The Ship Model Forum

Excellent job on that inertior Moe! Love it.

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The merchant shipyard

Thanks 'Neptune' ....... I'm feeling much more comfortable laying lights down in large hangers of ship types CV, LPD, LHA, etc. I would like to get more practice in laying down Fiber Optics ( FiOp ) in my kits. It worked out well on a couple of internal elevator bays of DDHs from my JMSDF DDH-Project that I previously built.

But still having some difficulty of laying down, planning, pre/post-painting requirements once FiOp are laid down... it requires some thought

I MIGHT Try placing lights for an actual night sailing ship with Nav lights (expected), A/C warning lights, and Making them to scale and brightness. I might do that with the JS Osumi ( Ohsumi ) because "I" think the lights are too bright .... so I might add 'somethin' to lessen the effect, but Still keep the brightness..... We'll See.

M

WELL...... I been working, but not on JS Osumi LST-4001 lately, I've been working on the USS IOWA BB-61 as a 'Fire Watch'(er) where I there making sure that the Boy/Girl Scouts sleep soundly and making sure that raccoons Don't get on our ship

But I have made progress, yet Very Slowly, on her, mostly working on the island and getting that LIT UP!!

It has been a bit of a struggle because Even Though the PitRoad PE for this kit was cool, but placing it on the kit and making an additional portholes into the kit ( drilling them out ) and THEN 'threading' FiOp through the PE AND the Kit and attaching it to a 'straw-like' object that holds all FiOps and the LED light (3mm LED and color is 'Ice Blue') T H E N gluing that down onto the FD. In addition to that I also installed FiOps into the bridge, but I think I might have done ANOTHER FIRST....... by using a rock = Mica for the windows!!!! Take a look......

These pictures show the pic in light from overhead and then the picture was modified so the Very darken kit + lights will show....


Starboard side with overhead light


Starboard side with lights off, but picture modified


Forward portion of island.......check out the bridge windows with Mica rock sheet!!!




Port side of island



A couple of the portholes failed to get light, I guess the short FiOps 'popped' out of the straw-device to hold the LED, BUT the Color looks good to me!! And mica is a rock that 'cleaves' into sheets....Very Thin sheets.......I read (in my college days) that mica was substituted as window glass as the pioneers traveled west....( I Think that is true ) AND the Opaqueness allows the light to scatter across the bridge wing, it makes it look like there is equipment/personnel inside....What cha think??

M

Moving ahead with JS Osumi LST-4001, but the ship is taking a toll on me... so I thought I work on the small craft and helos. Working on the LCACs is a first for me, but I have several more kits that will display LCACs ... so here we go...

To Start, looking at references of such craft there is a LOT of detail that are missing on the kits, so using the PitRoad PE for Osumi will probably come in handy!! It has a unique 'screen' so crew Doesn't get Suck in!! ( at least that is my thinking ). There is a small radar on top of the two (2) (??) bridges on the starboard side, ( the one on port side is Quite small, not sure it is for "driving the craft" ). Also, I do plan on making the craft moving on top of the water, but as I was doing research, notice that LCACs don't necessarily run 'Smoothly' across the water, they tend to list from side-to-side...depending on the sea state.

But on with the picts showing the W.I.P.


Looking at the kit parts I decided to 'drill out' (using a twisting knife) the "exhaust" moveable vents.


The top portion is the part that I will 'drill out'....




On one (1) of the LCAC, I will have those "exhaust" vents move around forward, it seems that those 'vents' are used for steerage....so they move A LOT!! So I cut the vents and transfer them around.






Here is a LCAC, at rest / deflated so the 'vents' are pointed aft [ maybe, I should turn them around (??) ].


Here I drilled out the struts that turn those big fan blades in the back... being an Operation Specialist ( OS1 ) I Always thought that the fins back of the horizontal cylinder ( showing later down ) moved the craft like those airsleds of FL.

Continuing with LCACs..... this is just a dry fit using brass rod and placing horizontal, protective cylinder for the fan blades.




One view you can see the PE railing on these craft


Another view....


Two (2) forward views, one side a bit out of focus....


Here is the other view in focus.


Final craft LCAC #1 partially finished, needs the radar on starboard side, BUT I might add windows looking forward, Kit has them on sides, but NOT forward!

M

Dang....these LCACs are a bit boring to me, Sure Granted adding that cotton 'ocean spray' makes it a bit more exciting, but most of ya know me..... Details!!!

So, looking at images of LCACs I noticed a series of nets, screens and other details that the Osumi PE, but I added some " Aircraft safety netting " trim it down to fit over some darken (painted) areas inside those LCACs. Then added some small windows in the front port side "bridge" of those LCACs and ladders on the inside....those details were taken from GMM 'KNOX-class / JMSDF PE' for those windows and netting from a 'Super carrier PE set'. The radar on top of the "bridge" came with the Osumi PE.

