Ships of the American Flag GB 2019 -2021

Awesome work guys. I like the new turrets Ben.

Chris, nice weathering. Yeah, guys. I finally got the IJN guys from Northstar. Half with broken feet . Oh well, with all the pilots I'll need, those guys can go to the middle of the crowd. At least the guys for the NC look good. 

Ben that's looking awesome!

 I had the same idea as you - lots of painting to come this weekend. Here's a teaser, 4 gross of figures haha only 2 sailors lost their heads prepping for paint 

i also worked on some rust and weathering 

Thanks GM and Steve...

Here are some pictures of the turrets, less the wear and fade...

Still much more to do on them, but I thought a sneak peak wouldn't hurt.

Ben

She does indeed!

She really look excellent Ben

More baby steps... in this case, I corrected the pealed AK paint on the hull, added the water line, and glued the paper thin wooded deck to all three levels. Initially I bought a cheap deck from China, but it would not work with the Eduard PE modifications. I found a company called "Scaledecks". They make a far superior deck for most model ships (but they are not cheap). 

The gel glue was applied to the models surface with a brush to avoid slop on the finished parts and to ensure even coverage without spillage onto the deck. I also found that it is critical to make sure it is entirely flat and with no tension on any angle of the wood deck as it would want to pull up from the adheasive with the slightest pressure. I bought several different adheasives but decided on the "Locktite" brand of supergule gel as it was rated for this kind of work, was completely clear, and had a 5 minute setting time which allowed me to work it into the various tight positions needed and has a 30 minute dry time. I hope it does not pull up, my fingers crossed.

Overall, I really like the realism of this deck compared to the cheaper styles. Most of them look like one grain of wood with veins crossing into each of the laser cuts. Also the laser cuts on the cheap ones are way out of scale. This product is paper thin with a very thin felt backing (it had no self stick adheasive like the other brands). Each individual plank of wood in this one is individually colored too which really brings the deck into a new level of realism (IMHO).







You can see in the last photo the wash and dry brush to the deck wench and stairs. I will have to dull coat the front chain area as the "Locktite" leaked a little onto it when gluing down. Even though I wiped it off, the shine remained. There are some areas which need touched up but overall I am happy this part is over and looking forward to building her up. 

Ben

modelcrazy

Steve, a Chris-Craft will work for the GB. I'll put you down.

 

Darn, I know should have picked up that Chris-Craft on evilBay! Oh well, I'll do the PBR then... and maybe a Dragon 1/35 LSSC. Maybe.

Thanks! 

Steve

Steve, a Chris-Craft will work for the GB. I'll put you down.

Steve,

If a Tamiya 1/35 PBR counts as a “ship” and not a boat and it’s still open for a new contributor... then count me in please and thank you.

Steve

I'd probably paint the turret sides hull color. Shading and optical illusion make a diffrence.

For instance

This famous picture of the Scharnhorst. It was never painted in spinter. If you look close you'll see a destroyer moored along side her appearing like she wore splinter camo for a short time.

When i look at the B turret vs the hull on the right side they sure look close to the same color. I'd tend toward the same color withjust a little tone difference. Like priming in white on 1 surface and light gray on the other, or maybe 2 shades of gray. Just thhinking out loud here based on what i see.

After looking at the ship photos and digesting it for some time, I may bring the gun turrets back to the 5H color of the hull (perhaps with just mild highlights), WHAT DO YOU THINK? I also have to fix the hull paint where the mask I was applying for the water line pulled some paint. Then I will be able to work more on the washes and highlights. When looking at the old period photos, what do you think I should do, leave them the lighter color or paint them the hull color?

As for detailing inside the superstructure control rooms, sorry to let everyone down, but I may leave that off the build and paint inside them black. I may still add some little people in there to break up the contrast, but the white/light gray interior with all its details isn't working for me in this scale or subject (lack of reference photos within each room and lack of scaleable detail material). 

Photos on the paint corrections and assembly updates soon.

Ben

Bravo work on the finished Midway GM.

The guns and cats look great Ben

Little bits of progress...

- Finished detail painting the 5" guns of the superstructure:

- Finished all the various base coates to both catapults. All that is left is the wash and light dry brushing:

- Finished the various base coats on the hull. Afterwards I found that my primer and paint did not like the waterline mask and pulled some paint from the hull. I used AK and Vallejo paints over enamel primer. I will have to rework that before finally painting the water line. This is not the finished color, only the base colors for early 1941. And yes, the turets are a lighter color than the hull and superstructure. They still need a similar wash, dry brush and the blast bags painted.

