CDW

I've been working off and on on this thing all day long, but it's one of those days where it seems like nothing much got done. Under this next level of superstructure and decks, there are details that were painted and added, but you can't see those with my pictures.
Just wanted to get some dry fit photos to see where we're headed with this model. Before this next level of decks are permanently added, a number of significant details must be added. Guns in particular. If I am to add any sailors to the gun deck, I need to wait for my figures to be delivered before adding the next deck level. Once added, it would be much more difficult to put any in sailors place there. 

Yes, a very nice destroyer model indeed. I'm really enjoying this thread with the variety of renditions of the same ship. Each one has it's own set of outstanding qualities and express the creativeness of the individual modeler.

I've been working off and on on this thing all day long, but it's one of those days where it seems like nothing much got done. Under this next level of superstructure and decks, there are details that were painted and added, but you can't see those with my pictures.
Just wanted to get some dry fit photos to see where we're headed with this model. Before this next level of decks are permanently added, a number of significant details must be added. Guns in particular. If I am to add any sailors to the gun deck, I need to wait for my figures to be delivered before adding the next deck level. Once added, it would be much more difficult to put any in sailors place there. 

I've been working off and on on this thing all day long, but it's one of those days where it seems like nothing much got done. Under this next level of superstructure and decks, there are details that were painted and added, but you can't see those with my pictures.
Just wanted to get some dry fit photos to see where we're headed with this model. Before this next level of decks are permanently added, a number of significant details must be added. Guns in particular. If I am to add any sailors to the gun deck, I need to wait for my figures to be delivered before adding the next deck level. Once added, it would be much more difficult to put any in sailors place there. 

I've been working off and on on this thing all day long, but it's one of those days where it seems like nothing much got done. Under this next level of superstructure and decks, there are details that were painted and added, but you can't see those with my pictures.
Just wanted to get some dry fit photos to see where we're headed with this model. Before this next level of decks are permanently added, a number of significant details must be added. Guns in particular. If I am to add any sailors to the gun deck, I need to wait for my figures to be delivered before adding the next deck level. Once added, it would be much more difficult to put any in sailors place there. 

I've been working off and on on this thing all day long, but it's one of those days where it seems like nothing much got done. Under this next level of superstructure and decks, there are details that were painted and added, but you can't see those with my pictures.
Just wanted to get some dry fit photos to see where we're headed with this model. Before this next level of decks are permanently added, a number of significant details must be added. Guns in particular. If I am to add any sailors to the gun deck, I need to wait for my figures to be delivered before adding the next deck level. Once added, it would be much more difficult to put any in sailors place there. 

I agree
At this time in their lives these ships were almost as much showboat as warship. They were in many ways the pride of the US Navy as the last surviving battleships in the world. Crewmen were begging to serve on them, kind of like how the British felt about the Hood in the 30s. You will probably never see a picture of one of the Iowa's where they don't look pristine in their later deployments and refits except when the Iowa had a gun blow up in 1989.

Hey, I'll see what I can do with that ruler in the next set of photos!
 
Well, in my opinion less is better! That doesn't mean clean look, but in this scale I think being subtle is still the key even though throwing everything and the kitchen sink at it! Doing a lot of layers but keeping everything light. I can also post some comparisons vs just a gray primer on the turret so it's pretty obvious how much all those little subtle details bring it more to "life".
 
Though in this case the ship looked to be in pretty neat condition. It just came from a refit and it looks like the crew kept her in good condition on the final cruise.
So not much any heavy weathering will be present in the end.

Some more action on the aft section.
 
More details added. Also the small wooden part on the stern, usually I leave the decks for last but it's a small section so I try some masking see how it works out!
 


 
Number 2 turret construction finished. Straight forward using the Pontos set. A lot of clean up needed on the tamiya parts (yes it's a pretty old kit).
Almost all the parts had parting lines running in the middle. Nothing little scraping action with a blade would not fix!
Also care was taken removing the seam between the PE top plate and the rest of plastic turret. After curing medium CA once again on top of the seam and yadda yadda some sandin and ta daa!
 





 
And turret number 1 completly painted and finished! The usual pre/post shading with Tamiyas and oils and pigments for weathering.
Metal parts with Alclad.
 




 
Then need to finish what's left on the hull so I can start a massive paint operation on the weekend!
 
