Blue Ridge 1/700 SS Normandie

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Blue Ridge 1/700 SS Normandie

Posted by ChrisSC on Monday, January 11, 2021 2:47 PM

I’m giving my first resin model a try, a 1/700 SS Normandie. Unfortunately, the bottom half of the hull was considerably wider than the top. This has taken a bunch of time and aggravation to join but it seems like it looks reasonable enough to proceed. I epoxied some nuts to the inside of the hull so I can mount it to a display stand.

Reply

Alterean

Member since
January 2021

Posted by Alterean on Monday, January 11, 2021 3:19 PM

Very nice, I have the same kit in my backlog and am looking forward to working on it eventually. All I’ve don’t with it is make a stand, and clean up some of the parts just to get an idea of what she’ll look like.

https://imgur.com/a/9KIeP3z

I’m looking forward to seeing how yours turns out.

Reply

fox

Member since
January 2007
From: Narvon, Pa.

Posted by fox on Monday, January 11, 2021 3:23 PM

Nice job on the hull joining. After that, the rest should be easy. Wink

Jim Captain

Stay Safe.

Main WIP:

On the Bench: Artesania Latina (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

Reply

Nino

Member since
July 2014
From: Philadelphia Pa

Posted by Nino on Monday, January 11, 2021 4:25 PM

Very nice work on the hull-width fix.

BRM says "Resin Hull - Hollow & Split at Waterline and keyed for nice fit."

(Guess they changed the lock for that key.)

I have run into similar issues with some resin ironclads.

This is a rather expensive kit IMO, so take it slow.

I'll be following along.

Nino

Reply

Alterean

Member since
January 2021

Posted by Alterean on Monday, January 11, 2021 4:44 PM

Are you planning on doing the early or late version? Or Lafayette for whatever reason.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Monday, January 11, 2021 5:16 PM

Thanks for the comments. I haven't decided which version I'll build but it will be Normandie rather than Lafayette.

Reply

Alterean

Member since
January 2021

Posted by Alterean on Monday, January 11, 2021 5:22 PM

I'm curious what you did to fix the poor fit between the two halves of the hull. It's something im going to have to deal with too.

was it just the putty, or more involved?

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Monday, January 11, 2021 5:45 PM

Alterean

I'm curious what you did to fix the poor fit between the two halves of the hull. It's something im going to have to deal with too.

was it just the putty, or more involved?

I don't know if you want to try what I did but I started by putting the lower hull it in a soft jawed vise and squeezing it a touch while I hit it from a bit of a distance with a heat gun. I then cooled it with compressed air while still inder pressure. I did this up and down the lower hull in a bunch of places. That narrowed it a bit but I still had to sand and putty it. I also had to sand some of the keyway as it was also not allowing the two halves to sit evenly front to back. I didn't enjoy it at all lol. I was kind of worried I was going to crack it in the vise. This is before and after the vise.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Saturday, January 16, 2021 6:48 PM

I did some masking and painting. Between the resin and the scale I'm finding it very hard to do a decent paint job. Being basically one big piece there is way too much masking. This is definitely a challenge for me. I'm not sure how I'm going to paint the windows...they are TINY! The black is in gloss now until I get the decals on, then I will tone it down with some flat clear. I prefer styrene lol.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Saturday, January 16, 2021 7:11 PM

The Normandie was a huge ship but in this scale a cup of coffee looks gigantic next to it lol!

Reply

Alterean

Member since
January 2021

Posted by Alterean on Saturday, January 16, 2021 10:27 PM

I don’t think my kit is going to look even remotely as good as yours. I’ve built some of the liner kits you’ve posted here, and they’re night and day compared to mine. You have some real skill.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Sunday, January 17, 2021 8:16 AM

Alterean
I don’t think my kit is going to look even remotely as good as yours. I’ve built some of the liner kits you’ve posted here, and they’re night and day compared to mine. You have some real skill.

Thanks Alterean. The big test will be all these tiny windows.

I think the issue will be that the color you put in the window recesses can not spread larger than the PE frame. The frames will be white so if any of the color is outside the frames it will be noticeable. In addition this being resin the openings are not as uniform as styrene. Lastly, the PE windows are miniscule. I will see how it turns out but it is an experiment for me and may be way beyond my skill level. I'll find out soon enough lol.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Monday, January 18, 2021 1:56 PM

Today I'm experimenting with getting color into the window recesses of 1/700 resin Normandie. Some will have tiny white PE frames over them if I can get them on and some need touch ups.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Thursday, February 4, 2021 11:57 AM

I had to take a break from this 1/700 resin Normandie to preserve my sanity. I now attached one side of the lower hull PE window frames and decals. This model is beyond my abilities and patience but I will finish it. The size of the PE and resin combination is not something I will do again lol!

Reply

Nino

Member since
July 2014
From: Philadelphia Pa

Posted by Nino on Thursday, February 4, 2021 4:18 PM

Chris,

That is a beautiful paint job on the hull. You should be proud.

I do wish you Patience and Luck (and more patience) with that PE set.

She's gonna be a "show-stopper".

Nino

Reply

fox

Member since
January 2007
From: Narvon, Pa.

Posted by fox on Thursday, February 4, 2021 5:58 PM

Looks like an outstanding job to me! Toast Looking forward to the finished ship.

Jim Captain

Stay Safe.

