Time to get this shelf queen finished. The construction is done but I need to get her on the base. Using air dry clay, I got the base sculpted.

Ahoy Kenny

Very cool indeed.

I know your secret to getting so much done.

I see in the background you have your "minions" helping you!

Cheers


Sean

Sean, that is Boudreaux and Thibodeaux.





I think Boudreaux is kissing up. He heard that I like Corsairs so he wants to put one on every model.

Thibodeaux is a big duck hunter and believes that we should up gun everything. I keep telling him no.


Here is the base coat of dark prussian blue. Next will be gel medium to start forming the surface texture.

hahaha I love it they are busy cool little guys.

Cheers

Sean

Base colors are dry and now I will be starting the texture process with gel medium and color washes.

Great stuff Kenny really following this with interest to see how you achieve your water bases.

Cheers

Sean

Okay, she is almost finished. I got a few touch ups that need to be done.

So, I apply gloss gel medium using a dabbing motion over the entire base. I make sure that the area of disturbed water has more texture than the undisturbed water. Then, over the lighter blue area I use a good quality hog hair bristle brush to dab on the white around the sub. I work more opaque closer to the sub and then lighter as you move away.



After everything dries, I give the base a coat of Golden brand Gloss Polymer Varnish. It goes on nice and thick and give a good wet look. The last thing I did was to craft three dolphins out of styrene rod and attach them to the base in front of the main swell of ocean. I dry brush some white just behind the dolphins to give the appearance of disturbed water.

Ahoy Kenny,

Great looking sub and water base but the addition of the dolphins really makes this piece FANTASTIC!


Cheers,
Joe

I agree. Perfect for submarine display.

Thanks.

Okay guys. I need your opinion. This build is going to be part of a larger group of 1/700 ships named after places in Louisiana. I've already started the next ship, the USS Orleans Parish. Questions is, do you like the placement of the USS Louisiana's crest on the base? This is just a mock up. For ships that don't have a crest I plan on doing a generic image to go there.