WIP � US Standard Type Battleship(s)

[Jon C Ryckert]

Could you have the stem anchor upside down?

[MartinJQuinn]

Could you have the stem anchor upside down?

Sh*t. I never considered that

[MartinJQuinn]

While handling the model, I broke the bow anchor off, so I was able to flip it the other way. Looks better.

I attached the trunnions to the Model Monkey 3D printed turrets, but decided to paint the barrels before installing them, as the turret tops are already painted white, and I didn't want to have to mask. The barrels are turned brass from L'Arsenal, back when they offered that type of thing

I then started sorting through what I had, to see what else needed to be painted 5D.

While looking at said parts, I noticed the lowest level of the Kraken replacement bridge was starting to warp slightly, so attached it to the model. I then let it dry upside down, to try and get it as flat as possible. It (mostly) worked, but the aft corners are still trying to curve upwards.

After that dried, I gave the hull one last coat of 5D, and started painted PE and other parts as well.

I also gave the insulation foam seascape it's first coat of paint. I plan on attaching the ship to the base, once I finish painting that, to have a stable platform to work.

[Devin]

Looking good, Martin. I'm about to tackle my first 5D paint job.

[MartinJQuinn]

I seem to have gotten into the "groove" with California, so I'm riding the wave for now (pardon the CA surfer pun).

Masking tape was removed and touch up work done on the hull.

Barrels were installed in the trunnions of the Model Monkey 3D printed turrets.

I also needed to make small platforms for the inclined ladders going down to the secondary signal platform. This meant I had to trim away some existing splinter shielding. That done, I added strips of plastic strip for the platforms. Those were painted, then I added inclined ladders from Infini. I also added a pair of Infini inclined ladders to the back of the main superstructure.

When all that was (mostly) dry, I nestled the hull in the seascape - which was now attached to it's case - and started filling in the gaps between hull and insulation foam, using tape to protect the hull from excess gel.

Prior to all that, I couldn't resist dry fitting parts to see where I was at. She's starting to look like a battleship!

[Joelle]

Wow, that looks fantastic.
That's going to be an outstanding diorama, Martin.

[marijn van gils]

Keep riding that wave Martin!

[MartinJQuinn]

After seeing some of the brilliant updates posted by others, I'm loathe to post my crap, but here goes...

Since my last post, California got some gloss coat, then I gave the decks a burnt umber oil wash. The hull then got a wash with various colors and some dot filter weathering as well.

After that all dried, I flat coated the hull. Recently, I've started on the boat racks that sit between the funnels. The kit supplied white metal parts are showing their age, so I started making new ones out of plastic strip

Here is where they are at as of now. Still need to add some detail. Using the 1/700 Five Star PE instructions as a loose guide.

Funnel dry-fitted to check the fit of the boat racks

I've also been using the kit supplied PE to detail the kits white metal cranes and the catapult on turret #3. These, along with some boats and other small parts (including the boat racks) need additional painting.

In between all this, I've gotten the worst f**king model I've ever had the misfortune to work on - the 3D printed 1/350 GAGA Models Charles de Gaulle - almost to the finish line. What a pathetic excuse for a model. A pox on the designer and manufacturer!!

Also finished a 1/700 Tamiya HMS Echo...

And, if that isn't enough to keep me distracted, I've slowly been working on an Ironshipwright 1/350 HMS Canada, with the "goal" of having that ready for the 2026 IPMS USA Nationals, for their "Jutland 110th Anniversary" special category.

[MartinJQuinn]

Work continues (slowly) on the boat racks. Since I was making one for California, I made another for West Virginia while I was at it. Added some additional braces to each, (loosely) based on photos. They aren't 100% accurate, as mentioned in an earlier post, but they'll do.

