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Ships of the American Flag GB 2019 -2021

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  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 5:03 PM

modelcrazy

Mongoose, that thing is huge. I won'yt usually post a pic unless thete's something substancial to show. That't why my NC is still in the shadows

 

Ha, yeah I got carried away with the size Surprise 

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Ohio (USA)
Posted by DRUMS01 on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 7:17 PM

Scottrc, that is looking real good. I've only built two of the older rigged ships and that was a couple decades ago. I still enjoy looking at nice work though and yours is tops.

Joe and Brandon, I still do not know how you all handle 1/700 stuff as my fingers are not what they used to be. Well I guess they are still fingers, but you know what I mean. Those small pieces look really nice when done well. I look forward to your builds. 

Unlike modelcrazy, I am working at documenting every little step of my Arizona build. So..... one more time, lets all sing along to the PE song:  :violin: 

1) Boat Cradles (replacing the crude "V" shaped lumps molded into the deck). The kit requires four in this size, two larger, and two smaller. For some reason, the first one came apart during the bending process.

Image  :wall:  :wall: 

Here is the part before and after bending

Image

And here are all four completed (very, very fragile)

Image

Some other items; dual steps from the lower deck to the upper deck, and more ammo storage boxes for the 5" AA guns.  :tongue: 

Image

Image

And last, if you recall from the previous message I had issues with the reinforcement spines on the rear gun tub side armor. When looking at my choices I could cut very thin plastic or metal sheet or use extruded plastic in small diameter. 

Image

My choice was based on ease to manipulate and best in scale appearance, the very thin diameter plastic (a little larger than a hair) was the winner. I am very happy with the clean application.  :thumb1: 

Image

I still have most of the boat PE, the 5" gun PE splinter shields, and many little PE items still to do. After the PE is done, I will be looking forward to the painting process. Here's the problem.... less than a week ago it was in the upper 70's F and sunny. Today it is barely 40 degrees F and had mixes of rain and snow. Two weeks ago it was massive flooding. Sure can't wait to see what tomorrow brings. It sure makes painting difficult. 

Soon I will have to stop until I get a couple paint days in, the PE is piling up.  :eeek: 

Till next time .......

Ben

"Everyones the normal until you get to know them" (Unknown)

LAST COMPLETED:

1/35 Churchill Mk IV AVRE with bridge - DONE

NEXT PROJECT:

1/35 CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter

 

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: MOAB, UTAH
Posted by JOE RIX on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 9:57 PM

Thanks for the accolades Ben, Scott and Steve. Certainly helps keep me encouraged.

Mongoose: That is indeed one healthy sized bugger. Don't think that would fit in my paint booth. Good to see you going over it with a renewed attention to detail. Hope that's how you feel about taking this on again.

Ben: nice progress. The option you took with the gun tubs turned out great. Your weather sounds like here in Utah in the spring. A few days ago I was getting sun burnt out doing yard work and then the night before last we got hit with a nasty freeze of 25 degrees over night. That's how we roll in these parts.

"Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did". George Carlin

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 10:19 PM

Ben, I didn't mean to imply you were posting to much, I look forward to your updates and am amazed at your PE ability Big Smile. Compaired to my progress, which is not substancial, you have completly out paced me. My progress consists of adding a door and maybe bend a piece of PE into a box.

Your work is excelent and I'm looking forward to more.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Ohio (USA)
Posted by DRUMS01 on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 11:56 PM

Steve, I am not at all offended and meant nothing more in my response than just poking a little humor AT MYSELF. Everyone is different when it comes to how much or how little they want to post and when. I just hope nobody minds my numerous little updates (?).

I am really enjoying this GB like I did with the Space GB, and the Modern Armor GB, and others. I get excited when I branch out from my normal building. I continue to learn things and enjoy the abilities and insight of others. Now lets build stuff and have fun!

