WIP � US Standard Type Battleship(s)

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks Joelle!

I started adding vents and another pair of inclined ladders to the quarterdeck, then painted various parts 5D. Soon I'll have to start adding railings to this area.

I belatedly realized the kit came with white metal 3" gun tubs, so I fished those out and painted them as well. I did order some Model Monkey gun tubs. I'll contrast and compare when they arrive, and see which ones I will go with.

While all that was drying, I started back on blending the hull into the base, using acrylic gel to fill in the gaps, then using AK water foam to replicate the wake. Still some more work needed there. The turrets and top of the forward superstructure are dry fit to see where I'm at, and keep my motivation going.

While I had the airbrush out, I also gave parts of the WeeVee's 3D printed superstructure an initial coat of paint:

[MartinJQuinn]

Slow going on California, between work, concerts and 1:1 scale painting in my basement...

The aircraft handling crane is assembled, using the kit PE and a Tom's Modelworks 3D printed standard BB strongback.

Also started adding details to the aft cage mast. Short two 3D printed 36" searchlights. I'll see if I can find any at the upcoming IPMS USA Nationals in a few weeks. Otherwise, I'll order some from BlackCat. The mast is a combination of brass rod and the top of the photo-etch mast that came with the kit.

[taskforce48]

Trying to get caught up, Stunning Work!!!

Keep it up!

Matt

[marijn van gils]

Great work Martin, that cagemast looks excellent!

[Joelle]

Wow, that cagemast is amazing, Martin.

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks fellas. When I put it away, before going to the IPMS USA Nationals earlier this month, I knocked the top of the mast off when I closed the lid of the container. I'll re-attach it as soon as I get a chance.

Between the aforementioned IPMS USA Nationals, and working on refreshing my basement, I haven't been to the workbench in about a month. I had a few old closets ripped out, in advance of some electrical work (which is why the drop ceiling is down), then I repainted the entire room (which is more like two rooms):
Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Now that the basement is mostly refreshed and repainted (a new ceiling will go in when the electric is done), I'm trying to get re-motivated to get back to the bench. Meanwhile, I found a very reasonably priced 1/350 ISW 1941 USS Tennessee on eBay (it's missing PE, which is why it was reasonable), which I snatched up. Of course, now I've been going down the rabbit hole of seeing what 3D printed parts I'll need whenever I get around to it.

The hull is well done overall. Chocks and bollards will have to be replaced, but that's all. On the other hand, a lot of what's left is not good, with lots of over pour to be found. I was trying to see if I could use the MM West Virginia superstructure as a starting point for replacing that of the Tennessee. Not sure it would be a good fit, and while I expected I'd have to do some surgery, there are enough differences that I don't think it will be a match.

But first, I have to finish some reviews, then (hopefully) back to the California shortly...

Here's some photos of the Tennesse, Tennessee compared to the YMW WeeVee, TN, WV with the BWN California, then the TN and WV superstructures. While there are some similarities, of course the Navy couldn't keep things consistent between the various superstructure.

As I'm typing this, I realize that somewhere I still have the initial print of the MM WeeVee superstructure, one that was printed by Shapeways (I since upgraded to MM's inhouse printed version). I could always try modifying that as a test, because it doesn't matter if I ruin it, I wasn't going to use it anyway.

[Joelle]

Now *that* is what I call a fantastic, large, spacious workshop, Martin.
Awesome.

[MartinJQuinn]

As I'm typing this, I realize that somewhere I still have the initial print of the MM WeeVee superstructure, one that was printed by Shapeways (I since upgraded to MM's inhouse printed version). I could always try modifying that as a test, because it doesn't matter if I ruin it, I wasn't going to use it anyway.

Well, I did have the part in question, but the idea won't work. Shapeways printed the casemate deck and superstructure all as one piece.

[MartinJQuinn]

After over a month away, finally made it back to the workbench!

Some new parts arrived from Black Cat Models, among them the 36" searchlights and davits I needed for California, along with some Kingfishers for future standard BBs.

