The Ship Model Forum

Timmy C wrote:This might be a better representation, then - http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Same rigging material, but a bit larger ship.

that's a better representation, methinks. Also went through your gallery and snuck a peek at your Bismarck. Certainly better than I would have done at 15.

Shane,
Just went thru your ARIZONA build. Very nice job on an old kit. I've built this kit many times and each time I went a little further in changing things and "cleaning" up the poor injection relief of this kit.
With this kit being rather "cheap" you can do like I did and use it as a base to "pratice" scratch building different things and adding details you might have been on the fench about trying.

Although your build pretty much nailed it for a VERY nice, clean build. Great job.

thanks. Still have rigging left to do. This was a pretty much Out of the Box build. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on PE, extra parts, trying to scratch build anything, etc. as this being my first ship, and also first model in a long time I had a lot of supplies to buy.

I'll post some better pics once I finish it up.

so after using the caenis thread on my 1/1800 Texas I've determined it way too thin for the Arizona. Going to have to find something else for rigging.

Shane!
I agree with you. Caenis is often too thin for larger scales.
I keep some copper-thread (ultra fine) with known thickness for comparison. Then I calculate thickess like this:
Flagline: ca 1 cm : scale = thickness. (here I think the caenis is quite suitable for your Arizona).
Antenna thread: Same
General rigging: 2cm
Supporting cables: 3-4 cm

You are probably more used to inches, but I guess you get the point.
THEN, I use stretch sprue. I'm not warming and fastening before pulling like Jim B does, I simply warm the sprue using a candle. When it is warm and soft, I pull apart - with both hands. First carefully untill I get the thickness I want. Then a quick (not too quick) pull till your arms are stretched. And you have a thin thread. More heat - thinner thread.

I guess a good supply store can get you copperthread or something simillar for comparison.

I great advantage with the sprue is that if (when) you should happen to put you hand right into the web... Only the sprue will break, compared to caenis or nylon that often will break antennas and masts.

Takes some practice to get used to, but it's worth it!

Stein

I'm not to the sprue stretching point yet. Going to try to find a wire, thread, or line that will work. I don't mind if everything is relatively similar thickness as long as it looks right.

It's been 10 months.. I really should attempt to rig this model and finish it. lol.