The Ship Model Forum

Great build, lovin it so far!

It’s been awhile but here are some photos of progress. Keep in mind, only using kit PE plus a deck kit and I’m it scratch building anything. I’m simply trying to make this kit look as good as possible with essentially factory parts. Been working in this since June. Most parts are not glued in place and the painting and detail work is not done on much of it. It’s crazy how much of this model is left to build.....

Some progress. Getting the hang of this P.E. stuff. Larry was right, this stuff is addicting. Makes me think i should have gone with more than the P.E. that came with the model.

My view on weathering.

waterline in a diorama. Yes.
Full hull display. No.

If it's any help, I'm not weathering mine. I suck at it and there is no way I'm going to chance screwing up all the money and time I have into this beast.

I’m struggling with whether or not i should weather this boat or not. I have very little experience weathering models but all the builds I’m seeing that are weathered are incredible.

[quote="steinerman"]Hi Charlie,

Nice work so far!Very clean and neat. I finally found the thread I wanted that shows how to glue decks on using artist gel medium. Here it is, and to answer your question, yes, it does give you time to reposition things before it sets up.

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=156939[/quote]

Thanks for the compliments! Nice and clean is all i can hope for. I’m no good at weathering yet and I’m still too much of a rookie at PE so i have to focus extra attention on perfection so to speak. I feel like, with weathering, you can have a “messy” piece every now and then and it will play up the weathering. One day i will get there. Until then, my models will be as clean and accurate as possible.

I’m going to use that glueing method for the deck i think. Very good thread.

Hi Charlie,

Nice work so far!Very clean and neat. I finally found the thread I wanted that shows how to glue decks on using artist gel medium. Here it is, and to answer your question, yes, it does give you time to reposition things before it sets up.

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=156939

It took about six hours or so to assemble and paint this guy (drying time not counted). First thing, i know the top of the cannon bulkhead is supposed to be painted......but i can’t bring myself to do it. I like the look a lot. I know i know...not accurate. I have a few items left before she is all wrapped up. Keep in mind, i am only using the PE supplied with the kit. No big detail kit for me (need more practice!!!)

Thanks for the compliments, you can find the topic page about the deck here: [url]http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=166458&start=140[/url]. Placing this deck is actually quite easy, because there is nothing extending above it and it's aligned cleanly along the plastic deck edge. What is a little more complicated is where to apply the extra glue so it does not passes from under the edge. Not that it can't be removed, but it attacks the paint already applied on the elevators. First I flattened it out where there was too much, to avoid bubbling. If you think the deck does need to be moved around before fixing it, it's better to apply the glue only to the sides that curl up at the edges. I found it hard to even remove small pieces thet had been glued, but you should have a few minutes.

[quote="StevenVD"]I just experienced that problem myself (a good advice, don't expose the deck to direct sunlight without extra fixture) and I used contact glue at the edges, with the adhesive still on. It doesn't peel since, but I can not yet vouch for how durable the bond is now.

[img]https://modelbrouwers.nl/media/cache/8f/5a/8f5a19ca097ce547edaede0498e0037b.jpg[/img]

[img]https://modelbrouwers.nl/media/cache/ed/91/ed912c5973fdf43af00fbf772e03cc33.jpg[/img][/quote]


Two things, first, HOLY DETAIL! That ship looks great, love the ribs on the raft!

Second, did you notice any bubbling in the middle of the deck and how long will that glue give me to work out issues before drying?

[quote="steinerman"]Hi Charlie,

I like the color your deck turned out. Kinda wished now I would have done something similar but it's way too late now.

A word of advice, if I may. Several folks have had problems with the deck not sticking down properly and coming loose at the edges. I'm not sure who recommended it, but they said to kill the adhesive on the back with Krylon clear matte spray and then use Artist Gel Medium to glue the deck down. I did this and it worked great. I'll try to locate the post that outlined this process and let you read it.