Your buddy in building,

Ben

"Everyones the normal until you get to know them" (Unknown)

LAST COMPLETED:

1/35 Churchill Mk IV AVRE with bridge - DONE

NEXT PROJECT:

1/35 CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, April 16, 2020 8:37 AM

Oh gee friggin' whiz Ben please keep posting at your current rate!!! It inspires me to try to get something done!!

To be honest I haven't been getting anything done. On weekdays I'm tired enough from work I want to just sit down when I get home. And on weekends I've been getting headaches and not feeling well. I don't know what's going on but I haven't gotten much done this year... Embarrassed

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

 

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Thursday, April 16, 2020 9:36 AM

Gamera
To be honest I haven't been getting anything done. On weekdays I'm tired enough from work I want to just sit down when I get home. And on weekends I've been getting headaches and not feeling well. I don't know what's going on but I haven't gotten much done this year.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, April 16, 2020 10:44 AM

modelcrazy

 

 
Gamera
To be honest I haven't been getting anything done. On weekdays I'm tired enough from work I want to just sit down when I get home. And on weekends I've been getting headaches and not feeling well. I don't know what's going on but I haven't gotten much done this year.

 

 

'IT"S NOT A TOO-MAH!!!'

Thanks Steve, loved this movie. Been decades since I've seen it though. 

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

 

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: MOAB, UTAH
Posted by JOE RIX on Thursday, April 16, 2020 12:52 PM

Gamera
To be honest I haven't been getting anything done. On weekdays I'm tired enough from work I want to just sit down when I get home. And on weekends I've been getting headaches and not feeling well. I don't know what's going on but I haven't gotten much done this year... 

I sure hope you get to feeling more up to par my friend. Take care of yourself.

By the way, Glad you liked Scirocco the tortoise. She is awesome and quite the character.

"Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did". George Carlin

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Thursday, April 16, 2020 2:08 PM

JOE RIX

 

 
Gamera
To be honest I haven't been getting anything done. On weekdays I'm tired enough from work I want to just sit down when I get home. And on weekends I've been getting headaches and not feeling well. I don't know what's going on but I haven't gotten much done this year... 

 

I sure hope you get to feeling more up to par my friend. Take care of yourself.

By the way, Glad you liked Scirocco the tortoise. She is awesome and quite the character.

 

Thanks Joe, it's just I think about all I want to do at work everyday and then when I get home I zonk out and don't want to do anything. And there's no reason- I'm just lazy. Embarrassed

And yeah tortoise/turtles are awesome!!! 

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

 

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Ohio (USA)
Posted by DRUMS01 on Thursday, April 16, 2020 3:00 PM

Is seems that all I've been showing are little bits of PE every update. I think it's time for a photo to show how most of that PE looks together. Keep in mind that there is still bunches of little PE parts, like the water tight doors, ammo bins, 5" AA deck guns, boat stays, stairs and ladders, splinter shields, antenna, vents, billiards, chocks, etc. Still after taking this into account, you can tell why I have had all of those PE updates:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Now, weather permitting, I will begin to show photos with color (paint)...

Till then, stay safe, be smart, and take care of your loved ones.

Ben

"Everyones the normal until you get to know them" (Unknown)

LAST COMPLETED:

1/35 Churchill Mk IV AVRE with bridge - DONE

NEXT PROJECT:

1/35 CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter

 

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Thursday, April 16, 2020 3:06 PM

That looks bad A55 Ben

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: MOAB, UTAH
Posted by JOE RIX on Thursday, April 16, 2020 8:24 PM

DRUMS01

Is seems that all I've been showing are little bits of PE every update. I think it's time for a photo to show how most of that PE looks together. Keep in mind that there is still bunches of little PE parts, like the water tight doors, ammo bins, 5" AA deck guns, boat stays, stairs and ladders, splinter shields, antenna, vents, billiards, chocks, etc. Still after taking this into account, you can tell why I have had all of those PE updates:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Now, weather permitting, I will begin to show photos with color (paint)...

Till then, stay safe, be smart, and take care of your loved ones.

