More of the 'Phlood of Photos', Updated 6-8-2006 with New Photos

Nice stuff, Dukey Dog ... where do you find the time?  About all I think you could add would be some rigging.

Thanks MBT70! Man, I'm glad to see someone else finally post here! I've shown alot of ships I've built but  never seem to get any replies from the regulars here. I guess they don't think my ships look good enough to comment. I do agree that they don't measure up to their work so I guess it doesn't matter. I like showing my work for anyone to look at. Thank you for visiting this Forum to comment.

As for the time, I find it wherever I can fiind it! Sometimes it is only a few minutes, other times it is a couple hours

Yeah, I do need to rig these. I'm still kind of new at rigging so I'll need to practice a bit. Thanks again MBT70.

I've think of buying that Imex Tampa container ship ... how did you like it?  Is the level of details any good? How do the parts fit together?

Yann Solo wrote:

I've think of buying that Imex Tampa container ship ... how did you like it?  Is the level of details any good? How do the parts fit together?

Yann, This container ship is a breeze to build. The parts fit together well, athough some have quite abit of flash to clean up. The hull is molded one piece which simplifies things immensely, although you do have a prominent mold seam down the middle which is easy to sand away. The main mast on the bridge is difficult to figure out, especially since the parts aren't molded crisply, but overall, everything fits together well. The containers are all four sides and a top section which sometimes may be difficult to line up, but eventually go together. They are pretty tedious to paint though. Detail itself is pretty soft; I'm not sure of any aftermarket P/E sets or anything out there to enhance this model though. There is no rigging diagram; I'm not sure how they were rigged aside from the crane. I still think it builds up into a nice looking ship and I'm glad I got it in my inventory.

Thanks again for stopping in to comment.

I like your ships and I'm glad you posted them.  Building scale models is great fun and it's just as fulfilling to share and comment with other entusiasts.  Most of what I've built is pretty good, but there are always really amazing builders out there who just make my jaw drop, but I don't let that take anything away from enjoying the hobby myself.  No matter how good you get at anything, there's always someone better, so you just do what you feel like doing and keep it fun.

I somehow can't find the time or space to do anything anymore, so I get a vicarious kick out of seeing projects like yours come to completion.  Your models look like you had a good time building them.  I know I enjoyed seeing them.  Good stuff, mon ami!

MBT70 wrote:

I like your ships and I'm glad you posted them.  Building scale models is great fun and it's just as fulfilling to share and comment with other entusiasts.  Most of what I've built is pretty good, but there are always really amazing builders out there who just make my jaw drop, but I don't let that take anything away from enjoying the hobby myself.  No matter how good you get at anything, there's always someone better, so you just do what you feel like doing and keep it fun. I somehow can't find the time or space to do anything anymore, so I get a vicarious kick out of seeing projects like yours come to completion.  Your models look like you had a good time building them.  I know I enjoyed seeing them.  Good stuff, mon ami!

Thank you MBT70, your words are wise and very observant. Yes, I had a blast building these ships, and I also love to post and share them with others. I completely agree that there are others better than me, especially in ships as many of the regulars here have proven. I still love to build ships, and I build them to where I like them and I will always keep it fun. It's nice to have comments about them too, but I can understand the masters not saying anything when a poor novice posts his work. I get my enjoyment from finishing these, and from knowing that you get a kick out of seeing my work completed. I am pleasede that I was able to help you live this hobby vicariously through my work. That is truly an honor to me. Thank you. I do hope that circumstances change enough soon to allow you to return to the bench to build again.

I'm still eying the MV Tampa (like I don't have enough unbuilt kits lying around just because it could be painted in such a a rainbow of colors with all the containers. I can't tell from the photo, though - do the containers come as individual units that you stack up yourself, or does the construction you described mean that each "block" of containers has to have the individual container details painted separately?

And what's the LOA on that puppy? I have to be kind of picky on what I build due to space considerations (I have none!). 

Duke Maddog wrote:

I've shown alot of ships I've built but  never seem to get any replies from the regulars here. I guess they don't think my ships look good enough to comment. I do agree that they don't measure up to their work so I guess it doesn't matter. I like showing my work for anyone to look at.

Don't sell yourself short. I think they look great!

Duke,

Great mix of colors on the boxes, and a good mix of 20 footers and 40 footers.  From my observations, a good representation of box size mix is usually 80% 40's and 20% 20's.  Visually, I think you got it right.  There isn't much rigging on a box ship, so I wouldn't be concerned with lack thereof on your model.  Thanks for sharing the pix.

