Hey There Steve. Well, after several occesions where you have encouraged me try my hand at building a ship model, I have decided to take the plunge with you all here on your GB. Your rather extended deadline certainly makes this effort much easier to undertake. In addition, just the very fact that the folks involved here will help make this one very enjoyable build. This will be my first real try at ship modeling and it is something that I have been excited to try for quite some time.

I have taken the time to read through all the pages of the GB so far and I am just immensely impressed with quality of expertise and knowledge all the participants have. As a long time member here on FSM I am always confident of the quality of assistance and encouragement I can find here.

I have a dozen US ships from which to choose from in my stash. I don't want to jump into some thing too complex but, still want to test my metal. I haven't fully nailed down which kit I'm going to commit to but, I've narrowed it down to a couple of candidates.

1/200 Riich USS Gato 1944. This is rather nice kit that comes with it's own PE. Kit measures in at 18 in. so, a nice size to work with. 

or 1/700 Dragon USS Oakland. Kit also provides decals and paint guide to model this as USS Reno or USS Flint. I have Tom's Modelworks PE set for this as well as a set of 5 in. resin turrets in route.

I've got a couple of other builds I'm working to finish up so it may take me a while to get fully involved in this endeavor. Although it will be good to have this to work on as a break once in a while. I will do my best to keep up with everyone elses builds but, it may be sporadic as sometimes I tend to take a hiatus for other life events and distractions.

Here's hoping you will pipe me aboard Admiral.

Cheers, Joe

The Oakland would be a nice kit to start with. Anytime a CL is built is a good day.

The Oaklands were a version of the Atlantas, but the pair of twim 5" guns amidship were changed to quad 40's.

The camo is pretty simple: Blue.

The Oakland would be a nice kit to start with. Anytime a CL is built is a good day.

The Oaklands were a version of the Atlantas, but the pair of twin 5" guns amidship were changed to quad 40's.

The camo is pretty simple: Blue.

The ship on the box is a fantasy. The following ships Reno, Flint and Tuscon were M33, M33 and M21. Dazzle, but probably not like the art; ditto; and blue.

The USN CL's from WW2 are ships that really helped win the war.

I'd like to see you build that. She's a modified Pit Road/ Skywave kit from a while back.

I'm working on a Juneau from that original as well.

There's a good amount of PE available too.

Joe, it's great to have you aboad Capt!

Ditto Mr Morrison, The CL's were a vittal part of the war effort and you don't see many of them built. Here is the link again for ship camos, per ship and year, along with a discription of each camo scheme.

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/camouflage_database.htm

The Gato would also be a fine entry, easer than the CL but probably not by much. If you're so inclined, you can get quite a few AM parts for the Gato. Not 100% sure about 1/200 scale avalibility, but they're probably out there. If nothing else you can always contact a Shapeways printer and ask if they could up-scale a 1/350 deck gun Etc. if desired.

I'll put you down for either and since you are entered, set back and relax until you're ready cast off all lines and build.

Both of those are cool Joe. Guess I'm a little more partial to ships that cruise on top of the water though since they have more stuff on their decks instead of being a big metal tube. 

Ya know, of the 14 1/350s, 21 1/700s and one egg Lexington kit I own, I don't have a single light cruiser in the stash .

I need to remedy that.

Most of the 1/700 CL kits originated from Pit Road/ Skywave. Dragon has re-issued some, I think Freetime sells others, and there's always eBay.

Thanks GM, on there now.

Welcome aboard, Joe. It’s awesome you are joining.

Bakster

I should have stayed with my Anthem 155. It is so reliable, 99% of the time it is no muss, no fuss.

Second go of it using my 155 went very well. I had no problems at all and the finish is much better. Like I said, no muss no fuss. No images to post at this time.

Currently building USS Juneau. 

Scale: 1/700

Manufacturer: Dragon

Originally: Pit Road

Kit: USS San Diego (Atlanta class)

In the stash: USS Vincennes. 

Scale: 1/700

Manufacturer: Pit Road

Originally: Pit Road

Kit: USS Miami (Cleveland class)

In the stash: USS ???. 

Scale: 1/700

Manufacturer: Niko

Originally: Niko

Kit: USS Savannah (Brooklyn class)

GM, is the Niko a resin kit? What do you think of it?

I missed getting the Vincennes at the last contest.

it's resin, waterline.

I'm starting the process to make her full hull.

Looks really good in the box, great detail, lots of PE.

1/700 is nice because the kits are reasonably priced, any PE only costs $ 10 or so, and paint goes a long way.

Hey guys!

This looks like too much fun---never done a ship model so I might start small.

Bought a Tamiya 1/700 Hammann. What model paint should I use and what colors? It would be fun to hand paint some of it. I do have a airbrush and do airplanes with it.

Count me in! 

Andy 

B-36Andy

Hey guys!

This looks like too much fun---never done a ship model so I might start small.

Bought a Tamiya 1/700 Hammann. What model paint should I use and what colors? It would be fun to hand paint some of it. I do have a airbrush and do airplanes with it.

Count me in! 

Andy 

 

Welcome Captain,

USS Hammann....Hammann 

Sims class, sunk on June 6th 1942 by I-168 while assisting the Yorkton after the battle of Midway. Hit admidships by a torpedo and broke in half.

She wore Measure 12 modifyed camo scheme the until her sinking.