Ben

 

That looks amazing! I AM NOT WORTHY!!Bow DownBow Down

"Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did". George Carlin

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Thursday, April 16, 2020 8:51 PM

I'll second that, you have a great build going on with her.  A worthy subject that you are honoring well. 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, April 17, 2020 9:09 AM

JOE RIX

 

 
DRUMS01

Is seems that all I've been showing are little bits of PE every update. I think it's time for a photo to show how most of that PE looks together. Keep in mind that there is still bunches of little PE parts, like the water tight doors, ammo bins, 5" AA deck guns, boat stays, stairs and ladders, splinter shields, antenna, vents, billiards, chocks, etc. Still after taking this into account, you can tell why I have had all of those PE updates:

Image

Image

Image

Image

Now, weather permitting, I will begin to show photos with color (paint)...

Till then, stay safe, be smart, and take care of your loved ones.

Ben

 

 

 

That looks amazing! I AM NOT WORTHY!!Bow DownBow Down

 

 

You can say that again!!! 

Absolutly superb work Ben!!! Heart

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

 

  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: Indiana, USA
Posted by Greg on Friday, April 17, 2020 9:26 AM

mustang1989

Ya know......there's no way in HELL I'd ever tackle a project like alot of you are doing in here....but I do like pokin' my head in and just admiring all the great work going on. This is just fantastic!! 

 

Like Joe, I just stopped in to look around.

You guys must have the patience of Job. All that PE looks intimidating, but holy cow does it ever look cool. Yes The detail and scale look really makes a difference.

And Ben, I too like your detailed step-by-step progress reports. Nice work and keep it up.

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Friday, April 17, 2020 4:03 PM

All that brass is really adding a lot of CLASS to that model.

Looking good Ben. 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Friday, April 17, 2020 6:05 PM

Ben's gone super small and I've gone super big! Today's big accompllishment is wet sanding the hull. Took me about 30 minutes to do this without sanding through in any areas...other than maybe a corner or two but nothing that won't get covered easily when I do the pre-shading. There's a hint of things to come...

That's just a water spot on the bow and around the stiffener plate. I taped up the dark horizontal surfaces. hopefully I don't have to redo them to do the next step as that was a couple hours work on it's own.

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Friday, April 17, 2020 9:50 PM

I could use some input and some help on this oil caning affect. If you've got thoughts or experience at this could you weigh in please? 

Here's what I'm looking to duplicate in terms of the look

 

I had a fuselage that I could experiment on. Sprayed with same primer as on the carrier. here's what I did for reference... 

left side - preshade is light ghost gray thinned with 10% white.

right side - preshade is light ghost gray thinned with 20% white.

I used a light color pershading because of how the plates look on the carrier pic. Does that seem right?

I've also tried to link a video of the part spun 270 degrees to catch all angles because it was hard to capture the effect on film. I got better at putting down the preshaded lines (marked it next to the part). I think that's important looking at the result. Would you agree? 

Initial preshading

With 3 passes and flat coat

left side LGG-10%

right side LGG-20%

 ">video-go-round

 note: will have to keep working on the video. Can't get it to link up.

(haha the sound you hear in the video is my radiator fan in the paintbooth running)

So do you think either method would give me the look in the carrier picture I started with? 

Should I regroup and try something different?

All thoughts welcome.

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Friday, April 17, 2020 10:16 PM

Interesting photo there. I wouldn't say its oil canning, ie distortion of the plates. It looks more like a difference in oxidation/ growth at the weld lines. Your experiments look great, maybe need to be taken back a couple more steps. The sponson is another story.

 

Bill 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Friday, April 17, 2020 10:48 PM

Hey Bill thanks for the insight Yes Seems like it could be something else as oil caning is probably more for lighter plates like on the sponsons. Could you expand more on "taken back a few steps"? I'm not sure I follow.

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    June 2018
  • From: Ohio (USA)
Posted by DRUMS01 on Friday, April 17, 2020 11:07 PM

Looking good Mongoose, that is going to be a big fella.

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words. At the beginning and a couple times throughout, the PE was almost overwhelming, but now it is getting to be fun. I am not sure that it is fun because I can see some of the results; fun because it will be coming to an end; or fun because it is actually fun; Perhaps all three.....

