1/350 Fleet oiler, where do i start?

[simon b]

I have been thinking about scaling the JAG USS Cimarron upto 350 scale for a diorama. I will be using placcy card etc for the hull.

I've looked through the scratch builds here and would like some idea of where to start on the hull.

I decided to draw out the waterline shape then the decks upto superstructure level and then add a strip along the cetre of the waterline plate at different heights depending on deck height. I would then add the deck sections on before filling the space in. Possible using some cuts of foam board fore and aft which can then be shaped.

Does this sound right?

[Pieter]

You seem to have the vessel's basic waterline outline (traced from the JAG hull and blown up using a photo copy machine), a deck plan (NB making allowance for the sheer of the forecastle -> the deck will be slightly longer ) and a side view which are possibly in the kit's instructions. What follows in my method which has been used for slighlty smaller projects like SMS Brandenburg. For a hull of this size without much sheer I would use Balsa block to fill in the space between the decks. Balsa can be cut and filed much easier than foam board and after using it is is still possible to breath in your workspace. Cut all decks, the waterline plate and a longitudinal plate (the side view you've just copied) in 1mm thick styrene and fit the longitudinal plate on the bottom plate making allowance for the thickness of the bottom an deck plates. As you do not have transverse sections you will have to use the edges of your balsa block to keep the longitudinal plate strictly vertical (90 degrees). If you fail to do this exactly you will get warping problems in the finished hull (ask how I know...-:( ) . The wood grain should be fore and aft wise. Cut/sand/file off the balsa at the height of the deck minus 1 mm and add the deck plate. Given the vessel's design I would fit the 'forecastle' part and the working decks later on as separate pieces, this make life much easier as it means a flush deck hull. Now use pictures and the 1/700 kit (never assume the kit is totally accurate, hence the pictures) to get an idea of the hull form. I personally draw the hull a number of times from different perspectives in order to get a feel for the hull form. Start cutting and sanding from the middle, work towards the ends. Take away enough material to allow for your favorite skin, mine is .3 mm styrene. Try to find some pictures of the plating pattern and suggest some pattern detail but don't overdo it. All glueing in this process is by gel type superglue. Scratchbuilding hulls is fun! Next thing you know you'll be hunting for pictures and drawings of other vessels.

[simon b]

Thanks Pieter

I think i'll got that lot onboard. I've never tried anything like this before but since it's only placcy card, what the hell. A few atempts at the hull won't hurt.