Meanwhile, you're coming great! And I love the Red Wings decal on your shop vac!![/quote]


When you used this technique, were you able to manipulate the deck to perfection? The reason i ask is because after screwing my first attempt at this boat up (the old boat makes for a great test dumby :) ), i realized how hard that deck is too install, much like the earlier warnings in this thread, but i digress. My plan was to spray soapy water down. I tried a sample piece on the old model and it worked really well but over time i predict the adhesive losing some of its momentum. Will the gel give me a similar affect for movement and manipulation?

I just experienced that problem myself (a good advice, don't expose the deck to direct sunlight without extra fixture) and I used contact glue at the edges, with the adhesive still on. It doesn't peel since, but I can not yet vouch for how durable the bond is now.

[img]https://modelbrouwers.nl/media/cache/8f/5a/8f5a19ca097ce547edaede0498e0037b.jpg[/img]

[img]https://modelbrouwers.nl/media/cache/ed/91/ed912c5973fdf43af00fbf772e03cc33.jpg[/img]

Hi Charlie,

I like the color your deck turned out. Kinda wished now I would have done something similar but it's way too late now.

A word of advice, if I may. Several folks have had problems with the deck not sticking down properly and coming loose at the edges. I'm not sure who recommended it, but they said to kill the adhesive on the back with Krylon clear matte spray and then use Artist Gel Medium to glue the deck down. I did this and it worked great. I'll try to locate the post that outlined this process and let you read it.

Meanwhile, you're coming great! And I love the Red Wings decal on your shop vac!!

As a Belgian I do not object.

Looks like a very fine workplace!

[quote="steinerman"]Greetings, IModel_215! Welcome to the land of the big 1:200 ships! Glad to see someone else is brave (or stupid) enough to tackle one of these beasts.

First, I'm doing the same as you - modeling her as she appeared at the end of the war. Also, I too, have the teak deck. Yeah, it isn't correct for the actual time of the signing, but on the way back to New York her decks were holystoned back to the teak, so we are somewhat correct - after a fashion!

Second, Yeah, I know the hull isn't correct and that it's out of whack at the bow and especially the stern. But, I figured that by the time I get all the detail on this beast and all painted up setting there under a plexiglas case, it's not going to matter one iota. Besides, only someone who has extensively studied the Iowa class ships is going to know how wonky this model is. 99.9% of the people who see my model aren't going to know it isn't correct.

I, too, am a novice at PE and this is my first extensive use of it. Yeah, it's daunting at first, but you soon learn what to do and what not to do. I started with the 20mm guns and by the time I finished those %#$&% bastards, I considered myself a pseudo-expert. Just be patient, take your time, and don't work with tiny pieces of brass when you're tired and exhausted. You WILL screw it up! A good glass of wine helps, too!

One of the first things I had to learn was when to paint first and when to assemble first. If it's the same color, glue the parts up into a sub-assemply first, then prime and paint. Otherwise, spray the PE while the parts are still on the fret, then glue them and touch up any bare places with a tiny brush.

Most of all, have fun, and if you run into problems or have questions, ask! And don't expect to finish this beast any time soon. I've been working on mine for a couple years now and I'm nowhere near completing it.

Good luck! Oh, by the way, what's your name? Or would you rather us continue to call you IModel_215?

Larry[/quote]

Maybe not wine, but definitely a cold glass of Stella!

So i think i figures out how to add photos from my phone. Below are some of my main paint mixes, my work area (to the left is the big paint cart) and some adjustments i made to the wood deck color (along with all the weeding I’ve done)

[quote="steinerman"]Greetings, IModel_215! Welcome to the land of the big 1:200 ships! Glad to see someone else is brave (or stupid) enough to tackle one of these beasts.

First, I'm doing the same as you - modeling her as she appeared at the end of the war. Also, I too, have the teak deck. Yeah, it isn't correct for the actual time of the signing, but on the way back to New York her decks were holystoned back to the teak, so we are somewhat correct - after a fashion!

