Initially when I looked at the bow, I thought about doing what you did, but after closer examination (and a few other pairs of eyes) it looked like widening the hull bottom would result in example B. Cutting out the straps and webbing resulted more like example A. In addition, when the straps and webbing were removed, I was able to get everything to line up pretty well with just tape. You can see that I needed no filler (other than to fill the seam).
I agree on the deck fit, it's just that the scribing is overdone. I think the scribing on the North Carolina is more to scale, but it's ruined by molding the deck in three pieces and putting the joints in lousy places. How is it that they can mold the waterline hull bottom in one piece and the deck winds up in three? And why are the hull bottoms in that awful red plastic?
Was your North Carolina flat on the bottom or was it bowed upward in the middle?
I'll look forward to seeing some pics of your progress. It's always good inspiration.
Was your North Carolina flat on the bottom or was it bowed upward in the middle?
Paul
Paul
My NC was flat as a pancake!!!...all aspects of the hull were no problem at all on my kit...the bow on both sides and at the extream stern was the only areas that needed some filling and sanding...I guess I was lucky with this one!!!
I know...NC's deck was a joke...what were they thinking ...Trumpy's engineers must have been watching these boards because they did a pretty good job with the joint locations on the Massachusetts...their hardly noticable!!!
The kit tubs are simply a joke so scratch building correct looking ones was a no-brainer...besides...I'm modeling the kit in a wartime fit so the bow tubs and a 40mm tub on #2 turret would be needed.
The tubs were made from greeting card paper or cardstock...I cut out the tub shape, then using my x-acto knife as a "rolling-pin" I rolled the cut-out into a tight circle...then I placed it on a AA size battery and brushed on FULL-STRENGTH Elmer's glue to lock-in the shape...then I brushed on two coats of Future to give the part some durability and finally detailed the tub with .020" round stock then painted them 5-H...the enclosed tubs are just rings made from the cardstock with the ends CA glued and the seams blended with sandpaper and circles cut out to make the tub floors...the ammo racks came from a WEM set for Tamiya's Missouri.
The anchor cut-out is pure speculation...the opening of the cut-out that goes over the edge of the deck was traced from the drawing in the Massachusetts ship Data book ordered from the ship's store. The drawing is in 1/500 scale but I had it enlarged to 1/350 at a local print shop...I placed the tracing on the model and using photos from the Massachusetts NavSource site I "winged-it"...I don't know why I made the entire cut-out...the bow gun tub covers it!!!
Last edited by Dave Hill on Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"There is no problem which cannot be solved through suitable application of naval artillery."
Since I replaced the deck, I needed to create the mountings for the main battery. This is what I came up with. It was quick, accurate, and will help in painting. I used this method on my Washington as well. As a prelude, I assembled the turrets. This is no small effort, especially the for Massachusetts because the fit of the turret sides is abysmal. Rather than machine my own barrels, I took the lazy way out and am using the barrels supplied by Lion's Roar. I did machine off the rear mounting stubs and replace them with longer ones. I machined a piece of acrylic into which the barrels mount. Comparing the turrets to the Floating Drydock drawings supplied in the Technical Reference books, it looked like Trumpeter got the turrets a bit too tall. I remedied this by taking off the difference from the bottom before cementing the turret base.
The turret base is a piece of acrylic rod that was machined to fit the openings in the deck. It is supported by a piece of PVC pipe that has been squared up on the ends and adjusted for the correct height.
The PVC rests on the bottom of the hull bottom and insures that the turret is aligned.
How much marerial did you have to remove to get the turret hight correct???...It also
looks like you sanded the turret roofs smooth...how do you plan to simulate the rivit detail???
I'll have more WIP photos soon!
"There is no problem which cannot be solved through suitable application of naval artillery."
Not sure how much the height got reduced, it was probably in the neighborhood of .020". I do remember that it was noticeable. As far as the rivets, they had to go the way of collateral damage in the interest of getting the basic shape. In any case, if you want to get the rivets correct, they're supposed to be along the sides of the turret top as well (that's my rationalization). What I plan on doing is just simulating the raised straps and sides with a layer of primer. At least that's the plan for now. I would like to add the additional rangefinder mounting bolts that are on top of turret, but I'm still working on that.
Been a little slow-going lately...been working on the Citadel...sanding off the molded on detail and replacing it with brass PE and styrene tubing.
The Citadel detailed and ready for paint...the 20-B has been applied and taped off.
I didn't like the looks of the kit masts so I built my own...the Mainmast was WAY to small in diam...it's a strait shaft of plastic not a tapered one like referance photos show...so I used 1/8" styrene round stock chucked up in a drill and sanded a taper in it then detailed it with smaller diam. round stock and brass PE...the Foremast has a mold line running down the "round" parts which would be almost impossible to sand out and keep the part round...so I built a new one with styrene round stock and detailed it with PE...(GMM and parts box PE)
The new Mainmast...the ladder to the crow'snest to be added after paint.
The new two-pc. Foremast detailed and ready for paint and assembly.
Dave
Last edited by Dave Hill on Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:59 am, edited 1 time in total.
"There is no problem which cannot be solved through suitable application of naval artillery."
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne
Here's the upper superstructure assembly and masts dry-fitted...the fit of these parts are outstanding!...only VERY MINOR!!! sanding here and there was required to get the parts to fit perfectly!...now to take everything apart and put the parts in storage till final assembly.
Dave
Last edited by Dave Hill on Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:12 am, edited 2 times in total.
"There is no problem which cannot be solved through suitable application of naval artillery."
"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne
I'm using WEM Colourcoat enamels...the silver paint is Testors enamel...(those little 1/4os glass jars!!!)...how's your build going...can't wait for updates!
Dave
"There is no problem which cannot be solved through suitable application of naval artillery."
...Trumpy's engineers must have been watching these boards because they did a pretty good job with the joint locations on the Massachusetts...their hardly noticable!!!
