The Ship Model Forum

tweety777 wrote:Looks like your planes are about to have a dragrace
Crewmembers indeed do bring life to a model, especially on workships and naval vessels.

Greetings Josse

The deck display is only temporary but it was standard practice to park up the aircraft in this way either befor stiking down or ready for dispersal .

Dave Wooley

Hi Dave very very good the crew you doing. i like so much.
as i thinking an touch of life is added now.
fantastic

Capit�o Norbert wrote:Hi Dave very very good the crew you doing. i like so much.
as i thinking an touch of life is added now.
fantastic

Hi Norberto Thank you. If I can locate the pictures I shall dig out those I took of the Bismarck built by Joseph Kaiser. It is full of crew and an astonishing model .
Dave Wooley

Thinking in terms of figures and size how about this 1:48 scale Enterprise . This is just part of the model and was displayed at Dortmund Intermodelbau in 06. An amazing model but at this scale the intensity of the detail is magnified , I�ll stick to 1:144.


Dave Wooley

Dave,

The crew figures are a good call. They make me do a double-take when I see the photos - is this a model or the real thing? Rarely do you see an active ship without some crew visible topside.

Dave...

STOOOOOOoooooooooop.........!!!!

Here is my tuppeneth worth...

Whenever I see an excellent modelrailway--I always simply blanch when I see figures on bases....

It absolutely cancels out the benefits of any other finescale modelmaking ...---==> circular bases.... arghh.!!

(in MY opinion anyhow.... )

Now then--here is my suggestion:

The vessel will spend 95% of its time as a static exhibition model--and the quality of build is soooo high that putting it in
non-1/144 scale water( the water is just too 'big' ! ) seems almost sacrilege...

as such--I fully agree that figures on catwalks, bridge, hangar and other non-knock offable postions should be permanetly mounted. For the flightdeck... here is an alternative suggestion( as used on modelrailways)

Drill a 0.2 or 0.3 mm hole in the left foot and up into the leg of each figure before getting too involved with fine painting.

Insert into each corresponding size tungsten or stainless steel wire.

Lacking the incredible multitude of convenient tiedown points of US carriers ( to disguise the corresponding hole in the deck) ====> You could drill 0.2mm holes in the deck, suitably disguised by their position--ie among the skid marks ( putting those on?) ahead of the arrester wires for example--in the vicinity of deck-markings have the hole drilled at the grey side of the juncture of white to grey etc etc.

Also making small cameos of figure groups around the deck tractor for example--having one the aircraft being serviced ,with the mechanics being attached to the aircraft via their hands, hips, top of head if underneath the 'plane-- anything rather than blokes on circular bases on the the flight-deck....

You could also try using some stuff called 'museum wax'--its a non-staining posh version of blu-tack

http://www.preservationequipment.com/St ... Museum-Wax

adheres really well-- but separates really easily when a rotational sheer force is applied

Phew-- I am breathless now....


Of course... it is your model....

whatever--it will be a thing of beauty--and I really hope to see the Kiev at Telford in the bigger class-I am sure she will sweep all ahead of her!


JIM B

DrPR wrote:Dave,

The crew figures are a good call. They make me do a double-take when I see the photos - is this a model or the real thing? Rarely do you see an active ship without some crew visible topside.

Hi DrPR Yes you are right .But there always seems to be two schools of thought. The model devoid of crew and perhaps more akin to that seen in museums. Or a model with activity .The only problem with the latter is that I have seen so many larger scale model ships with a crew that just does not look right. Either the figures look toy like or not quite to scale and so lack any pretence of being part of the ship. This is a hard one for me as this is the first time I have ventured down this road and as such is one big learning curve. Ted Parr�s achieved the right result on his superb Nimitz model at 1:144 scale and for me it is a bench mark. Equally Bill Waldorf also achieved the right result but at a larger scale and the inclusion of figures added so much to the model. This is one of those debates that could go on for ever but I�ll listen and learn .
Dave Wooley

JIM BAUMANN wrote:Dave...

STOOOOOOoooooooooop.........!!!!

Here is my tuppeneth worth...

Whenever I see an excellent modelrailway--I always simply blanch when I see figures on bases....

It absolutely cancels out the benefits of any other finescale modelmaking ...---==> circular bases.... arghh.!!

(in MY opinion anyhow.... )

Now then--here is my suggestion:

The vessel will spend 95% of its time as a static exhibition model--and the quality of build is soooo high that putting it in
non-1/144 scale water( the water is just too 'big' ! ) seems almost sacrilege...

as such--I fully agree that figures on catwalks, bridge, hangar and other non-knock offable postions should be permanetly mounted. For the flightdeck... here is an alternative suggestion( as used on modelrailways)

Drill a 0.2 or 0.3 mm hole in the left foot and up into the leg of each figure before getting too involved with fine painting.

Insert into each corresponding size tungsten or stainless steel wire.

Lacking the incredible multitude of convenient tiedown points of US carriers ( to disguise the corresponding hole in the deck) ====> You could drill 0.2mm holes in the deck, suitably disguised by their position--ie among the skid marks ( putting those on?) ahead of the arrester wires for example--in the vicinity of deck-markings have the hole drilled at the grey side of the juncture of white to grey etc etc.

Also making small cameos of figure groups around the deck tractor for example--having one the aircraft being serviced ,with the mechanics being attached to the aircraft via their hands, hips, top of head if underneath the 'plane-- anything rather than blokes on circular bases on the the flight-deck....

