The Ship Model Forum

So, I've been busy recently and I thought I'd share some of it with you. This post was originally going to wait until I had also built a G-3 to round off the group but I have no immediate plans to do that so I've thrown a random bonus instead. I don't claim any master craftsmanship on these ships but I hope you guys like them because these are kits that I don't see built very often. If anyone wants more pictures of a specific ship or you have questions about the kits or build (i.e. kitbash) method then I can take some more.

Ships are as follows (all 1:700):

USS Constellation CC-2:

IHP resin hull, IHP 3-D printed funnels (via Shapeways) and Trumpeter USS Maryland kit donating the remaining superstructure, armament and fittings. A relatively straightforward build, the IHP casting is excellent. Just some modifications on the Maryland parts, mainly to backdate the bridge a bit. Also used so parts from the spares bin to lengthen the 16" barrels to the correct /50 caliber as opposed to the /45 on Maryland. Thank you to Tracy White for a conversation a while ago that inspired me to mix the BatDiv and CruDiv style turret top markings to make USS Constellation the flagship of a hypothetical BatCruDiv1.

IJN Amagi:

Fujimi kit more or less OOB. The main modification is a scratch-built lower bridge level to bring the whole structure more in line with the Nagato style bridge. I found the weird "flying" platform on the Fujimi kit a bit awkward looking and felt the need to bulk it up. I added the canvas covered railings for the same reason, to "fill out" that pagoda a little.

SMS Yorck II:

IHP resin hull and 3-D printed funnel, superstructure and armament donated from a Combrig SMS Baden kit. This one involved a lot more work getting the Baden bridge and other Conbrig parts to fit onto the "Ersatz Yorck" class hull. As with the Amagi, I decided to go for a slightly more massive enclosed bridge compared to some of the drawings of this ship. Although the bridge is at the correct deck level this is one deck higher than for Baden hence the rest of the tripod mast joins a bit high. Still, I'm quite happy with how this came out given the effort that went in.

KM Odin:

O-class battlecruiser as one may have appeared in 1944/'45. This one is a straight kit-bash using parts from a Trumpeter Tirpitz (in fact the same kit that previously donated her bow and armament for my rebuilt Gneisenau build: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html). I used the remaining hull but "pinched" it to give the correct beam. The bow is scratch built (not very well, this is one I built a long time ago) and the superstructure is cut and pasted around as best I could to match the drawings I have of the O-project. As I said, and older build and it shows in the quality but I hope you like it since it's a unique ship design and it's a shame there is no kit.

And now for a few pictures:

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Vlad

SWEET!!!! Bravo Zulu man

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Drawing Board:
1/700 Whiff USS Leyte and escorts 1984
1/700 Whiff USN Modernized CAs 1984
1/700 Whiff ASW Showdown - FFs vs SSGN 1984

Slipway:
1/700 Whiff USN ASW Hunter Killer Group Dio 1984

Some pretty nice WHIFs there, mate!

Now, of course, it would be awesome to see a WHIF of Amagi in a hypothetical early WWII configuration, with a "USS Walker" making a run right at her... ...one more month until the next Destroyermen novel!

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Sean Nash, ACG (aircraft camo gestapo)

On the ways:
1/200 Trumpeter HMS Nelson
1/700 Tamiya USS Yorktown CV-5

In the stash:
1/35 Italiari PT-109
1/35 Tamiya "Pibber" Patrol Boat
1/350 Trumpeter USS Yorktown CV-10

Neat. I'm a sucker for "what-ifs." I've got an Amagi build myself and will start a Lexington sometime in the neat future.

That Yorck II is excellent.

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- Chris

1/700 Saratoga w/Pontos (Needs paint)
1/700 Potato w/Kurama (On hold)
1/700 Murdertorpedoboat Ooi

Thanks guys I did briefly consider getting one of those 3D printed trumped funnels for the Amagi but decided against it and went with the "cleaner" 1920s look for all ships. Like I said, I have long term plans to add a G3 to the mix but I don't think I'll be able to persuade Mike @ IHP to do a hull for me (as he kindly did with the Lex since that is also long OOP) so it might involve a serious kitbash/scratchbuild undertaking.

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Vlad

Dude, Amagi looks awesome with the trunked funnel. I just posted pictures of my WIP.

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- Chris

1/700 Saratoga w/Pontos (Needs paint)
1/700 Potato w/Kurama (On hold)
1/700 Murdertorpedoboat Ooi

Nice job on the Lexington BC, Vlad!

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- Greg

That's a fun little project. Nicely done. I particularly like your color choices.