1944 Group Build

I think it works at least as well as the grab-both-ends-and-pull method--maybe better!

Wow, great link CMK. I will do that. It looks easier than trying to pull it apart.

Doug

And. . .you don't need to use nice, clean white poster board like the video shows; you can use any old scrap piece of cardboard you can find laying around.

Doug:

Here's a link to a video that shows one way to stretch sprue that differs from the usual method.  I have tried this myself at home, and it does work the way they show it.

smg.photobucket.com/.../StretchingSpruewithJimBaumann.mp4.html

Probably, though, for safety, it should be done outside or in the garage.  When you put the flame to the sprue end, nasty black pieces of burned plastic start floating around in the atmosphere.

Stretched sprue. That is something that I have tried before but I can not get it to stretch without breaking. I will give it a go again to see if I can do it.

Kostas, looking forward to seeing the build. Going to be a nice looking aircraft.

Doug

That'll be a sharp looking aircraft, Kostas.  Also, an interesting period of the war.

Doug:  I'm still kind of old school, so I use stretched sprue and attach it with white glue.  

No worries Kostas, I have only just started my build as well. I'll make sure your added to the roster and look forward to seeing the build.

Welcome Kostas. I'm really looking forward to your Yak-3. That oughta be sweet. What a cool coincidence, the FW 190 I just finished for the Butcher Bird GB depicted one that operated out of the Courland Pocket. It was flown out of the pocket to Sweden with 3 souls on board to escape the encirclement.

Hey CMK, what do you use for the rigging on your ships?

Doug

Hello to everyone.

Although I had announced my participation sometime ago, I just managed to start working for this GB (no wonder I 'm not even in the list ). Damn working hours...

My build, as I had announced,  will be a Soviet Yak-3 from Eduard in 1:48.

The time is September - October 1944. The place is one of the deadliest areas in the world at that specific period, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania under the Soviet Baltic Offensive that led up to the permanent isolation of  German Army Group North into the Courland Pocket and the start of Soviet rule on the Baltic States.  I attach a map just to add some historical feeling.

As a start I made some research in order to buy the correct applicable VVS colors of that era (that's a messed-up issue eventually ), I ordered a pair of resin exhausts from the local hobby store and washed the sprues. Building will begin right away.

I apologize for my late entry into the GB.

Cheers to all

Kostas

Thanks guys for the great comments. I feel better now that I have gotten back to her. I was afraid to try the camo pattern on the main structures. I got to thinking (which is dangerous for me) about just jumping in and getting it done. Thanks CMK for all the great tips. Like you I am thinking (again) about the rigging. I broke one of the rigging masts off and trying to come up with a plan to fix it. Should not be to hard to do.

Thanks CMK for the tips on the weathering. Gonna try it.

Bish, all I did was glue three blocks of wood together. Works great and it keeps the deck off the desk so I can see what the heck I'm doing which is a hard thing for an old fart like me.

More photos soon.

Doug

That is looking very good, Doug.  Almost makes me want to go on to my 1/700 Missouri--almost!  I'm filled to the gills with Measure 32 right now.

As for weathering,

-after I get the basic color on, I spray a clear coat; I've been using Floquil Flat for years, since it has a nice smooth finish, but that's out of production now (thanks, Testors); but I still have a few bottles; I'm going to have to find a substitute in the near future; probably a semi-matte

-after the clear coat is dry, about a day, I apply a lightened version of the base color; sometimes I dry-brush it; sometimes I use a toothpick, maybe even a brush (but that's a little harder to control); I use this to pick out the raised details

-sometimes I apply a light second coat of the clear coat to seal this;

-then I apply a thin pinwash of acrylic paint to bring out the shadows; I apply this (for example) around liferafts, into and around panel lines, portholes, etc., etc.--wherever it seems appropriate;

-for this, I simply use acrylic craft paints, and pick a color that comes close to the base; for instance, I used straight black and a dark blue on North Carolina, depending on the base color; I've heard some modelers have used a deep purple for the wash on certain US Navy grayish-bluish colors; I haven't tried that myself; a thin acrylic wash over a smooth surface can often be cleaned up with a dry cotton swab

I'm no expert on weathering, but I used to paint military miniatures, and this is sort of an adaptation of highlights and shading that miniature painters used

Continued good luck with Missouri.  She really is looking fine!

Coming along nicely there Doug, looking good. I like your idea for the paint stand as well.

Oh man, you are doing some great work Doug. Looking sharp.

Thanks all for the comments. CMK that ship looks awesome.

Here are some more update photos.

The gun pits were mostly hand painted ans were the main gun turrets. I hope I kept out most of the brush strokes. I still have a lot of work left on this ship.

CMK can you five me some weathering tips such as washes and other things you might use?

Thanks

Doug

Thanks, y'all!  I've got a few more of the larger parts to paint and finish up yet.   I'd like to get the assembly done before Thanksgiving next Thursday, then move on to the rigging.

Thanks Rob.

Holy wow, Bish, looks fantastic...

Piers, thanks, I wondered if anyone would spot that.

CMK that looks just fantastic as all the parts have come together so well

Doug, second Joe's comment, don't be so modest, that detail is great.

Bish, coming along really well, down to the worn patches on the seats where each bum goes

Piers

Thanks Doug.

checkmateking02

Bish, if that's a selfie, you must turn heads whenever you visit London

O don't you just know it

Now that is one nice looking ship.

Bish... also a great looking job! Man, the detail and weathering is top notch!!!

Doug

That ship is looking soooo cool!  Beautiful work!

CMK- Oh Yeah! Now that's what I'm talking about. That looks awesome. It really brings together all the effort you have put into the masking. Great work chum!!

Doug- Boy, Don't short yourself. Your masking is delivering some sweet results. Great work indeed.

Bish, if that's a selfie, you must turn heads whenever you visit London.

Glued on some of the deck fittings tonight, then thought I'd test how the major superstructure pieces fit.

Doug,

I don't really understand how to search a GB list so I apologize if you've already provided this info. I gather ships are new to you. (Mark of sanity really.) May I ask if you're going to put on PE? If no, you can go a long way to improving the look of that model by getting some generic railings and ladders in 1/600 scale from White Ensign or (I think) Tom's. They're cheap. (Available at ScaleHobbyist.com - easily the overall price leader among US sites - for $3.99 www.scalehobbyist.com/.../browse.php ). Another easy and cheap enhancement would be to find some metal chains (widely available - used by railroaders and tank loonies) and carve off the ones on the front deck. Another really easy thing to do is to scratch build a main mast out of thin brass tubing (fix them with CA) - far stronger and makes rigging much easier.

Thanks guys, glad you like it.

Eric, yes there will be, one way or another.

Doug, you really don't want to do that, one of me is scary enough.

Great work on those ships guys. But damn it check, I thought I had deleted that shelfy.

Thanks CMK, your turrets look great. I am no master like you when it comes to masking and airbrushing like you but I am trying to get there.

Doug

Well, that looks great, Doug.  That's just the way to tackle these thing with small bits of tape.  I think you did a superlative job on the deck, with its two colors.  North Carolina didn't have that complication to deal with.  The superstructure you've painted up looks excellent.  

Yup, fine work all around!  Congratulations!

Here's some more of what I've been able to get done.

Five of the 5-inch turrets masked and waiting in a row.

A close up of one turret.  I used masking tape on either side of the little knobs at the turret sides, then covered the knobs with poster tack, producing yet another uncanny resemblance.

Weird.

The finished turrets resting on a one-cent piece.

I still need to apply a clear-coat, then add some highlights and a wash to bring out the detail.