Gentlemen –
Thank you for our kind words!
After having checked the hull I found that the little eagle on the stern got lost some time within the last half year. There are more eagles like that in the WEM PE Sets, but they are all too large to fit the stern. Reluctantly I have to give up on it. Otherwise the hull is ready to be placed into the water.

Now there will be lot of drying time during the next step. I use those times to further work on the detailing of superstructure parts such as the aircraft workshop just aft of the funnel. I call it AC workshop, because there will be one floater for the Arado stored on top of that structure and seems to have been removed from the ship at the same time as the catapult, butu I have no proof to determine that use.


Since the whole procedure of getting the ship into water does easily take more than a week, a lot progress will be made on other parts of the ship, but I will to not switch back and forth from now on. I will try to continue my report with finishing the water and add the detail work I did during drying/curing time when I am finished with the water. Ok, … here we go …

Having finally positioned the wood frame I make double sure I didn’t forget anything and put the styro-foam water into its place. There is no way to get it out undamaged from now on.

To avoid messing up the nice wood work, I apply Tamiya tape around the wooden edges for protection. In a next step I put regular cellophane foil on top of the water, slide the hull into place and wrap it up.






In the next step the void between hull and water is being filled with Acrylic gel. (You can use white of clear gel. I used up the white first and continued with the clear, which is still white in the photo, as it will turn clear when fully cured. ) With the void filled, I fold down the foil again and make sure that the new gel and the water merge nicely and evenly by spreading the gel with a big soft brush.


At this point I have chance to correct too deep troughs by filling them up, too.




For later protective purposes I apply masking take. It is hardly ever too early to add some protection!


When the gel has started to cure on its surface and start to stick to the sea bease better than the foil, I carefully pull up the cellophane again and start adding surface wakes along the hull, predominantly at the bow.




Now it’s drying time.

To be continued…


Guido

Gentlemen –

I continue to fix the water base of my build.

After the base wake patterns are dry I remove the masking tape and cut away the cellophane foil. The fringes are worked into the remaining crevice between hull and stryo-foam. Step by step, little by little mare and higher wakes around the hull and especially the bow are being built up.





The crevice along the hull sinks in a couple of times, making filling with acrylic gel necessary repeatedly.


After continuous adding of gel and drying time for 2 days finally I can start to paint the water surface. I repeat the painting procedure as before and even include the already painted surface to a certain extend to achieve a good blend between old and new paint. Only this time I add extensive dry brushing. I add a lot of grey shades this time to mimic the typical greenish dark grey of the Baltic Sea when being brought into motion by a stiff spring breeze.

Before starting to re-paint:


…and 3 hours later


I am pretty satisfied with the result. Here are some impressions:
















Terribly sorry for wasting that much board space, but I could not chose between the pics.

The watery wet looks will by achieved later when the build is all finished by applying a coat of Future floor wax. In my experience the seascape will become a dust magnet as soon as the Future dries. So I safe that bit until have a dust cover ready.

Now back to deck detailing!

Cheers,
Guido

PS.: Congrats to Peter and Dade for good takes of the competition points!

Guido - I, for one, am glad you posted all the pictures. Great work! Barry

Top-Ho! od chap, now that's how to simulate water, or is it real!?

And I would have shown all my pix if my standard was that good.

Still think the presentation is magazine quality - without editing.

Cheers,

Peter F

That is awesome Guido. LOVE your water technique.

Session 10 Closed!

I for one I am also glad you posted so many pics... water base is gorgeous! I like the fact that all the small details (small secondary waves etc) are all different. Thanks again! cheers

Gentlemen!
Thank you for your kind comments. You assure me I am on the right track.
I have been quiet for the most of part of last months and unfortunately it has to stay that way for some time longer.
I have been out of a job for a couple of weeks now and was not yet lucky enough to find a new one. With the global economic downturn, international trade specialists are not at a premium these days. In consequence I have to give up the rent house I am living in and move my family and me 30 miles up north to live with the in-laws (that sounds worse than it actually is: The SWMBO's old lady is very nice and her partner of 20 years is good to get along with, too).
As you may have guessed, that does not leave me a lot of time modelling.
So I am temporarily changing from the 1/400 Leipzig project to a 1/1 diorama: Renovating my wife's old flat, with had been empty for almost 20 years now. The house was build 110 years ago and had the last overhaul about 50 years ago, featuring electrical wiring without grounding/earthing, cast iron radiators …


…and a WC that is half way between the levels and can only be reached through the staircase (at least every level has one of it’s own! ).


The flat itself is way too small for 3 persons so we will be building a kitchen/living-room combination into the attic. See what I am looking at now…









I am working full time on the house now and am planning to finish mid of June.
Unfortunately I will miss out on the final 2 months of the competition. Since I didn’t proceed any ever since the above pictures, I was without a chance to finish the model in time, anyway. However I WILL finish the Blog as soon as I have settled in.
I will be back in about three months I guess.
Until then I bid you all a good time and have fun modelling!

Cheers,
Guido


PS.: ... anybody got a job for me?

Guido
Sorry to here about the job loss it is not a good time for many people at the moment,but I think that any mans prioritys lies with his family and home good luck with your renovations and on the job front.I two will more than likely not finnish now because of the decal problems,but thank you for your encouragement throughout this build.All the best for the future
Keith

Guido, I'm sorry to hear about your turn of luck and not being able to finish the contest. I'm very intrigued by your renovation and wish you excellent luck and health during the task. I look forward to your finishing the blog when you have the chance. Thank you and take care!

