Good to see this back on track. I too have several ships sitting, waiting for some "inspiration" to continue.

Great looking PE work.

Great to see you re-commence this one Bryan

Sometimes a break is what's needed to relight the fire of enthusiasm!

Hi Bryan,

I could not agree more with what was already said - sometimes it simply need a break, and definitely great to have you back and working on that fine model!!

I really missed you and your Reuben James on here!!

Now I hope you have your enthusiasm back and finish here, I am really looking forward to follow you along!!

Cheers,
Jan

Thanks for the support everyone, its feeling very good to see some progress.

1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

So a new method of waking up 30 min earlier every day before work and getting 1 or 2 little steps done has lead to some steady progress.

Painted the propeller which we scratch built years ago and pinned the rudder. Final attachment:


Working on the bow of the ship, added the railings and all the little pieces we had built so long ago. Portable lifting derricks, a raised hatch. A stowed derrick. Finally some anchor chain painted grey. I put a metal piece painted black under the chain to protect the deck. A detail I had seen on many FFGs. The only lacking detail for this area of the ship is the MK1 Missile on the rail. Im sure we will get around to that as well.



Thanks for checking in,
Bryan

Isn't it good when you come back to a build after some time away and you find all these components that you'd prepped and the build seems to 'fall' together?

The finish line must be in sight Bryan!

Russel you are absolutely right. I find myself leaving for work late in the AM and early in the PM to go just do a few little things each day. The problem is there are so many little pieces I had made I dont remember where they go.

1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Today the missile was added to the MK13 Launcher.


Also I completed the Pilot House, or Command Deck, not sure of the best title. Its starting to look like a ship, very exciting.



Thanks for checking in,
Bryan

Pilot House or Command Deck, both sound good to me Bryan!

She sure is looking like a ship now-commissioning can't be too far off

Brillant work, Bryan!! Now she is REALLY taking shape, I fully agree with Russ here, commissioning must be in sight!!

USN would call it Pilot House, but both terms make clear what you are talking about.

I'm really enjoying to see your Reuben James progressing - this is a great build log, the way you are doing it!! Glad you are full speed ahead again here!!

Cheers,
Jan

Thanks everyone for the support. Jan, you are right, its just falling together. I have found a couple of things I forgot, but in general the finish is in sight.

1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Building up the Whale boat deck. Railings, torpedo launchers and more. That spidery looking guy is the whale boat, I glued the elastic rigging to the bottom of the boat before gluing it on its berth, this made it easy to attach to the lifting crane above.



Next up I attached the components to the stern. Its fun to compare it to the unpainted photos. Looks dramatic.



Finally we started adding components on top of the superstructure. I used the past blog photos to figure out what components go where, it was easier than I thought. Ruler helped to keep everything straight.



Anyway, this is a lot of fun and Im really enjoying it.

Lots of railings on the superstructure and around the helipad left to go.

Thanks for stopping by,
Bryan

Good to see you back on this one. Bryan.

coming on great.

Cheers

Si

Very nice work!

Great work, Bryan!!

She looks really nice, and it's good to know that you enjoy building her again!!

Cheers,
Jan

Nice clean work Bryan!

Another one about to commission by the looks

1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Fellow Shipwrights, I am proud and pleased to present the completed Reuben James.
Thanks to all the kind words and support from everyone here on the site.

I learned a lot from this adventure and I look forward to my next project to try and apply the lessons.
Simon, any chance we can do a destroyer campaign, I have the Soviet counterpart to the James in the stash.

Anyway, thanks again to everyone, see you at the next dry dock.

Bryan



















Cheers,
Bryan

Nice work, Bryan! Your Reuben James has come together very nicely indeed!

Thanks Tom, It felt great to assemble all the modules at the end.
Bryan

A stunning build Bryan!

Yes, that little extra time you time to get all the details just right was absolutely worth it!

Hope this becomes the "flagship" of your home fleet!

Looking forward to your next build!

Great job Bryan,

Have really enjoyed following this blog.

Congratulations on commissioning.



Cheers

Si

Hi Bryan!

Late but nevertheless - congratulations on you commissioning of USS Reuben James!! You did an outstanding job!! She looks really great, and all the work and effort you put into her really pays off now!!

I'm really glad you re-engaged your project and finished her, it's really worth it!! Fantastic job!!

Thank you for sharing this build here and thank you for and outstanding build log!!

Cheers,
Jan