Because of our weather I am waiting to paint just a little longer. So I began looking at what has not been prepped to paint and I found all the little boat, dingy, motor launch, or what ever you may call them need assembled. When looking at the larger 1/200 scale Arizona and seeing the detail in thier little boats I began wondering if I can get just a little of that on my 1/350 boats. So I have decided to start on the hardest ones of the set, the captains motor launches (there are four of them). 

The model has you complete the captains launch with a hull and a top,..... that is it... done. Looking at the Eduard PE set it gives me some options to improve on the kit parts. Along with the PE, here is what I plan to do to these four launches:  :crazy: 

- add a teakwood inner floor to the boat

- remove the back half of the aft cabin and replace it with PE

- add the PE boat deck to the rear

- add PE boat deck hand rails to the bow and stern

- add PE hand rails to top of cabin

- add a PE vent over the fore cabin

- add PE port holes to cabins

- add rope and life rings fore and aft (scratch)

- add PE rudder

- add PE ships wheel (from spare parts)

- possible other items (lights, horn, slat drivers water deflector, etc. from scratch)

I am going to try to get something close to these images when I'm done.




Image

The model parts have a lot of mold flash and ejection pin marks. The molds ejection pin marks have to be corrected if you want to lay an inner wood floor. Also the parts are held to the sprue by a connection 3-4 sizes thicker than the parts so great care is needed not to damage them when removing them from the sprue.  :ooops: 

The Eduard instructions have you remove the back half of the rear cabin. The problem is the piece they want you to remove is many more times thicker than the piece you need to keep. When trying to remove the area with a knife on the first top piece, it ended up cutting clean through the back half of the top and sent the piece I wanted to keep into oblivian. The good thing is I did not loose a finger tip. The bad thing is I did loose that part, even after a 1 hour search party (me, wife, child, dog, cat) the black hole in my basement ate it. The Eduard instructions:

Image

So, now I have four boat hulls and three tops. As I was looking at my options, I thought I could always buy a set of four boats from Shapeways or a like source. The problem with that is I would be giving up on the modeling of those boats. I also thought of seeing if I could try to get a replacement part. Since this kit has changed manufacturers three times, I do not even want to try. Then there is the option of making similar blobs using sheet plastic and then covering it with a tarp. But then I would have people asking me why it is covered with a tarp and I would have to go through this story every time. So instead I chose to scratch build another top to match the other three.  :roll: 

After cleaning up the kit parts and adding the wood inner floor I set out to finish the modification to the remaining three tops. As I mentioned earlier, the piece to remove is much, much thicker that the thin deck edge trim. So even if I tried to saw them, the remaining deck edge trim would be too marked up to use. My solution was to simply cut off the entire rear section of the boat top that was going to be replaced and reconstruct the deck edge trim with a similar thickness of plastic sheet. It was actually much easier that initially thought because the cutting was much cleaner and the decks level edges would be cleaner with the sheet plastic. I outlined the shape of the boat with a marker on the sheet plastic, measured the length needed for the rear, cut it off, removed the center area of the plastic (where the access and sitting areas would be), and glued it to the remaining front section. After a little filing and sanding, the part was close enough. Then it was easy to add the PE rear platform, however the rear cabin cover was another issue. 

The rear cabin cover is a single piece of PE that makes up the top and the semi-circle side. Connecting them is a hair width stem of brass (see part 184 in photo below). 

Image

The problem is the top does not like it when you bend the side (rectangular part) into the crescent shape as it likes to pop off. What I found was it was much easier when the top was off to shape the side then reattach it. So much easier that I separated the top and sides on the remaining three and finished them.

