My eyes are back in focus now, and I've seen the comment re: the colour scheme.

If this is the case, my team thinks that the MS1 would be similar to 507A, and because of the extreme weathering in the Indian ocean. 507C is agreed but the B5, a mid-dark blue needs to be adjusted. Again with the ravages of the environment in which the ship was based, I can recommend lightening up the effect with one of the MIG powders. My given advice is to dry brush 507C over the 507B - whichever looks suitable.

If all else fails, go down to the docks where the Averoff resides, and get permission to scrap off the paint and see what lies beneath and match it up that way, and while you're there, check the number of rivets.

I sit here and read everything and am totally amazed at the small size of everything.

Thanks again for you work!

Session 6 closed~Keep Modeling!!

You know, not only am I constantly blown away by the level of craftsmanship here, but when I look at how those vents were cast... You are a very strong many to put up with that stuff and make it look so effortless (I'm spoiled by JAG and our stuff at Admiralty).

Incredible level of craftmanship.. thank you for spending time & effort in explaining and demonstrating yoru techniques... this month's blog was like an advanced class in modelling.. cheers!

Thank you eveyone, very nice of you to take the time to say good things.

Peter F

And so, going into the third quarter, I believe I can schedule the work into six distinct areas, which will give a proper timescale, and chapter title to the project :

December : a feast of photoetch - rails, guns, sternwalk etc etc.
January : finish photoetch, then, ships boats, davits and chocks.
Febraury : Masts and platforms - updates for the WW2 version.
March : crew figures and extras - fine tune - spray matt varnish.
April : Rigging.
May : clear up/clean up - Photoshoot.

Peter F

And now, a Christmas feast of photoetch fun.

This may be out of sequence with the instructions, however, to create more interest in the build and start the pe routines, I have decided to build the QF guns and stands.

I have referenced the refit pictures of Averoff and it appears there were fewer positions than indicated in the instrcutions. I have put some guns aside therefore until I have more evidence.


I use various blades and chisels to renove pe accurately, and carefully, and always on a hard surface as shown







I have used a blade and tweezers to fold the pe, and glue the two sides together using superglue, I hold the piece together until set with tweezers and bulldog clips.


The gun stands are cut with a blade and glued into place with pva which I also use to glue the gun in place. The pva gives me a chance of positioning and repositioning the pe without it all setting too quickly.




Peter F

Also the funnel caps and grilles look different on the refitted Averoff (what have I let myself in for?) Anyhow, I have partly used the supplied grilles and supplemented them with extra partsmade from WEM extrafine 350 scale railings - as shown.






These rails make excellent spare partsand can be used for a number of routines. I have rounded the grille by digging a rounded top pencil into my finger with theh grille in between. The pain of the artist is very evident.



I will finally paint it all WEM trye black and clean it up but for now it is left so that the work is visible for your inspection.




Peter F

Brilliant bit of work Peter,

... be honest now, how many tweezer launches did you experience during this stage???

Frank

Dropped the ball once but no turnover.

Cheers,

Peter F

I think the resin cable reels were included in the kit but a little crisper are the Lion Roar components, and I have elected to use these.


I have used spare resin masts (which I alwyas substitute with brass) from another kit for the reels themselves, and glued them into the folded photoetch. It looked good finally, and I've placed these as the instructions say.




The sternwalk is an interseting add-on and I'm glad this has been retained on the updated Averoff. There is reasonable skill involved however in assembling the parts but can be made easier as shown. I have shaped the railings in stages finally using a small round finger drill chuck to create the tighter radius. Anything that needed rebending was done with the wide tweezers.










And then more difficult fixings I'm afraid, yes, more of those miniscule brackets. I have positioned these with pva glue as it again it gives me a chance to get it right. The main walkway ramp is also put in place using pva glue and because it doesn't set straight away, I store the work vertically and check it now and then to see that it's setting true.



A couple of observations here, there is a set of brackets missing, and the door either side of the Admiral's cabin is not included. I have used the Lion Roar "O" class destroyer doors to resolve this. Another set of brackets - I'll have to think about that one.

Finally, cleaning up. I will use my WEM Iron Duke to fill in railing gaps, and then place the Averoff emblem on the stern using a reduced colour version off the web.

In the meantime, more photoetch.........

Peter F

So, here's the Lion Roar doors in place, and then the WEM Iron Duke pe for the Admiral's walk - the gap left at the end of the railings provided.




A quick routine is placing the ships anchors, and I've used superglue to stick these together this time as the join is fairly clean. I've trimmed the eylets so there's no digging out the anchor ports before fitting, and in they go.




Having fixed these now, they look somewhat flat. Like pe sailors which I shall look at later, I intend to thicken them up with acryllic paint - paynes grey should match in quite well, to be continued.....


Peter F

Hi Peter

Nice work on the PE! It's always good to cross check your references on ship refitting... I wonder who is right? Yannis or the Navires et Histoire? Hmmm
Back to the PE:
The PE gun barrels look a little flat though... you wouldn't accept a suggestion of replacing the barrels with streched sprue?
I like the Admirals Sternwalk - it gives a out of place detail on a dazzled ship, doesn't it?
Also the funnel grills look just perfect - and I bet your finger didn't get that much pain

Keep up the excellent work!


Rui

That's the SPIRIT!




Rui

Amazing work as usual, great PE primer too....cheers

Cheers, guys, and keep sending me your observations and comments, and I'll pick up on whatever I can - other than "start again" please.

So, I mentioned railing in my schedules above and here it is -

I've cut it off the fret with my chisel, and fortunaely the provided run of railing is manufactured to fit. To get teh curvature, I run it throgh my fingers, and then use the finger drill chuck to shape the tighter angle at the stern - job done.


I've run the bottom of the rail through pva placed on the bottle top as shown, and then it slots into place on the deck. The pva gives me a chance to replace the work if it goes wrong, and dries clear. Any gaps I fill in later again with pva.


The tweezers on the rails hold it all down in place while it dires - hopefully.






Finally, I copied the Averoff emblem off the box top, and put it through the colour photocopier until it was reduced to the "right size" I then cut it out with a sharp blade, and stuck it onto the bow with pva.


Peter F

Looks awesome.. and great idea on the emblem... another tip for my list~!
cheers

So, finally this month there's the acryllic painting on the anchors - that looked alright so I applied the same to the guns but not really good enough I'm afraid so I'll have to think more about that.


Then, a bit more railing, and it's the foredecks that get the treatment. What I have found is that the railings look a little heavy and I guess I would recommend Gold Medal extra fine for this scale but it may work out at last when I "tar" the strands of the rails and they may start to "disappear". Black makes you look slimmer - which reminds me, it's off home to celebrate Christmas, so, best wishes to all and an excellent 2009.






Peter F

Another excellent month nice to see you getting that last little bit in before you enjoy your break
merry Xmas Peter all the best for the new year
Keith

Just when I think this build can't get any crazier... it gets crazier! Amazing stuff.

Great work as usual Peter! another great entry...

Cheers and happy new year!

Thanks very much, guys you all keep me working at this project at full concentration and I hope I can deliver something worthy of your praise.

All the best for 2009!

Petre F