Si,

It is in fact is a great way to build up the 37mm's.

I am curious though, as I look at your picture I see that you have the elevation mechanism on the outside rear of each gun.

The instructions for the Z-32 has those PE parts mounted to the middle and attached to the breach of the gun.

Now that I see your build I am curious as to what is the right location for those mechanisms.

Also what does the Scharnhorst instructions say?

Dave

Well Dave, the Scharnhorst's instructions say different.



But, looking at the drawings in the AOTS on the Bismarck, which of course, it did not occur to me to look at before I built these mounts, which show I think what your instructions for the Z32 show.



Ah well, will remind me to check all likely references before believing the kit instructions.

Cheers

Si

Not a actual update but I now have a proper space for my daughter and I to work on our hobbies

Nice Frank,

Much more organised than my workbench.

Si

Wow Si,

that's quite some tiny work there on the 37mm AA's

Well, as you said, 'only eight' That makes life much more comfortable...

At some point I will start my first Dragon kit - I think I should start with a destroyer before I try my hands on the Scharnhorst.
Your Scharnhorst is looking great so far - quickly coming together - but I imagine you've quite some small stuff left to do

Cheers,
Jan

And a quick update on Belfast

Here's basically where I stand with the forward superstructure, after some touch ups and a few more railings installed as compared to my last update in my build log.

Well, with the small railing on top of the bulwark on the aft edge, some rough welding by the crew - probably they had some Glühwein... Ah well, it looks lots better with the naked eye - macros are so unforgiving... The WEM instructions call for the bulwark to be removed and a full railing be put there instead for the earlier Belfast. I could not confirm that on the pictures I had at hand, and not at what time the bulwark was installed there, so I decided to leave the bulwark (would have been tricky anyway by now) and just add a 'one bar' railing.
Vertical ladders still missing, I'll leave them off until I am finished with this part...











So much for now, one weekend with bench time ahead before Christmas and New Years so one update to follow in 2015

Cheers,
Jan

Jan - your Belfast is coming along great. Really like the look of the ship and the camo job is first rate.

Si - Thanks for confirming the proper location. I thought I was going to have tear down the 37mm and fix it. Nothing like weapons maintenance on a 1/350 scale AA gun. Your Scharnhorst looks great.

I hope to eventually get the Noshiro started but I am not sure I am going to be able to do it. Guess we will see.

Thanks for the updates gents, love watching the progression and learning from you as you move along.

Dave

Thank you very much Dave!!

Here's a very brief update - yesterday was 'payback time' - where it stands right now











The full story, more pictures and hopefully some more progress will follow in my final 2015 update on my Belfast build log in a few days!

Cheers,
Jan

Thanks Jan,

A destroyer would be a model to start with, if you haven't talked Dragon's over engineering of small parts before. Eight of those twin 37's is quite enough.

Nice progress on the Belfast, the forward superstructure is looking very busy, the 20mm Mk5's look great in place.

Cheers

Si

The remaining four twin 37mm mounts assembled, as per the drawings in the Bismarck AOTS.



Fitted, along with the searchlights on the mainmast platform.



Searchlights fitted to the funnel platform.



railings on the after superstructure.



Next the really tricky railings, around the midships 4.1" gun deck.

More soon,

Si

Looking fantastic Simon

Si,

Your Scharnhorst is looking good. Cant wait to see what you do with the rest of it.

I didn't think to add the barrels to the 37mm before adding the PE, think I might follow your example on the next one, if you don't mind.

Dave

Thanks Frank,

She is getting there.

Hi Dave,

Help yourself, I didn't realise that was the way to do it, until I studied my references properly

Today's progress, The railings I was dreading, around the 4.1" battery deck.



A bit of , but didn't go too badly in the end.

Working on the single 5.9's, I am using the blast bags, but I still wanted to put the breaches in, (Yes they will be invisible). under way.



One with the barrel still there, and the other snipped off.



all four done, fitted with master brass barrels.



More soon

Si

Wish my indy wasnt started. You gentlemen do some amazing work. Loving the belfast. Keep it coming.

I agree. There are some amazing builds going here.

Hi Norman,

Started builds are welcome, would love to have your Indy along. You can sign up on the Campaigns page.

