You're certainly right that naval power was central at Normandy. Many Germans officers considered it more dangerous that allied aircraft as long as the battle was within 6" gun range, and the DDs at Omaha were just what the doctor ordered. Unfortunately ship companies think we want 1944 "old" USN BBs in their 1941 configuration - and we don't. Texas, or one of Oldendorf's BB's dressed for the dance in 1944 would be very neat. The Brits were going through their bozo the clown camo phase at that time at least for capital ships. Personally, I don't want a capital ship done up in pastels. US DDs at Normandy were in measure 31 or 32 - challenging painting but black and grays  - like a proper warship. (I've heard 22 was used too - one of those rivets we'll have to count.)

Eric

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Well Dragon has a 1944 USS Pennsylvania in 1/350 on their list. I will believe it when I see it. I personally would love USS Nevada in both 1941 and 1944 fittings. And while the 1941old BBs are nice to look at, they look most imposing in their 1945/45 guises I think.

stikpusher

Nuclear subs are perfect for beginners. Just a big cigar with a few projecting items here and there. But anything else begins to get elaborate and trigger those "What was I thinking?" moments.

I was thinking the same thing.  That (and state pride) is why I'd like to build a USS North Dakota as my first boat/ship. (The brand new Virginia Class sub, not the WWI Dreadnought)  But submarine kits don't seem to be made too often?  I already posted my question in the Ships forum, but if anyone here has any info about any upcoming USS North Dakota releases, I'd love to hear about it!

OK...sorry to hijack.  Now back to your regularly scheduled thread.

In 1/350, Hobbyboss does make a new USS Virginia sub kit. And considering that US subs rarely wear their names/hull numbers while out at sea, all you really need is a nameplate for the display stand. And now back to our D-Day build.

Yesterday, I did some touch up work with white paint on the hull on my schnellboot. Then a lot of work on my other half's car. Finally after dinner, I pulled out my Marauder and did some more scratchwork on the interior. I added the seat back cushions for the rear gunners seats and started work on the final bulkhead that I am making, for in between the tail gunners and wait gunners areas.

Well I could not resist- The Heller 1/400 Elbing Class Torpedo Boat was only $8.99 at Sprue Brothers, and I needed some thing to fill out the order for some Quick Boost gun barrels for my Marauder. Like Priller's 190, this is a kit I think I need to build, and 1/400 is not far off from 1/350 as most of my ship kits are so....

DML had a 1/700 1944 USS Pennsylvania a while back - early Dragon and considered a very difficult kit. I'd very much like to do a WWII BB, but I want it to have done something. (I'm avoiding Warspite because I have hopes that Trumpie will do a 1/350 WWI version - they already have a 1/700.) There's a lovely poetic justice when considering that "veterans" of Pearl Harbor were the last US BBs to sink an enemy BB. The "class of 44" USN capital ships were also worked to death and would invite very heavy weather. The pre-rebuild versions of US BBs served as targets and the fast BBs were flak wagons. (Except, of course, for Washington - another ship not available in 1/350.) I've never understood why companies chose the models they do - unless they're Japanese and then they offer everything. The lack of an Enterprise (CV-6 version natch) is the most amazing case of historical neglect in the history of styrene modelling. Rumors are around that Trumpie is coming out with a 1/200 "E" - a 1/350 would be quite enough thankee. As my father would have said, "can't win for losing."

I'll be able to chime in better in a few months but a DML USN or German DD might make a good first kit. If you subtract the duplicate parts that always bloat DML boxes, the count isn't that high and supposedly the build quality is top notch. The German ships were bigger and the kits a bit more complex. They also come with basic PE and I think a mortal could get buy with generic railings - that would save time, money and still leave you with a decent kit.

Eric

Yes I have the Academy 1/350 Warspite- BEAUTIFUL kit!!! I'm like you and prefer my ship kits to have some historical significance/battle record that is more that bad luck. I can understand some kit subject choices, from the standpoint of that ship still exists today, usually as a floating museum. But why not make the sister ships that did fight and win? USS Washington anyone? Heck, the Iowa even engaged surface vessels at Truk... I could go on and on...  I agree 110% about CV-6 USS Enterprise!!! I could go on... Ah well... I will have my d-day destroyers built one day. BTW, Dragon has had the 1/350 1944 Pensy listed as "coming soon" for quite some time now... Lets see if it ever happens.

I was eyeing up my old Airfix 1/600 HMS Belfast kit today, I think you guys are rubbing off on me.

But as I am not very good on the water, I thought I better get back to dry land, here the next update on the Panther. Its not ready for the primer, hoping to do that tonight. I need to paint the fans before I put it together, so I am going to prime it like this and then do the fans after.

Heres the completed upper hull.

And all three sections ready to go.

That's some gorgeous p e work

Thanks duke. There's a lot of PE that's un used, but that's only because of the nice detail in the kit.

Thats kitty is looking mighty purty so far there Bish! Lots of bling ;-) But I definitely think she will look better in primer and warpaint. And yes, HMS Belfast is calling your name... listen to the wind... After all there were only what, 4000 to 5000 ships involved in the invasion? The greatest ampibious invasion ever. And we have how many ships on this GB?

