Orange Hobby Graf Zeppelin: First Resin Kit

[PetrolGator]

I was tired of looking at a white sea, so I threw a base coat on it. Obviously, the water is rather dull at this stage, but at least it has a base color. The color is a 2:1:1/4 of Black, midnight blue, and forest green. My goal is a dark, stormy North Atlantic sea. I'll start prepping the actual swell and turbulence this week. I also did some remedial paint work on the railings, which is hard to see.

Hopefully, she gets her full AA load today.

[PetrolGator]

I'm trying a bit of Jim Baumann's method. I've got three shades of "turbulence" that I'm adding, blending, adding. I've got most of the underwater bits done and will be adding teased cotton to simulate the air bubbles and foam. Once that's done, the water will be encased in resin. I'll add the bow wave and any other spray at that point.

I've also finished adding the masts, minus radar. The Zepp also has her forward AA platform and port/starboard radar stations. Railing is mostly painted and sealed with Gatorglue to hide seams.

Tomorrow: Add some crew/PE. I'll also start assembling all the tiny little AA guns.

[LE BOSCO]

HI Chris

This all begins to take shape ,for a original diorama
regards
Nicolas

[PetrolGator]

Experiment number... something. I've been talking with a lot of REALLY good builders like Chris (sargentx) on how to better work a water base. I've been trying to incorporate his excellent work into 700 scale with a little bit of my own flair thrown in for, well, some originality.

Here's what I did.

1) Painted base as shown. I started with faint lines along where major wakes would be seen off the ship. I then expanded it to the desired level of disturbance. Painting was done with thinned cheap acrylics and dry brushing. My goal is to provide a nice base for the cotton and upper layers.



2) Teased out cotton, adhering it to the base with gel medium.

I started by tracing where I wanted retreating wakes to be located.


This was followed by filling in the area with cotton.




This is a slow process, but worth it.

3) (Current stage) I painted down a layer of gloss varnish to seal the layer into the base. I am still planning on doing a layer of resin for depth, but this gives an idea of what it will look like.





Once I seal in the base, I'll build some "foam" out with Chris's method of gloss gel medium + cotton. I'll also use some of Jim's technique with tissue to keep it in scale.

The model itself needs a LOT of work. Some of the railing was damaged and I still have searchlights, AA guns, crew, and planes to place. There's also some additional detail and painting I want to do to clean it up.

That's all for now. Tomorrow is going to be a rainy mess so I'll be working on this quite a bit.

[PetrolGator]

HUGE update, though it doesn't look like it. All the ships AA (minus two guns I forgot to make) have been added. Searchlights are on, and most of the construction is FINISHED (minus air group.)

I'll be adding her crane once I get the deck railing in place. If I have time tonight, I'll begin THAT job.

Biggest task left: Air wing. Once they're done, I'll clean her up a bit, rig her island, add some small details and dull coat the boat. The water will then be coated in resin. The final act will be finished off the bow wave.

[PetrolGator]

Last update. I installed this TINY little ladder to the AA gun platform and... tore some stuff up. I'm going to have to do some serious touch up painting. Still, glad I installed it.



Here's the air wing. I'm seriously considering getting ONE more package of DKM naval aircraft. It'll look cool.

[Goodwood]

Shine on you crazy diamond!

Great job, Chris.

[PetrolGator]

Hahaha. Diamond? Zeppy's more of a shined up turd.

I've installed the railing that would have been in place when she was not conducting flight ops. I also added some Caenis thread where she would have had her arresting system.



The island her her full load out of radar. I'm only missing the rigging (scary) and figures.



Bow view... just because.


I honestly cannot wait to finish this build She's gonna be nice once I touch up any remaining brass and finish off the stormy sea. Her air wing will add more color.

Opinions welcome.

[Goodwood]

No mate, anything I produce is a shined-up turd. You and the other builders here, you're the jewelers of the warship modeling world.

[Cliffy B]

Thanks Goodwood, now I have Floyd in my head.....HAH! Like that's a bad thing

Aren't you glad you persevered and didn't shelve the build? She's looking stellar man, STELLAR! Can't wait for the photos of the finished build

[PetrolGator]

Dude. You have no idea how glad I am I didn't shelve this.

I'm building aircraft which consist of a ton of PE and resin parts. I'm also adding crew here and there.



This Bf-109T will be on a carriage for launch, hence no landing gear.






All for now. I'm heading to the in-laws so I'll resume work next Wednesday.

[PetrolGator]

Back at it!

Done: Detail painting (clean up) and building planes. I've finished all the Junkers and one of the torpedo bombers. I lost the damn nose cones for the biplane to the carpet and... made some replacements from a tooth pick. It works. Sort of.

There's a LOT left. I still have to finish three bombers, rigging, and crew. There's also this little thing called CLEAN UP. I can still see some bloody brass when I hit it with a light.

I've fixed some overspray here. It looks a LOT better.


Bombers. I'll be gluing them something like this.


Single torpedo bomber. Orange Hobby aircraft lead to grey hairs.

[Jaguar]

Beautiful planes at this scale. I�m waiting to see it finished.

[Apophysis]

Hi Chris,

Nice that it goes on with your Zeppi! The Fieselers look great!

Cheers!
Dirk

[PetrolGator]

Hm... I found this on the ol' Google Image Search on the Warships1 board.



Perhaps I should modify two of the Fieselers? What do you think?

[Stein Gildberg]

Very nice planes indeed! I guess you are happy that you did not give up the project?
Do you know what colors they were planning to use - single color or camo like the Arado 196's?

Stein

[Goodwood]

The Junkers 87s and the torpedo bombers would have used the Luftwaffe Maritime scheme, which is a variant on the splinter camouflage used on bombers. It would have used RLM 65 for the undersides, and RLM 72/73 (a more "sea blue" variant of the standard 70/71) for the uppers. The Bf 109Ts would have had the same lowers, but with a dark blue-gray on the top (can't remember what specific color though). Those that did end up seeing service typically sported a red nose with stylized flame tongues extending along the cowling over the exhaust.

Good luck doing splinter in 1/700...

[PetrolGator]

I had some ambitious plans to paint these planes, but well, I'm about ready to be done with this boat AND I'm sick. Bad combination.

Stein: Very happy.

Goodwood: Don't hate the simplicity of color...

Still the light blue/navy plus looks REALLY handsome on her deck. Obviously, these planes aren't done (need to detail cockpits, wheels, nosecones, and add details) but I'm finally seeing an ending.







I'm using some wire and styrene stock to make some hoses and whatnot, plus hope to add a significant crew to the ship. I'm going to try to rig, again, with stretched sprue. We'll see how that goes.

[PetrolGator]

....still painting birds. Here's where they are now. I need to do some touch up and add decals tomorrow.



Interior of the Ju-87 folded wings is interior green. I also hit the back seat gunner's chair with some of the same color. Canopies are painted a darker grey. I didn't want to go too light on them since the whole feeling of the ship is rather dark.

[LE BOSCO]

HI Chris

very well done and rarely seen nice job !
Nicolas