Calling all Freedom-class LCS fans

Tracy White · Post by **Tracy White** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 2:58 pm

Tracy White · Post by **Tracy White** » Sun Jan 22, 2012 3:15 pm

berggy · Post by **berggy** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:36 am

Hi there. I am new to this forum, and just return to modeling. I am very drawn to the shape of the LCS-1 and LCS-2, maybe coz of itz combination of speed and stealthiness? Anyway I wanted to make a quick build with the Trumpeter 1:350 LCS-1 during a 5 days holiday we have here, and wanted to post the process of building the Trumpeter model here and do some sharing. I hope this is the right place to post things. If not please let me know.

So here we go:
1) The model itself is very detailed. Trumpeter even included individually molded lights and exhausts(12 of them, each the size less than 1mm, many lost to the carpet monster) which somehow i think is an overkill. I wish Trumpeter can provide some spare as these small parts just tend to get lost easily. 3 frets of PE is also attached and is quite comprehensive.
2) Trumpeter also included some internal compartments as a start for those who wanted to do a detailed interior for the hanger and docking bay. I painted the docking bay but you can actually see very few from there. I have decided to glue all the major components together first before adding the details. The fit was generally good but attention is required to get a good fit between the several parts that forms the superstructure itself. I did not do a good job and as a result you can see some seams required to be taken care of later on.

berggy · Post by **berggy** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:43 am

Here are the photos for the 1:350 LCS-1 build

berggy · Post by **berggy** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:53 am

The small bits are then glued together and added later. As for the small parts they are well detailed and the fit is good. However I feel that Trumpeter could have reduced the number of small parts and integrate them into a larger part. Sometimes they are just too small and even the molding technology does not allow for adequate details to be molded into such small parts anyway.
1 seahawk and 2 fire scouts are also included. The various bits of the fire scouts are of PE. However one problem is that the landing gears for the fire scout is too thin and it tends to deform whenever pressure is applied. Careful handling is required.
I made some mistakes by applying too man super glue for the PE parts, and the results showed later on when i painted them (just tonight). I guess i have to think of ways to attach the PE in better ways.

berggy · Post by **berggy** » Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:05 am

Then comes the paints. Tamiya Primer is first applied. Then lifecolours acrylic. Since it is around 95% humidity these days, the acrylic seems to take forever to dry, and i got paint runs with everytime i spray them. Tried to use a hairdryer to speed things up but i guess i still have to learn on how to use acrylics properly.

I have sprayed the darker colour of the decking first, hopefully then the horizontal layer of lighter paint will not mess with the decking colour. I wasnt skillful enough to do just that, and the lighter coat of paint just covered the the darker paints. I guess i need to reapply with paint brush anyway!

carr · Post by **carr** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:17 am

AndrexP · Post by **AndrexP** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:31 am

Cool picture! but...

Can anyone account for the different shade of paint on the superstructure below the line just above the main deck level? Is the hull just wearing fresh(er) haze gray, or a different color altogether?

Cliffy B · Post by **Cliffy B** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:46 am

From what I remember hearing, the hull is the only area painted and the superstructure is left natural metal. Had to do with the extremely small crew aboard and maintaining paint wasn't a high priority. That's why she looks so beat up and badly in need of a yard period. They're also suffering from bi-metallic corrosion problems where the superstructure meets the hull. Great little "ships" huh?

carr · Post by **carr** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 10:10 am

Cliffy B · Post by **Cliffy B** » Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:04 pm

From looking at that blown up shot, it almost looks like it angled slightly different, or its a different kind of metal. Was the hull steel carried up a little ways to act as an attachment point for the superstructure? Does the "stripe" go around the fore and aft ends of the superstructure as well or just the sides?

Timothyo · Post by **Timothyo** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 7:55 pm

Hi Folks,

I know LCS-1 had buoyancy tanks added to her stern after trials; will the follow-on units have the same tanks, or will they be incorporated internaly, or will the next ships just be a bit longer with the tanks faired into the hull? Just curious, as I might want to model another member of the Freedom class and wanted to know if I had to modify the hull.......

Thanks and regards,

Timothy

carr · Post by **carr** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 8:46 pm

Timothyo · Post by **Timothyo** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:20 pm

Opps, sorry- somehow I overlooked that post......my bad, and to my embarrassment.....

Thanks.

Tracy White · Post by **Tracy White** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:54 pm

carr wrote:That was answered in this thread

Hey Carr, if you want to link to a specific post in a thread, just click on the topic title link on that specific post and it'll give you the direct URL to that post... copy & paste, and off you go!

navydavesof · Post by **navydavesof** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 2:53 am

Cliffy B wrote:From looking at that blown up shot, it almost looks like it angled slightly different, or its a different kind of metal. Was the hull steel carried up a little ways to act as an attachment point for the superstructure? Does the "stripe" go around the fore and aft ends of the superstructure as well or just the sides?

The steel hull goes up a little as the hull shifts its angl. This forms a bracket the length of the superstructure. It's my understanding that this was done to alleviate the need to weld the dissimilar metals of the aluminum and steel together. Instead the super structure sits in that bracket and is otherwise attached to the hull. I think they were trying to stay away from the many problems the USN has sufferred caused by welding the two different metals together.

William Smallshaw · Post by **William Smallshaw** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 7:48 pm

All:

LCS article on front page of the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/us/po ... ml?_r=1&hp

Post by **Cadman** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:06 pm

The Cyber-Hobby (Bronco) kit is out.

Review posted here.

Russ2146 · Post by **Russ2146** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:11 pm

Uhhhm, the decal sheet in the review is for the Independence, LCS-2

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Calling all Freedom-class LCS fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

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Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans

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Re: Calling all USS Freedom LCS-1 fans