Revell 1/90 Nina Completed

Thanks Arnie, I appreciate the kudos.  The part I am not really happy about is the final tie off since the knot is right on top of one of the loops.  I have tried to hide it as best I can.

Stever

I guess there is always room for improvement, as I often remind myself, but that looks great to me. I don't see how you could do much better than that, and at scale, more than fits the bill.

Looking forward to your next post.

Alright, back to posting.

Since the kit provided blocks are all the same size and not even close to what a block might look like, I decided to use up some of my ModelExpo blocks.  The sister blocks will be 7mm and the other blocks will be in the 4mm to 3mm range.  Here is a shot of the sister blocks I will be using for the mainsail halyard, followed by my first ever stropped block.  Not too bad, but I know I can do better.

Enjoy,

Steve

Bill,

I'll give it a try.  First, you need to find a hosting site, like Photobucket or one of the many other sites. Then you need to find the URL (web address) of the photo.  It should appear in the address window.  But photobucket and some of the other photo display sites have little apps, so you can click on a box and it copies the address into your scratchpad.  You need to click on "direct address."

Then, you start a message, and click on "rich formatting".  This shows a number of icons along the top.  The single frame of photo film icon is the still picture link.  When you click it a box occurs, with a window asking for the URL.  You paste in the address you copied, (or that was automatically copied by the app).  Then you click on insert and the picture should appear in your message.

Steve

Steve,

Well, they are on my phone right now, got to figure out how to send them to FSM. I just email most of my pics that I share, but never have tried it on here. I know computer basics, but after that....well, you know Lol. I just painted it, decks, sides, etc., a natural wood with a black wash. I didn't go with the pic on the box, but wanted to make it my way, lol. Anyways, when I can find the way to get them on here, I'll definitely send them. And I don't mind criticism, I learn that way, beings this is only my third tall ship, other two never came out the way I wanted, so I want this to be the exception. Is there someway I can link pics to this site?

Bill

Would love to see some pictures of your build Bill.

Steve

Yes, your statement is so true! If not for Dave, the 'Swan' I'm building would probably be crap!! But with knowing about washes, etc. she's coming around quite nicely. Have the decks done, partial hull together, now for those dastardly GUNS!!! Not looking forward to it, but it's like painting a room, etc., once I get started, I'm fine.

Bill

GM and Dave,

Thank you, I greatly appreciate your comments, in fact, I'm blushing like a schoolgirl!  I appreciate them more due to the fact that I greatly admire both your modeling skills and input on my builds as well as other's.  Since I have not been around here very long, I am not sure about the life around these here parts, but I have noticed that we're getting more new people, which is always great.

GM, you, Professor Tilley, Don and the other long time contributors are always willing to chip in with your vast knowledge, especially when I am wrong.  The forum would be a sadder as well as a barren place without the likes of you gentlemen.

Dave, I appreciate the correspondence between us both on and offline, you help push me to be a better modeler by making me think through issues instead of just making due.

Steve

GMorrison...I think your last post there reads like a sonnet, or a haiku, or something!  haha

Not sure what you mean about the era of money, but I do agree that Steve has a great philosophy for building, and a talent that I admire greatly.

D

docidle

... I am a firm believer that it is the little things done well that add up to a very cool sailing ship.  There are those that think building and painting each subsection as a model in itself makes a great model, which I think is true, as long as you don't lose sight of the big picture.  This method is very logical, especially when you are building a ship that has from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousands parts.  Otherwise, you would go bloody mad, or perhaps crazier since I know I am already mad as a hatter.

Steve

I solve problems first, and then resolve the details of the solution.

You've put this well, Steve.

Last of all, this forum has life it's not seen for a while.

In the middle somewhere, Dave you need to get into the era where people used money;

First of all. Dave and Steve you've given great new flow to this forum.

Thanks Niels, I must say, you have great taste in ship models.

Steve

Another grate build thred Steve.

Ha, I just noticed that I used Vandyke as two words in my last post, and the *second* word got censored out!  Funny...

Thanks Dave!  You have become powerful with the Force my former Padawan.  I do not think you'll regret replacing the wooldings with actual line.  I am a firm believer that it is the little things done well that add up to a very cool sailing ship.  There are those that think building and painting each subsection as a model in itself makes a great model, which I think is true, as long as you don't lose sight of the big picture.  This method is very logical, especially when you are building a ship that has from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousands parts.  Otherwise, you would go bloody mad, or perhaps crazier since I know I am already mad as a hatter.

And yes, that is a hint of vandyke brown you detect that was used in the blending/darkening of the masts and yards.  I have used a number of browns instead of one on both the Nina and Pinta as well as all the other older ships I've done.  

I got a chance to look at your newest post of the Junk today and I must say she is looking fabulous.  You have done another sweet job bud.

