The Ship Model Forum

Hello there, at some point I'll have to stop skirting the issues and make a start on my Shimokita diorama that I keep putting off, and what better way then to ask for the following info.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/449 ... 7b3e_b.jpg
The above photo is a section of decking in 1-700 and I would like pointers, advise, HELP ! anything basically on how I can reproduce this same slice of decking in 1-144 scale, the deck markings and the ship wall that you can see.
What would the deck be made of, I use a lot of MDF and very little glass, also how high would you take the ship wall ? The idea is to show at lease 4 type 90 tanks and a few trucks maybe, while I'll understand for some scratch builders this must be easy, for me, its all about knowing where to start, I haven't got a clue.
Look forward to your reply.

I would have used either the plastic sheet or just cast the existing structure using resin.

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Model kit manufacturer and distributor: https://b2b.modellbaudienst.de
Distributor of Very Fire, Snowman, Milania Master Korabel, Falkonet, Microdisign in EU
1:350 HMS Diana 1794 - nearly released
Further kits in preparation.

This could be a nice project for getting started in scratchbuilding, it's a rather simple structure
First, you need a plan to work on: take exact measurements of the parts you want to reproduce; then do the maths, translate the measurements in 1/144 and draw a three-side plan that will help you to get the pieces right.
For the structures, you could use plywood covered with plasticard (that you could apply on sections, to reproduce the real thing's plating) or directly thick plasticard (in this case you will scribe it to get the plating).
Then we could talk about the details and try to find some PE fittings such as WT doors and railings...

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How does this actually help me PetrOs ? Secondo - at the moment I'm guilty as I've made no measurements at the moment, from what I can understand, I'll actually be working onto a flat surface that will match the flight deck surface, just the size all details later on, how high would I need to go on onto the superstructure ?

Ops, sorry Alec - I did not noticed that you need to change scale!

With scale change, I would use the technique already described by Secondo. You can take the compass to take off measurements from your existing Shimokita, and recalculate them to 1:144.

For flat surfaces, I would use the plasticard, either thick one or thin one laminated on plywood. For curved surfaces if you have some, I would use either balsa, sanded to form and then impregnated with resin or plated over with CA-soaked paper.

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Model kit manufacturer and distributor: https://b2b.modellbaudienst.de
Distributor of Very Fire, Snowman, Milania Master Korabel, Falkonet, Microdisign in EU
1:350 HMS Diana 1794 - nearly released
Further kits in preparation.

Finally mapped out the photo above, the area holding the vehicles will be 225mmx95mm from the 95mm will be the superstructure, the heli deck is 173mm wide which will make the island 75mm wide which seems a little narrow, but these are the sums I've come up with. At the moment I am thinking 225mm plus another 150mm partly for the heli deck giving me an area 375x173 which again should translate 1-144 from the 1-700 model.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/449 ... 2a83_b.jpg
Above is the total area that I am thinking of building in 1-144, this is without the completed island, the photo below is a good indication of what I am expecting to build.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/449 ... 2abd_b.jpg
Above, if you angle a camera this is basically what I want to end up with the ground area as above showing several land based vehicles and one helicopter.

We do have a separate scratch building section Alec.

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Tracy White -Researcher@Large

"Let the evidence guide the research. Do not have a preconceived agenda which will only distort the result."
-Barbara Tuchman

That section has proven very useful to me Alec. Actually, no it hasn't. But it will someday won't it!?!?!?!?!?!

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Current builds:
Hobby Boss 1/700 Type VIIC U-Boat for my AH

Planned builds:
3 more 1/700 AH submarines

Tracy White - thank you for the advice however, I've only open a new thread in the topic section because I don't know the first thing about scratch building, landscape is totally different, what I am after is exactly above in my little write-up, I've been on this site for 3 years, and you should know I know bugger all about computers, I haven't searched through this web-site for good reason, I wouldn't know where to begin, as for scratch building, again who would I actually ask ? Not a clue, and like I said a very good reason for posting where I did. And yes, I'd probably get more of a response by posting in the scratch building section, at the moment and for the foreseeable future I'm quite happy plodding along.
Sr. Gopher would you please confine yourself to the question at hand, thank you.

Amazingly actually, in the 30 minutes since I've posted, I did use some of the techniques. Though, for the specific item you want, Styrene is the way to go. I personally try to avoid scratchbuilding large things like what you're planning, mostly because with a big size come HUGE quality. Good luck with this, and I'm sorry for butting in the thread the way I did - just trying to brighten up the mood.

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Current builds:
Hobby Boss 1/700 Type VIIC U-Boat for my AH

Planned builds:
3 more 1/700 AH submarines