Chih Who? WIP.....The Finer Details....9/18

That's what I thought...reason I asked is that what Jester is building (Crusier) is still available at several places in-stock.  Battlecrusier is a totally different story.  I think I literally snagged the last one for sale retail in the Northern Hemisphere at Great Models....

my ting yuen has been "on order" through my LHS for the past 4 months. it's also listed as preorder at freetime hobbies and not listed at all at sprue brothers (which means it isn't out)

Wow, hopefully you guys will get your kits soon. I haven't ordered the battle cruiser yet but after working on this one, I'm sure I will pick one up. When and if they are released again....

Just a few photos of some of the fine photo etch that comes with the kit. Glueing the ammo hatches on was pretty tedious as they are very small but it looks pretty good when finished. I plan on leaving the back four lockers open just for display as half of them actually have shells molded in them. The pulleys are for the ammunition loading and they will be mounted on the gun platform. Sorry for the horrible pics but this stuff is ultra small!!

Nice...these kits are one word: cherry...

Yes they are Manny. Slowly making progress on the pe and fitting for the forward deck. got the railings installed on the bridge and the ladders that lead up to it. They really are beautiful pieces once bent into shape. One word of advice though for the railings with these intricate bends in them, ANNEAL ANNEAL ANNEAL. Ok, that was actual three words, but man, I really fought this piece of railing to get it on.

Sorry for the fuzzy first pic...

Jester75

Yes they are Manny. Slowly making progress on the pe and fitting for the forward deck. got the railings installed on the bridge and the ladders that lead up to it. They really are beautiful pieces once bent into shape. One word of advice though for the railings with these intricate bends in them, ANNEAL ANNEAL ANNEAL. Ok, that was actual three words, but man, I really fought this piece of railing to get it on.

Sorry for the fuzzy first pic...

Thanks Manny!

Well, here goes an update to my Chih Yuen. Its not a big one, but with my limited build time, all I can give are small updates, lol. Got some painting done on the photoetch that came with the kit. Everything in the photos is just sitting in place, no glue yet as I have a few odds and ends to do to it before it gets glued.

Jester75

Thanks Manny!

Well, here goes an update to my Chih Yuen. Its not a big one, but with my limited build time, all I can give are small updates, lol. Got some painting done on the photoetch that came with the kit. Everything in the photos is just sitting in place, no glue yet as I have a few odds and ends to do to it before it gets glued.

 

Maybe Fermis or some other MOJO will now start building...and maybe Bondo will quit crying and actually cut some sprue...

Jester75

Very nice work Jester. I love this pic, showing the "turret" from behind. These early ships were really still a work in progress, it's like a field artillery piece strapped to the top of the decking! I love it!

Thanks for chiming in Vance and Manny! The barrels have some graphite on them but I may apply more as I agree, they need more of a gunmetal appearance.

Another small update on the Chih. Got most of the stuff done on the forward deck. Only thing left to add is the compast post on the bridge and the navigation lights/brackets on each side of it. Still need to paint the rope/cables on the mast, but its not secured yet. Will probably be on of the last things that gets glued down to keep from breaking the durn thing.

Jester75

Only thing left to add is the compast post on the bridge and the navigation lights/brackets on each side of it.

The spheres on either side of the compass (the assembly is a "binnacle" compass is just one part of it) are cast iron, and not lights.  They are used to counter-act the effects of the iron and steel in the vessel on the magnetic compass.  The rest of the binnacle is brass or bronze to be more magnetically-neutral.

Adjusting the compass is a giant pain, from the fussiness of how much and which way to more the spheres.

Now, being iron, the spheres are liable to rust.  They are also very visible to everyone on the ship.  Regardless of Nation or Service, NCO's the world around apply paint and polish in direct proportion to the highest-ranking office likely to see same.  So, those iron spheres are painted red and green (port and starboard) and neatly, too.

The compass rose is lit from within the binnacle, and usually with some ability to adjust that illumination for the helmsman (shutters over candle flame; oil valves for gas lamp or mantel; rheostat for electric lamps).

Still, amazing work on that ship.

Thank you very very much for that information capn. According to the instructions the pedastal for the compass is to be brown (wood?) with the top compass part brass. I remember an episode of Swords where one of the ships compasses went way off and was throwing the autopilot off. They talked about adjusting it using magnets placed around the outside of it to get it back in order.