Second, Yeah, I know the hull isn't correct and that it's out of whack at the bow and especially the stern. But, I figured that by the time I get all the detail on this beast and all painted up setting there under a plexiglas case, it's not going to matter one iota. Besides, only someone who has extensively studied the Iowa class ships is going to know how wonky this model is. 99.9% of the people who see my model aren't going to know it isn't correct.

I, too, am a novice at PE and this is my first extensive use of it. Yeah, it's daunting at first, but you soon learn what to do and what not to do. I started with the 20mm guns and by the time I finished those %#$&% bastards, I considered myself a pseudo-expert. Just be patient, take your time, and don't work with tiny pieces of brass when you're tired and exhausted. You WILL screw it up! A good glass of wine helps, too!

One of the first things I had to learn was when to paint first and when to assemble first. If it's the same color, glue the parts up into a sub-assemply first, then prime and paint. Otherwise, spray the PE while the parts are still on the fret, then glue them and touch up any bare places with a tiny brush.

Most of all, have fun, and if you run into problems or have questions, ask! And don't expect to finish this beast any time soon. I've been working on mine for a couple years now and I'm nowhere near completing it.

Good luck! Oh, by the way, what's your name? Or would you rather us continue to call you IModel_215?

Larry[/quote]


Larry, my name is Charlie. I’ve been following your build extensively. You’re doing an unbelievable job. It’s very intimidating following you guys on these builds but damn you guys are producing some absolute art!

I figure on this build going better than a year. I’m not going crazy with PE, mostly using the stuff that came with the kit. Plus the deck. Which i actually dressed her up a bit. I’ll be posting photos tonight. I ended up mixing 5:1 navy blue:grimy black to get what i consider the best shade of navy blue. I thinner it down to maybe 50:50 and added light coats to the deck before i started “weeding” out all the crap. I think it turned out pretty good. Pictures very soon! As in as soon as i figure out the best way to load them.

Greetings, IModel_215! Welcome to the land of the big 1:200 ships! Glad to see someone else is brave (or stupid) enough to tackle one of these beasts.

First, I'm doing the same as you - modeling her as she appeared at the end of the war. Also, I too, have the teak deck. Yeah, it isn't correct for the actual time of the signing, but on the way back to New York her decks were holystoned back to the teak, so we are somewhat correct - after a fashion!

Second, Yeah, I know the hull isn't correct and that it's out of whack at the bow and especially the stern. But, I figured that by the time I get all the detail on this beast and all painted up setting there under a plexiglas case, it's not going to matter one iota. Besides, only someone who has extensively studied the Iowa class ships is going to know how wonky this model is. 99.9% of the people who see my model aren't going to know it isn't correct.

I, too, am a novice at PE and this is my first extensive use of it. Yeah, it's daunting at first, but you soon learn what to do and what not to do. I started with the 20mm guns and by the time I finished those %#$&% bastards, I considered myself a pseudo-expert. Just be patient, take your time, and don't work with tiny pieces of brass when you're tired and exhausted. You WILL screw it up! A good glass of wine helps, too!

One of the first things I had to learn was when to paint first and when to assemble first. If it's the same color, glue the parts up into a sub-assemply first, then prime and paint. Otherwise, spray the PE while the parts are still on the fret, then glue them and touch up any bare places with a tiny brush.

Most of all, have fun, and if you run into problems or have questions, ask! And don't expect to finish this beast any time soon. I've been working on mine for a couple years now and I'm nowhere near completing it.

Good luck! Oh, by the way, what's your name? Or would you rather us continue to call you IModel_215?

Larry

IM_215 wrote:
[quote] Some parts of this big boat are not correct, which Larry had already given me a heads up about. I am not really sure how I am going to correct some things. Also, seems like the bow of the ship (sub water line) isn’t quite correct, are you guys leaving this as is?[/quote]

You need to read my entire build (BB-62 kit bashed NEW JERSEY etc. etc) on the Completed Forum and you'll understand that the hull is quite a bit incorrect in the lower areas. It's quite a lengthy discussion, won't repeat it here.

Hope this helps,