Since I was going to need to spray some 5L for California, I went down a bit of a rabbit hole getting parts for West Virginia, which will need the same color, ready for paint, as well as making some minor repairs to the top of the California's main cage mast.

That included removing the Model Monkey 3D printed cage masts from their print rafts. Always a fun job!

That was achieved over a couple of solid nights of work over the holiday weekend. Real life stuff has interference with bench time the last few nights, hopefully I'll be back at it soon, so I can start painting again.

[MartinJQuinn]

More work on the fighting tops, along with some airbrushing of both California & West Virginia parts.

First, got some items ready for paint - Deck Gray as well as 5L & 5D:

Those were airbrushed.

When dry, I started adding some of the parts to the fore and aft cage masts & spotting tops.

Among the parts added were some davits, braces for the yard arm, missing antennas & searchlights. The .50cal MG were given a base coat of 5L. Those need detail painting before I can add them to the fighting tops. I've also got a bunch of touch up painting to do.

Hey! That's starting to look like a battleship!

[Yuth]

Excellent work as usual

[Dan K]

That's some very sharp work, M.

[MartinJQuinn]

Achieved a bit of a milestone last tonight - the top of California’s forward superstructure was (mostly) finished, and then permanently attached.

This means I’ll probably find a part I forgot to attach that goes somewhere inaccessible.

With the top of the superstructure in place, I added a pair of small rangefinders, a pair of 3”/50cal AA guns and the CXAM radar.

I also repaired some self-inflicted damage to the main cage mast fighting top, and added life rafts around said cage mast, as seen in photos

Rigging the yardarms will be next.

[Yuth]

Simply superb!
As always, in fact...

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks Yuth! Much appreciated!

I hate digital photography - I see all the flaws in crystal clear detail that I can no longer see with the Mk1 eyeball.

This means I’ll probably find a part I forgot to attach that goes somewhere inaccessible.

Yep, forgot a pair of scratch-built platforms that hold 20" signal lamps. Managed to add those, and 3D printed navigation lights (from Swordfish Models) without too much trouble.

Other work has included detail painting of the 3D printed .50cal MG (Black Cat)

I also started on my least favorite part - rigging. What you see below took me Friday & Saturday night to accomplish. Attaching the rigging to the yard wasn't difficult. Getting it attached to the flag bags, while getting is reasonable taught was. I was cross-eyed afterwards...

Once the rigging is done - if I don't manage to break anything - things should start to move along - I can start adding railings, funnels, boat racks, secondary weapons, turrets, etc. I still have to paint and decal the seaplanes too.

I'd like to have her finished by 10/24, for an IPMS show in Poughkeepsie NY, but I'm not going to rush it.

[JIM BAUMANN]

Vast amounts of perseverance and tenacity !

I am watching!

Regards
JB

[taskforce48]

Absolutely marvelous work, Martin! Awesome to see the Prune Barge with some water under her keel. Keep up the great work!

Matt

[marijn van gils]

Great work Martin!

Those cage masts look like a lot of fun BTW!

[Joelle]

The superstructures, including the main cage combat mast, are simply magnificent.

Keep up the good work.

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks for the kind words, gents. Much appreciated.

Since I last posted, the rigging has been completed, and the funnels and scratch-built boat rack have been added to the model. I also finished and attached all the .50cal MGs in both fighting tops.

I rigged funnel stays on both funnels. Just need to do some touch up work before moving forward.

Another modeler "helpfully" pointed out that the two vents on either side of where the cage mast will go were technically wrong. Only ONE should have a projection booth on it, not both. I had realized that after I mounted them to the ship, but wasn't sure if I was going to address it. After I was "called out" on it, I managed to remove the offending vent from the starboard side and then remove the spurious projection booth with an ultrasonic cutter. Now I just need to go back and touch that up when I touch up the funnels.

This will be the last update for a little bit - I leave tonight for a guided tour of the Normandy Campaign battlefields.