WIP: DML 1/350 USS Elliot DD967

"Hull was painted with Tamiya "Dull Red" Spraypaint decanted and airbrushed"

Also, remember to paint the sonar dome a really matte black, the Elliot's was rubber made by BFGoodrich

^ Thanks...and It's already been done! :) In fact the ship is finally out of the garage and into my display case following a final push a couple weekends ago (totalling 12hrs). I just haven't got around to taking  final pics as of yet...Although the wife snapped some of me working on the rigging.

The kit decals were a potential nightmare averted thankfully to the use of 3 coats of Testors Gloss Varnish brushed on each individual decal that I intended to use.  I also used a White Ensign Models decal sheet to replace the yellowed hull numbers from the kit's. I also used the white demarkation lines provided with the WEM set for the helo pad and fore/aft deck. I applied all decals over a spot of MicroGloss  (brushed on) to prevent hazing. 

Most of the work, in the last push, has been spent behind the keyboard, trying to find pics of the foremast so that I could figure out how the rigging was done...In the end I still had to do some guess work but I think I pulled it off :)

Finally, I addressed the bridge windows (which I drilled out at the very beginning of the build). Using MicroKristalKlear and dozens of  tiny squares I cut from clear packaging material I replicated glass windows...

@KN5CK I am aware of the color change on the masts. I went with black though as my brother states that they were black when he was stationed on the Elliot. I too remember black masts when I sailed with them as a Tiger in '92. (I also recall the VLS having been fitted to the ship at that time.) thanks for ur input and I hope you will find the end result an accurate and honorable representation of the ship :)

Snapped some pics today...I'd say short of scratchbuilding a Bushmaster for the starboard deck (I still remember the demo they had of this system and still have a few shells :p), finishing up a stand for the other helo (so as to display it in flight)  and perhaps flying some colors I think she'll be put to bed for now...Until then Enjoy!

A quick photoChop I made using an existing photo of  a Sprucan at sea...:)

have you noticed that the 2 sides of the forward superstructure of the model are parallel to each other when they should be angled so that they are flush to the hull & not have that lip that you have on your model? 3 of the 4 models of the spruance class ships i'm building i've corrected that problem & will do the same for the 4th model when i get to it. will also do same when i rebuild another spruance i got off ebay into the radford with that weird mast. 

Interesting...I always thought it was part of the design and never took notice even after all the the hundreds of photos I've looked at!  I did in fact buy the kit opened and partially constructed. The main part of the superstructure was already assembled as was the hull and main deck so it never came to my attention that antything was wrong in the test fitting phase...Seems like this late in the game it's a lost cause to try and rectify it... Other than that I hope you like it (as you failed to mention anything else besides that one kit fault and ur future plans;))

Bumps for more feedback!!! :)

In case anyone was wondering what became of the other SeaHawk... I had a bit of fun with it and built  a little display base for it... I used a Dremel grinding disc  and a piece wire to suspend the Helo. I replicated ocean water by using a Golden gel medium tinted w/ a blue/green/payne's grey acrylic mix mopped on with a brush. Then I dabbled a little white paint into the peaks as it began to dry...

I'll be taking a break from shipbuilding after this, although I do have Tamiya's 1-400 on the shelf for whenever I do feel the urge to put another boat in the display case. I just have a few big birds I wanna build 1st :p

Very nice.....were those Gold Medal  #GMM3501D decals? Thanks

Firecaptain

Very nice.....were those Gold Medal  #GMM3501D decals? Thanks

Yes they are...

http://www.goldmm.com/ships/350-1D.htm

Thanks