You could also try using some stuff called 'museum wax'--its a non-staining posh version of blu-tack

http://www.preservationequipment.com/St ... Museum-Wax

adheres really well-- but separates really easily when a rotational sheer force is applied

Phew-- I am breathless now....


Of course... it is your model....

whatever--it will be a thing of beauty--and I really hope to see the Kiev at Telford in the bigger class-I am sure she will sweep all ahead of her!


JIM B

Ok Jim I see where you are coming from . I need to think again . Thanks for the advice I am open to suggestions I just want to get this experiment right.
Dave Wooley

I am still learning on this one but the whole idea of bringing the model to life appeals to me . Moving on one step further, here is a picture of some form of weapons trolley for loading what looks like unguided rockets into the under wing pod .

Continuing with the experimentation I thought I�d try to duplicate the trolley with evergreen section and the rockets from styrene rod.

This was a simple project with the tow bar of .45 brass rod bent to shape and the wheels were formed from styrene using a punch .

Not a difficult project to build and finish but will add to the scene.


Just for fun I thought I�d transform one of the photos into black and white as per the original on board shot.

Rearranged


Dave Wooley more to come

Dave what workmanship, great job. You have raised the bar for all us modelers that wish to display one day next to this sort of model.
Yesterday I bought the material for the Admiral Kuznetsov deck. Now to finish the hull before the next step. I just have to figure out how to cut and fit this deck. 0.97m by 4.3m. I.ll first get advise how to strengthen my deck before I attach it. Don't want to attach it and find out it goes in every direction except where I want it to go and its amazing how one or two millimeters look when there in the wrong spot. I have seen so many great looking models and you get in one spot and notice something not quite right. Anyhow great work again mate.

Dave words fail me your model looks real on them aircraft on deck shots if my model comes anywhere near this i will be a very happy man
chris

ozpirate wrote:Dave what workmanship, great job. You have raised the bar for all us modelers that wish to display one day next to this sort of model.
Yesterday I bought the material for the Admiral Kuznetsov deck. Now to finish the hull before the next step. I just have to figure out how to cut and fit this deck. 0.97m by 4.3m. I.ll first get advise how to strengthen my deck before I attach it. Don't want to attach it and find out it goes in every direction except where I want it to go and its amazing how one or two millimeters look when there in the wrong spot. I have seen so many great looking models and you get in one spot and notice something not quite right. Anyhow great work again mate.

Hi Mick good to hear from you. Looking at the flight deck area of your Kuznetzov if it where me building such a model I would divide the deck into manageable segments, not dissimilar to that on Kiev but your model is considerably larger and dividing the deck into three or even four segments will make the process much more manageable .Under deck support will strengthen and help establish the points of access into the hull.
This explains the method used on Kiev viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5903&start=80. I must confess I am not a fan of removing the entire deck, yes it has the advantage of creating a greater expanse of easily accessible space to work in but on many ships it�s unworkable and add to that the possibility of water having an easy entry .
I guess there always has to be an exception .As there is so much that is electro/ mechanical within the hull of this model there was no option but to have a fully removable deck . I think Boatman�s Nimitz has a fixed deck with removable panels to give access into the myriad of electrical drives.
The exception to the rule

Dave Wooley

boatman wrote:Dave words fail me your model looks real on them aircraft on deck shots if my model comes anywhere near this i will be a very happy man
chris

Thank you Chris, believe me you will be a happy man
Dave Wooley

man or man just outstanding work.

gtbred wrote:man or man just outstanding work.

Hi gtbred thanks for your kind comments much appreciated . I'm really starting to get fired up on figures and how best to incorporate them onto a model . I just take a look at the on board deck shots and experiment . Thanks Jim for your ideas it seems to work, even with a minute slice of Blu Tack !!!!! Now it's back to work on the rest of the model endless work it is to !!!


Dave Wooley

Hi Dave i agree you
i am not a fan of entire opening for deck too.
i prefer make strategic openings to maintenance or repair.
i am studying where i am do in my Bisma model with some ideas in my mind.
i prefer a closed deck in the place with some openings(not much). in KGV i use deck from styrene but again i agree a timber is a better choice

Hi Norberto I think this model of a 1:128 scale Iowa class battleship is a good example of placing all the important pieces of equipment , including a smoke generator in an easily accessible area but not sacrificing any water integrity .


Dave Wooley

superb Dave
and is steam machine for funnel - i like it i am thinking about my model with smoke....
yes this is exactly the type of opening i like

Capit�o Norbert wrote:superb Dave
and is steam machine for funnel - i like it i am thinking about my model with smoke....
yes this is exactly the type of opening i like

Hi Norberto this could be directed to Mick with his Kuztetzov . These are more unearthed photos of Ted Parr's 20 plus year old Nimitz . The deck is divided into three sections , only the centre section needed to be removed when the model was being sailed. Even though the model is only 1:144 the deck is a large expanse of timber The fore and after sections are firmly secured down but if required could also be lifed clear of the hull.



Dave Wooley

another interesting type of opening.
as you said one time: each modeller have your way to do the same thing another do.
very apreciate pictures.
i think aircarft carriers very interesting to build. but i am not specialized in this type of ship. who know one day.....
thank you Dave by explanations and help to solucionate some doubts..