Welcome back Bruce!

The Mirage kits are pretty good. Some of the details are a bit soft, but overall they are pretty nice.

Update time. Here's the V-106 ready for her war paint. Don't know if you can see it, but I drilled out the gun barrels.













The roof of the bridge has not been glued on. I'll do that and finish off the windows after I add the helmsman.

Hello Ken,
Great Job on your build. Did you drill out the portholes or just fill them in with black paint?
Either way, They look great. Drilling out the guns make your build look better.
Thanks for the photo's and the update.
Cheers,
Bruce

Delicate work Kenny - it will look good witth alot of dirt and grime

Cheers/Jan

Nice job, Kenny!
Have you spent any thought on the display, yet?

Good to have you back, Bruce! I hope that you'll fully recover, soon!

I have run into a series of problems with my Saida build and will most likely bench the project. I havn't quite made up my mind, yet since I am usually not a quitter, but I don't feel like spending my time on a half lost cause. Well nothing is beyond salvation, I just don't feel like putting up with a big problem right now.
Now there are quite a few options open. I'll be back soon...

Guido

Thanks Bruce, Jan and Guido.

Bruce, those portholes are drilled out. Guido, I'm going to place her in Heligoland Bight.

Hello Guido,
We have over a month to go plus an extension if needed.
I have the Revell Emden 1/350 if you want it. I will send it out to you ASAP no charge.
I think that you could do a masterful job with it. Most of my ships builds look like a 2 year old did it.
Let me know if you want the model,
Cheers,
Bruce

Base color is on the ship and the crew.

Hello Ken,
Great work on your build. Your figures are looking good.
I found out where all of my modeling supplies are locked up at and how to open it. all you need is a crowbar and a hammer, So I am back in business.

....News Flash from the fighting in the European War.....
The Imperial German Navy is using Blue Men from space to man their Ships. Could this me an invasion from Mars, Only time will tell. Now back to the Bayou Band.....

Have a Great Christmas to all of you and I hope you get what every you want.
Cheers,
Bruce

Kenny:
Nice going! Heligoland is a gret idea; actually there are a lot of ideas in that concept!

Bruce:
Thanks a lot. I think I have 2 Dresdens and one Emden in my stash, too. However these would - even with the timeline extension- too long, I think.
I guess I will have a chance to go the workshop tonight and decide. There are at least 20 kits qualifying for this campaign.

Cheers,
Guido

... and Happy Holidays, everybody!

Ahoy there!

I've been reading "Dreadnought" by Robert K. Massie , excellent book which has gotten me very interested in WWI Battleships. One of my Christmas presents is the ICM 1/350 SMS König, beautiful kit of a very nice looking battleship. I'd like to join in the fun.



I started working on the kit today and managed to get the turrets partially assembled. The only real issue so far were the main gun barrels. The two halves of the mold must have been offset a bit which then required a fair amount of scraping and sanding to be done to get them even remotely round.

Here is my progress so far:

Update: The turret assemblies are complete, including the base for each. The turrets rotate and the guns can elevate and lower. There are a few sink marks on some of the upper components, which I will fill and sand tonight.

Hi, Scott!
Looking good there! Did your drill out the barrels? I should certainly help underline the fine process you are making!
Keep up the good work!


I have switched subjects. I must be completely out of my mind, but I am trying SMS Goeben going for Messina, right after the bomardment of the Frensh troop embarkation in Algeria.
I'll build this classic, which I consider to be one of the most successful and influential German ships ever, from the NNT High Tech Kit in1/700.
(Yeah right!... In a Month!!?... Nuts!!!)

I guess I'll be writing little and modelling a lot!


Cheers,
Guido

Thanks Guido. I will drill the barrels out a bit this evening when I finish up those sink marks. I ordered a Tom's Modelworks PE set which will hopefully be here in the next day or two.

Good luck with your SMS Goeben, I'm really looking forward to watching your progress as you do such excellent work!

Hello All,
I have got the hull glued together and the first coat of paint on the deck done. Next coat tonight.
@ Scott,
the gun turrets look great and I have seen Toms PE set, It is great. Your build will jump out with that set.

@ Guido,
I can get an extension for the campaign. Do all of you think 1 month or 2 months is enough time?
Let me know.
Cheers,
Bruce

Hi, Bruce!
Thanks a lot for the offer. Let me see what I can do within the next three weeks. I'll holler, if I need m ore time!
Making good progress: All parts are cleaned up, wafers removed, main decks painted and masked off. Today I'll apply hull grey and lenoleum decking on the upper levels and hope to assemble and paint the turrets.
Cheers,
Guido

Great news! The Tom's Modelworks PE set for my 1/350 SMS König arrived in the mail today. Guess what I'm going to be doing all weekend?

Taking your helpmate to a fancy hotel for in room dinner service and some together time?

LOL That's probably what I should be doing with her. LOL

Right now we're sipping champagne and celebrating the new Dachshund puppy we got my wife for Christmas/New Years. Happy New Year mateys!

Tomorrow I have a date with an etchmate

To All in this campaign or just following it.
A Very Happy New Year. May all of your hopes and dreams become true.
Cheers,
Bruce

Happy Decade, Bruce! I installed the guns on the Liverpool last night and now it's on to those innumerable boats--thank goodness for those ICM dreadnought kits!

--Karl

Thanks Bruce, wow 2010 already!

I'm working on the big search lights for the 1/350 SMS König, 8 of them to be exact. I would assume their general purpose is for search and rescue or when illuminating close range targets. I'm curious where there are so many?

Since searchlights are a common feature on ships of this era, everybody may be interested in seeing an original. So I thought I should show you these pictures taken at the Deutsches Museum in Munich. It’s a 110cm searchlight developed Siemens Schuckert.







Obviously the searchlights have been used for battlefield illumination and communication, even though first carried to navigate confined waters at night, as informed by the museum text.



I hope these are helpful.


Cheers,
Guido

... just stumbeled over a shot of the 1/100 scale model of the Markgraf, sister of König.
Very good rigging reference!
Everbody, who wants to have a larger copy please pm me at guido.hopp(at)gmail.com.
Cheers,
Guido

Excellent Guido, thank you for the photos and information on the search lights, very informative. Based on the kit parts you'd never know they had slats on them.

That 1/100 Markgraf looks magnificent! I'm curious, wouldn't there be a danger of accidentally severing the long fore and aft rigging lines when firing the main armament to the front or to the rear?

A very beautifull "Graff" - I tried on my 1:350 model, but failed miserably ... I´m too old for rigging beyond what you find on a submarine

Cheers/Jan