si, incredible work. The motor boats are very impressive.

Ok all so here is a small update. I worked all the AAA guns and prepared for painting, up until I realized that I didn't have the paint, how frustrating, especially since there are no hobby stores in the Savannah, GA area and ordering it was going to take too long.



30 single 25mm AAA guns ready for painting. Guess I will be forced to go to HobbyTown USA before surgery. Priorities.

So with that delay in mind I began working the rigging, at this point I must say that my respect for ship builders expanded exponentially. This is really my first ship build and I never realized the difficulties. Add in rigging and it astounds the mind. Well since this is my first shot I am looking for any input you masters of the sea have.



Along with the rigging, which is going slowly, I started putting the sea base down into the display case.





its going to be a little tight but I like it. The display case cover is being built but no pictures yet.

I plan on using medium acrylic gel mixed with acrylic paint for the water. I also have some heavy transparent acrylic gel to cover the sea to give depth. Hope it comes out.

Anyway, once I get the paint and mount the AAA batteries and finish the rigging this monster will be complete and waiting for the sea to accept her graceful beauty.

Anyway, I will see you guys in a few days. Hope all the builds are going well.

as always, comments and smart remarks are welcome and highly encouraged.

Dave

Thanks Dave, I am quite pleased with the progress.

cracking progress on the Musashi, she really is impressive.

Si

More progress on the boats.

All the motor boats now have their main structure done.



First of the two motor cutters done, oars in, prop on and the boat set in it's chocks.



paintwork on the large motor boats, as the Duke was Sir Bruce Frazer's flagship, one of the would have been the Admiral's barge, and thus the hull green above the waterline.



All the smaller motorboats AP507C hulls, paint drying.



Si

Great detail work there Simon watching and taking notes

Keith

Fantastic job, Si! ...and all the others, displaying great projects!

Si, one question, fist time I came across a notion of a green Admirals barge, particularly during wartime - never heard about that until now. And - what kind of green would that be...?

Thanks,
Jan

Hi Jan,
To be honest do not know the origin of the Admiral's barge being painted green but it goes back to the days of the days of the wooden walls. In general the Admiral's barges, from my research, lost the colour early in WW2, with the exception of those belonging to major fleet commanders, but there appears to have been no fixed rule. The green was quite a dark green, I used Tamiya IJN Green.

On with the small motor boats, props and hocks added, the misplaced forward chock on the middle boat ha s been sorted.



And the right way up.



The odd touch up needed, but getting there.

The Admiral's barge masked ready to have lower hull sprayed white, and the remaining boats to e sprayed AP507C.



Looking through the pics of the Duke in Raven & Roberts to check the boat positions, ad found a good one of the upper bridge of KGV, and took a break from the boats to add some extra detail.



Si

Wow every ones builds are looking Great I have yet to start on mine due to work and now due to lack of space my 1/350 scale Alabama goes back into storage, so I ask what would be a good kit for a novice builder the last time I built a battleship I was 8 and that's been long ago I have never worked with resin or photo etch so don't know about that stuff have used a very small amount of pe on a tank I am working on but. would a 1/700 scale South Dakota class Battle Ship be a good one to build and has anyone ever built one ? the South Dakota class is my Favorite class of Battleship.

Again the Builds look awesome

Sascha(Ironowl)

Nearly there with the boats... At last.

The Cutter & Dinghy combination under construction.





All the boats test fitted. As I don't have the recent Top Drawings book on the Duke yet I will leave securing them till I have that,(And all the deck fittings in place.)



in order to maximise sub assembly spraying in one go, work started on the main & after DCT.



More soon.

Si

hi all,

First off I must ask for forgiveness from my fellow ship wrights regarding the historical accuracy of my IJN Musashi. I learned that failure to plan a build will result in the inability of maintaining historical accuracy due to getting ahead of oneself. That being said I present my completed IJN Musashi.



















While I declare the IJN Musashi complete I am still working on her final display location. The display case is complete and the initial water is poured. I will finish the final ocean scene within the next couple of days.



Once that is complete I will post those final pictures in the Official Gallery.

As always comments and criticism is always welcomed.

My next immediate project is a Panther G but the IJN Maya is close behind.

thanks

Dave

I think you might be our first finisher Dave! Well done!

WOW Dave and I thought Simon was Mr Speedy great build and finish looking forward to seeing it all based up.

Keith

Great looking Musashi Dave,

As Keith says, you are Mr Speedy.