I also found that the foam board was too thick after I cut it out making the hull go below the waterline. I am going to try some picture framing matt board (only half as thick), that is what is under it now. If I don't like it, I will put the ship directly on the board with no cut out. 

Other things I've gotten done include painting the main and fore masts, the superstructure, and all the decks in those areas "deck blue". I also finished painting all the ammo boxes, both the main and forward fire control towers, detail painted the cranes, and base painted all of the other fiddly little bits like the water tight doors, etc. 

Once I fix the hull and paint the water line I will begin adding the wood deck to the hull. 

Till then...

Ben

Looks really clean GM. I like the little birds as the detail on the rotor craft loooks wonderful. I also like the PE work on the super structure, catch nets, etc. 

I hope to be posting some progrerss soon myself.

Ben

GM the planes really bring that deck to life. Looks superb!

Excelent build GM! 

Great work all around. Excelent modificaion to make her the Midway.

I always look forward to your work. I have you up on the wall and look forward to the SMS Scharnhorst in the German GB.

Here is your achievement ribbon sir.

Finished!

Yeah, I wouldn't want to go darker but the actual photo looks very dark. Not sure how much of that is shadow from the AC or if that's just how dark it was. Tough call. Unless you are going to display her next to the picture, I'd probably leave it as is. Others may have better sugestions though. 

Looks outstanding either way 

INPUT NEEDED...ok I've stopped at this point to get some opinions. I'm weathering the flight deck now. This is Flory washes over a satin clear so it sticks a little more. I'm trying to decide if I should darken up the flight deck more, closer to the scene being recreated, OR if I should leave it as is with more contrast between sections?

Attaching 3 pics and then a few closeup for review. 1st is the scene I’m after. 2nd is as painted for perspective on how much weathering is done now  and 3rd is weathered. I’m thinking stop here because I don’t want to lose all the visual affect I have if I try to duplicate the scene. Scene seems awfully dark now that I’m painting. Maybe even less weathering? Tell me what you think.

as painted

Weathering 

close-ups, weathering 

Looks good guys. Looking forward to your Midway GM

GMorrison

The Midway is basically complete except for a bunch of antennas.

I've been studying photos and trying to figure out the air wing. A little challenging from an order point of view as Revell chose prime numbers for each type of aircraft, but that's reality I guess.

 

cant wait to see it! The birds are looking good there.

Progress on this end finally saw the hose reels beat into submission. Started with 45 and am down to 42 now. The ship only needs 40 so still some stearageway 

I know they are way better than the kit plastic ones but honestly I think they are too tall Compared to pics I have. Is what it is though and they look good on the carrier. Added the little pins to the bottom so they would slip into the kit mounting points. Made it much easier to align and mount them on my test piece.

The Midway is basically complete except for a bunch of antennas.

I've been studying photos and trying to figure out the air wing. A little challenging from an order point of view as Revell chose prime numbers for each type of aircraft, but that's reality I guess.

Tanker-Builder

Hi;

 It's been a while since I posted my interest. I got started on the kit then realized I had made a mistake in the construction. Correcting this on Paper is not the same as plastic believe me. Well, anyway the "Eddie Fitz" will grace this thread soon. I have to figure out the new camera too!

 

Tanker-Builder

Hi;

 It's been a while since I posted my interest. I got started on the kit then realized I had made a mistake in the construction. Correcting this on Paper is not the same as plastic believe me. Well, anyway the "Eddie Fitz" will grace this thread soon. I have to figure out the new camera too!

 

as a Cleveland native I'm excited to see the Eddie Fitz! I've looked at that one before but never pulled the trigger. Still have the site saved to my favoties. Looking forward to seeing it come together.

Scott that ship looks really good! Shocked it's snap tite. Although you do make it sound like it's a 3-footer lol

modelcrazy

I wouldn't have know that was a snap kit Scott.

GM, looking forward to it.

 

Ya Steve, Acedemy started offering the kit as a basic intro to modeling.  So all the parts have big nubs on them that fit into undersized holes. Whats really tough is that nothing fits 1:1 not matter how much trimming I do, so the there are gaps that are way out of scale.  Filling them seems to cause more problems that its worth at this point.  But the kit overall looks good when put together, and the molded details can compete with resin.  I'll get some close up  shots next time.

Scott

I wouldn't have know that was a snap kit Scott.

GM, looking forward to it.

Hi;

 It's been a while since I posted my interest. I got started on the kit then realized I had made a mistake in the construction. Correcting this on Paper is not the same as plastic believe me. Well, anyway the "Eddie Fitz" will grace this thread soon. I have to figure out the new camera too!