Hello everyone,

I have a 1/350 scale Heavy Cruiser Mogami that has been a shelf queen for over a year. I hope my participation in this campaign help in finally completing this fine model. I have the Tamiya Aircraft Carrying Version plus the Lion Roar photoetch upgrade as well as figures from North Star Models. Aside from assembling the hull, I have not progressed much. So, here's to hopefully finishing it. Here are the photos of my kit and the upgrades.

am hoping to get going sometime in December. that looks like a really good kit and with all the extras wow the PE sets scare the stuffing outta me good luck on the build will follow that with interest.

sascha(Ironowl)

Michael,

great selection I will be following your progress closely as I am interested in getting the Mogami myself. Looks like the majority of IJN selections are ships that did not survive the battle.

I am in a holding pattern for starting myself as I have two Pahter G's sitting on the work bench right now. Will have to clear those out before I open up the dry dock again.

This is gearing up to be a great campaign.

Dave

Getting the Independence under way.

First the scary bit joining the upper lower hull, did not look to get off to a good start.



but with some gentle easing and some trusty "Mr Cement" no real issues.



Prop shafts fitted.



The WEM prop guard built up on the fret.



and fitted.



Props, just visible, and rudder, not visible have also been fitted.

Next thing is to work out how to paint this thing. I think the hanger deck first, build up the hanger interior pre paint that, fit the hanger bulkheads, mask the interior than the paint the hull.

Si

OK, My first build image of what will be the USS Dace, SS-247.

Just got a Revell Lionfish kit delivered from an ebay purchase. Hope to develop some scratch building skills with this build.





I have such lousy luck trying to get my cell phone date and time to appear on my camera pictures. Please take me word for it that I used Nov 11, 2014 for the date.

Nice subject Michael.

A quick update on he Indy.

One thing this isn't clear in the instructions is that the Hanger sides need to be added to the deck before it is fitted to the hull. However with a bit of wrangling got them in.



The interior detail added to the port side of the hanger.



Si

@Michael, looks like a great kit. Will be watching closely as you transform her into the USS Dace.

@ Si, as always great start. Will take note that the instructions are not so clear regarding the interior detail. As a heads up I will be asking some questions regarding Resin Kits.

My Iron Shipwrights Butler Class Destroyer Escort arrived yesterday so I may build the USS Samuel B Roberts and the IJN Chokai before I build the USS Dace and IJN Maya. Im torn as to which to start first. Once I clear my work area from two other campaigns and acquire my AM kits for the kits mentioned above I will get started.

Hope everyone's build is going smoothly.

Dave

that looks like a lot of fun! i am looking forward to following your build myself. alas i will not get started on my own build till some time in the new year as work is too busy and hectic. i will have to satisfy myself with observation and the occasional hour or two of research for my own vessel the yamashiro. i CANT wait to get started. from what i have seen so far this campaign is going to be awesome!

No problems Dave, as away.

First numbering error in the instructions, this one is obvious,



Will keep annotating the instructions as I go along.

Detail added to the starboard side, no issues with the instructions on this side.



The flight deck test fitted.



and a good fit it is.

the hanger bulkheads and the underside of the flightdeck sprayed with citadel "Skull White", Ths ill be masked and the deck sprayed deck blue.



Stated to remove the moulded on detail is being removed to take the pontos pre stained flight deck.



More son.

Si

Hi All, my apologies for not getting online quickerbut work has been - well work!! I am having some issues downloading photos to the photobucket account I set up for the campaign. I will try and rectify this over the weekend and get some action happening.

regards,

Andrew.

CVE-73 USS Gambier Bay

@Si, looking great as always. Looking forward to see what details you will add to the hanger deck.

@Andrew, I am having the same issue with the kit maker gallery So no worries.

Hope everyone's build is progressing smoothly and looking forward to seeing your work.

Dave

Thanks Dave, actually little more to add to the hanger, as the only openings are the shutters by the elevators, and the elevators themselves, plan is to have one partly down and the other all the way down.