Main WIP:

On the Bench: Artesania Latina (aka) Artists in the Latrine 1/75 Bluenose II

I keep hitting "escape", but I'm still here.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 9:56 AM

Thanks Nino and Jim. I'm determined to finish it regardless of how it turns out. I may need a straight jacket when I'm done though lol!

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Saturday, February 13, 2021 1:39 PM

Some slow progress on this Normandie. Dry fitting some mostly painted parts.

Reply

Tanker-Builder

Member since
October 2019
From: New Braunfels, Texas

Posted by Tanker-Builder on Sunday, February 14, 2021 10:24 AM

Well!

What's all the hullabaloo about? You're doing a superb job as usual! That is a ship I would love to see in 1/350 or 1/200, The Bigger one for R.C. They do make her in 1/250 in Card and Paper.

One of the things you should be noticing. It's her proportions that are so correct, and that is what makes her so beautiful, even to the untrained eye. Surely the most beautiful liner to ever set sail! With Two stacks! And that beautifully curved Stem and sculptured Whaleback Bow deck area.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Sunday, February 14, 2021 5:56 PM

Tanker-Builder

Well!

What's all the hullabaloo about? You're doing a superb job as usual! That is a ship I would love to see in 1/350 or 1/200, The Bigger one for R.C. They do make her in 1/250 in Card and Paper.

One of the things you should be noticing. It's her proportions that are so correct, and that is what makes her so beautiful, even to the untrained eye. Surely the most beautiful liner to ever set sail! With Two stacks! And that beautifully curved Stem and sculptured Whaleback Bow deck area.

Thanks Tanker-Builder. I agree 100% that 1/350 would be so much more enjoyable to build. This one is testing my patience in 1/700.

This is the first resin model I have attempted and the second one I have bought. The other resin kit I have is this same ship, Normandie, in 1/350. I like the Normandie a lot as you do which is the only reason I’m trying resin. To be honest I don’t care for the material.

This 1/700 is cast much nicer but too small for me to work on comfortably. The 1/350 version is the right size but the casting is much sloppier than this one. If I ever find a clean molded 1/350 resin kit then maybe my mind could be changed on the material. I’m assuming the quality varies wildly with resin kits and wonder if there are companies that make kits close to as crisp as styrene.

As far as Normandie is concerned I agree she was a beauty. She is in my top three favorite liners, might even be number one. I would have a hard time choosing between her and the original Queen Elizabeth.

This is a photo of the upper hull of my 1/350 resin Normandie next to a 1/350 Lusitania hull. She makes Lusitania look tiny!

PS, Normandie is a 3 stacker.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 10:45 AM

I wasn’t happy with the forecastle paint so I tried to touch it up with a brush. This turned into a disaster as there was a bad paint reaction that ruined the whole forecastle. I thought the model was trash. I stripped it all off with acetone which caused a gloppy mess. After it was cleaned up I sanded, carefully masked and sprayed it again. Thankfully it looks OK to me now. I need to learn to leave well enough alone lol. New paint is on the right in the photo.

Reply

Alterean

Member since
January 2021

Posted by Alterean on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 3:46 PM

Looking amazing, looks like you’re doing early Normandie then? Looking forward to see how she turns out, especially since I’m planning on doing late.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 4:50 PM

Alterean
Looking amazing, looks like you’re doing early Normandie then? Looking forward to see how she turns out, especially since I’m planning on doing late.

Thanks. Yes I'm doing the early version. Do you have this same Blue Ridge kit? If yes I hope you have a good set of eyes lol!!

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Thursday, February 18, 2021 7:58 PM

Some of these 1/700 parts are crazy small. The spotlights and speakers are like specs of dirt. Too small for tweezers. A wax pencil and holding my breath sometimes works lol.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Sunday, February 21, 2021 11:50 AM

There are lots of details on these tiny funnels. I don't think they will be noticed when the ship is complete though due to the scale. I'm slowly moving along on this 1/700 resin Normandie.

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 7:40 PM

This is a 1/700 photo etch marathon. I'm seeing double, maybe even triple!

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Friday, February 26, 2021 10:48 AM

Well about halfway through these railings I realized I'm putting them on upside down. I assumed the thicker rail was a top course like all the other PE railings I have seen. Turns out it should be on the bottom. Like the old saying says, never assume. I found this out when I got to a pre shaped railing in the well deck area. I am kind of just rushing through it now. This model requires a top notch skill set and experience with resin....and patience with good eyesight. I don't have enough of all three lol!!! It's a learning experience for sure in my case.

Reply

Alterean

Member since
January 2021

Posted by Alterean on Sunday, February 28, 2021 5:58 PM

Beautiful work. It amazes me how much detail they can cram into a 1/700 resin kit.

Reply

DRUMS01

Member since
June 2018
From: Ohio (USA)

Posted by DRUMS01 on Sunday, February 28, 2021 6:59 PM

Beautiful

"Everyones the normal until you get to know them" (Unknown)

LAST COMPLETED:

1/35 Churchill Mk IV AVRE with bridge - DONE

NEXT PROJECT:

1/35 CH-54A Tarhe Helicopter

Reply

ChrisSC

Member since
February 2020
From: South Carolina, USA

Posted by ChrisSC on Monday, March 1, 2021 3:23 PM

Thanks Alterean and DRUMS01.

Well I'm calling this 1/700 resin Normandie done. That's about as much as I feel like doing to it. I doubt I will ever put rigging on it as it's so fragile I think a breeze would break stuff off! This was a lot harder to build than I ever thought it would be.