Scratch building the fourth boat top took more time that I thought it would. First another outline of the boat was cut out of the sheet plastic. the holes for the fore and aft cabin space was removed and the plastic was glued to the top of the hull (the wood floor was previously installed). The bumps that represented the fore and aft cabins was made by gluing a stack of plastic sheet up, shaped it to match the other boats, measured, cut, and glued in place. After gluing the PE parts to it like I did the other three, I hope it will be difficult to tell once I paint them all.  :think: 

Image

And now a step backwards.... If you look closely at the photos and compare them with the Eduard instructions, the rounded PE piece should actually be on the front of the aft cabin and the opening to the rear (just the opposite of the Eduard instructions). I found this AFTER I did all the modifications. So now what to do? The only option I see is painting the very back of the rounded vertical black to make some kind of impression of an opening. Also, if you follow Eduard you will put 4 portholes on the front cabin and 2 on the side of the back cabin (neither are correct). When looking at the actual motor launch photo, there are three on the front, one on the backs side, and one facing forward on the back (with the rear open). I hope that by painting the porthole windows black they will blend with the rear black painted opening (that is my hope).  :bash:  :wall: 

Image

Now time to paint them before I continue with the smaller PE parts. After reading the many research documents, and based on the early 1941 paint scheme, I am going to paint the boats inside hull white, a wood floor, the top of the cabins will be white, while the decks will be tan / wood. The upper hull of the boats will be 5-D dark gray, and the fouline and below will be black. 

Another step backwards... I tried to mask and paint them twice with the AK acrylic paints, but even the low tack hobby masking tape pulled the paint off the boat both times, surface prepped or not. So my next inclination is to paint them by hand. Wish me luck as my hands are not as steady as they used to be.  :? 

Base coats on the tops (still more detailing and wash to go):
Image

Gray and black on the hull (semi-straight I think):
Image

Sitting together on the PE boat cradles (four ducks in a row):
Image 

I am going to give this an extra day or two to fully cure, do some minor touch-ups, and then I will begin work on the small stuff.

Till next time  :cheers2: 

Ben

"Everyones the normal until you get to know them" (Unknown)

LAST COMPLETED:

1/35 Churchill Mk IV AVRE with bridge - DONE

NEXT PROJECT:

1/35 CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Friday, April 17, 2020 11:34 PM

Ben those motor launches are SWEET! You need to frame that story to go along with your display. That was a crowded floor looking for that back cabin top Whisper 

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Friday, April 17, 2020 11:38 PM

Chris, I like the lighter one.

Yes, I would sugest painting. Here is an awsome build I saw on Pintrest. The builder used shadows.

Or you can use a x210 Xacto blade and carve them out like I did on my 1/72 u-boat. Of course it's a 1/72 and not 1/350.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Saturday, April 18, 2020 12:04 AM

Ben, nice save on the boats. Half way through the post I was thinking I could send you mine, but it looks like your excelent skills prevailed Yes

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, April 18, 2020 1:18 AM

Well those launches are a diorama in themselves! Handy to have another part to copy.

As I offered before, I have the kit and never will build it, so if you want parts just ask.

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    January 2015
Posted by TheMongoose on Saturday, April 18, 2020 10:05 AM

In the pattern: Scale Shipyard's 1/48 Balao Class Sub! leaning out the list...NOT! Ha, added to it again - Viper MkVii, 1/32 THUD & F-15J plus a weekend madness build!

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Saturday, April 18, 2020 10:09 AM

that looks great Chris SurpriseStick out tongueBig Smile

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Saturday, April 18, 2020 6:01 PM

W O W.....beautiful 3D effect!!!!Bow Down

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: MOAB, UTAH
Posted by JOE RIX on Saturday, April 18, 2020 11:19 PM

Ben: Marvelous motor launches. You got some slpendid results with all your craftsmanship and despite the mishap. I shot one of my 20mm barrels somewhere into the abyss myself. Didn't spend an inordinate amount of time looking for it as I had plenty of extras. I actually felt fortunate to have only lost one in the entire process.

Mongoose: Holy smokes! Your technique is incredibley impressive. You have a real keen eye and an equally steady hand to pull that off. Seriously, I am immensely impressed. Kudos!

"Not only do I not know what's going on, I wouldn't know what to do about it if I did". George Carlin

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