A bit of wash and dry brush will bring out the rest.

Si

In preparation for spraying the deck blue, all the catwalks will need t be fitted to the flight deck. starting starboard forward. Not 100% sure, but I believe she had the extra gun tubs fitted forward at the time of Leyte Gulf,

The starboard forward catwalk test fitted.



the WEM brass parts under construction.



The forward catwalk shortened to take the new gun tub, the WEM brass did need a little fettling to get to fit.



Si

Looks like a great campaign, unfortunately I can't join but will keep an eye on it.

Simon, looks like you've got your work cut out for yourself, looks familiar. Maybe my build can help you over some of the issues with the instructions.

Cheers!
Stefan

@ Si, great looking work as always. Watching your build increases my desire to get started on my USS Yorktown (CV-10) but unfortunately I have much to do before I can start.

@Stefan, wish you could join this campaign, the more the merrier.

Dave

Thanks Stefan,

I will do that, I did follow your build at the time, good job it was.

Cheers Dave,

It is tricky build, but I am enjoying it.

Si

My humble attempt for this campaign is as follows:

CVE - 73 USS GAMBIER BAY
Hasegawa kit #40027

Additional Items:
Wooden Deck - Hasegawa #QG46
Etching Parts Basic - Hasegawa #72144
Etching Parts Super - Hasegawa #72145
US Navy Carrier Based Aircraft Set - Hasegawa #72147
Alliance Modelworks - USN Dynamic Propellers #NW35065
Alliance Modelworks - Pulleys & Riggings #NW35043
Alliance Modelworks - USN 40mm Bofors(twin) #NW35031
Alliance Modelworks - Canvas Dodgers #NW35081
Flyhawk - 20MM Single Oerlikon #FH350109
Eduard - Naval figures #17015
Eduard - Air Carrier Figures #17503
Eduard - Life Bouy #17520
Veteran Models 5"/38 single gun #VTW35001
Gold Medal Models - 1/350 watertight doors (fire hose reels)
Ezy line for rigging, arrestor cables etc.

I will be mounting the ship onto a piece of West Australian Jarrah. A local hardwood that has a very deep red colour when fine sanded and polished. My hope is to have the carrier with a full deck load and crew members scurrying about their business with a flight of either Hellcats or probably Dauntless' flying above deck height alongside the ship. I hope to achieve this with either very fine clear acrylic rod or stretched clear sprue. To complete the stand an engraved brass plate from a trophy shop recommended to me by another local modellor.

Now if only I can master photobucket!! Insert another word that rhymes with bucket and that sums up my feelings at the moment!!

I have HMS Roberts, the Trumpeter monitor on the workbench at the moment. When complete the Gambier Bay commences!

Andrew, that is definitely a detailed list of AM kits. Please let me know your thoughts on the veteran 5"/38 single gun. I need to acquire some for my Destroyer escort and it is a toss up between veteran and alliance model works.

One note regarding your list, the Air Squadron aboard the Gambier Bay during the Battle of Leyte Gulf was VC-10 which was equipped with FM-2 Wildcats and TBM-1C Avengers. Looking at the Order of Battle list the Dauntless was not present during the battle, I do believe that the Dauntless had been replaced by that point in the war by the Avenger.

Looking forward to seeing your progress and the final product.

Dave

hi all,

hope your builds are going well.

OK, so after much back and forth regarding my plan for this campaign I have finally settled on my original idea. So my pre-build photos posted earlier are accurate.

I now have decided that the two Panther G's I have in the depot are at a point that allows me to open the dry dock so I am attempting a Si. A Si is defined as expertly managing multiple kits of different genre and producing exquisite works of art. Needles to say my ending will not compare to Si but I am going to give it a shot.

So I started with the USS Dace, a 1/350 Yankee Model Works USS Gato.



