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Converting HobbyBoss' 1/350 SSN-774 to SSN-803 USS Arizona

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jcmackay

Post subject: Enlarging the sail for USS Arizona SSN-803

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:55 am

Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:33 pm
Posts: 413
Location: Port Orchard, Wa

Hi everyone,

Well, I am ready to paint the hull, but that is not today’s update. Since the last update, I took a look at the sail. I knew from earlier that I would have to enlarge it, but put that on the back burner. I'll show you that work today. But first, let me thank navydavesof, who wrote:

navydavesof wrote:

Looking good, John!!! Looking real good! Keep up the good work!

Thank you so much for checking in and posting comments! It is nice to actually see comments from people following the build. One of these days, you'll have to let me know what your real name is! :heh:

Let's take a look at what I did since last time.

Attachment:

File comment: The Arizona sail is both longer and taller than the standard Virginia Class sail. I don’t know whether this is to take advantage of the ability to house more/larger masts in the sail or for hydrodynamic reasons. The first step is cutting the top of the sail off with a razor saw.

2021_3_14 sail 01.jpg [ 226.09 KiB | Viewed 502 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: The next step is the vertical cut for the start of lengthening the sail. Almost all of the sail detail will be removed; the access panels on the side seem to be grossly overscale anyway.

2021_3_14 sail 02.jpg [ 154.78 KiB | Viewed 502 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: A section of .100 x .250 inch styrene strip bridges the forward and aft sections of the sail.

2021_3_14 sail 03.jpg [ 233.83 KiB | Viewed 502 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: A piece of .100 x .250 inch styrene is then glued to the top of the sail and filed down to conform to the plan of the sail. The gaps between the forward and aft sections of the sail were filled with pieces of .030 inch styrene, cut to about .156 strips. I got a little crazy with height extension piece and broke the trailing edge off. Oh well.

2021_3_14 sail 04.jpg [ 121.82 KiB | Viewed 502 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: A piece of .040 x .188 inch styrene was then glued to the top of the styrene sail height extension. This will be the crest of the sail and the seam between the extension and the crest piece acts as a reference guide when filing down the curvature on the top of the sail.

2021_3_14 sail 05.jpg [ 156.83 KiB | Viewed 502 times ]

After a bit more dressing up, the sail will be pretty much ready for priming after I decide whether I want to install masts.

John :wave_1:

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Nino

Post subject: Re: Converting HobbyBoss' 1/350 SSN-774 to SSN-803 USS Arizo

Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2021 3:27 pm

Joined: Wed Oct 14, 2015 10:29 am
Posts: 183

Spectacular work John.
You will be the 1st person on your street to have a BLOCK V. :big_grin:

I had to re-read a few spots but your updates make a great primer for building a New Virginia Class.

Nino.

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jcmackay

Post subject: First go-around on hull paint of Arizona SSN-803

Posted: Fri Mar 19, 2021 11:52 pm

Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:33 pm
Posts: 413
Location: Port Orchard, Wa

Hi everyone,

I’ve applied an initial coat of paint on the model and I’ll get to that in a moment. First, I want to thank Nino for his kind comments:

Nino wrote:

Spectacular work John.
You will be the 1st person on your street to have a BLOCK V. :big_grin:

I had to re-read a few spots but your updates make a great primer for building a New Virginia Class.

Thank you so much for your comments! :thanks:

You're right: I'll be the first one on my block to have a Block V Virginia Class! :good_one:

With regard to your complement about my updates, I really appreciate hearing that. It may be a while before we see a manufacturer produce a Block V, so I am glad to get the positive feedback on my updates. Maybe somebody else will try to build a Block V? :thinking:

Thanks again for following this build thread and posting your comments! :thanks:

Let's take a look at today's progress.

Attachment:

File comment: In a recent visit to the local hobby shop, I found they are now stocking Revell paints under the product line name of ‘Email Color.’ One of those was described as ‘Tar Black.’ I was looking for something that would replicate the dull black on the Virginia Class hulls, so I decided to give it a try even though the product line name is a bit strange.

20210317_1.jpg [ 329.89 KiB | Viewed 446 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: An all-black hull doesn’t show up well in these photos, but you can get an idea of how the hull looks now.

