The Ship Model Forum

Ah, then the secret is to take the plunge and not to ask for opinions

No one will give you "bad criticism" unless you specifically ask for it

Well, I have finished my first Model since the late sixties. The Tamiya Bismarck is now only requiring a little touchup here and there (one of our cats managed to get in my hobby room and know the ship off it`s Tamiya stand damaging various bits). I need to rig it but that may need a bit of TLC because one of the parts damaged was the main mast (snapped off),. I did not do the Swastika arrangement - my hands are not stead enough. I am not over proud of the finished item BUT it is presentable and I have learned so much and I will put that to good use on the next model, the Tamiya King George V. I do not know if I should take a photo and post it in the gallery. I dont want a great deal of bad criticism from the `experts`

I did know the feeling but now at 72 time is flying so have to do what I can soonest. Family needs reduce the older you get. My motto now is buy the kits whilst you can and put them away for that inevitable day you say goodbye to work. I shall now leave you in peace and thanks for the exchanges

The simple answer to that is no - never got around to shooting any during the build.
Although i did start photo work with the Bataan but have not started a post for this - but the project has been idle for a while, (too long) but family time is important so modelling time suffers

Many thanks Dave. I noted with interest what you had to say and it makes sense. I had actually abandoned the idea after the first response because it seemed to me that I would be taking a chance. Applying the doctored paint is only one concern: the other would be what the longer term effect would be. I decided stick to convention. You seem to be very busy - I have to do a lot more research I think to get back into this hobby seriously. Do you have any photographs of your finished work in the gallery I wonder?

Both talc and calcium carbonate would flatten th epaint, but the issue woul dbe to disperses (mix) it in well enough so you don't form lumps, Also it wouldn't be a "little" bit so you woul dneed to be careful and may need some thiner addition as well

Noted with thanks Biggles2. I have not yet started the anti-fouling red. I do have two tins so maybe I can take a risk on using one and painting some plastic to see how it turns out. I do not have any spray system (as yet)l I want to complete the Bismark to see the end result. If I am disgusted with the finished work I may sit back and contemplate before making any investment. I will say one thing - Tamiya masking tape is brilliant but when peeling it off it isnt easy to detach it from the fingers. I wish I could get money to stick to my fingers as well as the tape does

I wouldn't take a chance on that, and over-spray the gloss colors with a matte coat of your choice.

My last building was in about 1966 when in Singapore with the Royal Air Force. I built three ships in all: The Cutty Sark, The Thermopolaye and the USS Kearsarge. They were BIG to say the least (plastic of course). This means my knowledge is well behind the times. I am building the Tamiya Battleship Bismark (and I have the kit for the Tirpitz and King George V waiting). My wife bought me some red GLOSS Humbrel 10ML tins from a local supplier. I need Matt of course for the anti-fouling on the hulls. She bought two in all. The local supplier has no equivalent MATT but he said that if I added the smallest amount of talcum powder to each tin the gloss would be neutralised and I would have Matt. Has anyone tried this or had experience (either way) before I give it a try?