 

Another day spent!
 
Finished and primed the DCG Antenna. Thought this was gonna be an easy small build
The damn thing almost had 100 pieces! Aligning everything was a PITA! I used gator grip glue to help me with drying time when aligning.
The hardest part was that the support beams have little plates that go inside them which then attaches to the main beams. You also need to align those small plates even with the deck so they sit in well. So you can use the deck as help, but glue them only into the beams and not the deck! Then have them stay on when you take the antenna base off the deck so you can fit the beams in! Phew! Not super happy how it turned up but it took the whole day to assemble so I guess we have to do!
 
After the basic construction of the Pontos set some extra details were added. Lights, loud speakers, wiring and some ladders and steps. I initally thought about going HAM and doing the ladders like they really are (individual grab handles) but the ones I had were a tad too big and didn't look good at all. So I just used 1/700 PE ladders to keep them fine.
 
It's a bit dull looking with only primer for now.
 

More details added on the middle part. At this point I decided to glue it in. I started gluing the aft section first. Let it dry firmly!
After this I moved about 4 cm at a time joining the deck with the hull using Tamiyas extra thin glue. I tried to kept them as level as I could so sanding would be easier.After curing seams were sanded and all the mistakes filled with CA and sanded away.
 


 
The boat area has a "shield" on the decks edge that needed to be seamless. Carefull restoration and done!
 

 
And some shot of the bow area with some primer to check the seams.
 

 
For some reason the Pontos set doesn't provide the right boom on the aft part so I scratch build one for both sides.
 


 
Next step to add some deck details and then it's off to painting the hull which will be a big undertaking aswell!

Some progress on the middle deck piece.
 
I used a combination of CA and Gator grip white glue on the various PE parts. Gator was used to glue the PE plates on. Then some CA on the edges that needed to be blended into the plastic. Still more detailing to go on but no further structures are needed before I can attach this to the rest of the hull. All the other pieces can be finished separately in their own sub assemblies.
 

Hey Harley!
 
Yes I'm using the CA as a filler! I use a brand called ZAP which comes in 3 types. Thin , medium and heavy.
I have preferred CA over puttys etc. for a good couple of years. I think it's just easier to use. It's easy to apply, dries really fast and makes a hard/strong enough surface to even scribe on afterwards. Also easy to sand! And no, it doesn't hurt the plastic! I think the brand is made exactly modelling in mind.

Enjoying your log. You refer to using medium CA on the stern gun tubs. Are using the CA
like a filler? If so, I'm assuming it doesn't attack the plastic. Just up dating my brain about
the current plastic/PE/CA items available. It's been a long time since I did
a major plastic build but the battleship models available now are tempting.
Thanks Kopp
Cheers, Harley

And work must go on!
 
Last details on the hull in place and aft deck glued down. Primer on the hull.
 


 
Deck fit was decent on the seams, just normal clean up procedure. Some locator holes filled and all the details removed.
PE decks glued in place.
 


 
The old tubs for the bofors in the aft had horrible seams and they didn't meet the rest of the hull at all.
Liberal application of medium CA and a lot of sanding and voila! Rest of the PE details added.
 


 
 
Before I get the middle deck in place there's a lot of detail removal and PE part joining on the superstructure that I need to finish.
It looks like I need to finish the aft and middle part of the superstructure but the bridge area can be done in it's own sub assembly so I can eliminate all the seams.
 

Don't worry the plating is still there, it's just the angle of light that masks them on those photos. And it's really faint, so when the painting is finished a light wash will bring it out a bit more, but it's point is to stay subtle.

No worries! I'm always happy to answer!
 
I only use a mobile phone to take photos. I have 2 LED lights to help me but the quality isn't always the best even though I try my best!

Calm down gentleman! Form an orderly line and be seated, plenty of room for everyone!
 
So I got woke up by delivery guy bringing me goodies!
 
To help me align all the details I used masking tape to show where the boot topping would end.
 
Then the details were added.
 


 
I used gators white glue to get them on. It allows time for positioning and gives a bit more mass to the thin PE parts.
 
Next some holes were drilled with 0.5mm and 0.4mm bits. The 0.4mm ones were then filled with 0.4mm styrene rod.
 

 
Also the flight deck netting location holes drilled aswell. Pontos provides a nice jig for that and is easy to get them all aligned and in proper places.
Dry fitted the net, fits perfectly!
 

 
The bow deck was first cleaned of all the details then glued down. After leveling it with sanding paper some more medium CA into the seam and sanded clean.
 

 
And some overall photos.
 

Hi!
 
After a break I'm back to ship modeling, and this time I'll share the build here aswell!
 
So my next project is the Uss Missouri as she appeared on her last tour in the Operation desert storm.
 
My first form of business is with the hull!
 
Firstly all the details were removed from the hull. After this thorough sanding to get rid of the all the parting lines and minor damages.
 
Then the hull plates were masked and sprayed with Mr surfacer 500.
This is by no means 100% correct so bare that in mind!
 
Some other details were done with some masking tape on the top belts.
After this Mr surfacer 1200 on top to check how it would look like.
 


 
And closer look of the effect.
 


 
Still waiting for the pontos set to arrive, then I'll continue to add the rest of the remaining drain pipes etc. details before continuing to the decks.

Evening everyone,   well I started work on the main mast  so I hope your all sitting comfortably  -
 
I started with the pontos pe 281 RDF Radar device, this had to be cut from the fret then bent inwards in four places to form a kind of box,  straight forward just a bit delicate, I decided to to apply a bit of ca all over to strengthen it,  next off  I had to consider what I was going to use for the pole thats runs through the center, this is so tiny but needs to be strong and long enough to include a few items to it.
I decided to try my tiny drill set to see if one fits  "success"  it fitted it perfectly, this was just lined up and secured with ca,  below this on the pole is a swiggly electrical device glued in place then a platform with a railing around it,   this was dryed using the dryer then a few extra dabs of ca for strength.
This was put a side while I worked on the main mast,  first I cut from the kit fret the plastic main mast part,  this part has  a platform containing a light lower down, and a device at the top,  I decided to make a version from my narrow wood dowel,  first I cut to the same length as the kit part - then I had to work on thinning the whole dowel,  I did this by using some medium wet and dry and a sanding stick, I kept rolling the dowel on the wet and dry till I reached the correct thiness,  I also cut away two pe brackets with holes through them - I was able to use the holes to compare mast thickness.
 
So after getting the correct size wood dowel mast - next job was to position two brackets a third of the way down, these are placed at 90/180 degrees ontop of each other, a few dabs of ca and they were placed,  next I had to position the light platform - this was another pe part, and was bent into shape then glued onto the mast, ontop of this I glued the kit light fitting part,   to finnish off I had to drill through the center of a tiny kit part, this goes at the top of the main mast  for the Radar device to fit to,  after drilling the part was cut away from the plastic mast then glued to the new wood version.
Next off I had to work on the two differnt size yards,  to be placed at cross angles on the brackets fitted to the mast,  these yard needed some considerable thinning from the dowel used for the mast,  after a hour or so I arrived at correct thickness (thiness)  so these were also glued in place.
 
To finnish off I smeared some ca over the mast/yards to give them a bit of extra protection.
 
So after a day mast building here are a few pics.
 
OC.

I concur with all the aforementioned comments.  We are all our worst critic.  Every time I make a part or look back at previous old work I see a myriad of issues and say to myself, “Man I suck!” 🤪
 
But it I persevere and slowly my modeling gets better....I hope anyways. 😃 
So keep going and keep posting Lou, we are all happy to see progress. I only laugh at myself.   😂

Finished the antenna.


Then worked some details on the bow area.


And finished the weathering on the other side aswell.

No worries...my idea of weathering and stain is minimal at best. Remember, I worked as the operations chief for a major general and I know first hand the expectations of maintaining a high standard. Been there, done that, and got the tee shirt. Not on a ship, but nevertheless under a general officer. If that gentleman saw anything out of sorts, there was hell to pay...guaranteed.

I would say that if a modeler used a 3D CAD program to design his/her model, then printed it on their 3D printer, most definitely that would be scratch building. Hands down.

No worries...my idea of weathering and stain is minimal at best. Remember, I worked as the operations chief for a major general and I know first hand the expectations of maintaining a high standard. Been there, done that, and got the tee shirt. Not on a ship, but nevertheless under a general officer. If that gentleman saw anything out of sorts, there was hell to pay...guaranteed.