1/200 Scale Group Build from 2015-17

[Mgunns]

Thanks Tegun and AAUBE: Appreciate the comments. More work and more postings forthcoming. For now, I need to buy enough paint for the hull. As I am using Testors MM Light Ghost Gray, I was thinking of buying a rattle can of that and a waterline hull color for spray painting as well. I will probably hit the hobby shop this weekend and pick some up and go. I am almost ready to apply the wood deck as well.
Until that time

[Goodwood]

Tossing my hat into this particular ring with an interesting comparison photo between Tamiya's older-than-dirt 1/700 kit and the new Trumpy HMS Nelson, which looks like it ought to produce an incredible finished product.

[tegunn]

Excellent! I was tempted to pick up one. I'll be watching with great interest.

[Mgunns]

As will I Goodwood. I am sorely tempted to pick one up, save I am in the throes of the 1/200 Arizona. I will be watching.

[Goodwood]

Thanks guys, I'm really enjoying the build so far.

From what I can tell while looking through the Nelson/Rodney thread in CASF, as well as Google Image results, the kit Trumpeter has produced is definitely a Nelson from after her late '44-early '45 refit and redeployment to the Pacific Theatre. The paint guide suggests Neutral Gray and Medium Blue for the metal surfaces, with Gunship Gray on top of the primary and secondary turrets, however I'm convinced that all horizontal metal surfaces would have been painted in the same color as the turret tops, and I've proceeded accordingly. The only wild card are the ships' boats, and I'm thinking of going with the same color I use for the hull stripe (medium blue) for the hulls, but the interior might be something of a challenge. I've also used Light Ghost Gray with small helpings of RLM 65 Heilblau and Gunship Gray to get a slightly darker, slightly bluish tinge and so far I'm quite satisfied with the results as applied to the superstructure. It compares favorably with the base color I ended up using on a Tamiya 1/350 KGV, but slightly darker and an easier mix to reproduce.

My plan is to build her like a sandwich or a layer cake, which goes against Trumpeter's instructions (to be honest, they're more complicated than what I would consider necessary). Fortunately for me (and other photo-etch n00bs), Trumpy was thoughtful enough to put in small grooves to help seat the various platform, mast and superstructure supports, which are supplied as photo-etch. I'm also going to finally attempt to do a decent weathering job on a ship, but not much more than your standard wash and dry-brushing; this thing's too big, too beautiful, and too damn expensive to ruin by trying things I'm not comfortable with just yet.

[tegunn]

Sean,
Any news if Eduard is releasing a PE set for this? If so, when is the million dollar question. If it's anything like the 1/200Arizona set, your ship will pop with detail! I highly recommend checking Eduard out..

[Goodwood]

Sean,
Any news if Eduard is releasing a PE set for this? If so, when is the million dollar question. If it's anything like the 1/200Arizona set, your ship will pop with detail! I highly recommend checking Eduard out..

Not bloody likely mate, sorry. It's bad enough when I have to deal with photo-etch parts on armor models or aircraft, and even then I almost always manage to cock it up somehow. More than likely I'll end up stuffing up several assemblies, assuming the parts don't get sacrificed to the carpet monster.

There has to be a better medium for such parts besides metal...

[Fliger747]

A few photos of my 1:192 Alaska CB1 over in the scratch build forum.

Cheers: T

[tegunn]

Fliger747 aka "T", looking good! Don't quit, take little bites but keep going. Again it's looking great.
I will have the same dilemma in the future when I scratch build a 1/200 ship. Do I post in Scratch Build in progress or in the 1/200 group build. It would be cool to be able to post in two headings at the same time.

[tegunn]

Sean,
It would be nice if they could add a ferrous material in the brass so when it goes zinging off into oblivion one could run a magnet over it to find it!

[Goodwood]

Fliger747 aka "T", looking good! Don't quit, take little bites but keep going. Again it's looking great.
I will have the same dilemma in the future when I scratch build a 1/200 ship. Do I post in Scratch Build in progress or in the 1/200 group build. It would be cool to be able to post in two headings at the same time.

Make a build thread in the scratch forum and occasionally make a post with a few select photos in this thread, maybe?

[Fliger747]

A few photos from yesterday of current state of affairs. Last night added some various bits and pieces and joined the two sections of the aft superstructure.

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Tom,

Very nice, indeed!! I was wondering where you stood on the build. Being scratchbuilt I am quite impressed with your detail so far. This should turn into a very nice model!

Hank

[Goodwood]

Overall vanity shot to show off the size.

Two out of three of the main battery turrets are assembled, painted, and weathered (not too heavily, though; I'll post up-close images of all three once X Turret is finished), and the hull was primed using Light Earth enamel and a dying can of Tamiya Dull Red; I've gotten another one and have laid down the rest of the color; once it's all set and dry I'll finish painting the hull.

Turns out I'm better at photo-etch than I ever gave myself credit for; I built and painted the funnel and really had no problems with the PE. Even the frame at the top of the stack went in fairly easily, as did the little platform on the forward side. I did the searchlights too (Trumpeter missed a bit by not providing clear parts for the lenses), but haven't yet cemented them because they and the stack itself need to be given a light wash.




Just a little update, anyway.

[Mgunns]

Hello Goodwood:

This is coming along nicely. You are certainly making good progress, and I am sorely tempted to buying this kit; 1/200 BB39 notwithstanding! Your progress is inspirational and I will continue to watch as you progress.

[Goodwood]

Hello Goodwood:

This is coming along nicely. You are certainly making good progress, and I am sorely tempted to buying this kit; 1/200 BB39 notwithstanding! Your progress is inspirational and I will continue to watch as you progress.

Thank you, Master Guns. It means a lot.

[ModelMonkey]

Excellent builds here! Really enjoying this thread and learning a lot.

[tegunn]

Excellent builds here! Really enjoying this thread and learning a lot.

Fully agree! Let's keep it up! I should be posting some stuff soon..

[Goodwood]

Another HMS Nelson update, as promised:

While the main battery has been (nearly) finished for some time, I've been working on other parts of the ship including the complete painting and pre-weathering gloss-coating of the hull as well as the weathering of the deck (using gloss lacquer and thinned artist's oils). I finally put the finishing touches on X Turret yesterday, though so far I've only fitted one of the six 20mm Oerlikons�two built, sixty more to go! The secondary battery turrets are all assembled and painted, but they have not yet been weathered. I've also pretty much finished the 01 and 02 decks, have made significant progress on the citadel, and started the mainmast (the photo-etch for the star was absolute murder and looks awful even with paint, but the radar lantern was surprisingly easy to build).

Anyway, the main battery, the only one of the 4.7in QF anti-aircraft guns that has been given any weathering, and another eight-barreled pom-pom:




In the next update, I hope to have pictures of the painted hull mated to the main deck.

[Mgunns]

Hello Goodwood:

You are moving right along on this project. The weapons look great as do the turrets. Looking forward to seeing you mate the deck to the hull. This kit continues to beckon, news of the 1/350 kit notwithstanding.