Duke Maddog wrote:

Yann Solo wrote: I've think of buying that Imex Tampa container ship ... how did you like it?  Is the level of details any good? How do the parts fit together? Yann, This container ship is a breeze to build. The parts fit together well, athough some have quite abit of flash to clean up. The hull is molded one piece which simplifies things immensely, although you do have a prominent mold seam down the middle which is easy to sand away. The main mast on the bridge is difficult to figure out, especially since the parts aren't molded crisply, but overall, everything fits together well. The containers are all four sides and a top section which sometimes may be difficult to line up, but eventually go together. They are pretty tedious to paint though. Detail itself is pretty soft; I'm not sure of any aftermarket P/E sets or anything out there to enhance this model though. There is no rigging diagram; I'm not sure how they were rigged aside from the crane. I still think it builds up into a nice looking ship and I'm glad I got it in my inventory. Thanks again for stopping in to comment.

Thanks for the information, I was expecting more from that kit concerning the level of details. I think you did a good job on these models.  Maybe a little weathering would give a little bit of life to them but that's just me.  Thanks for sharing.

Don't you ever sleep?  Very nicely done, all those containers looked like fun to paint.


Scott

Thanks Scott! I can honestly say that I did NOT enjoy painting these little containers! It seemed that every time I thought I was finished, I found somewhere else to touchup! Thanks again for the compliment.

mfsob wrote:

I'm still eying the MV Tampa (like I don't have enough unbuilt kits lying around just because it could be painted in such a a rainbow of colors with all the containers. I can't tell from the photo, though - do the containers come as individual units that you stack up yourself, or does the construction you described mean that each "block" of containers has to have the individual container details painted separately? And what's the LOA on that puppy? I have to be kind of picky on what I build due to space considerations (I have none!).

Thanks mfsob. The containers come as blocks that you have to assemble with the details molded in as recessed lines delineating each individual container. So there are four walls: two have small squares on them giving the appearance of the conainer ends, and two other walls that have horizontal recessed lines with a couple verticle lines here and there denoting two 20' placed end-to-end in the stack The top piece also has the lines showing the tops of the containers. I had to paint each container seperately, then used a pen to draw inside the recessed lines to bring out the containers.

This kit measures out to 19 1/2 inches long and 3 inches wide. Height, no more than 5-6 inches off the base. Add two inches for the base.

I know what you mean about not having space! With 979 models built, I have run out some time ago!

Powder Monkey wrote:

Don't sell yourself short. I think they look great!

Thanks Powder Monkey, I appreciate that.  I do like the way these turned out. Thank you for the compliment.

kp80 wrote:

Duke, Great mix of colors on the boxes, and a good mix of 20 footers and 40 footers.  From my observations, a good representation of box size mix is usually 80% 40's and 20% 20's.  Visually, I think you got it right.  There isn't much rigging on a box ship, so I wouldn't be concerned with lack thereof on your model.  Thanks for sharing the pix.

Thanks Kp! I didn't really have a choice on how to mix them up since each section is a solid block with lines delineating each container. LOL! I did do my best to get a good mix of colors; I checked out online references, and also checked out the San Pedro harbor while I was in the area one day. I saw how they stacked everything and did my best to make the containers look realistic in that respect.

Yann Solo wrote:

Thanks for the information, I was expecting more from that kit concerning the level of details. I think you did a good job on these models.  Maybe a little weathering would give a little bit of life to them but that's just me.  Thanks for sharing.

I was also hoping for more detail, but IMEX makes them pretty simple. Still, they look pretty good on the shelf, and if your skills are better than mine, I'm sure you'll really be able to make this one pop. I wouldn't mind weathering this too, but despite looking at the real thing several times, I don't know how! Maybe in the future I'll pull it down again and give it a go.

Meanwhile, for those who are still watching this Thread, here are a few more photos of a couple other projects. One is completed, the other almost finished.

This one is the NedLloyd Rouen. She is a Ro-Ro ship, as seen by the massive ramp on the back. These next two pics show the ramp in the two positions:





And here she is from the bow:



I have only to touch up some paint and then decal this one and she'll be done.

And now I have another cargo/container ship finally out on her shakedown cruise.

Check her out, the MS Toyama:



I hope you like them. Comments are welcome.

And now, I finally finished all the IMEX cargo vessels I had in my stash. All I need now is the NedLloyd Bahrain and I'll have the complete IMEX line.

Meanwhile, if you look to sea, you'll see my NedLloyd Rouen cruising by on her way to my port following behind the MS Toyama above:

 



I hope you enjoy, comments are welcome.