Horizontal surfaces Deck Blue 20-B

Vertical surfaces Sea Blue S-5 with splotches of Haze Grey H-5
or
Ocean Grey 5-O with splotches of Sea Blue S-5

Lifecolor makes a paint set with these and other USN colors 20-B, S-5, 5-O, H-5, although the pack is a tad pricy IMO, but I did buy one. There may be other manufactures like Vallejo but I'm not aware of them, or you can try to mix them your self.

I got you down Capt and welcome aboard.

GMorrison

 

it's resin, waterline.

I'm starting the process to make her full hull.

Looks really good in the box, great detail, lots of PE.

1/700 is nice because the kits are reasonably priced, any PE only costs $ 10 or so, and paint goes a long way.

 

I was thinking about one of those, I'll have to budget for one.

Good luck on the full hull mod.

Great to see this built, Andy.

Your basic colors are: decks are 20-B Deck Blue.

Hull below deck is 5-N Navy Blue background, with lighter gray splotches. I do not know which gray that would be, but at 1/700 contrast is important so I would pick 5-H Haze Gray.

Verticals above deck are a mixture of darker Ocean Gray 5-O and lighter Haze Gray..

Model Master enamels; you have to assemble the set of colors.

AK Interactive acrylics; they have sets. I find the colors a little bright.

Mission and Vallejo make sets.

Welcome to the GB, Andy.  

Thank You Steve for welcoming me on board.

Thanks GM and Bakster. Bakster, it will be a real pleasure to build with you. Been far too long since we've chatted.

 I am going with the USS Oakland. Actually got started on it this weekend as I hosted a GB day at my house with the club members from Grand Junction, Co. The guys drove 2 hrs over just to enjoy a day of building kits.

I'll post updates tonight.

Alright. Here's to getting started.

Again the kit I'm building:

And some extra detail to go along with it:

This is an image of the 5 in gun mounts that should be arriving shortly:

And my references that I have gathered leading up to this great moment:

Starting on some of the superstructure I quickly found this kit to be an ill fitting critter. Not helped out either by the absence of locating pins. But, some healthy sanding and scraping is getting things in line. Also required a small amount of putty on one gap on the starboard side of the bridge. Here's where I'm at so far. The bridge structure is not glued to the deck yet.

I will be using Colorcoat paints (ex White Ensign) for my measure 21 scheme. Anyone got any opinions on these paints for color accuracy and ease of use?

Again, I'm concentrating more on the process of ship building rather than intense detailing and accuracy.

Thanks for having a look gang. 

Joe, nice to see you get underway. I don't know anything about Colorcoat but maybe someone else does.

It looks like you've got a nice assortment of AM and reference there.

This kit is another classic Pitroad/ Skywave kit from about 20 years ago. A little fit fiddle is to be expected. But Pitroad created most of the good CL models in 1/700, always worth building.

Even the Tamiya CVE-9 Bogue, a nice model, started as a Pitroad kit.

Those replacement twin 5" guns are pretty impressive.

Colourcoats are absolutely the best Naval camouflage paints available IMO. I've used most of the various lines on the market, and while fairly routine as an enamel, these are color matched perfectly. Not easy to handbrush, but thin with the usual thinners including laquer thinner to airbrush well.

They were formulated for White Ensign Models by John Snyder and Randy Short, from original color brushouts. You are familiar with those guys; they authored the shipcamouflage.com website.

Also a great source for aviation camouflage up through WW2. If you model Regia; go there for mimetico.

Wow, over a week since the last post here?

Anyway I toured the USS Wisconsin in Norfolk today. If I may post a few photos?

Inside the number one 16" turret. Looks like someone in the Kuwaiti War was a big fan of the '80s 'Newhart' series- the three guns are labeled Larry, Darrell, and Darryl...

One of the Tomahawk launchers had a radiation warning on it. Our guide wasn't sure if the missile was loaded with a nuke back in the '90s or not!

A lot of the ship's interior was updated back in the early '90s refit.

I think I found my favorite part of the ship...

Is this your model Tanker Builder?

Those are some fantastic pics Gam!  What a ship!

Yeah--great pics Gam!  Thanks for sharing those, even of the model pic. These will be of help to me. 

Progress on mine is a bit stalled. Trying to re-paint the superstructure decking with all the pieces installed turned into a disappointing mess, and a total redo. Too bad because I liked how it was looking prior to the re-work. Anyway--I expect to do some work on it over the coming holiday.

Bakster, welcome to 1/700 ship modeling .

As far as me, I have been working dutifully on the Spruance almost every night. My goal is to install at least one rail per night. I forgot to take a pic of my progress but it probably wouldn't be noticed anyway. I try to get one tonight.

modelcrazy

Bakster, welcome to 1/700 ship modeling .

LOL.  Yup!  Usually, I move slow as molasses--thinking things through like I am playing chess or something. This time I thought--for once stop overthinking it--have fun, and just get'er done. Wham! I walked face first into the superstructure. Shaking my head.

Steve & Bakster: Looking forward to photos!!!

OK Captains, it's time for a Spruance update. Phew, the P has been more dificult than expected. I still have the helo neeting on the starbord side and a few other items such as the helo and small boats and the aft mast, plus more forgotten items I'm sure.

After I start painting, I'll get the North Carolina on the bench.

Very nice modeling. I..don't... think attaching all of that PE, extra parts etc. is helpful before painting the basic ship.

The verticals and the horizontals are two different colors. One to blend in with the sea when seen from above, and one to blend in with the sky when seen from the surface.

I paint my PE before attaching, but that's just me.

I'd suggest a pause in all of that until you can paint the decks; no masks.

Then mask the decks and paint every thing the topside verticals color.