Hello guys,
Since everyone is doing such a great work and posting pictures, I thought it was time to post a quick update on my own builds. Besides, it also puts this topic on top of the list ![Pirate [oX)]](/emoticons/icon_smile_pirate.gif)
USS Dallas is almost finished. As you can see, the kit doesn't have much parts and is really easy to build.
However, I had a lot of problems with the decals, which kept shining no matter what method I used. Eventually, I had to repaint all the details around the decals in order to suppress the shining, and then had apply another layer of varnish to obtain an even effect on the entire hull.
I still have to apply another layer of matt varnish on the upper deck, and add the props and the scopes, but otherwise the model is nearly completed.
Here you will see a few pictures showing progress on the Tourville-class destroyer. Nothing is completed yet on this kit, and there's still much to be done.
I'm using L'Arsenal's special PE set for this kit; though I admit that this fret adds a lot of usefull details to the kit, I was deeply disapointed by L'Arsenal's instructions, which I found to be as messy as Heller's! The instructions are not only extremely complicated to read (they're written in a kind of "abstract way", so I frequently have to look at completed models to figure out where to glue or how to bend a particular PE piece), but also contain some inaccuracies that need to be corrected - such as the location of the extra armor belt, which is not, as suggested by L'Arsenal, located directly below the main deck... (note: I haven't glued the armor belt yet on my kit)
I also use GM's excellent doors and hatches PE fret, which I highly recommend, and is superior, IMHO, to its competitors. The colors come from White Ensign Models (French navy gray and navy deck gray, US navy anti-fouling red).
Hope to post more pictures soon!