Thanks Luciano and Dave,

Got a little further today, more structural work.

The pilothouse put together and test fitted onto the lower bridge.



Midships deckhouse.



X gundeck



All test fitted.



A couple of tweeks needed, but not bad so far.

Cheers.

Si

Very quick and very small update.

Got the screws painted and fitted, sprayed black and brush painted with Citadel basecoat gold.





Cheers.

Si

Si at this rate your going to be first past the post. Keep it up

If I am I will might just have to do something else for this campaign.

With Telford coming up I could be tempted.

Cheers

Si

The P-400 has been buttoned up, I've used 'Liquid gravity' for the first time pouring it either side of the nose wheel well and just ahead of it, I hope it's enough. Anyway here are the photos.

In the background are the SAC metal landing gear primed.

Looking good Luciano.

On with the "big" bits.

The two funnels together, I am, of course, using the ones for the etched ladders.



Ladders and steam pipes attached.



The main DCT assembled, and sat next to the etch for the Mk12 radar. Time for a fun bit.



The scanner bent to shape, it was bent into a tube around the file handle in the foreground, and the very gently teased into shape with a pair of needle node tweezers along the fold line down the middle. It was test fitted to the side frame to make sure of the shape.



Completed and fitted to the Director.



Everything test fitted in place,



Cheers.

Si

Coming on fast Si, those radar are a challenge aren't they.

Under carriage all ready for fitting, next step paint however that will need to wait until after next weekend due to work.

Thanks Luciano.

Your progress is non too shabby either, The P400 is looking sweet.


Yup those Mk12's are a bit tricky, but bending the scanner was not as bad as I thought once I had the plan worked out.

Cheers.

Si

Si,

I just worked the MK37 for the Herrmann today and I used your methods. Worked well but of course fixing it to the support was difficult and it ended up crooked. Your Laffey is looking good. I actually had the chance to see the USS Laffey II not too long ago with the USS Yorktown. Will post pics later

Luciano, your P400 looks great. I wish I had that ability with planes. I would love to build all the aircraft from a carrier air group someday. Looking forward to seeing more

Dave

Thanks Dave,

Glad it worked for you too.

Messed a few up in the past working that out.

Looking forward to seeing your pics.

Cheers.

Si

Some progress on the 1/32 P-400 (not nearly as far along as Luciano). Kit supplied photo-etch instrument panel front:



and back (I added the wire just so there'd be something back there since I believe you can kind of see it. Haven't decided how to tie it off at the bottom yet):



Michael

Michael,

The instrument panel looks awesome. I like the apperance f the surrounding material.

Very nice work.

Dave

Thanks Dave!

Fuselage buttoned up:



Cockpit without seat:



and with seat:



Wings next!

Michael

Nice planes those P-400s Luciano and Michael.

I am also campaigning with a plane (seems more planes than ships in this Shipwrights campaign), Tamiya's Mitsubishi Zero A6M2.

I have some extras to help the build along. HGW seatbelts, Master barrels, Mastercaster resin wheels, Eduard interior and a decal sheet to represent the hero of this build.


Saburo Sakai, with 28 official victories, was one of the Imperial Japanese Navy's most famous pilots. During the Guadalcanal campaign he was based out Rabaul. And he never shot down a P-400!

Great looking build you have there Michael, looking forward to seeing that one go forward.

A bit more progress on the Laffey during the Brampton show last weekend.

Etched brass W/T doors on the superstructure.



Funnels fixed down, along with a few more details that will not interfere with the fitting of the non slip decals.



Just had time to get one Liferaft modified with GM parts, compared with the remaining 7.




Detail added to the hull, and the bulwalks along the main deck.



The main gunhouses assembled, must be careful as there are two styles, on for A and Y mounts and the other for B and X.



A test fit of all the sub assemblies, and an overview of the project so far.



Cheers.

Si

Very nice Simon.
You send such a great variety of ships down the slipway. It's great to watch.

cheers

Michael

I made some progress on the Zero this weekend.
Put the internal colours on as per instructions but it seems that painting the inside of the rear fuselage is about as useful as painting the inside of the hull

Lovely blue though!


I need to pick out the details on the cockpit next and add the Eduard bits.




cheers

Michael

Thanks Michael, I do like a bit of variety.

Nice start on the Zero, looking forward to seeing more progress.

Cheers.

Si

Onward with the Laffey.

Liferaft racks and their former provided in the kit,



Bent a bit wrong, and on the wrong bit. Although the instructions are correct, the crowded drawings to lose me occasionally.



Corrected and put in the right place.



The correct ones in the X gundeck, along with the railings.



More soon.

Si

Michael your Zero is coming along nicely. Looking forward to seeing come together

Si, the Laffey looks great. Will keep in mind the issue with the liferaft storage issue. Don't think I've ever seen you put the railings on so early

I've come to the conclusion that while I like the Gold Medal kits the instructions are the pits. Might just get them for backup

Looking forward to getting started on my North Carolina soon

Dave

Thanks Dave,

You are right, I would not normally add the railings this early. The reason being the risk of damaging them masking and unmasking to spray the deck. There is however, method(ish) in my madness, the Laffey is overall sea blue, so no masking required. The tricky bit is going to be getting the anti skid decals for the deck without doing any damage.

The plan is to build as much as possible up in sub assemblies, thus I only need to dirty up the windy stick
once.

We will see if the "exceeding cunning plan" actually works as the build goes on.

Cheers.

Si

Onwards.

The prop guards bent around their formers, worked surprisingly well.



Fitted to the hull along with fo'c's'le & maindeck railings.



Railings on the Midships superstructure.



All the current sub assemblies ready for base coating.



And basecoated.



Cheers.

Si

I forgot I was signed up for this one. Have a tacky note with the campaigns I joined but have been busy with real life and my Pacific, 70 years later campaign. My dio for that one is going but the post office Gato sank my delivery of Japanese figures on the way to be delivered. So I ordered a new set today and will be here by the weekend. My Beto Island dio has a partial coconut bunker with 3 corral filled drums, 2 palms, assorted supplies, 17 figures and a scared rat on a 4X6 inch base. Never thought a base could hold so much and still have a convincing story. But I have all I need already for this campaign set aside, just have to get my task force to the Cannal and unload my Marines. Another 4X6 inch base but less crowded. Will be using D.M.L.'s Guadalcannal figures for this one for a patroll on the north side of the river or going down the future bloody ridge on patroll. They are the sharpest figures from D.M.L. in my opinion. Great posses. At least I'll have enough time left as the other campaign ends next month. Ah, back to jungle foliage, lol.

Sorry guys for not being around much but work has been in the way the last couple of weeks. Simon, your going great guns you'll have the Laffey finished in no time.

Michael great start, nice to have a target for my P-400

Bob don't worry there's plenty of time left

I should get some time this week on the P-400.

Thanks Luciano.

If I do, might chuck something else into this campaign.

Hoping for some interesting trade up at Telford.

Cheers.

Si.