See Russell was not the first to Finish, and I reckon one or two others will be ahead of me too.

Si

Those ships boats are awesome. I think I would go nuts with the fiddely bits.

Great looking Musashi, Its a good model even if it's not 100% accurate. Nothing ever truely is except the real thing. We do the best we can with what we have.

I visited Savannah last year while at FLETC and I was stationed at FT Stewart a long time ago. The city sure has changed. I really enjoyed it though, despite the lack of hobby shops.

I'm very lucky and live within 2 miles of one of the best hobby shops in NJ.

I just finished a group build for Armorama so I can now focus on the Warspite. The I have another 2 in December. It keeps me building.

Tom

thanks everyone for the kind comments and for providing a great learning experience. I am a definite convert to ship building.

Si, the boats look awesome. Hope when the time comes that I can exercise the same level of patience that you have with all of those small PE parts.

Tom, I like Stewart for the most part. My first time here. I was a 19K in my former life, running around Korea on M1IP's. I miss it sometimes, especially now since I no longer get the chance to go to the range to do demo.

Keith, working on the base each day, think I should have it done here by the end of the week.

thanks Russell, looking forward to seeing your progress as you continue on both your projects. I am looking to acquire a Prinz after seeing your work. Definitely a beautiful ship.

thanks again everyone. This was my first but definitely not my last campaign. It was a great experience and I am looking forward to more. Remember, the Leyte Gulf Campaign is coming up fast.

Dave

Dave, Funny running into another tanker in a ship building campaign. I ETSed from Stewart and M60A1s but I missed the steel beasts too much and joined the National Guard to keep tanking. Retired in 2003. I have 5 different tanks under my belt,

Battle ships have always been a second love must be a thing about turrets. At least here in NJ there are 2 fairly close to visit. I have to take a trip to the New Jersey again she is an awesome sight.

I still miss tanking and my buddies, just too old to stay with it knees are shot.

I look forward to finishing this campaign and building more ships. Several BBs in the stash.

Guys serious question are the Pontos sets really worth it? I have the Dreadnought waiting to be built.

Tom

Thanks Dave,

Just practice mate.

Si

Well, maybe not Mr Speedy anymore, but you're definitely Mr Quick Wish I was half as fast as you guys




Great to see you've come over to the salty side of the hobby Dave

It's been a great campaign so far, with great work by everyone!
Its my first time out too and definitely not my last either.

Hopefully have some progress shots up soon, but things have slowed considerably since my garage (aka man-cave) was demolished to make way for the new one we're building. Hence no painting until it's re-built.

Russ

Just a small update of the bridge dry fit...


more pics here

Nice work on the bridge Russell,

I'll take Mr quick

Si

I have a quick question. What color are the blast bags on IJN ships. Several pics I have seen shows them as white, but are they off white, cream, or bright white.

Everything looks great in the updates guys! I keep finding new thing to do to make the Fuso look better by looking at what you are doing.

I will be posting an update soon.

Greg

So far everything I have read indicates that the IJN blast bags were white during peace and Brown during wartime. I went with a faded Brown for the Musashi

Dave

Thanks Dave. I will go with a light brown or tan to give it a faded look.

On with the main DCT.

The workshop gremlins struck again, one of the beautiful turned brass rangefinder arms dropped out & disappeared, so they were replaced with plastic rod, doubt it will show once painted. details (one platform, to hatches & two ladders added to the rear of the DCT.



Radar scanners added to the front. Both DCTs now ready fo paint.



next is the tower on which two forward 5.25" directors sit. The structure on which the platform between them is removed, and replaced with turned & etched brass.



And the platforms below the arms added.



More soon

Si

hey all,

hope everyones build is progressing smoothly. I know I declared the Musashi complete and she was, now she is mounted in the ocean and steaming towards her destiny below the waves.

I uses acrylic medium gel and acrylic heavy gel for the ocean. I mixed acrylic paints into the gel before laying it down. I am not completely happy with the bow wave but I found it acceptable based on this being my first attempt at an ocean scene.

A view from above:



From the front:







From the side:







and from the back:



And finally with the homemade display case:





I learned a great deal from all of you during this campaign and I appreciate the help. I look forward to improving my ship building skills during the Leyte Gulf Campaign that is starting soon.

As always, comments and criticism is always welcome.

Dave

Great job Dave,

Really captures the old girl,

Si