Once I measured the "screens", I primed the LCACs with Mr. Surface 1000 primer, (actually it looked pretty good with it [mostly did this for the large cylinders protecting those propulsion fans]). I then added a brushed on Testor Silver (didn't want That color....but that's what they were asking for...more on that a bit latter), some MM 'Oiled Steel' with 'Gunship Gray' for the deck of the LCAC, then tried to add a 'Yellow' for the deck markings....all hand-brushed.

Finally, added some weathering, but only after giving this "little kit" a shot of GlossCoat. Started with Tamiya 'Black Panel Liner' ( it looked real Good!! ) then add AK Interactive 'Light Rust' ( which almost is like applying paint ), I was able to streak it a bit with some white spirits.

Decals came from Starling Models (STD02) '1/700 Modern Flags and Ensigns' ( Which has a GREAT set of Other nationalities .... including PLAN, USSR, India, Sweden, Poland, as well as the normal "nautical nations" ). LCAC numbers were from my previous builds of 'Ibuki', Hyuga, and Kaga. LASTLY, sprayed on DullCoat to seal those detail/decals.


But on with the Images.....










images of a 'landed' LCAC






Can you see the unit numbers????!!


LCAC in motion .... thus the spinning propulsion props!!

M

While working on JS Osumi LST-4001..... I was looking over details of the entire ship, lights in the 'wet deck', colors of portholes during the night At Port, the weathering...the Weathering.... THE Weathering!!!

Especially looking at the mast, seem more 'dirty' from stacks near-by, but how to replicate this effect.



If you focus on the mast...you'll see the gradual 'smoking' of the lower to upper portion of the mast, While the other side seem pretty clean ( no picture of that ).

So....I had to use the method of pastel chalks, dishwash soap, and water to apply the 'weathering' up the mast. I used the black and medium gray, separately, and move up the mast with Q-Tip. I let the water-down chalks (with soap) to dry a bit, then added some dry chalk with a bit of 'dry brushing' (moist brushing) with gray on the bottom and black towards the top. Then let dry again, I then used my small clamp with paper towel piece and dip it onto a black.


Check out the results....




A little better angle of light and camera posit.


Major gap of bridge with rest of island....I'll work on that next


Bridge windows of Mica-rock...... whatcha think of that idea???

Will be putting down GlossCoat, attach lines and weathering the rest of the ship.

Have been slowing down on LST...just seem a little unmotivated, but want to finish Phase II of this DDH-Project with the LST and an AOE.... so I still have the AOE to go. Then I'll do a different genre, aircraft maybe...somethin simple.

M

"ALMOST THERE..." Red Leader to Base - Star Wars IV

It has been awhile since my latest post, so I'll make it a bit brief.... went back to work, but it is very Intermittent, and I kinda stalled out on building ships.... I thinking that it is Just putting in the lights and added PE that got to me.

BUT, JS Osumi LST-4001 is coming back to MY life... she is Just about completed, and with the lights working....she lookin' Might Fine!!!

The rest of the PE netting, a few antenna, finishing the helos and markings with the anchor Always being the last to be put up....and she will be ready.

I must say that the LCACs look great hope you all find them pretty reasonable, as far as sending the LCACs out to sea, maybe as part of a diorama....still looking into that!!

Went a bit over with the detail on the deck, since Tamiya doesn't provide the cargo containers and Yokohamas (sp) I added those to the ship...take a look


a bit blurry and a Lot of 'background noise' as I tried to photograph, but will do a better job later...when finished.






Second LCAC got a bit "squeezed in there" ( due to me making catwalks along the upper edge of well deck )


Surprised on how much weathering there was on the REAL pix of LSTs....I guess its kinda hard with those LCACs blowing salt water ALL Over!!


Weathered my first Complete hull....it seems a bit dark, but with full light on....its pretty subtle.

Here are the rest of the exterior portions of LST-4001... with some of those added 'Extras' that you find on those ships............ NO JGSDF equipment yet, but I do plan on getting a couple of kits with trucks.


cargo containers and Yokohamas ( somebody check my spelling )


Lit island....a bit of difficulty with all those FiOp going to portholes...(some of them fell out as I attached/glued down)


This is the effect I was trying to get..... A ship inport with some of the lights on, ( ORIGINALLY...I was hoping for MORE lights to assist Security Watch looking thru the FD ).


Life rings and weathered hull, especially around the landing hatch(es) for wheeled vehicles to come onboard.


Some nice ladders from the PitRoad PE ( Extremely RARE set )


Refueling equip near-by fire equipment, ladders, and life rings...the life Rafts were painted MM Camouflage Grey...NOT White Nor Grey, but I need to trim those stanchions away.


Weathered the mast ( maybe too much?? ) but with the lower light it comes out much stronger....like the weathering on the hull. PLUS, I added a small crane for the accom ladder when it gets lowered.



M

There's so much fine detail. That firefighting hose set looks like it took nerves of steel. And containers look great on the decks of these ships.

Where did you get that binocular set? I have the Fine Molds one, but that one looks even finer.

