterprise.

Mike Ashey

I'll also throw in my thanks to Mike Ashey and his excellent shipbuilding books
(got 'em both) His FSM reviews, articles and books have been invaluable. I'll buy that man a beer any day!

Ive read both books several times & got a lot of info but it would be great if a step by step video on things such as scratch building weapons etc. Ive read loren perry's book on photo etching and ever greens's book on styrene but something to fill the gaps

I think that would be a great idea, either put a book on to video or dvd or pick a model like the Trumpeter or even Tamiya 1/350 scale ship an go step by step. I have read Mike Ashley's books and keep them handy when building. I still get stumped at a description in the text and looking at a small picture. A video definately helps. I would like to see how he would actually mask and his steps at painting a model. I still have not figured out if he paints the outside hull first then assembles the upper decks for painting then on to the horizontal surfaces or assemble everything then paints vertical and outside hull together then horizontal or even if he paints in sub-assemblies. I guess it depends on the model.

I still wish he would consider a video of both his books esp dealing with photo etch

So far as I know Mike Ashey hasn't been here (at least identifing himself). Try getting one or 2 of his books on building ships (Basics of Ship Modeling,and Building & Detailing Scale Model Ships). I have both and they have proved to be an invaluable resource for my work. Although there is a lot of overlap between the 2. You should be able to get them at your local hobby shop (I did). Both are published by FSM. Good luck.
Tim H.