Thanks Michael,

Agree, I am loving what everybody else is doing.

Cheers

Si

Si,

great - small - progress on your Scharnhorst Very nice work!! The 37 mm twins look indeed a little, well, complex Time will come when I have to handle some of those - I will follow your example, if you don't mind

And here is the last update for the year - on the campaign page only the last 'where I am at' at the end of the year, more on the Belfast build log







I'll be around reading and possibly commenting over the next three weeks, but my shipyard workers are dismissed on Christmas leave

Cheers,
Jan

Thanks Jan,

HMS Belfast is looking good, please help yourself to my method on the 37s. Slightly embarrassed by the "schoolboy error" of not checking refs before starting something like that with Dragon instructions.

A bit further today, the anchors assembled, 3 parts each, flukes, stock and shackle, I did try to loop the cable into the shackle prior to fitting, but it did not fit.




Made yet another schoolboy error early in construction, did not allow for the thickness of the wood deck, and make the appropriate modification to the Capstan mounts, so the anchor cable did not quite fit correctly.



The ground tackle forward finished. I used the etched cable stoppers from the WEM set, a bit 2d, but they do work.



The plastic parts for the twin 5.9" turrets together, plus the etched ladders to the 20mm tubs.



Barrels and blast bags in place. they go into the box with the singles to await spraying.



The production line for the twin 4.1" started.



That was as far as I got today.

Si

Quick update,

The 4.1" mounts built,

they do look good, but some for of positive mount for the barrels would have been nice.





Cheers

Si

More turrets,

The main armament.

Three turrets basically assembled.



The turrets detailed with etch and plastic parts, all from the kit.



Kit blast bags and Master barrels added. The turrets built.



The armament test fitted.



Spraying time next, weather permitting

Cheers

Si

Si, Jan everything is looking great and you are making good progress.

Here is my update on the Tone since i have not done one in a while.





Here are the pics of the PE rails and turntables that I installed after removing all of the plastic ones from the deck. It took a lot longer than i thought it would.



Here are the turrets with the PE attached.





Here are the torpedo tubes and extras painted and mounted to the lower deck.



Here are some of the PE wind deflectors that will be attached below the bridge windows.





This is the bridge with PE attached and ready to paint.

I just painted the front and rear deck linoleum color and will be using a gold marker to draw on the brass deck strips.
I saw that done here on the Mogami and i thought it looked great!

That's all for now.

Si and Greg, those are looking great! ...once I have more room and cash, I want to try my hand at some ships in 1/350! Quite inspiring work here.

I'm in need of some suggestions. I'm trying the camo, and am not happy with it. How can you mask at 1/700? Any suggestions?

Si - The Scharnhorst is coming along splendidly. I particularly like the 4.1" mounts. I have always like the look of those guns. The main armament looks great mounted. Really coming along. Cant wait to see more.

Greg - Your IJN Tone looks great. I cant remember, is that the Lion Roar PE set for the Tone? I am following with extreme interest as I have the Tone in the stash. Looking forward to seeing how the gold paint marker comes out with the brass strip. Your PE work is very neat and clean, nice job.

Steve - looking good. I am still amazed at builders who build 1/700 scale. Wish my eyes were good enough for that size. Sorry but I don't have any experience regarding camo of 1/700 scale.

Coming along great everyone. I am sorry to say that the Maya took a lot of wind out of my sails so my plan to build the Noshiro is on hold for the moment. I may reengage after my move in a couple of months.

Dave

To everyone -

Some fantastic work being done here! Thanks for sharing.

To Steve -

Try some of the new Tamiya flexible white masking tape. Here is the page from Hobby Link Japan:

http://hlj.com/product/TAM87179/Sup

I bought mine at a local hobby shop in Toronto.

HTH

Thanks Greg,

Your Tone is coming on superbly, much better than eduard etch I am using on my Chikuma.

Thanks Steve,

What Grant said on the masking, I use that stuff in on my 1/350th builds. I only moved up a scale because I couldn't see 1/700th any more, but I do really enjoy the scale.

Thanks Dave,

These 4.1's are by far the best in any kit I have come across, and without any need etch. Hopefully if the weather permits, I might get some paint shot at guns over the weekend.

Thanks Grant, there are some great builds going on.

Cheers, Si