Borodino

WOW that thing looks awesome, in the pictures she looks like  cast iron, really cool.

Thanks, she looks like that in person as well. It's a very satisfying build.

Fore and Aft Masts are coming along nicely, even have a little rigging going on. The hook and pulley assemblies on the aft cranes are scratch built. Still have to make a set for the fore mast cranes

Man that looks awesome!  It's interesting to me how short and wide (stout maybe?) ships of that time frame were as compared to the more-sleek looking modern hulls from even WWII, much less the present day.  Either way, you have done wonders with this kit!

Groot

Thanks, still has a long way to go.

Great work Swanny!

A very small update as the kitchen remodel is kicking my butt. These are the elevated walkways, some of the railing came with the GMM set while other pieces are scavenged from an Eduard set.

You did a great job on them Swanny, especially on the up curves.

Steve

Really great work, Matt.

If the pre-dread bug bites, as it did for me; scoop up the Bronco Chinese Battleships and Cruisers.

The Hasegawa Mikasa is a must.

The Zvezda Varyag.

The Revell Emden/ Dresden.

Then there's resin...

Heh heh, already got the Ting Yuen waiting in the wings. Varyag and all accessory packages in the model room, Have the Emden/Dresden PE sets and waiting for the plastic and the Mikasa is on the short list. Not quite ready to dive into resin yet although I do have an Iron Shipwrights USS Ward kit. That bug did more than bite.

Steve, those bends in the rail were accomplished with flat jewelers pliers. Took some thought but once figured out was pretty easy. The real trick was handling the rest of the structure without breaking it while attaching the last of the rails. There's one short section of rail on the center area that must have been glued back on five times.

In between hanging kitchen cabinets and laying plumbing I have gotten a few things done. The Captain's Walk is coming together and the foredeck railing is in place. You can see a layer of dust has been forming while I was away.

Nice!

Mike

That really looks nice, Matt.

Starboard side mid-deck railings in place and stack stays are done. Note the opening in the railing for the boarding platform which is yet to be scratch built.

Matt,

Thanks for the tip on the jeweler's pliers, I have the Tamiya PE pliers but will look into the jeweler's since some of the bends look fairly small. Also, I wanted to ask you how you are bending the curves so nicely? Are you using dowels to get the curve or what? I am getting close to doing some of the railings on my Dreadnought and feeling a bit nervous.

Steve

Bought that Hasegawa Mikasa?

Ordered it yesterday. I need help.

Steve, when bending the curves I use a variety of odd things. Sometimes I will use paint brush handles or round toothpick but in the case of those crows nest railings I used the handle of my jeweler's file. I also have an Etchmate for working with ladders and box like structures. I'm really liking the GMM brass over any of the other stuff because it is slightly beefier and holds the bends very well. I have a couple sheets of Chinese stuff like Orange Hobbies and that is very foil like. Real thin and flimsy willing to bend out of shape at the least provocation.

Matt,

Thanks for the information. In know the only way I am going to learn how to work with PE is to actually do it. I also have the EtchMate bending tool and love it, I do a whole lot better using it than bending with a razor alone, although I am getting better.

Your Borodino is coming along beautifully so I might have to bump my Knyaz Suvorov up the queue.

Steve

That's pretty much the same ship of course so this build should be useful reference. Speaking of reference,

I found a really nice line drawing showing where all these stack stays and a lot of the mast rigging connect to the superstructure. I'll post a link later for that.

Thanks for the drawings, they will be most usful in the future.

Matt,

Thanks for the picture, I really appreciate it. And thanks again for the tutorial on bending PE.

Steve

You are welcome, I'm always happy to help.

Just ordered the 1907 HMS Dreadnought from Squadron. Seemed reasonable that I have the ship that ended the pre-dreadnought era of battleships.

Swanny

Just ordered the 1907 HMS Dreadnought from Squadron. Seemed reasonable that I have the ship that ended the pre-dreadnought era of battleships.

You should build the Hasegawa Mikasa. That is the far away best pre-dread kit I have ever seen.

The one you have coming is ok, but that Has is a really nice model.

The Hasegawa Mikasa is in transit right now. Not sure when I'll get to build it as I think the next ship I start with be the Varyag.