Steve

Amazing, as usual!  That settles it....my next ship with molded wooldings- they're coming off and I'm doing them with line!  Makes a big difference!

Good work on the color-blending near the ends of the masts...do I detect a note of van *** brown in there??  :)

Sa-Weet!

Alright, I actually got some work done on the Nina.  I filed off the injected plastic wooldings from the yards so that I could replace them with actual line.  Here is a series of photos to show the process I use.

Steve

Next, are a couple of pictures that show the end result of the painting and blending the masts and yards.

I have a 1/75 Reale in my stash.  In my opinion it's a beautiful kit - arguably Heller's best ship.  The detail is spectacular and (unlike certain other Heller kits I could name) it appears to be quite accurate.

Two quibbles - both pretty small.  One - the handles on the oars.  Heller represented them as hefty ridges along the oar looms.  In reality those ridges were long strips of wood nailed to the oarloom with wood spacers under them.  The oarsman couldn't get his hands around the loom itself; he grabbed the handle.  Shaving off the handle and making a genuine handle out of styrene or wood would be easy - once.  But count those oars....

My other quibble concerns the flags.  On feature of this ship type was the huge, bright red banners with hundreds of gold fleurs de lis stitched into them.  Heller made a brave effort to reproduce the effect with printed paper, but I have my doubts about how the finished products would look.  (Awfully heavy, I imagine.)  But if you're thinking about making your own flags, count those fleurs de lis....

Otherwise it is, in my opinion, a great kit.  Someday I hope to have the time to do it justice.

Rod, I also have the La Reale De France...I'd love to hear more about your impression of it....I'm already looking ahead to my next build, and the Reale is a possible choice...the Chebec is coming along nicely!  I'm going to rig the cannons with a breaching rope, since yours look so good!

Anyway, sorry to hijack the thread! :)

Looking good, Steve!

Steve

 The Roman Merchant ship was a fun build. I too am a slow builder so I don'turn out a lot of moels in a year.Presently I'm working on two ship's and a motorcycle. I'm doing the Heller kit "The Conquistador" and Heller's "La Reale De France".I just finished sanding and priming the hull on the Conquistador. I'm laying in a real wood deck plank by plank. I'm using Artwox deck for wooden ships. I also replaced the deck grating. Heller's deck's and grating on this kit need lots of help. I'm also going to turn new yards.

  The La Reale is also in the primer stage.Looking through the parts  their's a ton of sanding on this kit. Seems like there's 5000 ejector pin marks.I'll keep in touch.

Rod

Working on anchor lines.  To secure the line I used a 50/50 solution of Elmer's glue and water.

Steve

Thanks Arnie and the humor is well placed.  I agree, the cannon look way over scale, especially if you look at the Revell Santa Maria cannon.  Reminds me of the difference between a 4 pounder and a 36 pounder, or, a concrete anchor bolt!

Steve

Stunning work. I am really enjoying following this build. As a moment of possible humor, having spent many years in the remodeling business, my first thought for that cannon in the shot from the stern made me think  whay did he put in a concrete anchor bolt? Really though, impressive work. Thanks for sharing it.

Some new pictures where you can actually see the detail.

Enjoy,

Steve

Thanks TD, I have had issues at shows and competitions with people swearing it is wood but then, that "is" the look I was trying to create.

Steve

I can't believe that's plastic!

Rod,

Thanks for checking up on me, since I can get in trouble faster than greesed lightning and thanks for the kudos as always.  I think I might have gone too dark on the coloring but I still like it.  I saw your Roman merchant ship over on Model Warships and she looks fantastic, especially since it is a Pyro build!  May I ask what you are working on now?  

I am pretty certain that DaveK has told you about our building the Imai Chebec at the same time, although, I am much slower than he is and hopefully not dragging him down.  He is doing an amazing job as usual.

If you see anything that could make this build better please let me know.

Thanks again,

Steve

Jim,

Thanks for the kudos.  I feel the same way when I see some of the masterpieces that are built here and on other forums.  I took a 40 year hiatus until my younger brother finally convinced me to get back into it.  Of course it was all very alteristic on his part except for the fact that he wanted me to build some models for him.  I always try to make a better model than the last one I completed and looking at my first models, I find that I want to redo them using the techniques I developed since then.

Thanks again,

Steve 

Steve

  I've been going through this total post today. Somehow I missed it before (Seniors what can you do with them).Nice looking builds. I really like yor coloring. I'll try to keep up better.

Rod

Man, I'm totally blown away. Seeing work like this almost discourages me from building models anymore....not really because I enjoy the hobby too much. But I've built models all my life(roughly 40 years) and I can't even begin to fathom how some guys on here are able to put such realism into their work. That's absolutely incredible!

A little bit of work on the Nina.