The Ship Model Forum

Thanks, Mike!

I'm always holding my breath when I do the canvas on the rails. Three-bar rails are easier to do than two-bar rails. Using Krystal Klear and adding a little water at a time to the glue on the rails is a tricky thing, too. With a tiny brush, I use the water to smooth out the glue and to wipe away the overflow around the base of the rails. One wrong move, and the glue can get too, thin and ooze out from between the rails.

The canvas on the guns and directors is gift wrapping tissue paper with diluted Elmers (white) glue. Not Kleenex type of tissue. I used to use black decal film for such things with Solvaset but, the decal hugged the object(s) beneath too, snuggly. I paint the canvas black or grimey black after it has hardened and then dry brush with Engine Gray and then Gunship Gray. Green Drab is nice as well for the dry brushing.

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

I've added details to the boat deck area. The crane still isn't attached yet but, soon; because I've started rigging the foremast and there'll be antenna rigging between the foremast and the crane mast (Main Mast).

I rigged the boat davits and added tie down bars to the boats. I added the boat "bumpers" (is that what they're called) to the side of the deck. I have previously assembled these separately and then attached them to the ship. This time, I assembled them by attaching each piece to the model, individually.

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

I've attached the foremast and have started rigging it with the upper and lower stays. I still have to add the turnbuckles to the upper stays.

I'm using .008" brass rod for the stays, this time. Before, I've used steel guitar string but, always felt that it was a little too, thick. In the past I've used Krystal Klear for the turnbuckles; just little globs of it. This time, I used CA glue and I seemed to have had better control of the size of the turnbuckles. I paint the brass rod before cutting it to length and attaching it. I'm using Gunship Gray for the stays and black for the turnbuckles.

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

Oh, STOP IT, Mark!

And thank you for the kind words, Abram!

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

Rigging of the foremast is completed and the 5" gun turret attached. Now to permanently attach the crane and do its rigging. The ensign staff still remains to make and rig an antenna to it. Then two 20mm guns with canvas on the O3 Level.

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

Carl
If you ever want something to do, you could come over and re-rig all my kits.

_________________
God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.
~ Chester W. Nimitz ~
My Builds ~ http://ussnorthcaroilna.shutterfly.com/

Mark,

I actually had to re-rig this one. I got my brand new X-acto blade too, close to the antennas stretching from the yardarm to the jackstaff and clipped one side off. I had to re-do the whole thing, again.

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

She's back in the ice!

The rigging is all done and two flags attached. I'll add the call sign flags, too, later. Two 20mm guns to put on and the hull numbers.

The model is still temporarily mounted to the water base. I'll take it off when I do the decals and the final flat clear coat.

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

I need to get some black sprue. I've been playing with rigging for a few days now, and I think I'm trying to make it harder than it should be.

_________________
God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.
~ Chester W. Nimitz ~
My Builds ~ http://ussnorthcaroilna.shutterfly.com/

Even before the dio is done, I'm experimenting with the photography. I am finding it more difficult to fool the eye because I haven't quite found the right background pic. The ice in the water, versus an empty ocean, is tougher to match up with a background photo.

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

Carl the dio and ship are looking amazing! That icescape almost feels cold as well as looking cold.

Keep up the great work.

Bruce

_________________
Bruce
OSC USN-Ret


Currently on the building ways:
1/144 USS Stevens DD-479
1/144 USS Cook Inlet AVP-36
1/144 USS Walke DD-416
1/144 USS Preble DDG-46

Carl
The first two shots look OK. I like the B&W one the best, but with a little photo shop work I think you can lighten up the ice to match yours.

_________________
God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.
~ Chester W. Nimitz ~
My Builds ~ http://ussnorthcaroilna.shutterfly.com/

Thank you, Bruce!

Thank you, Mark! I don't have Photo Shop but, I'll see about trying to enhance the background photos before printing them. I print them out on legal size presentation paper. That's the longest that my printer will do. I wish that it could do banner paper.

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

Here, I'm playing around with the layout for my next AVP project. I want to display all three ships of "The Little White Fleet" which served as flagships for COMIDEASTFOR in the 1950's and 1960's. USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38, USS Greenwich Bay AVP-41 and USS Valcour AVP-55.

(I'll create a new base with the dimension indicated by the postion of the ruler.)

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

Carl, another option for the background photo can be the cliffs of Greenland, Alaska, or other landmasses in the High North.

_________________
De quoi s'agit-il?

Hi Carl,

Nice Dock Set, although the odd colored ones look a little stange

_________________
Harry
BattleFleet Kits, PE & Decals
Alliance PE & Kits
Orange Hobby
Lifecolor Naval Paints
Testors Naval Paints
WEM
ABER Barrels
Atlantic Models PE
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ModelArt
Available from our Online Store
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Harry,

You don't like my "Back-Aft Blue", do you? Ha! Shhhh!

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

Thanks for the great suggestion, Timmy!

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg

Carl,

You very well know i live in the tropics- though its been cool here lately, everytime i look at your latest works here or at the Photobucket/FB account i feel as if im actually in a cold environment yet having a great feeling of warmth by just staring at your creation! the level of craftmanship you have done for both the dio and of course more importantly the ship is simply jaw dropping! bravo zulu!

I felt that the whole diorama would look odd without some snow on the ship, too.

Get you shovels, everyone, and lend a hand.

"TURN TO!" "Sweepers! Sweepers! Man your shovels......!"

_________________
Carl Musselman
(Formerly Back-Aft Models)



Photobucket
https://app.photobucket.com/u/carlomaha

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcH4XXgrwKkhbIHgFtIYhAg