I cleaned off the resin seams along the bottom of the hull and removed the 20mm pedestals on the front and aft sections of the conning tower and cleaned up some other seam issues. The area where the rudder connects to the bat had major mold issues so I removed that and will scratch build a replacement.



Im pretty happy with the initial cleaning and will continue to clean of additional molded details like the anchor and the escape trunk hatches and opening the forward torpedo tubes. I plan on replacing the kit 20mm with Model Master 20mm, a veteran or L'Arsenal 3"/50 main gun, and a single 40mm bofor if I can find one.

I am waiting on a copy of the build plans from Floating Dry Dock, should be here within the week which will allow me to get a little more in depth.

Once I get the Panther's done I will add the IJN Maya to the Dry Dock and begin building the scene. I still haven't decided on a above/below diorama yet but I do plan on depicting the USS Dace torpedoing the IJN Maya. Just not sure how I am going to build the scene.

Well that it for now. Again hope everyone's build is going well. As always comments and suggestions are welcome and desired.

thanks

Dave

Interesting looking kit Dave, good luck with it.

On with CVL22. Master plan No.2, get everything that has deck that needs spraying Deck blue ready so I only need to spray that colour once.

In that case on the the Island is started.


basic assembly done and test fitted.



my eyesight must be off this weekend, second pic out of focus. The other issue with this build apart from Dragon's overcrowded and from time to time mildly inaccurate instructions is WEM's instructions, which are, in my opinion slightly short on detail as to the fitting of the catwalks, at this point I have missed two sections.

Stern bulkheads and gun tubs basically assembled and test fitted.



Same thing up forward.



On with the catwalks, starting port side aft.



progressing forward, in removing the horizontal sections of the moulded catwalks, all the vertical supports have to be carefully left behind (Or scratch built replacements made)



Where the flightdeck is at, Starboard side forward tubs have be carefully removed now I know I have etched bits to fit, and a section of the Island catwalk (etched) you can just make out starboard forward,



This mildly infuriating in places, but I am having fun with this,

Si

Si, your Independance is looking phenominal, I am taking lessons learned from you and reviewing all of the instruction manuels I have for my up-coming projects. Will post pictures of the IJN maya this evening.

I am attempting to manage multiple kits with my fingers and toes crossed that they come out half as good as yours.

The Yankee Model Works Gato is a fine kit. The molded detail is good but since I am transforming it from the USS Gato to the USS Dace I will need to remove some detail and add others.

I plan to purchase some AM for the USS Dace, but unfortauntely L'Arsenal USA is out of stock of the single 40mm Bofors and the 3"/50 main guns that were mounted on the USS Dace. Hopefully they will have a decent restock date. So far that is the only AM company I have found with both the single 40mm and the 3"/50 so my options are limited.

Well more to follow this evening.

Dave

Hi all,

Hope your builds are going smoothly. So here is the second part of my update. Below are the AM kits for the IJN Maya.



Hasagawa's Japanese Bat set. I may not use much from this kit as the ones in the IJN Maya are not bad. The FlyHawk PE kit addresses those to make them pretty.

Along with the Boat Set is the Hasagawa Optic and Weapons Kit.



I will use some from this as the kit weapons are not that sexy.

and now for the FlyHawk Kit:



Very extensive kit. with 8 sheets of PE. The two not shown are on the backside. This kit goes so far as to address the support beams under overhangs. I am excited to start working with it.

I may not be done getting AM kits, I did some North Star purchases today so when they arrive I will further evaluate adding them to this kit or holding them until I begin working on the IJN Nagato.

Not sure, in either case I have begun my Leyte Gulf build.

Any suggestions and comments are always welcome.

Dave

Impressive aftermarket Dave, good luck and will be watching with interest.

Small progress on the Indy.

underside view.



nearly there on the port side.



Si.

thanks Si, I know I complained about the quality of the Eduard PE set for my Musashi but just looking at this PE set gives me shivers.

The Indy is looking good.

Dave