Thanks Greg and Jan! This project is way smaller than what I usually take on; the wife looked over at me working on it the other day, frowned, and pronounced it "too small!" She might just be right...

Anyway, after the stays, halyards, and other riggings were in place, I also added my best attempt at a “Reichskriegsflagge”, the Imperial German Navy War Ensign, to the flagstaff at the stern.
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At about 1 X 2 milimeters my copier paper ensign was not much of a surface to paint on, but I tried to at least suggest the basic lines and colors of the flag.

(don’t think I quite got the feathers on the eagle quite right, though...)

Great job Tim,

Miniature masterpiece, love the microscopic ensign, looks superb, I presume ensign flying means you have commissioned her?

Cheers

Si

You’re right, Si, Emden is pretty much done... but this model is so small that I need to mount it on to some sort of display base so I don’t lose it! After trying out several alternatives (most of which overpowered the tiny cruiser), I’ve settled on a plastic piece from a Revell 1/1200 scale Titanic.


The shape was right, but the look of the bare plastic base was definitely uninspiring. Fortunately, a while back while building a plastic sailing ship I hit upon a great way to simulate wood in plastic: artist’s oil paint over acrylic.

After taking the Titanic base apart and removing the original finish, it was repainted with Tamiya acrylic Buff XF-57. When thoroughly dry, this was followed with a thin overcoat of Windsor & Newton Burnt Sienna artist’s oil paint. The interaction of the different media makes for some interesting effects; the semi-transluscent oil wash transforms the color of the acrylic undercoat, and small irregularities and brush streaks give the base a reasonable simulation of wood.
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I really like this simple, fast technique – fast that is, except that the artist’s oil paints seem to take forever to dry!

That is a good point Tim,

Nice bit of recycling too.

Cheers

Si

While waiting for the paint on the base to dry, I started on the sea. This wil be made from artist’s drawing paper intended for watercolors. The thick paper has a delicate, regular texture which I hope will make a convincing 1/2400 scale dead calm achorage.

I cut out several sections, painting each with slightly different combinations of Testors Sea Blue 1172 (small bottle) and Floquil Reefer White. When they dry I’ll gloss them and use whichever one turns out best.

So here we go,small update on the Indy. Finally got all the 5 inch guns and the 40 mm Bofors done. Also installed some more ladders and finally put on some deck railings. Almost there. Still needs small parts on the front super structure and rigging but rigging may have to wait till I get my hands on some easy line. I was going to use black sewing thread but the thread is fuzzy. So on to some pictures.








There you go, hope you all enjoy. Also for reference if someone is wanting to do the deluxe edition of this ship. I'm not 100% sure on this but I think the etch and brass is from pontos. It's not thier full set with the resin but looking at thier website I just happened to look at the Indy and a side by side comparison of the academy instructions mirror pontos. So you're getting good etch with this set. It's well worth the pricetag in my options.

Hi Norman,
The guns look good and Indy is looking great overall. I got some rigging from Uschi which has worked out pretty well but delivery is not speedy.

cheers

Michael

Aft superstructure completed for HMS New Zealand.



Making my way up the boat to the centre structure.

cheers

Michael

Michael,

Is that Uschi van der Rosten rigging used on your New Zealand? It looks fantastic! I bought some of the stuff a while back but have yet to try it out. Which size is it?

Hi Norman,

Indy is looking great, nice work on the 5" and the bofors.

Cheers

Si

Hi Michael,

Great work on the after superstructure, would never guess you started with a blank canvas.

cheers

Si

Hi Tim,
Yes it is Uschi v.d. Rosten's rigging. This is the finest of the three I bought to try, 0.001. I used the 0.003 for the boat davits because it appeared thicker in the photos. The only drawback I found with it that it sticks to everything i.e. the tweezers, fingers, itself.

Thanks Si,
I am looking forward to the day I can build a by the sprue kit again.

I hear that! The little metal Emden has been fun and all, but I definitely like good old fashioned plastic better.

Glossed with Future and bonded to the base, the paper sea is ready for its occupant...


...but before placing the Emden in her sea, I added one last detail to the ship – prop guards made from wire.

These guards would have been folded up when at sea, but I plan to depict the ship at anchor so they are deployed.

Very nice indeed Tim,

run out of superlatives.

Cheers

Si

Thanks Si!

After attaching the ship to the base with Future, I added the starboard anchor chain (a 1/700 scale photoetch brass leftover).


... and done!

Small update on the Indianapolis. Just installing railings, rafts, and small details like float net baskets. Post pictures when I have a faster data connection.

Superb effort on the Emden Tim!

As always, your skills in that micro scale are amazing and the final presentation is great. It certainly won't take up to much shelf space

cheers

Michael

Pictures of the Indy

Hi Tim,

Great job, congratulations on commission the Emden.

Well done.

Cheers,

Si

Hi Norman,

Coming on superbly, can't be that far from commissioning.

Cheers

Si

Thanks Si. Here's one more pic of the Emden as she might have appeared on a calm Pacific just before the War...

Thanks Si, yeah she's close, bunch of small tid bits that take time. I'm going on military orders this week so fewer time to complete. Hope to have another update soon.

That's some great work going on here!!

Norman, I agree with Si - very nice work on the Indy, she looks great!

Tim - just lacking words... Wow. That is absolutely stunning!! Such an about of detail in the t scale...and, even more important, the overall impression is absolutely sound!! Your last pic with Emden at see, it could be the real thing seen in a distance...great!!!

Cheers,
Jan

Great photo Tim,

looks like the real thing.

Cheers

Si