The Ship Model Forum

Before I say anything else, fabulous work on Dreadnought. I have a 700 scale Dreadnought that I keep looking at and trying to find the time/motivation to get on with it but at the moment, I am taking pleasure from watching your 350 scale build... very good work and very generous build log with a lot of explanation of how you go about solving the various problems as you encounter them. This is what build logs should be... not just a step by step diary of your own build, but real help and support for other modellers to learn from your skill and experience. So thank you...

OK. Cage aerials. I went through exactly the same issues as you and went through almost all the same options. I ended up using some rings used for carp fishing rigs... they were the only thing small and light enough to represent the rings and are probably identical to the rings you are making by cutting tube.

I am not sure where in the world you are, but it is worth going into a proper specialist fishing tackle shop and asking to see some fine 'rig rings'. It needs to be a specialist though, most basic tackle shops will just look at you blankly!

Anyway, enough. These are my cage aerials, made about 8 or 9 years ago in 700 scale. My solution ended up being almost exactly the same as yours... except my jig was brass picture nails into a bit of MDF rather than cocktail sticks and poly... but it is frightening how close we are...


On Tiger, I used very fine mono line which put a massive pressure on the masts and yards (as you can see from the top yard on the main mast! (thankfully replaced since this photo with ultra fine tubing as that seems far less prone to bending under strain). Caenis should be much easier to work with and a far better solution overall.

I'm very much looking forward to your next update - thank you and well done once again...

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Bill Livingston
Cambridge

Hi Bill, thank you for your kind and generous comments.

You said - I think I said in one of my posts, that if one modeller picks up on just one of the solutions to the many situations that I have found myself in, then it has been worthwhile. And again, I doubt that there is not one thing that I have done here that someone else hasn't tried before, with either greater or lesser success, but what I have done is made those solutions available to others.

I must admit that I hadn't thought about the fishing tackle side of things. As a game fisher, nothing from that discipline sprang to mind, but I do recall looking at rigs many years ago but it had departed from this aging memory! One to remember for when Hobby Boss release HMS Agamemnon.

The one thing that I have proved to my great satisfaction, is that, with one or two minor exceptions, the truly excellent Pontos kit, designed for the Zvezda version of this ship, IS compatible with the Trumpeter kit, albeit with a little bit of additional input from an - average modeller.

Having looked at your pictures of the Tiger, I have but one comment - I'll stick to 350th, UNLESS you can supply me with one of those obviously oversize match-sticks!

Cheers, Jabb

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HMS Hood, the big one!

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.

Apart from from building a very fine model, perhaps you might also give a tutorial on your
photographic skills. Very well done on both counts.
Tim.

Thanks Tim.


Happy to oblige!

See - http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=163176

Cheers, Jabb

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HMS Hood, the big one!

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.

Managed to complete and fit one of the aerial cages.

Some pics of that and some random others.

Almost finished!












Fabrication of the remaining aerial is currently underway!

Hope you like these, as usual, comments welcomed.

Cheers, Jabb

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HMS Hood, the big one!

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.

Quick, almost final update.

I carried on with fabricating the cage aerials, completing the two that go down to the for'ard staff.

Fitted them and finalised the rigging with the front to rear topping guy.

I awoke to this -



I suppose, with hindsight, that I should have realised that this attachment point would be under quite a bit of stress with the extra weight of the two aerials AND the main topping guy. The loop had just detached from the staff -



Fortunately it wasn't too much of a job to re-attach.



Anyway, here is the, I'll say complete, model.



Will probably tiddle about with her for months, glazing portholes, adding something, you know what it's like!

Not that I had set a time on the build, but that is exactly 2 months since starting.

Total enjoyment from this kit, no issues at all, went together like a dream with hardly any problems at all. Made me think once or twice, but that's a good thing, isn't it?

The one thing that pleased me was the integration of the three main kits, WEM, Pontos and Trumpeter.

I hope you have enjoyed the journey I have shared with you, and I really do hope that at least one person has learned something from this build. Let me know!

Cheers, Jabb

USS Indianapolis has just hit the slip-way!

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HMS Hood, the big one!

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.

Masterful work, and really glad to see the rigging fixed without any issue!

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De quoi s'agit-il?

This looks great!

Beautiful workmanship.

Absolutely stunning work, sir! It was a pleasure to follow this thread. The rigging is executed masterfully.

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- Greg

Gratz for the completed model! All the rigging parts were specially intriguing.

Also welcome to the darkside of weathering, let your future projects be even more dirty!

Koppalakki

Oh no! Two months? You must be kidding me for such a top-notch model! But I will have to believe that since today is the two month anniversary of your first post in this thread! Congrats!

Aop

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On the way:
--1/350 Tamiya DKM Tirpitz Nov 1944

--1/350 scratch-build HMS Lion never built battleship (1938)

And our artworks!

Well done Jabb,

The model is awesome and inspiring. The level craftsmanship is out of this world and deserves praise.

Good luck with your next model which I will be looking forward to.

Kind regards from Malta
Noel

Thank you all for those, almost embarrassing, comments.

USS Indianapolis has hit the slipway - more to follow.

Cheers, Jabb

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HMS Hood, the big one!

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.

Hey Jabb - Great job! Looks like a winner to me. And yea, I too, have enjoyed your dialog as your work on this ship progressed. Did I learn a few things ? You're durn tootin' I did. Loved your tip on how to bend ladder steps to the correct angle without wrecking the silly little buggers. I have my nifty little tools all ready for when I get to that point.

Looking forward to your next build with great anticipation.......

Lar

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Larry Steiner


Completed: 1:200 USS Missouri (Monster Mo)
Next project: Definitely NOT another big ship!!

Moved to the completed forum at Jab's request.

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Martin

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne

Ship Model Gallery

Shots you took outside look like the real thing





Jose

Absolutely beautiful model!!!

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Thomas E. Johnson

http://www.youtube.com/user/ThomasEJohnson

Thank you all!

Here are the gallery shots.

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HMS Hood, the big one!

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.

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HMS Hood, the big one!

I used to be indecisive, now I'm not so sure.