Guido - I'm really sorry to hear about your job and hope something turns up soon for you. I also will be missing your wonderful work on Leipzig and look forward to you resuming. Please do continue to keep up updated on the construction project!

Best, Barry

Take care of yourself and your family Guido, and know that you'll always be welcomed here. Hope to see you back soon.

Frank

From what I know about you Guido, you won't be out of a job for long so enjoy the time off, and working on real things instead of the toy boats.

All the best, and keep us up to date on what's happening.

Peter F

Hi Guido - good luck with the renovations! I know how it feels in a small place with small kids... I am sure everything will be well and you will get your slipways active again!

I would like to thank you for taking the time and effort to document your builds so well; they are both educational and inspirational. I look forward to seeing your work after your real life refit!

Cheers mate, James

Hallo Guido!

Sorry to hear that, but life has some tricks - it depends on us, our moral and motivation to overtake them and get into a better position! I know that, because I have been there - one leg still is

As for moving into the old house... I am sure that you will manage to make it a cosy and nice place - even if it is smaller it can be a better place - it depends on how you arrange it. Make you nest, the rest will come.

Ship modeling can wait - after all and as you so well know, this is just a hobby (a passionate one, but still a hobby!).

With the best regards and wishes of all the best for the Hopp Family
Rui

Hallo Guido!

The change of your circumstances is bad news indeed...!

At least you do get to practice your DIY skills....

The flat looks like it will be cosy when done-
and hopefully there will be enough space to have a modelmaking corner also.

as they say- ' machs gut!'

Cheers

JIM B

Hey Guido

I'm so sorry to hear about you losing your job. It's tough times all around the globes these days. I hope you find a new job soon to get back on your feet.

Btw, did you attend Intermodellbau last Friday?? If so I think I walked right past you, in the hallway between hall1 and hall2 .. You we're speaking (English) with some friends.. actually about the loss of the job. .. Might just have been a guy looking alot like you ... I scored the 1/350 Akagi at the fair .... weeeee

Last but not least .. Your build looks smashing .... I really love your approach to the waterbase .... it's truly a solution that I'll experiment with myself, for a hopefully future waterlined Akagi

Best regards
Niels

Gentlemen!

Thank you very much for your many words of encouragement.
Trust me, my friends, when I say that I WILL be fine. I am a true optimist.

Indeed I have been at the Intermodell last Friday and have been with my friends from Liverpool, Aberdeen and Norfolk VA. It’s a pity you didn’t approach me, Nils. We’ll meet at Lübeck next spring, right?

Instead of some ship pictures I am showing you a bit of my 1:1 real-life project and I hope you enjoy the thought of me scratching myself half to death after applying all that mineral-wool insulation.

Three pictures of intermediate progress…








… and three more “before – after” pictures







Cheers,
Guido

It's every Architect's dream to live in a three dimentional space, Guido,and it looks as if you have that in reality - who needs toys boats! And, I can see that your usual method of a clean and tidy build is the same with diy.

I like the roof lights in different positions, it adds to the quality of light in the space. Let's have some outside views now please.

5 points - I think you're winning.

Peter F

I wasn't completely sure it was you .... Not the best at approaching people I don't know, or not sure that I know .... but yes we will meet in Lübeck next year ... and if you guys would like a little trip, we have a very nice and enjoyable modelcontest and exibition i Esbjerg, Denmark the first weekend of November .... some of the other Northgerman clubs attend it ... e.g the club from Lübeck .. great guys btw.

Just say the word, and I'll get the organizers to contact you guys.

Your DIY looks great.

Guido, I'm glad to read your update and see your pictures. I'll have to direct my father to them as well, since being a carpenter, I'm sure he will find them equally as fascinating!

Gentlemen-
Thank you for your continued visit to my blog and your many private e-mails of encouragement and best wishes. Sorry, if you expect an update on the Leipzig already now: … Ain’t gonna happen so soon!
Instead of just sending a newsletter to all of you I thought I just as well hijack my thread again and present you with the progress made on my DYO:

SWMBO and I have insulated and plated up the walls with drywall pieces



…and opened the staircase, and set the low and high walls.



All verticals are double wall of 6mm plywood and 12,5mm plaster drywall. In places where electrics, water and heating ducts needs stronger support we used 20mm chipboard instead of plywood.






To level the floor we put in foamed clay pearls, which then were covered by screed boards.
Those are about 25 kg apiece at 150x50x6cm. 40 of them were needed for the whole room. Of cause all hand-carried to the 3rd floor (or 4th floor, if you don’t have a ground floor)!



We are now in due process of closing the gaps between the plasterboards…


…and hopefully will finish wallpapering and floor finish by the end of next week.

After that we’ll have 21 days to finish the third floor and move in.
It’s a long way still, but time is becoming an issue, now!
Wish me luck!


Guido

An excellent project, Guido, and thank you for posting the pictures, Leipzig can wait, this is much more interesting.

5 points!

Also, do you think that your modelling skills have helped you with the approach and method of build for your full scale project, Guido? I would be interesting to hear how one complements the other.

I beleive that I have a more patient, and detailed approach to building design, and I think that this has improved my attitude towards my profession - this is not an excuse to build toy boats, but a thought about how my hobby helps my full time occupation.

Best wishes,

Peter F

MSW Community Build Contest Closed!!!!!

Thank you to all who took part!

Wow!!! What a great renovation. Its a major project for me just to replace a faucet. Good luck on the rest of your 1:1 project. There are also signs that the economy may have bottomed and will start to improve slowly. Good luck with the job search as well.