Piggybacking off Sean's Great White Fleet posts, here are some updated pictures of my on-again, off-again and now on-again build of the pre-dreadnought USS Illinois (BB-7), as she appeared during the cruise of the Great White Fleet.





These images are a few days old...since then I've added the "canvas" dodgers around the after superstructure with white glue and did some more touch up work. I'm currently working on the ships boats and the boat davits. Once I get the boats/davits done, I'll try and post some more pictures.

The "buff" color is from White Ensign, called Soviet Light Aircraft Brown. I had seen this color recommended as a substitute for Buff, before that color was commercially available. It's lighter than Buff, but not nearly as yellow as it looks in these pictures.

Any and all comments and critiques welcome...

Looks good Martin.
Interesting looking ship.

Very nice, Martin, she's a beauty!
I've wondered from time to time what had happened to this build, thanks for the update!
~Gunny

That is an awesome job Martin.

Do you know if there is a USS Louisiana?

Thanks fellas, appreciate the kind words.

Yes Kenny, I did! That class - the Connecticut class - are my favorite of the USN pre-dreadnoughts. Fine looking ships!

What kit did you use?

Very nice looking build Martin, please keep us updated.

What kit is this from?

Ciao
Luciano

That looks great Martin. What scale is it?

Sorry for the delayed response guys, yesterday was my little girls 1st birthday, so I was away from the PC most of the weekend.




Thanks! It's 1/350 scale. It's about 12" long. About the size of a Fletcher-class DD.




It's the Iron Shipwright kit. They also make a bunch of other pre-dreadnoughts, of which I have Kearsarge, Ohio and New Jersey (BB-16) in my stash. Waiting on them to make a Connecticut and/or Mississippi class...

I did get the ships boats painted. I also made davits from brass rod and attached them to the hull Friday night, but I haven't had time to take any pictures.

Hi Martin

Long time no see - and what a beautifull come back!
My only advices would be:
- Give some dept to the yellow/buff colour (in the photos it really looks kind of tooooo yellowish);
- Although a little late: the searchlights or flood lights (as some call them)
1 - drill the lens area
2 - paint it with silver
3 - apply transparent nail varnish (I did steal it from Mrs Skipper!!) severall times (apply, let it dry, and again) until it's filled. It will have the real lens effect!
- Some touches on the white/deck frontier areas

Keep us posted and keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Skipper

Iron shipwright. I need to start saving my pennies.

Thanks Martin.

Skipper,

Thats a great tip for the search lights, I'll have to remember that.

Nice tip on the searchlights, Skipper. Since they are already on, I'll probably just paint the "lenses".

Here's an updated photo, showing the boat davits on:


Notice the paint no longer looks so yellow in the more subdued light!

Martin,
Your build is looking great so far and the different lighting sure helped in the yellow dept. Think we could get a profile pic?

Sure...here you go!


I also did a little more work, got the ships boats done, and ready for final touch up. I added the seats (thwarts?) today during lunch.


Here is how the boat deck looks with the boats dry-fitted into place. Those black poles on the bridge wings are semaphores.

Martin,
That is a really nice build. I can't wait untill I get to the skill level that many of the builders (you included) are at, at this site.