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"Those of you who volunteered to be injected with praying mantis DNA, I've got some good news and some bad news." - Cave Johnson, Portal 2

Howdy, 'spejic' ..... these bino set comes from "Ocean Spirit" - OSH016 1/700 IJN Binocular & Gun Director

It is a good set, The Binoculars, it comes in three (3) different sizes with 56 binoculars....I understand that "Flyhawk" has a set also, but I think I was looking at price than quality let alone quantity. I JUST saw the "Flyhawk" set ( didn't remember the brand when you asked the question, so I looked it up, it didn't look like my set ) and it looks like it has Many more binos.... but the binos and stands are separated AND Then the base stand is separate [at least that's what it looks like].

With the OS set.... you fold the binos for depth, BUT the "stand attachment" is at the 'pivot point' of that bino PE set. SO, I have a very Sharp pair of needle-nose tweezers that grip the binos and I fold down the "stand attachment" and then carefully "pinch" the stand together...to give it, its depth!!

IN Addition..... the OS set, just like the FH set has various WW2 gun directors optics....which I don't use.

But I think I would go with the OS set, if I was to re-purchase this PE.

Mario

These are the final set of pictures for JS Osumi LST-4001, before I make my diorama, with slight wave action and LCAC retrival/departure. Decals are placed and final safety netting in place. I didn't glue the FD....Just In Case I need to work on those LEDs, but the lights looks good to me!! Take a look....
















Shoulda adjusted the light on this pic, but it does have "4001" on hull.

Whoa.....picture too bright!


I need to purchase a set of JGSDF vehicles, sometime soon.


...Life rings!!??....


I will place my cotton 'ocean spray' in the diorama....still looking into it.




Fenders and cargo containers are NOT part of the Tamiya kit, so I had to scratch-build those....cargo containers are simple Evergreen rectangular sprue...I added straps and painted them yellow. As for the fenders, they might be a bit small in diameter, BUT all it is just trimmed/shaved sprue trees!!




...and bridge wing with mica windows (transparent, cleaveable rock).... [I used this material for not just slight transparency, but it gives that 'something inside there' look, without divulging that there is/not inside].

M

Very nice work!

This looks really amazing. Love the well deck, love the helicopter with the ramp, love the highly detailed LCAC.



There will be a set that will be released in a few months that is what you are looking for:

https://www.hlj.com/1-700-scale-ground- ... 2-pitmi-03

but if you want to save a few bucks I have some vehicles that came with the Tamiya LST-4002 boxing that I won't be using - a half dozen JGSDF wheeled armored vehicles are safe to put on the top deck, a few jeeps of various kinds, and a Type 90 tank if you want to put it on the LCAC. Or lots of tanks, if you like tanks.

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"Those of you who volunteered to be injected with praying mantis DNA, I've got some good news and some bad news." - Cave Johnson, Portal 2

'dhenning', Thanks for the comment....I try to get as much detail as I can in these 700 scale ships!!! Although I BARELY started a 350 KNOX-class, but I been thinking......how Much DETAIL should I place on This kit!!!

I'll try to restart her MayBe in the Summer again, its just the resin plugs are MUCH Tougher to cut off with power tools than I realize..........MayBe I should invest in a med-sized band saw....Any Ideas??

M

'spejic'....Thanks a LOT!! That schematic of the "exhaust vents" was Very Helpful!!

Although, I didn't cut All of those passages, but the effect looks Really Cool!!

It was all done by cutting parallel cuts using a "resin saw" (??), very softly and cut in on direction (towards me). Once those cuts were made along those trianglar support structures, I have a small pair of needle-nose pliers and bent the plastic off....then shaved that opened area with a #11 knife and CAREFULLY scrape that area ( I did lose one of those supports, but glued it back down with little notice of the defect ). [ To be honest I tried using a dremel saw, but the high revolution burning/melting the plastic on a test strip == NOPE ]

As far as the build, I do plan on building a diorama set with the LCACs ..... Still thinking about it, might use clear resins to give that ocean depth a little bit for the stern gate to be submerged into the water as the LCAC is moving in/out......... Well see.

M

Howdy...All!!

Well, the JS Osumi LST-4001 is 95% complete, there are just some small antennae and placing of sailors about the deck.........AND, I do plan on building a diorama with the LCACs.

One though will be inside, so might be hard to see ( hence the lights ) and the other departing/arriving into the LST with sea-spray abound!!

BUT... In the Mean Time...here is JS Osumi LST-4001 as a "finished build" ... I do plan to take a few more pics with the sailors onboard and maybe a simulated ocean diorama ( not the final diorama ) with LCAC idea...

Enjoy the newer YT video of the build......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T9FYRNTysE

If you can, and have a YT account, 'Comment', 'Like' and 'Subscribe'!!

The next build of PHASE II of JMSDF will be an AOE-422, but right now....moving onto planes....sea U latr 'Sea Cowboys'!!

Mario