1/700 USS Bunker Hill CV-17 (1944)

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Andrex,
Table is too clean you say? Not my work station shown, but quite suitable for the pics, (even though the background was testing the camera).
You should see my "travel kit" for model building. It is an old shoe box that has so much junk in it! Can't live without it though.
Timmy,
Good to hear from you as always.
Tracy,
Thanks!
Devin,
I knew there was a reason I had that Tamiya 2000 grit sandpaper, (unused), in my "travel kit", for the last few years!
Trying to decide what to use for Dull Black...thinking Floquil, "Grimy Black".
Later Guys, Tony

[Ron Smith]

Hi Guys,
Trying to decide what to use for Dull Black...thinking Floquil, "Grimy Black".
Later Guys, Tony

Aicraft Interior black works (MM Acryl) or Polly Scale's Engine black or grimy black.

[AndrexP]

Hi Guys,
Trying to decide what to use for Dull Black...thinking Floquil, "Grimy Black".
Later Guys, Tony

Might I suggest MM acryl 5-D for 'Dull Black'? I have used it several times on MS 32 dazzle schema and it looks plenty black, yet doesn't hide the detail and still shows a visible contrast with the black boot topping.

Drop me an e-mail and I'll send you some snapshots if you wish.

As to the camo, it looks really good so far. I personally am too chicken to remove the masking between colors (for fear of not being able to match the demarcation lines on subsequent colors) so I usually have little idea of the final product when I'm airbrushing the camo.

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
I have a bottle of the Acryl interior black that I might use, but I have not seen the MM 5-D Dull Black. Is this a "Marine" color from MM?
The Floquil color would be a second choice for me, as it is an oil based color. So far anyway, all I have used was acrylic.
I did find some ,"ridges" that will need to be, "smoothed", away...sure enough!
That means I used too much paint!
Progress, not perfection.
Thanks guys, Tony

[Ron Smith]

Hi Guys,
I have a bottle of the Acryl interior black that I might use, but I have not seen the MM 5-D Dull Black. Is this a "Marine" color from MM?
The Floquil color would be a second choice for me, as it is an oil based color. So far anyway, all I have used was acrylic.
I did find some ,"ridges" that will need to be, "smoothed", away...sure enough!
That means I used too much paint!
Progress, not perfection.
Thanks guys, Tony

I find 5-D too light to simulate black and it is from the Marine line. Polly Scale makes the Floquil color you mentioned, try a railroad shop.

I like 4000 or 6000 grit Micromesh pads for smoothing paint ridges. One trick to minimize ridges is mist the paint on and spray away from the tape so you're not blowing paint to the tape edge.

[ArizonaBB39]

Tony, I think he's referring to the MM 5-D Dark Grey color, instead of actually using a black. The 5-D will not be black, but a touch lighter (dull black).

[AndrexP]

Tony, I think he's referring to the MM 5-D Dark Grey color, instead of actually using a black. The 5-D will not be black, but a touch lighter (dull black).

Tony:

Arizona is correct. By 5-D I am referring to the MM 5-D Dark Grey color. It was used in camouflage Measure 1 as described in SteelNavy: US Navy Camouflage and Colours, or more in-depth at ShipCamouflage.com: USN Camouflage Measures.

Testors makes a line of Marine Acrylics (link here), which include most of the colors used by the co-belligerents in WW2. The MM Acryl Marine Colors are reportedly dead-on balls accurate. Unfortunately, I understand they are being discontinued, and they�re only sold in some shops, in any event. If you can find them, stock up!

Their 5-D is a very dark grey, and dries almost black. I�ve used it to represent the �BK Dull Black� because it looks right in scale, yet allows a visible distinction from the black boot stripe (I use MM A/c interior black for that).

Here are a few pictures illustrating the results:



The first three ships are done up in Measure 32 � the first [USS LITTLE (DD-803)] and third [USS SAN JUAN (CL-54)] are the three color scheme, which calls for 5-L, 5-O, and BK , and the second [USS EVANS (DD-552)] is in the MS 32 two-color scheme (5-L and BK). In all three cases I�ve substituted MM�s 5-D for the BK. Note the contrast with the boot stripe on EVANS.



