1/24 Scale AM Minesweeper Scratch build

[SweeperSkipper]

Thanks Joe.
There's Nothing like building from the Keel up Great satisfaction from knowing hey I did that.

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Sweeper Skipper Large Scale model building in the UK remains quite healthy and as ARH has shown in the photos of the Model Boat Convention people really can't get enough of the hobby . There are many such shows around the UK including themed on the water events. Both ARH and myself attend working bi-monthly build seminars held at the Waterways Boat Museum . The last session a few weeks ago featured Mark Hawkins a very accomplished builder presenting his model of HMS Dreadnought , a model packed with working features . The fact that you are self taught and achieved so much with out being surrounded by boat clubs it a true testimony to your skill. Keep the photos coming
Mark Hawkins at the Dreadnought seminar . This was a very well presented and totally absorbing talk .

Dave Wooley

[SweeperSkipper]

Thats what I really miss, The ability to sit and chat with other modelers who share the same passions. This is why I am here. Taking in all of the knowledge
That I can and to meet folks from all over the world. I had one friend that lived here some yrs back that I modeled with, He suddenly developed Lung Cancer and passed away. For me, well modeling is Doctors orders believe it our not When I vecame a Retired Disabled Veteran from the Marines the doc looked at me and said, Find something to do with your hands. Now I didnt have the patience to glue together a model kit at the time, However I was able to build these ships, I contacted Lee at SSY and spent hours with him on the phone learning everything I could about how to get started on a Hull. This was back in the days befor Pc's were popular. The phone bill was high but knowledge is priceless.
Thanks again Dave. I am 43 and have a three yr old son that has to come to the shop every night before bed to check on my Boat, I think I have a boat building partner in the works

[russclark]

hey, sweeper skipper i have been following your build and all scratch builds for years.i pick up a lot of information and cool tips and tricks,i have probably not commented enough,but when i see some of this excellent work i wonder how in the hell am i going to measure up .so fear not there are people watching every thing posted.keep up the great work

[SweeperSkipper]

Thank's russclark
I feel the same way. How will I measure up. I was reading the 1/72 Bismarck build (by kiwimedic), Looked at the wife and asked her for a match. She asked why I wanted a Match. I replied, because i am going to set fire to my mine sweeper and start all over again.
I was only kidding of course.
Well I think I was.
Well not to fear, there is a long and boring story behind this sweeper build and that all started when I was seven yrs old. It is a mission of mine.

[Edward Pinniger]

Is this the same model also posted on rcgroups.com? (I'd guess it is - there can't be many 8' long 1/24 Admirable-class minesweepers out there!) Anyway, it looks like a seriously impressive model! Especially your work on scratchbuilding the fittings from metal.

Some of your photos should be useful reference for when I build my (much!) smaller 1/125 Lindberg kit! As you say, reference material can be hard to find, I have some photos of USS Hazard but not of all areas of the ship. I actually started a 1/96 scratchbuilt AM a couple of years ago but shelved it due to lack of reference material.

[SweeperSkipper]

Edward, Yes it is and thank you for the comments. If you need any information on AM's please let me know. I will be glad to share what I have.

[Bill Waldorf]

Hello! Beautiful work on the ship. Such a large scale! Looks great!! Bill W.

[SweeperSkipper]

Hello Bill and thank you for the Kind words

The Scale is pretty Massive, Can't argue with any one there I normally Model in 1/48 Scale which is large enough by its self. Its funny how all of this came about. Some 35 Yrs ago one cold Fall Day I was watching two Boys about my age run this model boat across a pond. All of a sudden it up and sank. The boys went home discouraged and I ran home to draw a map, I was 8. On the first warm day the following spring I waded into the pond and quickly found my Prize, A green hunk of slippery,slimy,smelly growth that when scraped down and washed washed up was a Lindberg Minesweeper. The love affair between myself and boats began right there. So this for me is kind of my tribute to those boy's and there lost boat that gave me so much pleasure. Corny, yes but one of my fondest memories.

I stand in awe at the skills you guy's have in building these Ships. I strive to one day have those skills.

Thank you and all of the others again for the kind words.

[SweeperSkipper]

Searching for? Does anyone know a good source for Cloth flags that might work for this AM, What I need is a 48 star American Flag as well as signal Flags.

Thanks guys.

