The official Submarine Warfare Group Build 2016 - 2017

OOOOOOOO....those look nice, should really pop when they get some color on them.  Nice work on the shears and radars, really stand out in color.

My 1/144 20's and 4" ard the 1/72 20's are enroute.  They said the 1/72 4" is ready again.  Waiting to hear back on the other issue, but may try the "be the first to try" or the "beta" test. About 2/3 the full price.  I may end up on a pedestal as well, the water is putting me off my feed right now.

goldhammer

OOOOOOOO....those look nice, should really pop when they get some color on them.  Nice work on the shears and radars, really stand out in color.

Thanks GH and Steve. Yes color will make them look super and can't wait to shoot some black on them. Right now they look like ghost guns LOL. Don't know why it says to use acrylic paint. So Iguess Tamiya Nato Black acrylic is ok to use on these pieces.

I think you will like them GH once you get them and see all that groovy detail.

Just noticed the center scope off a little. I had them all aligned so more ca to secure it.

Well my Shapeways order showed up.....the 1/144 4"/50 and the 20's are things of beauty.  On the 1/72 20's, one shield was bent back on each, but no biggie as they come off anyway.  But only got two instead of the three orderd.  Have sent an email on it, not heard back yet.  The designer of the 1/72 4"/50 says the latest issue is fixed, but I'm holding off for now, also said I would be interested in either the beta or try in first options.  Nothing back on the login stuff yet either.  Such is life I guess.

As the first attempt of trying/dealing with 3D print stuff, not all that encouraging.

Other than your issue dealing with the designer, they sound like a nice set. I am always pleased with the 3D items I order. The wave of the future.

Well, egg on my face.....Ordered 5 items, got four bubbblewrap baggies.  Opened the 4", and looked through the others through the bubbblewrap.   They had put 2 of the 1/72 20's in one baggie. Already sent an apologie.   Nothing like being pulled down a few notches because of your own slackness.

Several days and no activity in this GB, I guess folks are busy. I'll keep things moving with another short update on my Gato. After several hours of carefully removing the pe railings from the sheet, they went on the cigarette decks which was quite a test in patienece. The railings on the forward cig deck are a hair short in reaching the tower wall so I need to add a piece on both sides to contact the tower.

I decided not to use the pe railings on the main deck and used the plastic stanchions instead. I still have to add the side tube supports to 4 of them on both sides of the fairwater. I will then use either stretched sprue or very thin nylon thread for the railing wire. The lookaout platform also needs the railings that I have yet to fashion from either brass or plastic.

plasticjunkie

Several days and no activity in this GB

Yeah PJ, I might have to slap my Ohio class together to keep it going in the slow times.

Looking great PJ  I favor the stretched sprue but nylon line may be easier. 

You may want to try ez-line. I use it for antennas for airplanes etc. It is stretchable and snaps back to it original taughtness if disturbed.

http://berkshirejunction.com/ez-line/

Rob

I know I'm late to the party, but can I get in with the Atlantis 1/35 H.L. Hunley?

I haven't built a Sub in decades but I'm kind of on a Hunley kick right now.

I got you down Mach and it's only too late if you sign up on the last day. Your entry sounds good and fits right in with the theme.

Welcome aboard.

Thanks rob for the info. I just may try that on my next Gato build. I will have some updated pictures soon.

I finally got all the stanchions attached and the ones along the fairwater got the additional bracing made from stretched sprue. The railings for the lookout platform were made from stretched sprue as were some of the other wire type railings. Others   were made from vinyl thread.

The diving plane actuators were not included in the kit so I made some from stretched sprue.

Got a pre routed base and wood finials at HL. Stained and polished them out then mounted the Gato.

I ordered the gato patch from ebay to attach it to the base as in the picture. It's kind of large and wished it was smaller. Instead I was thinking of using a metal small tag with the name USS Gato SS 212. Any thoughts on this will be welcomed.

Next will be the painting and weathering, the fun part of the build IMO.

Looks great PJ, that's some fine PE and rigging work. I agree, the painting and weathering are my favorite as well.

Thanks Steve. I started this morning spraying using a combo of RLM 70 Black Green, Panzer Dark Grey and NATO  black In layers to capture the descoloration effect on a Measure 9 scheme. Thank God for the invention of the air brush and adjustable psi.

That sure looks great. There's a lot of fine detail In there.

I look forward to your paint work.

If you don't want to use the patch, you can go to a trophy shop and have a name plate made to your specs for a few bucks.

Awaiting the paint and such on your beauty.

Thanks GM and GH. I hate how this dum phone changes my writing.  I finally shot some  black on the deck guns and they look fabulous. Still blending the colors with the air brush.

I have a shop not far that makes the small metal signs as you described GH. I had one made a while back on another projec.

You guys think the patch is ok or the metal sign is better? 

I'm leaning on the metal sign more than the patch.

I like the patch IMO, but either would work well.

Got one vote for the patch..............

I've been waiting to spray the guns so finally they got some NATO black.

I still need to shoot a thinned coat od NATO black to tie things in and then the rusting begins.

The guns are not glued on yet but just on to see how they look.

Comments and suggestions are welcome. The flash lightens the dark paint a bit.

I'm partial to brass nameplates myself.  If you go that route, maybe mount the patch to a clear acrylic panel behind the tower.....?  Your choice in any case.

Looks great so far.  Those guns did pop with some color on them.

Steve

You missed the part I posted about "the rusting begins". The weathering is yet to come.

GH

What a difference the paint makes on the guns, they no longer look like ghosts.

And one vote for the plate.

Thanks for the welcome!

Looking back on the builds here, It's kind of intimidating! 

Some seriously impressive builds here. 

I'm trying to figure out where to go with my H.L. Hunley. 

What to build? 

The boat as new? as a wreck? as she is now?

Build her as a standalone or as a diorama?

The Hunley is kind of a conundrum. Lots of info available, but much of it is wrong.

The exterior hull is the pressure hull, so there are no limber holes. 

It seems that there is 1 forward ballast vent starbord and one aft port just outboard

of the conning towers. 

I would go with the new version, but I like wrecks so....

I've always liked this painting. Nice piece of Americana.

Yup, I keep thinking about that painting.

The Hunley center scientists say that is the most accurate depiction of the sub.

Hi Everyone,

How's this for dedication ? It's Easter Sunday, my 50th birthday, and I'm still posting progress updates here :)

Here's where my Type IX U Boat is up to. 

I always think that when my models are just painted, without detailing and weathering, that they look like toys. This one definitely needs to have an injection of realism.Cheers

Tony

Looking good with those tiger stripes Tony. Some weathering will make it pop.

Happy B-day Tony, we share that one, only I turned 64 today.  Boat looks good.