Ahoy mates.

I started working on my 1/72 CSS David. She was the first operational torpedo boat in the world.





I've got the stack and coal chutes cut from brass tubing. If any of you guys have any tips on how to paint the wood planks, I would appreciate it.

On painting wood the one method I've done is to paint the part with a grey color, light to medium grey. They when it's dry paint over it with a oil paint, either burnt or raw umber works. Before the oil paint dries take a brush and just brush over the oil paint in the direction of the grain. The grey shows through and gives it a look of wood grain.

This works for 1/35 armor. I'm not sure how well it will work with the scale of this boat.

Hey Gator!
Nice looking kit...How's the fit? (Hmmm ,I think this would be a good time to document your build for a "build style" review! )

Wood...well I have a simple method that I use, and I guess it all depends on the level of weathering that you want to display...for a simple lightly weathered wood finish, I use MM enamel, "Wood", (sorry, can't remember the color #..at the office now), and then, a dark brown acrylic sludge-wash to accentuate the woodgrain (I'm assuming that there is an embossed woodgrain on your planks)...then a bit of light drybrush with some grays will produce a very convincing look...

Looks like a nice model Gator. The brass will be reall nice. And that wood painting method sounds good. Definitely keep us posted.

CSS David looks *really* good. For the wood I would use Mark's method -except for the drybrush which works better for panzers me thinks as it's a very rough method. i would maybe use artist oils and treat some parts of the planks -the angles but not only just like they were some individual planks -which they are actually!
Hope it makes sense

Thank you gentlemen. Gunny, the fit isn't that bad right out of the box. A little sanding and plank lines aligned up. There is so shimming to do when attaching the top of the hull, I'll do that with some sheet plastic. The kit included aluminum tubing for the stack and chutes but they were cut pretty rough. I made my own out of brass. Next will be the prop blades. They're a little chunky, so I'll make them out of a piece of soda can.

Until next time, I'm going to go get me a Diet Coke, in a can!

Gator - your soda can props sound interesting, let us know the secrets!

jba - wow, stylish website you have, and very detailed, beautiful work!

Hi Kenny

Sorry for the late reply
Your CSS David is starting to look very good - it is one of those models that really catch the eye!
Here's a photo of my old 1/72 CSS David (from Lone Start Models)


As for the wood, my method in this scale is:
Wood colour
burn sienna (artists oils)
let iy dry
dry brush with original wood colour

If there's anything I can do to help, please ask
Skipper

Ahoy mates!

I got some bench time in today and managed to get a lot accomplished.

Overall progress on the hull.


From left to right: boiler, coal storage and steam engine.


The prop with the slightly thick blades, aluminum from a soda can and a punch.


The finished prop assembly.


I had to scratch build the rudder. The kit rudder was not the right shape.


The real CSS David.


Comments welcomed.

Looks like a nice little kit for the shelf. I take it the center portion can be removed to show the interior?

The photo says "David type." So there were more than one?

Hey Rodger.
To answer your questions, yes to both.
The center section can be left off to show more of the interior.
The original David was so successful in it's attack on the New Ironsides that the Confederate Navy built several of them, many of those serving in combat. The exact number of craft I don't know. Their home port, Charleston was captured by the Union and I haven't found any record of the exact number built.

Looks very interesting Kenny oh and good luck with the wood.

Ciao
Luciano