[Bill Waldorf]

Hello Bill and thank you for the Kind words

The Scale is pretty Massive, Can't argue with any one there I normally Model in 1/48 Scale which is large enough by its self. Its funny how all of this came about. Some 35 Yrs ago one cold Fall Day I was watching two Boys about my age run this model boat across a pond. All of a sudden it up and sank. The boys went home discouraged and I ran home to draw a map, I was 8. On the first warm day the following spring I waded into the pond and quickly found my Prize, A green hunk of slippery,slimy,smelly growth that when scraped down and washed washed up was a Lindberg Minesweeper. The love affair between myself and boats began right there. So this for me is kind of my tribute to those boy's and there lost boat that gave me so much pleasure. Corny, yes but one of my fondest memories.

I stand in awe at the skills you guy's have in building these Ships. I strive to one day have those skills.

Thank you and all of the others again for the kind words.

You stand in awe at us??? You gotta be kidding! Look's to me like you don't need to stand in awe at anyone! Great model, as I said before! I know of a site for nice flags.....Let me find it and I'll post it here for you. HTH.....Bill W.

[SweeperSkipper]

Bill, Thank you and yes I do stand in awe. The skills you and Dave as well as many others have is just out of this world. The realism you guy's can obtain is phenomenal
The problem I have been having in this larger scale is what I call the Toy effect. No matter what I do it looks like a toy. I dont have this problem as much in smaller scales. Pictured below is the Gearing class and Benham class ships I built. They looked way more realistic, But not as realistic as I wanted. I know alot is because of Scale and also besause of Painting and finish work.
But hey i will keep building until I get it right, Then I will keep building

I have been reading your Tread on the Indy, Beautiful Ship, Well done. I have always wanted to build the New Orleans as My great uncle was Killed on her when a Jap Torpedo shot her Bow off at Tasafaranga (SP)
However the lack of good drawings has prevented me from doing so. Thought it would be a nice tribute in 1/48.

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Sweeper Skipper A 1:48 Gearing looks good . I think 1;48 for WW2 DDs is a perfect scale . For modern DDGs 1:72 . A BB at 1:48 is in another world but it would be truly awsome to sail. I remember years ago going to the launch of a 1:48 scale Bismarck , it drew such a crowd you would think it was the real ship.
Dave Wooley

[SweeperSkipper]

I agree Dave, 1/48 is perfect for DD's and smaller,
However a Cruiser might look really nice sitting next to that DD

A 1/48 Bismarck? WOW that would have been a sight.

[Bill Waldorf]

The bigger you go, the more stuff you gotta add...................I'll stay in 1/96 or 1/72!! Like the DD..........I may do one soon!

[SweeperSkipper]

I have been seriously studying 1/72 Scale. Still large enough for DD's and Small enough for Cruisers.
Thinking About A DD?

I have one in the planning right now However in 1/48 Actually Pre War if I can gather enough Documentation.

Right now the Mine sweep is on hold for a few day's. Desperatly need to clean and organize the shop, Oil up the Lathe and hit it again.

[GTDEATH13]

I would love to see some more before and after reworking/detailing photos.

The previous ones are wonderful and really show the ammount of detail added.

It has always been a dilema for me whether to re-detail ships I have already built or not...

Looking forward to some more progress.

P.S. the destroyers are very good... More pics please...

[SweeperSkipper]

Gt, No worries more Photos and work on the way

I have needed to really clean my shop and re organize, So I have been pre occupied with that these past few days.

As far as deciding to re detail or not, My question to myself is always the same. Am I happy with the way it is? If not and as I learn more I redo what I am not happy with. More so with this Minesweeper than any thing else.
This Project has really been a love hate relationship. I have always said that I love to hate it. I get burned out on it so easy. Sometimes I want to use it to reenact a Viking Funeral
But I wont, Not yet

I am however planning on starting another Build soon. Smaller scale 1/48. I will still be working on the sweep but I need a Diversion. I also need more information for this build sweeps are kinda hard to find information on. For example there are no real descent pictures of the open bridge for the style of bridge I have built. I am also trying to track down Scale propellers there has to be someone out there making them.

The search continues.

[SweeperSkipper]

Well, I have not been doing much building in the past few day's. I needed to make a Home for this beast and get ready for her Final paint job. I have tried two different schemes and neither looked very good in this scale. I have decided on MS22 for a cleaner appearance on a Model of this size. I have her moved for a trial fit now the framing for the Plexi Glass enclosure will start. Far from done however once painted I need to be able to keep as much dust off as possible. Here are a few shots, Pay no attention to the paint.
Thank you all again for all of your kind words on this Build. More to come.

[SweeperSkipper]

I have started to build The Boat winch for the Boom and Motor whale boat. First I Machined a few parts, then constructed the spool, Gear box and electric motor. The framing is made from Plastruct I beam and other shapes. Once again information on this piece of equipment was difficult to find as was information for the Minesweeping winch.