Adding some details on the final build phases for the sake of completeness of this log:
Rigging was done according to photos and BOGPs using a combination of rigging wire from Shelf Oddity for stays and halyards and black 20 den UNI-Caenis for antennae. The flag on the mainmast appeared quite small on real ship photos, Matt found
https://www.navyhistory.org/2012/09/uss ... -way-home/ this mention that states that Sterett's flag was as small as 3 feet by 5 feet. I found no US flag decal that small so I printed my own on a blank white decal sheet using a laser printer, however, the minimum vertical size so that the stripes were still separated turned out to be 2mm. Therefore the flag is slightly larger in the end.
I used some already painted 3dmodelparts figures left over from past builds, supplemented by more finer ones by Shelf Oddity. Not too many sailors were needed (Condition of Readiness II) and they seem taking it really easy.
I consulted Rick about position of whale boats and the conclusion was that US destroyers often had their boats deployed when in the combat zone in 1942, �just in case�. I attached both boats outboard and added their rigging and attached some rolled up ropes on davits. I admit that the USN Y-shaped boat straps were more difficult to make than the X-shaped ones (like IJN or RN). I made them from a very thin tin foil, not ideal but it worked in the end. I also added white dots in place of the �408� hull numbers on the boats.
Among the final touches on the ship was adding �glass� to the Shelf Oddity searchlight. I punched it out of a very thin plastic sheet (originally a peel-off foil from a protective screen for a mobile phone) and then pressed a tiny ball into it to make it concave. I also added some PE ropes to the deck to make it a bit busy.
Finally, the seabase was to be completed. I used my usual 5mm plexiglass as the base with 3mm XPS on top of it with a cut-off opening for the hull. Some basic swells were made by pressing a noodle roller into it the XPS, then wakes were added using acrylic filler. The seabase was sprayed dark blue from a rattle can and then green and white around the wakes. Several layers of acrylic gel medium added the texture. Bow wakes are cotton with acrylic gel medium and AK Snow Flakes mimic the foam.
That�s it
Adding some details on the final build phases for the sake of completeness of this log:
Rigging was done according to photos and BOGPs using a combination of rigging wire from Shelf Oddity for stays and halyards and black 20 den UNI-Caenis for antennae. The flag on the mainmast appeared quite small on real ship photos, Matt found https://www.navyhistory.org/2012/09/uss-sterett-flag-world-war-ii-finds-way-home/ this mention that states that Sterett's flag was as small as 3 feet by 5 feet. I found no US flag decal that small so I printed my own on a blank white decal sheet using a laser printer, however, the minimum vertical size so that the stripes were still separated turned out to be 2mm. Therefore the flag is slightly larger in the end.
[url=https://www.flickr.com/gp/vladi_k/66E8t795Qo][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53101875869_1499ff987e_b.jpg[/img][/url]
I used some already painted 3dmodelparts figures left over from past builds, supplemented by more finer ones by Shelf Oddity. Not too many sailors were needed (Condition of Readiness II) and they seem taking it really easy.
[url=https://www.flickr.com/gp/vladi_k/317CusD6tS][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53100862469_c89effed3d_b.jpg[/img][/url]
I consulted Rick about position of whale boats and the conclusion was that US destroyers often had their boats deployed when in the combat zone in 1942, �just in case�. I attached both boats outboard and added their rigging and attached some rolled up ropes on davits. I admit that the USN Y-shaped boat straps were more difficult to make than the X-shaped ones (like IJN or RN). I made them from a very thin tin foil, not ideal but it worked in the end. I also added white dots in place of the �408� hull numbers on the boats.
[url=https://www.flickr.com/gp/vladi_k/072Vg4UF0E][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53101687386_aa27d000c3_b.jpg[/img][/url]
Among the final touches on the ship was adding �glass� to the Shelf Oddity searchlight. I punched it out of a very thin plastic sheet (originally a peel-off foil from a protective screen for a mobile phone) and then pressed a tiny ball into it to make it concave. I also added some PE ropes to the deck to make it a bit busy.
Finally, the seabase was to be completed. I used my usual 5mm plexiglass as the base with 3mm XPS on top of it with a cut-off opening for the hull. Some basic swells were made by pressing a noodle roller into it the XPS, then wakes were added using acrylic filler. The seabase was sprayed dark blue from a rattle can and then green and white around the wakes. Several layers of acrylic gel medium added the texture. Bow wakes are cotton with acrylic gel medium and AK Snow Flakes mimic the foam.
[url=https://www.flickr.com/gp/vladi_k/Q771e58JG4][img]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53100670991_2a25047725_b.jpg[/img][/url]
That�s it :wave_1: