I sanded the plates on thw NC last night and besides knocking off a couple during the process, which were replaced right afterward, I think it turned out really well. I will be spraying a black base on the hull and deck tonight. Then comes the hull camo, spray the deck fittings grey, mount the deck and install the wood veneer. Of course, not all in one night.

Pictures will defiantly be coming when that is complete.

Speaking of dogs BK, my new boy, about a 1/1/2 old black Lab/Plott Hound looking fella, tore his ACL! We are going to be taking him to Sunvalley for surgery on Christmas Eve where the price is about $2000 less than here in the valley. Poor guy, he's just a knucklehead and still doesn't realize that he's hurt and wants to play all the time.

My lab is always overweight and the vet said that Labs tend to get acl injuries alot and his weight doesnt help. Still he loves to always play and is very spry and agile for his size. I think he thinks he's a world class athelete. It's funny that Sun Valley would be cheaper than Boise given the folks that live up there.

BK

I'm amazed that Labs, and others, have this issue. I have never heard of it before and I've had 3 Labs in the past  The lady who watches our dogs said her Lab has had surgery for both her ACL's. 

On the NC, I took a pic of the hull after spraying the black. On to the greys. ,

On the Spruance, after the glue has dried on the styrofoam pieces, it's now ready for the paper strips and clear plastic for the bow splash.

Oh that looks neat. Looking forward to seeing how the shading works on the NC and more on how you do the bow wave on the Spruance.

Hmmm, my sister's Jack Russell is so fat I'm surprised he doesn't have a bunch of health issues... 

Gamera

Hmmm, my sister's Jack Russell is so fat I'm surprised he doesn't have a bunch of health issues...

LOL, Jack Russel.

Just giving some jaz Gam, Jacks are cool dogs.

[quote user="modelcrazy"]

Gamera

Hmmm, my sister's Jack Russell is so fat I'm

modelcrazy

 

 

Gamera

Hmmm, my sister's Jack Russell is so fat I'm surprised he doesn't have a bunch of health issues...

 

 

LOL, Jack Russel.

Just giving some jaz Gam, Jacks are cool dogs.

 

Oh is it Russel with one L? I think I've spelled it both ways... 

He is pretty cool. Their Boston Terrier is a headcase though, he's got mental issues... 

 

Edit: Screwed up the formating somehow- oh well it's readable... 

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

• Reply

The next step was to add acrylic gel and wet paper strips. Once this is dry I will work the styrofoam down some to flatten it and add a second coat of gel. The second coat will smooth it out some.

this so good steve , will be saving this thread .

modelcrazy

The next step was to add acrylic gel and wet paper strips. Once this is dry I will work the styrofoam down some to flatten it and add a second coat of gel. The second coat will smooth it out some.

 

can't help myself...is that an icebreaker? 

Ok, gents. Here is my kit. I am already having issues. I will need your ship building expertise on this one, as its my first one.

This is a 1/700 Peleliu by Dragon. I am not impressed thus far. The pin marks, sink marks and standing ejector pins is hideous. I'll have some work ahead of me just fixing that.

Here is where my problem lies. Once I got the hull halves together I find that there are pins on the lower hull that don't go to anything, and I do have it togther correctly. As you can see by the pics this ship would not float. What are these here for? And it appears I just need to remove them to install the hull. Is this something common? I'm a tad puzzled by this.

BK

It can be done as either full hull or waterline.  In the next last pic is the bottom of the hull halves a separate piece?.  If so, you probably would have to leave it off, then put the bottom hull on using the locator tabs for the full hull version.

If going full hull, figure out if you are going to mount on pedestals and base.  If so you might want to glue a couple of pieces of wood where your mounts will be for screw anchors before you close up the hull.

That makes sense. The instructions make no mention of building it either way. They show the assembly all as one piece. Looks like I may be doing a water line version now. Rutroh.

BK

Judging by the box art, the dark gray halves shown are the hanger deck sides.  If so, then for a full hull you would probably have to cut the tabs off the bottom hull and glue in segments, checking alignment as you go.

This after another look at the pics.

Yes, GH is correct, it can be built either as a full hull or waterline. The second to last picture looks like you installed the waterline, which would be painted black for the boot top, the black line just above the red anti-fouling paint.

OK the Spruance. The second coat has been applied, now to let it dry for a few days.

Next, the NC. I painted the hull camo and will be installing the deck.

Nice paint work on the NC hull. Water on the Spruance coming along nicely.

What has BK in a knot is that there aren't any slots in the bottom of the waterline hull to fit in the tabs on the full hull bottom, hence my suggestion of removing them to eliminate the gap between.

Well, I'm going to make this mistake in building a happy accident. I have decided to place the waterline on a plaque base and screw it down. It's trying to warp anyway. This will give a bit of class to the kit rather than sitting on a cheap kit stand. Thanks for the assist gents.

BK

You can also use lamp finials or wood knobs drilled out for screws and use an appropriate length of nicely figured board for a base.  Was why I suggested gluing a bit of wood inside at the right spots.

You're right, kit stands are only good for cutting up to make scratch bits and pieces.

Since you are going waterline, you can do a little acylic gel for water effect.  MC can help more in that area than I can though.

I'm gonna paint the base gloss navy blue with a gold band around the outside. I'll order a brass plate with the name of the vessel and his name and rank on it. The ship will mount to that and should present fairly well. I hope.

BK

Should work well.  Simple and elegant.

Brandon: I have no idea but good luck!!!

Steve: Both of those look cool!

Spruance looks fantastic. Thanks for the step by step on how you are doing the base.

I've been slow-rolling this while I finish up a few other GBs. I've gotten all 50-odd of the larger portholes drilled out. I discovered I need a smaller pin vise to properly hold the bit for the smaller port holes, hopefully the set from Micro-Mark does the trick.

That is some tedious work Mach.

Thanks about the Spruance. The waves are higher that I want so in a day or two I'll cut them down some. Working on the NC tonight and finished the hull. I'll start installing the wood deck tomorrow evening then on to the actual construction. Boy, I can't wait to make all those Bofors and Oerlikons 

Mach1: Good luck with drilling out all those portholes. I don't envy you!!!

Steve: That camo looks good!!

Wow! great work everyone!

Steve, You Spruance dio is fantastic! Amazing.

BTW, Is this your ship, The USS Spruance?  I took this today going into Honolulu.

Thanks Mach. It sure looks like one. Not very fast, maybe 5 to 7 kts. Taking her time.

modelcrazy

Not very fast, maybe 5 to 7 kts. Taking her time.

Trolling is done slowly. If you look closely...

Nice!

She looked like she was just making headway speed.

Captain's menu was for fresh fish for dinner.....