The Ship Model Forum

I wanted the PE to look perfect. That went out the window quick.

You hate PE? mmm. Then you picked the wrong hobby I guess :big_grin: Looks good there to me though!

I hate PE! LOL That's why I took such a long break. Not trying to be perfect. Just want to get this done.

Went ahead and doubled up on the bedrolls.

Thanks.

BTW I'm using Crayola Model Magic putty for the bedrolls. I let them sit for for a while. Don't let them get hard. But if you try to put them on soft they won't keep their shape and they will flatten when you wrap them around.

Now that is cool. Glad to see you restart!

Trying to get back into building the monster. Most the the pics I've seen from the Yamato movie and some builds show two rows of bedrolls. This one row looks decent.

What do you guys think? One row or Two?

Slow progress.

Small update.

Wood AA bases? Might replace with styrene rod but for now...wood.

Working on the what I call flag/signal deck. Wanted to make it look correct and mod the original. Doesn't look bad but needs work.

[quote="Channell"]As soon as you start, someone will announce a beautiful ultra accurate new-tool 1/200 Yamato kit. :heh:

Great work though, you are really making something special here![/quote]

Thanks guys. If they make a new 1\200 Yamato in the 1941 layout I'm gonna get it! If it's in the final voyage setup I might just mod it. Thing is I have four 1/200 Nichimo's. One I'm working on. One I use for parts (has no deck and is loaded with glue). One already worked on that's 80% complete (probably will use this for the 1941 version which I plan on making a waterline display). And an untouched still in the bags kit that I'm not sure what I'll do with it. Was thinking maybe trade it for the new Tamiya Yamato but I just picked that up so not sure. Maybe I'll make it into the stock Leyte version.

Gonna tell you guys a little secret. I work as a night dispatcher. I bring the ship to work and pretty much most of the work done on her has been done there. If you notice some of the pics of the hull are on the office microwave...lol. So basically I'm getting paid to build this model...in a sense.

I had owned this model back in the late 80's when I saw it advertised for $100 in a magazine. I put it together. No mods...just glue. Don't even think I painted it. The ship went to a watery grave when the son of my ex fiance sunk it in a pond. I had had it for over 10 years and wanted to fix it up but never did. After buying the model again and seeing some of the builds on here and elsewhere I decided to go all in. Really what I've been doing is taking cues from you all. Most of what I've done I've seen on other models. Some I've tried to improve. Learning as I go. One thing I've learned. When you are using PE and you get a part on that's 90% correct, don't sweat the other 10% to get perfection. Live with it and move on. Especially with so many parts. Getting sick of putting on a piece and then seeing it not perfect, taking it off...then it drops on the floor never to be seen again. Course you guys already know this. I get to experience it for the first time :lol_3:

Here are some pics of the turrets I have. Left is L'Arsenel, middle is stock Nichimo, right is Ebay seller Harry O's turret. Looking to use the L'arsenal for this build and the Ebay seller for the 1941 version. You will have to modify the aftermarket turrets if you want them to turn. I like Ryan's modified turrets and sweet blast bags. Who needs stinkin aftermarket parts!

Wow man, talk about being dedicated to a build/ship. I still have nightmares about building that beast, and I did not even come close to the level of detail/alterations you are making here. I can't wait to see it with some paint on to make all your foil details pop.

As soon as you start, someone will announce a beautiful ultra accurate new-tool 1/200 Yamato kit. :heh:

Great work though, you are really making something special here!

Believe it or not but I'm planning on converting another 1/200 Yamato into a 1941 version. Shouldn't be as hard and I might not start it for say...10 years. That should be enough time to recover from this.

Crazy. Easier to just buy Ryan's :big_grin:

Today is April 7. And if you're a Yamato fan you know what happened today 69 years ago.

Man. I've been putting a good bit of time into this model and don't have much progress to show. Putting the gussets on in the 5" and 25 mm gun tubs took forever. Little PE bastages. Seems like I try things 2 or 3 times before I get it to where it's OK. I was hoping to get it all primer'd and looking uniform by today but I didn't want to do anything before it's time. Here is a pic of the superstructure. Most parts aren't glued down. This past week I modified the port and starboard Nav directors. I further modified the new 25 mm AA directors by dremeling the sides and taping over the holes I made. :heh: Cut the supports down on the bases of the AA directors over the forward open 5" guns. Added vents to top of conning tower. Added rivet belt around conning tower. Added to the tower front parts that go behind forward AA directors.

Trying to make another search light base like the one in the GMM set. They only provide 4 and ya need 6. If any of you guys have any 1/200 PE parts that you don't need and would be willing to let go I'd be glad to have them. Especially that damn search light base. If you want to get some cash for it let me know. In any case I'd pick up shipping and packaging costs.

So much more to do on this. And the hardest parts are still to come (painting and PE).

I put primer on the foil tape hull awhile back and it took to it pretty good. The tape edge can stick up so applying some glue to edges might need to be done. Primer should solve any issues you have. I put hull plates on individually. so 5/16" high and about 4.25" wide. All the edges made it a pain. Will be doing another 1/200 Yamato in the '41 look and will use foil tape (great for rivets) but will alternate rows for the raised look. I didn't know Iowa class had hull plates. I was just on the Wisconsin last labor day. Should have paid the hull more attention.

I spray painted the new version of thehull and the paint was a little thick. Just got an airbrush and don't want the upper works to look like a glob of paint. Don't have any place where I can apply spray primer. Need to wait for warmer weather. Hoping to have a good bit done on her and maybe a day in March I can better answer your question.

Senkan, how does the foil tape take paint? I'm thinking about trying to do the hull plates on my Missouri with it...