Ships of the British Flag GB.

Cracking job there mate. Yeah, the PE can be tricky and extremely easy to break off but it sure makes a build POP.

I'm constantly breaking tiny stuff like that while looking under my magnifying glass. 

Short update on the belfast. I got the construction done and ready for paint. Quite pleased with how its turning out. That PE is damned tricky though, and got to be very careful of those radars at the top of the masts, very fragile.

The rear upper decaks i was able to leave off.

Its since had a coat of primer and is now in the shed ready for painting. But i have changed my mind about that. Going to get the colorcoats paint, they have all the colours i need apart form the hull red, so just waiting for it to come into stock.

I like Deck Tan with a brown wash for British and early American, the Germans were a lighter tan.

That looks very nice there Steve.

The Belfast is about ready for paint. I am just going to get my 2 aircraft wrapped up and check the ship over before i get some pics and take it down to the shed.

And speaking of painting, what colour would you guys recomend for painting the wooden decks?

A little more on the POW. I added the camo and now on to the PE railing, cranes, mast, touch-up paint and weathering.

Thanks mate, looking forward to seeing more on the Belfast.

Nice start Steve.

I need to get back to the Belfast soon, haven't touched it in a while.

It's about time I got something done on the POW. When I got some time I added some PE to the stacks and the aft superstructure I also built the aft mast although It;s just setting in it's place to protect it from damage. I need build another range finder for the starboard side them I can paint it up.

Cheers Steve. Once i got my head round the instructions, they were not as bad as they look.

Great start mate.  You have far more patience than I for those Pom poms.

I started work on the Belfast a few weeks back working on her slowly, and thought i was at a good stage to post some pics. Like the Trafalgar, i decided to build this because of have been on the ship. Of course, unlike the Trafalgar, Belfast is a museum so visiting her isn't as difficult as an active nuclear powered sub.

But, it does bring back memories of the late 70's and early 80's when my dad would take my brother and me to London for day trips once or twice a year. We would travel down by train and visit a couple of museums before heading home. Ad on at least a couple of occasions this included the Belfast.

This is the 1982 boxing, without doubt the oldest kit in my stash. No doubt i bought it after one of these visits to the ship, and its even possable i bought it from the ships gift shop. After sitting there for over 35 years, i think its about time i built it. I am also added a White Ensign PE set, should be fun.

The only ships i have built in the past are a carrier and a couple of subs, so this is very new to me. I started with the hull and while i had planned on fitting the superstructre after painting, some dry fitting showed i would be better off fitting the front first.

The front deck section extends to about 3/4 of the way back. But this is cut to replace the kit ships catapault with a PE one. This is my first PE in such a small scale. I have some real respect for you guys who build in this scale.

Also got the turrets together.

I then carried on the the forward superstructure.

And got the cranes together as well as the smaller guns. The 8 barreled Pom poms were interesting to put together.

And the mid and rear superstructures.

More soon i hope. The one thing that really concerns me is painting given the scheme Belfast wore at the time it is portrayed in this kit. Sure i will think of somthing.

Cracking job Ben, real smashing!  You should be proud.

I look forward to building with you in the American ship GB.  I built the Banner 1/350 Arizona and its not a bad kit.  The deck housings require some little tricks to be done. 

Scott

Thank you very much everyone.... It seemed daunting for a car guy, and considering I did not build a ship in around 20 years. The P.E. was intimidating, but the more I got into the build, the more I really enjoyed it. Through this kit, I have come to gain new respect for our forums ship modelers (and have become one too!). 

I look forward in joining the American ship GB later this summer. I've already purchased the 1/350 Banner kit of the USS Arizona. After looking at it, I have recently purchased a wood deck and some P.E from Tom's Modelworks.....

Till then, keep your main deck above water and wind in your sails....

Ben

Ben, heck of a job, definitely to be proud of.  All that detail crammed in from stem to stern -

regards,

Jack

Ben that is an incredible looking build. What a beautifully detailed and weathered finish. That beauty needs to be under glass in a museum. Great job bud ! 

Ben,

Absolutely a wonderful finish on the HMS Roberts. The weathering is fantastic, and well as the rigging. Outstanding job! 

Ben, no need to consider thats your first ship in years, its a beauty by anyones standards. Thats a great finish on an unusal ship.

Cracking job mate 

I REALLY like the weathering! The dry brushing worked like a charm.  The base complements it extreamly well. I'll get your beauty up in a few with your quote.

