The Akagi got Gold, the Takao took out Silver and the Fletcher took out Bronze. It would be great to see some of your work on the Tables next Year.....Cheers mark

LOL... I would have had a few there this year if I had realised it was on last weekend..

Let's see, I have the USS North Carolina, USS Gambier Bay, USS Buchanan, IJN Musashi and the Bismarck will be finished in a few days, all 1/350.. and a Queen Mary 2 in 1/400 which will be a little different too what I saw there the other day. Plus whatever I can finish in the next 12 months. Is that enough??

Greetings Everyone.

Why is that no matter how often I subscribe to this Topic I never get emails re updates to it??

Anyway, the Big B build is slowly but surely coming to an end and I thought I would post some piccies of the myriad of small bits left to go.

Here are some radars and gun turrets.

Here is the squadron of ship's boats. Many different sorts all awaiting there final colour scheme when I find out what that is going to be..

Then we have the main turrets and secondary armament. These too require there final colour coat of Dark Grey for the roofs of them.

Then we have gun directors, mine sweeping thingies (forgot their name) accommodation ladders and there supports.

Then there is a mixed lot including the small boat davits that go on the sides of the deck.

While I was building the accommodation ladder supports I came up with an idea that may help PE newbies,,

Here are the two items that have to be joined. Being a tad shaky in the hands lately I had to get a method that stopped everything moving so the glue could set.

The pulleys, chans etc are only a fraction of a mm thick and while pondering I remembered that CA glue doesn't stick to Tamiya Tape very well, and I thought to myself, "Self, lay the pieces on some Tamiya tape and apply the glue." WHich I did then touched some accelerator to it. seconds later I sliced the tape away from the rest of it and slowly removed the parts from the tape, et voila they stuck together with no problem!!

So my gentle readers, next time you want to glue together some PE without wanting to worry abput the parts sticking to the surface just use some Tamiya tape to place the assembly on and all should be well...

I also came up with another idea as I am basically a lazy person, Instead of taking the pipettes off the various CA glues and putting the lids back on every time you finish with them just wrap some Tamiya tape around the tip and pinch it together to seal them off from the air... no more blocked pipette applicators...

Thanks for looking
Warren
:-H

Hi All.
The main turrets just got a Windex bath as the Dark Grey I applied by hand wasn't staying as flat as it should. A few of the ladders got bent and I re-applied the railings around the tops.
Still not sure if I will paint Anton turret's roof red as I don't really believe they would have painted the rest of the ship dull grey colours, including the banners at the front and rear, and then gone nad painted the top of one turret bright red.. maybe in waters where they had total air superiority at the time or weren't expecting attacks from the air, like the Baltic, but not when you are in the North Atlantic.
Anyway, she is almost finished. Still not sure how to do the rigging, by that I mean what material.. most is way too thick and I think it looks stupid... No offence meant to anyone...
Cheers till later.
Warren

Great work Warren, the boats really come to life. like the method for holding thinks steady whilst you glue.

Following with much interest

Si

Thanks for that Simon.

Well, as usual the end has come suddenly. All that is left is to finish the stand and glue the props on, oh and I almost forgot the ships bell.

The Tamiya tape came off the painted hull no problems and left no marks I could see. I used invisible mending thread (polyester) painted with an XF-56 paint pen for the rigging as it is nice and fine.

Will take some photos later and might even make it a feature if I am lucky enough.

More soon.

OK.. Here is the finished article (even the ships bell!) for your perusal. Stand is still drying as I used auto paint on it and laquer takes a while to dry..















Hmmm.. I have a bit of touching up to do here and there and a bit of weathering (maybe) but there you have it... I started in May and have basically finished now, the longest it has ever taken me to build a model! And there are more complicated ones in the stash.. gulp!!

Thanks for looking

Awesome work Warren! Wish i'd followed this one from the beginning!

You've inspired me to crack on with some of my stash!

Thanks Russell.
Glad something good came out of this blog!
I have a fair bit of touching up to do now I have a look at the piccies taken with the macro lens... maybe I won't look so closely anymore..

Showoff

Looks like you have enough Entries to last a Decade Warren. Look forward to seeing you on the Tables next Year.....Cheers mark

You have done a great job in the Bismarck also Warren.....Congrats and cheers Mark

What he said.

Beautiful work Warren.

Thanks Jeremy, Mark and Kenny.
I appreciate that coming from you experts.
And your glue comes in handy all the time Kenny, but I am down to my last little bit in the bottle so I will have to order some soon. Any advise on applicators? I just use a satay stick but I am sure there must be a better way..
Thanks again guys
Cheers
Warren

Impressive job Warren.

How many peices of etch went into it?

Have enjoyed following very much,

Si

Then we have gu.......... mine sweeping thingies (forgot their name) accommodation ladders and there supports.
Hi Warren:

They are called "Paravanes". I had the Minicraft version of this kit. Yours is looking outstanding. Lots of PE has been made since I did mine over 18 years ago, and suffered a similar fate. I may pop for this one of these days, until that time, I will pay attention to yours.

R/S

Mark

Hi Simon.

There were 16 frets of PE went into her. I will try and count them today if I get a chance.

Regards
Warren

Hi Mark.

I just couldn't remember the name off the top of my head. If you didn't use so much PE it would be a relatively quick build. And even without the PE it would be pretty well detailed, but the railings are too thick for my liking.. but at least Revell included them.

Cheers
Warren

Warren if you check the Second Last Image there seems to be an A/A Mount missing. Did it fall off when you were finished.....?????

Outstanding detials great build.

You are right.. Will have to have a look for it! ... Ah wait a second.. now I remember.. That 37mm mount got damaged and I didn't have PE for it, so I have to wait until I find the mounts elsewhere.. Hopefully before the QMHE next year!

And thanks for that Anthony.

Cheers
Warren