Help on technique of building armor belt out of vinyl

[pascalemod]

Hi!

Building a French ironclad Bayard that has a prominent armor belt that curves up both stern and bow in a prominent step and is an important feature to get right.

In search of building techniques I find Carnot by Jim Baumann. He describes his technique on adding armor belt "Once the armour belt made of self-adhesive vinyl tape had been added and subsequently soaked on afterwards with CA for permanence.".

How does one take vinyl tape (I assume the kind that stretches, typical vinyl tape) and soak it in CA after adhesion? The tape looks to be made of vinyl so does it take in CA glue inside when you... put glue on top of it? How is it attached to the hull? Just using its native adhesive? Would that even hold over itme? Or is tape installed and then "peeled" at the bottom end and CA glue is added to the underneath to strengthen the bond? Or is it added on top after all to make a "shell" of sorts?

Would it not be easier to mask the ship and build up the belt from layers of primer perhaps? Or what are the alternative methods?

I thought of gluing a thin styrene strip but perhaps the vinyl is nicer and thinner. I just dont understand whats the method of soaking in CA glue is about, and how it works.

Anyone can shed some light?

[Timmy C]

Sounds like one of Jim's special techniques, so you should probably just PM him to get it straight from the source.

[pascalemod]

what scale is the model?

1:700 scale.

I have built a lower hull for it as well, using the Doggy Industries resin kit as a starting point. After a LOT of modifications I think it has potential.

Sent a message to Jim, good call there.