Once the basic boat rack was built, I needed to make the cradles that held the boats next. There was nothing in the California kit - the resin boats all had little boat cradles cast to the bottoms of their hulls to slot them into the white metal parts. When I looked in the West Virginia kit, there were these (the PE had been revised and upgraded from the California release):

I also belatedly realized that an entirely new PE boat rack was included in that PE set. However, I liked mine better, as it was sturdier. The WV set includes 6 of these boat cradles. Four to go on the boat rack and two to go on the deck. The only thing I don't like about them is, being PE, they have no depth to them. So, I took out some 30 x 30 plastic strip and started building them up.

I think it makes them a more realistic looking...

Now, if I could only measure correctly, I wouldn't have to cobble together multiple pieces of plastic strip to finish the job

While those were drying I started drilling out holes in the funnels for both ships and adding PE rings for the funnel stays. The WV funnels have some damage to them that I'll have to repair.

[Dan K]

Progress! Sharp boat racks.

[MartinJQuinn]

Still plodding along with these boat racks. I finished beefing up the PE parts with plastic strip, then moved onto making a new second set. Since I only had enough kit PE to do the cradles for one ship, I used thin brass rod and plastic strip to start making the second set. I was relatively pleased with how the first of these turned out, so I continued and added the brass rod to 5 more. Next up, the brass needs to be trimmed, as needed, then bent to shape. Finally, small pieces of .10 x .20 plastic strip will be added to the end of each rod, to replicate the pads. It’s been tedious, and left me a bit cross-eyed.

[FFG-7]

you mean to say you were not a bit cross-eyed before & now more so?

[Dan K]

Tedious, but still very sharp work.

[MartinJQuinn]

Yes, it was more tedious!

After a break, and a long long weekend in Central California...

...it was back to the workbench.

I chopped more plastic strip to make the pads to support the boats.

Then added them to the cradles I made. Super tedious, but I'm happy with how they came out.

I realized I also had to make something for the boat stowage on each side of the superstructure, as the kit had cast supports that were meant to fit the parts cast into the bottom of the boats.

I used a single strip of .30 x .30 plastic, then bent wire and glue those in place.

Next step, bend the wire to shape, chop more "pads", add those, then start painting everything.

[Joelle]

Hi Martin.
What a fiddly little job! I'm glad my things are just a tiny bit bigger.
But brilliantly done.

[Dan K]

Continued sharp work, M.

[MartinJQuinn]

As often happens, I realized, belatedly, that I goofed. But, it ended up working in my favor. While I was making the boat stowage, I had a snippet of the West Virginia BoGP on my workbench. So, I made the number of cradles/racks based on those plans. Then, I realized CA and WV had different arrangements, so I technically didn't need those. But...instead of progressing with making the smaller boat stowage that I had started, on either side of CA's superstructure, I'm going to these extras instead. So, it all worked out, and now the boat stowage is complete, after adding some vertical ladders to dress them up a bit.It was tedious, but I'm pleased with how they came out.

Test fit of the large rack and the small stowage on CA:

Test fit of the large rack and the small stowage on WV:

These parts, and others, were airbrushed Colorcoats 5D

I removed the boat stowage, flipped them over (I had initially painted them upside down), then permanently glued the boat cradles to the tops.

All that is now ready for the next round of airbrushing

I also reattached the barrels and trunnions to #3 turret

Finally, I started adding some vertical ladders to the cranes, to try and replicate what I can see in photos. More to come there...

[JIM BAUMANN]

ahoi Martin Q-

- the boat racks are laborious-- but you have made a splendid job--with much perseverance
the relative delicacy belies the hard work!!

still looking on

JB

[MartinJQuinn]

Thank you Jim! Much appreciated.

I've continued working on the cranes, using photos for reference to add details. The supports from the king post to the boom are .15 plastic rod, while the rails are cut down two bar rail from a GMM PE set designed for the old Revell Olympia.

I think they are starting to look the part.

Next up, I'll replicate these thingys.

[Dan K]

Huh. I've never noticed that item before. A quick looksee of the Big Five shows it for all their boat cranes. If I had to guess, I'd say it was some kind of hydraulic cylinder with a cable extending to the pulley to maintain tension on the cable(s) used to lift the boats. Exactly how, I'm not sure.

Your cranes continue to impress.