king derelict

Things seem to have been far too busy in real life but I'm making some progress with the Derfflinger. I'm not sure why but I am really enjoying this kit. Maybe its just a little easier than Galatea although it has its challenges. I worked on the simulated wooden decks, spraying on a base coat of Tamiya acrylic Deck Tan and, once dry, I brushed on some heavily diluted mixes of Burnt Sienna and Burnt Umber oil paints. I like how its come out with degrees of variation around the ship. The washes have defined the plank lines nicely too. It may be a little orange in places but I think it works and I think I would even forgo adding wooden decks in the future (maybe)' I'm also building up the superstructure and adding the first PE railings. Flyhawk do a nice job of prescoring the railings for the various bends which helps with the complex shapes but also weakens the piece so you don't have many chances to correct a wrong bend. There will be about a three week hiatus in the build while I go to Europw to visit family in Wales and wish my father happy 99th birthday. Then a whirlwind through Vienna, Bratislava, Prague, Berlin and Amsterdam. The common theme seems to be snow so I'm hoping flights and rail journeys work out. Happy New Year everyone and thanks for looking in, the likes and the helpful comments. Alan

A small update to Jacques the Bad Man. I've been enjoying the Derfflinger build too much and this has only progressed slowly. I sprayed a coat of black primer and then added a directional coat of white. I have seen some figure work where the painter simulates the effect of a focussed light or a fire. I added the white with this in mind. The idea is to have the light on the scaffold (left side as we look at it) be the main light source. I'm not sure whether I can pull it off but I will give it a try. The white coat came out how I wanted it to be. Thanks for looking in and the likes and comments. Alan

Terrific work on the bombs Jav alan

The box art shows it holding a lantern but it looks substantial enough for a pirate to dance a Tyburn jig.

I think you have a working proposition there OC. Reading a build log for an Aveo Manchester on another site all brush painted and looking very good, it seems flat brush is definitely the way to go. I’ve been trying it out on the small linoleum decks on Derfflinger and it does seem to work. Looking forward to seeing you back in action. alan

Great job Andy. The weathering looks really nice and appropriate. alan

You know Ken, you are right. I think I would rather have D’Artagnan around than this guy. He did come to a suitably sticky end though. Alan

Thank you OC. The painting notes pretty much say “whatever colours you like “. I’ll probably stick with blacks and reds Alan

Thanks again Mike, that was valuable information. So now I have a comprehensive Christmas present to make up for the old guy in red trying to fob me off with a box of shortbread biscuits. Alan

It’s looking really good Phil. Well done alan

Nice work on the details Mike. The radar was definitely worth the trouble. alan

Welcome and I hope you enjoy it. Derfflinger soaked up a lot of punishment at Jutland from what I have read. Alan

Great work Mike. The engines are terrific. This is going to look very good. Alan

Just can't leave them alone. