Lt. Biggles

Hello,

Slowly getting ready for my second ship build, really enjoyed my last HMS Prince of Wales build and all the feed back and help was much appreciated.

Ill begin the build shortly and was given this kit to build for someone else with no time limit and just for fun. 
Included in the box is a MK1 upgrade set which has some PE, anchor chain, wooden deck and brass barrels for all guns plus I’ve pe from my POW build so can use that too.

Thought I’d start this log a bit before I begin so if anyone has built this ship and has any advice or “wish I’d known before I built” tips would be great to hear from you before I learn them the hard way!

I suspect this build won’t take as long as I learnt a lot from my last build. Will be my first attempt at camouflage and a few pics have her looking quite faded and weathered so will be fun to play around with making her look well used.

Here is a pic of her during D-Day and you can see the state I’ll be trying to go for which should be fun.

1 hour ago, Old Collingwood said:

Any help I can offer - just shout  (I have Big Ears)  lol.

 

OC.

Haha thanks! Will do

31 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Thats good to know mate,   will follow that with interest when you start.

 

OC.

your build log will be the first place I go when I’m unsure how something goes together! Often build logs are a lot more useful than the instructions and plans!

The weathering would be fun on an AV3! 

I had a look through your build log of Warspite OC, she looks great and seems like a good looking ship too. Seeing I’ve got that kit here I’ll have to read up on her exploits to get to know her. The kit is set in 1943 so camo! I’ll practice that on my hurricane build as it does add an extra layer of complexity to a ship. Just hope she was busy and not freshly painted. I don’t think this one will take so long! I learnt a lot during this build... mainly what’s not worth getting perfect only to be covered over and never seen haha!!

On 2/14/2021 at 7:28 PM, RGL said:

Soooooo what’s next?

Good question, it’s too hot and humid at the moment for any painting and my thin superglue is thicker than golden syrup so I’m not doing anything till after summer. But I’ve 2 options. Someone here gave me HMS warspite (academy 1:350, with some pe, brass barrels and wood deck) I will make it for them. The other option is trying to find a model of HMNZS Achilles, a Leander class light cruiser. My Grandad served on her during the war. So would be good, but can’t find anything except a full resin kit so at this stage it’s just a nice idea.

Can’t do anything that doesn’t have a good PE kit though! Just adds so much. Any good ideas for me to try? I’m new to the ship model world.

Thanks for the kind words, I really enjoyed the company during the build  a lot different enjoying a hobby with others than just building alone. 

Im waiting for it to cool down abit before I carry on with any builds! 

So this is it! She is complete! 

I'm not really sure what to say, but thanks for all the help and kind words.

I learnt a heap and enjoyed the build!

I've a feeling it won't be my last ship...

10 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Best thing I found  - soak the flag in watery PVA  then crunch it to get it to fold  in the  position  you want, then let it dry/set before attaching the cord/rope/fine thread.

 

OC.

Sweet as! Nice tip, will do just that.

thanks

Hello all! Been waiting for the flag to arrive and it finally did! In the mean time I have gone and got another camera for astrophotography and a telescope and a bunch of other equipment! So that has kept me busy as I want to get so nice planet and deep space pictures... 

But the flags arrived and I can finish my project!

tried a few things with string but impossible for it to maintain any shape so I’ve had to use my thinest wire!

and spent the morning watching videos videos on how to make a flag look realistic and it’s not easy at all!

but ive got 4 flags to practice with and then I guess I’ll use the best looking one! 

Which means the next lot of pictures will be with a flag on... hopefully not looking odd and it will be on a complete model! Wow weird to think it’s finished!! But it’s finally arrived!!

Doing some experiments with the landing lights.

ive drilled out a similar size hole and have filled it with gloss varnish to see if it dries clear even when in a big blob.

if it works will will probably use it as the bulb. Once the lights on the wings are sorted ready to prime as I tried out using a canopy mask for the first time ever! But!!! I forgot to make sure the inside of the glass was clean from dust or finger prints before I glued it on so maybe it will have to come off if there is anything awful on the inside 😂

4 hours ago, lmagna said:

The picture is impressive not only for the angle but the closeness and sharpness. Makes one feel like he is standing on the deck of the PT 109!

 

Looked up your camera and it doesn't look much like a pocket camera to me!

My first priority is small size as I don’t like carrying around a massive camera around the world, and then just the best internals that can squeeze in. So it’s got a great sensor and brain. It will do nicely for what I need

Looking good mate! I think it adds a lot to a ship when it’s shown on water, abit more life. 

Looking forward to seeing the process you use for building up the colours! If not too much trouble can you post pics of each stage? As I’ve not painted a plane with an airbrush before so am on the learning path! I think for mine I’ll black base and layer from there. Such fine lines of over doing, under doing, over weathering, under weathered! 

Wow good work! This scale PE must suck! I’ve a feeling if you have enjoyed this scale then you will love it when you get to 350!! 

My rule was when I started talking to the PE... then it was enough for the day!

8 minutes ago, lmagna said:

WOW! That #1 photo is impressive. What camera did you get?

I stumbled across that angle and quite liked it!

I have a canon g1x mkIII

On a big Boxing Day sale. Much better cameras out there for model pictures but it’s ideal to have in my pocket while travelling... whenever that starts again!!

Hey small update, got an email today that the flags I ordered almost a month ago will be shipped next week! The joys of this time of year.

Also I finally brought a new camera to replace the one that got stolen while on holiday a year ago so been learning its features and it can take more adventurous photos than my phone so here are a few.

Day off today and it’s too hot to go to the beach so did some more work on this. Did the radiator intake

tucked away and probably not seen again, but if anyone does have a sneaky peak it should pass the test!

used streaking grime to get the reddish tinge it seems to have and then a thick black wash and highlights

I’ve replaced one of the cannon bases with the brass one... 3 to go. Didn’t know the outer cannon stuck out more than the inner. All the small details you only learn when you have to work on it

Hope 2021 is treating everyone well!

ive been busy covering everyone’s shifts so they can have a holiday so haven’t done much on the hurricane. But put the carburettor intake together.

and using a bit of spare PE from my HMS POW ship build added the grill.

next is the radiator fairing and then the brass gun bases and basically ready for the base prime... whenever I get to that point!  

On 12/29/2020 at 1:21 PM, Old Collingwood said:

What I found real useful with Vallejo putty  is you can also use a cotton bud or piece of rag and wipe over the gap being filled, or even a finger   - its that plyable.

 

OC.

Using a damp cotton bud has worked a charm thanks! Basically leaves it to dry already perfect and probably hardly needing a sand if at all!!

Well with the cockpit complete everything took a sudden huge leap! Was quite a surprise! Glued 3 joints and this was the result.

some big big gaps in the wing roots which I’d already mentioned and discussed, went with building the wings as per the instructions. Ended up getting both types of Vallejo putty bottles and I like how runny it is. Just wish It would dry a bit harder as I’m finding if I’m not really careful sanding that chunks of the filler come off. The good side to that issue is because it’s a bit rubbery it’s got lots of play so won’t crack when it’s flexed.

have a feeling it will take awhile to do all the filling and get the rest of the bits on before the prime.

I remember reading through the first few pages of this build ages ago and learning a lot of history and things I’d never known! Good to see the build is well underway! I’ve a feeling it’s going to be a very accurate model!! Good stuff mate

Love the Mossie! 

It’s less than 3 hours till Christmas and I’ve spent awhile working on the seatbelt which arrived a few days ago. 

Was a lot more parts than I thought and how they go together was quite unclear even with google. But I think it looks better than no seatbelt and finishes off the cockpit well.

hope everyone one has a nice Christmas

Thanks.

I might look into Vallejo liquid putty. I’ve got a tamiya one but it’s pretty thick and tough to work with even when thinned a lot.

I like when you can clean up the edges well before it sets to reduce unnecessary sanding (which is my favourite job ever) sarcasm...

Thanks for the comments and tips. It was the pros and cons I had been weighing up so good to know I was thinking down the right line. Will have a good think about it