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Topic review - *COMPLETED* 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940
Author Message
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Thanks, guys. I'm really happy how she turned out even though I forced myself not to go overboard on aftermarket. These Dragon kits are fantastic. I really hope they get back into the ship business, I'd love to see that Gyatt, Atlanta, and other subjects.

I had an odd feeling last night, not rushing to finish my entry for MosquitoCon up until the last minute. So unlike me...
Post Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 5:31 am
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Devin wrote:
Break out the bourbon (don't mind if I do!), she's done!.


I'll drink to that. Nice work Devin.
Post Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 12:25 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Superb! Have another Bourbon on me! :cool_2:
Post Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 10:37 am
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Yea!! She looks great.
Post Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:15 am
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Bravo! Well done.
Post Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:24 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Break out the bourbon (don't mind if I do!), she's done! Just a few quick shots for now, I'll do more extensive ones later and send them in for the gallery.

Kept her mostly simple, only minimal weathering, simplified the rigging somewhat, and only a few figures to add a sense of scale and a little color. Also for color I added some of the 1/350th scale gas cylinders from L'Arsenal. I also painted up a crate from the Niko accessory set, but even the smallest one was too big for this one. The ensign (the flag, not one of the little dudes) is the vinyl adhesive one from the kit, stuck to thin foil. It turned out okay, but I'll be going back to water transfer decals on foil for the next build.

And on to that next build. I have a sci-fi subject to finish for a client, maybe a little work on the 1/200 scratch build that's nearly there, and then it's on to Merit's CV-5.


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Post Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2015 7:06 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Yes, ran into that with this one, the bow and stern don't touch their blocks. Oh well.
Post Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 3:17 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Looks great! One of the problems I always have with mounting ships on keel blocks is the less-than-perfect flatness of the keel on the model - you need slightly different heights for the keel blocks, but won't know what that is until you have them all cut out for dry fitting!
Post Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 2:42 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Another brief update. The wooden pieces from yesterday have resolved themselves into a fitting base. I have to admit that I was winging it on the keel blocks, and they're probably oversized, but I'm happy with the way it turned out. The two differing wood types contrast well when hit with clear shellac; I used no stain.

Had an issue with attaching Benson to said base, the aft mounting screw was hitting the bottom of the deck, heard that sickening CRACK of plastic beginning to separate, so I stopped immediately, cut 1/4" off the screw, and all is good now.

I have signal blinker lamps, boat davits and boats, and the main searchlight to finish and install. I'll probably add a crew member or two as well, just for scale. Otherwise she's 98% done. Okay, maybe 95.3%. I like dragging out these last few days of a build, my favorite parts of a project are the final touches.


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Post Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 2:18 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Finished the rigging last night, so I want to mount her to the permanent base before I attached the small boats and davits (anyone have any tips for mounting those, by the way?)

I've cut a plank of poplar, and some unknown rectangular stock for keel blocks. Now it's a matter of fitting them out so they look evenly spaced, and that'll be that. I normally put all my ships in a case, and I still may, but I have a glass door bookcase now, so I'll give it a try leaving Benson uncovered for a bit. If dust starts to accumulate, I'll buy an individual case for her later.


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Post Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 3:20 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
As Air Search Radars were installed, GENERALLY ... and for certain on destroyers, the crow's nest was removed to make way for the radar.
Post Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:59 am
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Yes, with the war prep modifications made in 1941, those things start to go away. I believe they added the sky lookout chairs around the base of the director on the bridge at the same time the crows nest came down. Later in the war you definitely wouldn't want to be that high up on the mast with a radar above your head!
Post Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 9:57 am
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Thanks Devin!

Funny, I had that photo of Mustin saved to my computer as a reference for building Morris (but Morris didn't have it in may '42)!

Cheers,

Marijn
Post Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 9:51 am
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Marijn,

That's a crow's nest, a lookout position. When in use the top is flipped up and one or two crewmembers are stationed there. I honestly don't know how it was accessed on these ships, on some you came up through a hatch in the bottom, on big ships they could climb up inside the mast leg to gain access.

Two photos below. The first shows the top of the 'nest with open top. The second shot is a SIMS class, but same concept; if you zoom in on it you can see what I believe is the head and shoulders of a sailor on watch.

-Devin


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Post Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 6:45 am
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
That's looking very good Devin!
I like how the deck and vertical surfaces contrast, and how smooth and thin you got the paint on the model.

One question: do you know what the cylindrical thing is, that is attached to the front top of the mainmast? Lexington had one too in '42, and I have seen it on many period photo's ships, but I couldn't find its' purpose.

Cheers,

Marijn
Post Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 3:51 am
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
I always dread rigging, until I get into it. Then I remember how it's the one bit that really brings a ship model to life. I have the flag halyards done, used Caenis line, and the running rigging and stays are mostly done, using fibers of EZ Line for those. Should finish the rigging tomorrow, then get her on a base this weekend. All on track for MosquitoCon next Saturday the 4th.


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Post Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 9:10 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Thanks. I'm forcing myself not to go nuts on the detailing, and to try new stuff. I'm really liking the EZ Line for rigging so far; very forgiving. I'm also forcing myself to not weather her too much, as she's full hull.
Post Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 8:17 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
She's looking really good, Devin.
Post Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 8:08 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
Rigging is under way. I started running the flag halyards, but then realized they'd be in the way for the mast stays, so I jumped to them instead. Using EZ line that's been snapped and then had individual strands pulled out of it. The strechyness (is that a word?) is very forgiving to work with. Another bonus is that, unlike the Caenis thread, the mucilage glue is sticking to this stuff wonderfully.


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File comment: Starting at the base of the gun director. I've drilled the tiniest holes I can and dip the tip of the line into superglue, then thread them into the holes. The clothes pin isn't full-sized, they're tiny ones I picked up in a doll store years ago, they have just the right amount of weight and grip for rigging work.
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File comment: Also adding the life rafts. You can also see how I've painted the lifelines a darker color to blend with the deck. I really like the result.
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Post Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:09 pm
  Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS Benson (DD-421), 1940  Reply with quote
I allowed the wash to dry for 3 evenings, mostly because I was busy with other things, but it gave it a good solid finish before the dullcoat. I've been using Testors Dullcoat decanted out of a rattlecan for some time now, as it gives a perfect flat finish, but that stuff does stink to high heaven, and I just prefer to use acrylics when I can. Sargentx in this topic http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=156653 introduced me to the Golden UV clear coats. The flat is dead flat, as much so as the Testors lacquer, maybe even a bit more. I cut it with just a small amount of their satin so that there's the slightest sheen and so that the blue hue to the paint isn't lost, and shot it, thinned 1:1 with water. I had to be careful as it was just a little too thin, so I'll change that ratio next time, but it came out beautifully. I have found my new clearcoats. (and don't worry, you don't have to buy them in big bulk jugs, they sell it in smaller squeeze bottles).

Next up was a drybrush. I normally do that with oils or enamels, but I'm running out of time, and went with Vallejo Silver Gray, cut with extender and glaze medium. It gave such a nice highlight effect, and so subtle, that I'm afraid I'll lose the shading if I clear coat again, so I'm going to move onto rigging next.


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Post Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 5:41 pm

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