20210317_2.jpg [ 316.04 KiB | Viewed 446 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: The Revell paint is an enamel and although the instructions say to use their thinner, I used regular enamel thinner. It doesn’t seem to have done any harm and I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out.

20210317_3.jpg [ 283.51 KiB | Viewed 446 times ]

Of course, it never fails that once I apply the final coat of paint, I find those defects that I missed. I’m going to have to correct some minor blemishes and then apply paint as necessary. Then, I’ll paint the topside non-skid area.

John :wave_1:

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jcmackay

Post subject: Final coat of black applied to SSN-803 USS Arizona

Posted: Sun Mar 28, 2021 1:52 am

Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:33 pm
Posts: 413
Location: Port Orchard, Wa

Hi all,

I touched up the blemish on the hull that I found after the first go-around and applied the final coat of tar black. Here’s a look:

Attachment:

File comment: I’ve temporarily posed the sail and rudder in place. I’ll remove them while I paint the non-skid on the deck and re-install them afterwards. I won’t be painting the lower hull black gray: that is the appearance when Special Hull Treatment is installed. This kit doesn’t reflect that status, so I will leave the hull overall tar black.

20210326_155821 (2).jpg [ 202.27 KiB | Viewed 414 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: You can see I prepped the top of the sail to receive the masts as one of the last steps. I’ll add some white to flat black for the non-skid areas so that they stand out. The propulsor is not installed yet: after I painted it, I found a blemish and will have to correct that and repaint.

20210326_155926 (2).jpg [ 185.45 KiB | Viewed 414 times ]

Next, I’ll paint the non-skid areas, and then install the sail, bow planes, rudder, propulsor, and anhedral planes.

John :wave_1:

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jcmackay

Post subject: Hull paint and assembly complete on SSN-803 USS Arizona

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2021 2:32 pm

Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:33 pm
Posts: 413
Location: Port Orchard, Wa

Hi everyone,

Since the last time, I've painted the non-skid area topside and installed the sail, bow planes, anhedral planes, and the propulsor. Here's a look:

Attachment:

File comment: I mixed up a batch of flat black, flat white, and brown for the non-skid area. I didn't want it to jump out, so I didn't lighten it very much. However, it shows up depending on the light. The propulsor was sprayed with the hull color and the screw was hand-painted brass.

20210403_06.jpg [ 195.53 KiB | Viewed 371 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: I have some touch-up to do on the hull paint and then I'll install the masts.

20210403_04.jpg [ 186.4 KiB | Viewed 371 times ]

Attachment:

20210403_08.jpg [ 152.44 KiB | Viewed 371 times ]

Next, I'll be touching up the hull paint, and then painting and installing the masts. The model will be done at that point and I'll move on to building the display case.

John :wave_1:

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jcmackay

Post subject: SSN-803 USS Arizona: calling her done!

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:05 pm

Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2010 9:33 pm
Posts: 413
Location: Port Orchard, Wa

Hi everyone,

After a bit of a break, I've completed this model of the Arizona and I am calling her done. Let's take a look:

Attachment:

File comment: All the masts are installed and draft mark decals applied.

20210908_01.jpg [ 126.85 KiB | Viewed 286 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: Although the Virginia kit comes with a lot of decals including DSRV markings, I only applied the draft marks. At this point, we don't know what markings the Arizona will ultimately carry, so I kept it to a minimum.

20210908_02.jpg [ 254.21 KiB | Viewed 286 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: Decals were applied and treated with Micro Set, and then the model was sprayed with Tamiya Clear Flat.

20210908_03.jpg [ 285.91 KiB | Viewed 286 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: The display case is complete and installed. BTW, the combination of the acrylic case and the camera lens creates the optical illusion that the hull is curved.

20210908_05.jpg [ 136.72 KiB | Viewed 286 times ]

Attachment:

File comment: Ready for delivery to the proud owner! This will be finding its way to a display at a Submarine Veterans hall in Arizona.

20210908_04.jpg [ 173.63 KiB | Viewed 286 times ]

Thank you everyone for following the progress on this build and thank you especially to those who posted comments!

John :wave_1:

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