For reference, the fourth ship in the pictures is USS PITTSBURG (CA-72), done up in Measure 33 colors (5-P, 5-H, and 5-N). (In that case, I chose the PollyScale 5-N because it is bluer than the MM version�)

Here�s another example:



Below is USS INTREPID (CV-11) in MS32/3a, and using 5-D in lieu of BK.. Above is USS TICONDEROGA (CV-14) in MS 33/10A. Intrepid has no boot stripe yet (school project deadline, you know�)

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Andrew,
Thanks for the tip. The Hobby Shop I work at one day a week purchased the entire MM Acryl Marine Color set at a significantly reduced price for the lot, (including the rack), so I can get, (and already have quite a few), whatever I need.
Thanks for sharing, your models look sweet!
Ron,
Thanks also.
Abram,
Where you been?
Take care guys, Tony

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Andrew,
I chose to try the Acryl 5-D. Looks fairly light for, "Black", but for, "dull black"....I went with it.
I spent 3 hours masking, and I only got this far, (habe to go to work in the morning), so I chose to paint what I'd masked so far. I don't like to leave tape on something for very long.
This tape phobia goes back a ways!
Anyway.....




I will be spending MUCH MORE time masking before this thing's done!
So be it, I am having some fun.
I don't look forward to touching up, but as you can see......
faithfully submited, Tony Bunch

[Mark Deakin]

Hi Tony,

as always excellent work

Regards,
Mark D.

[MartinJQuinn]

Very sharp looking camo Tony - well done. Keep the pictures coming please

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
After, "Saturday nights alright for masking..painting...unmasking"....the model looks like this...





Still have the entire stbd side Dull Black to do, the flight deck and about half the island to do...plus like a million AAA weapons to be painted ....did I forget the planes ???
faithfully submited....TB

[Timmy C]

lol such is the life of a CV builder

Looks great!

[Mark Deakin]

Tony,

get a grip, sounds like you plan to finish this one

Anyway looking forward to seeing some airwing pictures.

Mark D.

[grim reaper]

i think Tony needs to tackle a 1/96th essex carrier

[ddp]

how about 1:1?

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Well; after spending 3+ hours masking, I painted the last of the Dull Black on the hull sides, (using Testors Acryl 5-D, dark grey), and I then spent 1/2 hour unmasking and looking things over. I had a few places where the paint crept beneath the masking tape, but overall I am satisfied. If it came out perfect...well I don't have to worry about that! Sound like a broken record?
Here is the stbd side....






Now, on to finishing the island, then to the flight deck. I will let the hull set aside for a few days to dry. I figure by this time next week, the boot topping and the hull red will have been applied. We'll see.....
faithfully submited, Tony Bunch
Finish date is the 15th of July..oh boy!

[Tracy White]

That's looking really nice Tony. I'll have to get my CV-9 Essex prepped and painted soon so I don't feel so bad

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
I was able to get the island BK done today without taking too much time. I probably spent 2 hours total:masking, painting and unmasking.
A little touch-up will be needed, but I will do al of the touch-up at the same time.
Save the best for last?
Here is the island in place.....




Next will be the flight deck and then the hull...I guess.
...still have to assemble and paint a few planes to have in the hangar deck before final attachment of the flight deck. Man I'll have to be careful attaching the flight deck....I can imagine a whole lot of touching up if I'm careless with the Tenax!
Thanks Guys...
Here's to cheap entertainment!
faithfully submitted, Tony "becoming an Essex fan" Bunch

[scottrc]

A lot of great work there on that paintjob Tony, are you doing PE as well? I would have the same hesitaition with using Tenex. That stuff seems to seep no matter how carefull you are.

I am using medium CA to attach the deck on my Randolph, and its all one color.

Scott