Re: Revell 1/144 DD-451 USS Chevalier

Red Devil Squadron · Post by **Red Devil Squadron** » Sun Feb 14, 2010 8:44 pm

Greetings,

Rather than intrude on Douglas and his excellent build of Chevalier, I decided to start a separate WIP and finally managed to get some better photos of my build of Chevalier from the 1/144 Revell kit. I am not using any aftermarket items in this project, just modified stuff from the spares box, some modified PE, and scratch building from styrene stock and whatever I can find that is the right size and shape. I am still in the early stage and the photos will show some rough places, dust, and odd alignment. This will all be taken care of as things progress.

Your questions, comments, suggestions, and advice are always welcome! I can use all of the help I can get. Many thanks to everyone that has helped so far.

Bill

OK, on to the photos....

Douglas · Post by **Douglas** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 4:56 am

Really nice work !!!

Keep posting !!

Regards,

Douglas

Rotorhead · Post by **Rotorhead** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:43 am

MOST EXCELLENT!

Regards
Steve

Red Devil Squadron · Post by **Red Devil Squadron** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 10:48 am

Thanks everyone for the comments! Here are some more photos, please let me know what you think or if you any questions/advice.

Cheers,

Bill

les · Post by **les** » Mon Feb 15, 2010 11:06 am

Great work. Scratchbuilding looks so much better than P/E on larger ships!

mabmanu · Post by **mabmanu** » Wed Feb 17, 2010 7:38 am

Vouah vouah ...

Red Devil Squadron · Post by **Red Devil Squadron** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 12:51 am

Some progress images of the bridge and forward superstructure. These are very much "in progress" and many details have yet to be added. Enjoy the photos, your comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome!

Cheers,

Bill

Douglas · Post by **Douglas** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:33 pm

Oh my God, you scratch build expert !!

Regards,

Douglas

Rotorhead · Post by **Rotorhead** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 5:39 am

Hey Bill,

Really great detail your building there. I really like it.

Regards
Steve

Red Devil Squadron · Post by **Red Devil Squadron** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:22 pm

Thank you Steve!

This image shows a PE railing test fit on the searchlight platform. The railing is modified from an old PE set I had. I tried to thin down the kit styrene railings, but they still look too big so I wanted to see if a PE alternative looked better.

Opinions?

George Creed · Post by **George Creed** » Fri Apr 30, 2010 11:59 pm

I have the same question for you that I had for Douglas with his Fletcher---where are you and how is your progress going?

I am building the same ship (no photos to post yet) and your and his and everyones, an outright inspiration and research trove.

But alas, you all seemed to have gone to the Bermuda Triangle...

Best regards,
George

Red Devil Squadron · Post by **Red Devil Squadron** » Sat May 01, 2010 9:54 am

Hello George!

Thanks for your message. I got sidetracked with other projects and have not done much on Chevalier. Your message is the kick in the butt I need to get back to work! Look for some new photos soon.....

Thanks,

Bill

les · Post by **les** » Tue May 04, 2010 9:48 am

I personally think that the PE rails don't look as good as round rails in that scale. The best alternative would be to build brass rails. Unfortunately I've never worked with brass soldering and am a little intimidated by it. So for ease of constrution, the PE rails are quicker. Possibly they could be made a little heavier with paint to give them a round look.

Red Devil Squadron · Post by **Red Devil Squadron** » Tue May 04, 2010 5:01 pm

Hi Les,

I agree with you about the photoetch railings. They look too flat in anything larger than 1/200 scale. Originally, I tried to thin down the kit styrene railing. Even after a lot of work they still looked far too big. Soldering brass rod in the proper diameter is certainly superior to PE, but I have yet to master the skill. As you mentioned, it is possible to give the PE railing a more rounded look with paint. I have found that common enamel spray paint typically found in any home improvement store is thick enough to "cling" around the brass. Once dry, the enamel is hard enough to work with and the railing looks far more "rounded".

Bill

snaphappy321 · Post by **snaphappy321** » Sat Nov 17, 2012 11:25 am

Hi Bill,
I know you're working on more than one build at a time, but have you made any progress on the Chevalier to date?

My DD-555 USS Haggard build has been stalled for a long time and I hope to do more work on her soon.

My 1/96 scale DD-473 USS Bennett is moving forward slowly. I'm presently working on the hull and I'll post some photos of it soon.

I waited five long months for the hull and fittings from the scale shipyard and I have to say that I'm not impressed with the hull. I plan to make a few changes to the hull, but it does look much better than the hull made by Lindberg I�m using for the Haggard.

I hope all is well with you and your family.

Roger DD-473/DD-555

Red Devil Squadron · Post by **Red Devil Squadron** » Sun Nov 18, 2012 11:11 am

Hi Roger,

My 1/144 Chevalier is still on hold. I have been working on several other builds and many, including Chevalier, are close to being finished. I recently got distracted with the Moebius 1/72 Skipjack and have had to resist the temptation to drop everything else and make a start on it. There are so many very nice kits coming out these days!

What don't you like about the 1/96 hull you got from SSY?

Cheers,

Bill

Red Devil Squadron · Post by **Red Devil Squadron** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 1:05 pm

Here are some additional old in-progress snaps that I have posted elsewhere and thought I should add here to update the WIP. These images may be of some interest to those of you that are also working on the 1/144 Revell Fletcher.

Your questions and comments are always welcome.

Cheers,

Bill

LE BOSCO · Post by **LE BOSCO** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:57 pm

HI Bill

nice adding detail

simple and effective

cheers
Nicolas

snaphappy321 · Post by **snaphappy321** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 9:31 pm

Hi Bill,
You make it look so simple and I have learned a lot following your work!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks for sharing your progress with us!!!!!!!!!!!

I am going to post some photos of what the scale shipyards 1/96 scale Fletcher hull looks like on my build tomorrow or the day after. I don't want to take up any space on your thread, but I'll post a link here so everyone can find it.

Roger DD-473/DD-555

snaphappy321 · Post by **snaphappy321** » Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:42 pm

Hi Bill,
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Roger