Thank you for joining in Ben, it's been a pleasure watching it come together. I hope you will consider my American GB coming August 1st.

One of the reasons I'm hosting all of these ship GB's is to hopefully help those who are willing, to expand their skills and step out of their comfort level. You have exceded that.

I'm assuming you prefer the first picture, but let me know if you would rather a diffrent one.

I am calling this one D-O-N-E. I present to everyone my version of the HMS Roberts WW2 Monitor. Please keep in mind that this is my first ship / boat in around 20 years. 

The more of it I built, the more I appreciated those scale ship builders in our forum. It was challenging, but really fun. Thank you for allowing me to participate in this GB. 

Till next time,

Ben

Outstanding job Ben. I'm looking forward to your reveal.

Here are a couple teaser photos of the initial rigging. I still need to finish the colors and details. Yes, the nylon thread is very thin....

My special needs son is helping me on the wood base I've created. Nothing to fancy, just a routed wood base, the kit name plate painted to look like aged or antiqued copper, and the ship. 

My next photos will show the final reveal. 

Ben

Ben,

I'm looking forward to seeing your HMS Roberts strung up, so to say. And I'm going to have to take a trip to Hobby Lobby. Thanks for the info!

Hey Everyone,

Regarding string or thread for ships rigging. I found that the retail chain, Hobby Lobby (in the USA) has a crazy mix of sizes and colors. Depending on your scale, the jewelry/craft area has many nylon, metal, thread, cord, string, etc. that can be used for 1/72 and larger detailing. They had several metallic infuzed woven threads that look like a fantastic replacement for armor tow cables from 1/72 to 1/24.

For 1/350 to 1/700 ships, the only extra thin and resilient thread I could find was made by Sew-Ology (from Europe), item # 1254580, for $2.99. It is extremely thin (.1001= like a human hair), 100% nylon, and comes in a spool of 400 yards or 365 meters (that works out to a lot of model kits!). 

They only stock it in clear / transparent, but I am sure one swipe with a permanent marker will make it any color you want (black, brown, metallic, etc.). It is very strong as I have tried holding 12 pounds on a tinsel of the thread for 24 hours with no problem. Since it is nylon and thin, it should set easily on scale masts and towers with most any CA glue. You will be seeing it on my 1/350 HMS Roberts, Monitor.

Ben

That PE looks sweet Ben! Great job bud. I'm guessing it was removed while in theatre, the boom.

I'd probably leave it off if you didn't see any refrence of it, but that's just me.

After looking at the various pictures of the HMS Roberts. I do not see many with the large boom on the front of the ship. Specifically, I do not see any photos with the boom in this camouflage scheme. Should I keep it or remove it?  What does everyone think?

Ben

Here is a small update....

Handrails and front crane done. The front crane is part scratch built, part after-market P.E. and some kit P.E. It will look better after paint...

additional details and more handrails

Boarding stairs and more handrails (I will fix that gap). You can also see one of the 8 boat davits which I added (less P.E.)...

P.E. on the yard arm (I think that is what they call it) and sensors on observation tower

I also tossed the kit soft and thin plastic pieces for the front flagstaff and rear ensign staff and replaced them with metal. I hope by using metal, it will reduce the chance of rigging sag.

Based on some of the other photos I took, I have alot of touch-up painting to be done and some minor fixes. The remaining parts from the kit are basically the aft boat davits, the port and starboard lifts, and those darn radar / signal arrays (multiple P.E. pieces). There is some other after-market P.E. for the rear boat davits, signal junctions by the bridge, and real, real, real, small stuff. 

Once that is done then I will begin my weathering in earnest.

Oh!, and we cannnot forget the rigging....

Ben

All,

Thanks for the motivating comments... I hope I can live up to your expectations when done. 

When I get to the rigging, I plan on using the poly or nylon sewing threads. I have a Hobby Lobby, a fabric store, and a Michael's all in less than 3 miles; I will let ya'll know what I find as well as photos of my end result.

Ben

hogfanfs

Gentleman,

 

I have a general question about mast lines. I've heard recently that EZ-line tends to break after a few years? I bought some, but haven't attempted to use it yet.

So, what are you using for mast lines? 

 

Bruce, i was useing EZ line for a while for aircraft antenna wires. I have a couple of aircraft that were not a few years ago and have had no issues with it braking. But i have noticed a couple where its starting to sag. I stopped useing EZ line for a couple of reasons and swityched to 1Ib fishing line, but i am not sure what to do for ships.

Ben, that is some amazing workyour putting in there.