Thanks Stik. O, I don't think I will be doing Belfast for this GB, or any other for that matter. Just not enough time. I was just thinking about doing it bit by bit during other builds, just to get my eye into ships a bit. Would be nice to have more ships though.

Got around to some more work on the LCVP.  Hopefully later this evening I can get the whole thing assembled and get it primed sometime this week.  I've ordered two of the Academy machine gun sets to replace the kit guns as they are nothing short of horrible, as well as the Trumpeter LCM crew so that I can have some better looking figures when I get around to making the diorama part of it (still have to wait on ordering more infantry).  I started today by finishing up the engine deck and the rear deck (minus guns)

I had a heck of a time getting the thread tied up for the ramp.  It's been a long time since I was a Boy Scout and I remember using rope back then instead of sewing thread, but I eventually got it.  I'm leaving the thread up through the deck until I get it situated the way I want it for the diorama.  I'm sure I can find a way to hide it until then.

After that I finished with something easy: the skeg, prop, and rudder.

Nice bob, looking good.

Bish, watch out, ship models can be their own "dark side", not quick and easy, but certainly seductive. And not overly different from armor. After all, armor was originally "landships". Similar building and weathering, no mud- more rust ;-)

Bob, very nice improvements on your LCVP. I need to finish up the one that I have sidelined one day. It is a bit further along than yours. yes I am very bad about sideined builds... Are you going to be leaving the molded on rope bumper on teh hull?

Thanks guys.  Stik, I think I'm going to leave it on.  I have seen a few pictures of LCVPs with the rope bumper like the one on the kit, although most didn't.  Unless I can think of a way to fix it it'll stay.

Your LCVP is looking good Bob.  This is one of my favorite builds in this GB.  Thanks for all the progress pics!

Bish: That does look good! I think I've said before if I use that much PE it gets to the point I'm knocking off two parts for every one I add. My hat's off to you sir!

Bob: Looks good there too! Nice to see that ramp able to drop now.

Thanks gamera, and don't worry, your not the only one. I knocked off a couple of pieces as I was taking it to the spray booth.I would show some pics. But as I used Mr Surfacer 1200, which is light grey, and the kit is light grey, guess what. Its still light grey. Was a real pain to get on as I couldn't tell what I had and had not covered.

Basic weathering - a lot of it new to me but not to Mike Rinaldi - done. Thinking of a relatively new tank (hardly "showroom" - all allied ground units went through intense training before D-Day) after three weeks dodging 88 shells near Caen. No rust, very little chipping but lot of dirt and grime. (Engine oil and pigments to come, so there will be more.) No such thing as a clean tank near the front lines. The tools will give it a little more visual interest. Then I'll try to make it look like a bush so Jerry won't notice us until the Americans break out.

Eric

Nice Eric, I like that.

That's looking very good, Eric.  It's coming along nicely!

Very cool Eric, I like the streaking. I've got those books, read though them, but so far haven't had the courage to try them out.

EB, that looks good indeed. But without any running gear it's still a sitting duck for Bish's Panther. 

Well since my research turned up that Hoffman was in a Torpedoboot and not a Schnellboot I had to do a bit more research to come up with an idea for markings. I decided up S-188, which was part of the 4th Schnellboot Flotilla. As shown in this photo taken after an engagement with the Allied fleet on June 7/8, she did see some action

She was sunk, along with many other S-boots and Torpedo Boots on June 14 during a major RAF daylight raid on La Havre harbor on June 14. Apparently the small surface components were enough of a nuisance to rate a major daylight raid, led by 617 Squadron, to shut them down. 

So anyways today I applied a final coat of MM Schnellboot Weiss onto the hull, after having given the touch up primer several days to dry and cure.

and finally, I glued the lower hull to the upper hull.

Tomorrow I plan on a coat of Future and then I can begin decaling and weathering once that has dried.

The and the boot both look great.

Stik, it's obvious that the Panther shot the running gear off of E's tank. It's supposed to look like that.  

I have also made some more progress on the rear of my Marauder. 

Here are the seat back pads for the gunners jump seats that I made the other nite using some of teh kit sprue sanded to shape

and the final bulkheads than I have made for the tail gunners position. I still need to add a bit more work back here, but in a day or two I should have all of that completed.

more to come in the next few days...

Eric: your tank weathering looks great.

Stik: the S-boot looks cool.....been thinking of getting one or an E-boot.

Thanks Pyr. S-boot (schnellboot) is the German name, E-boat (enemy boat) the Allied name for the same type of craft.

That's looking great Stik. Is that the Panther badge on the side of the boat. Nice work on the marauder as well.

Greg, ye, stik is right on that, S-Boot's and E-Boat's are the same thing.

SP: Nice work there on both the B-26 and the Alphabet-boat. You're making crazy progress there on the Schnellboat (fast boat -fast build???) and the ribbing on the B-26 is really impressive.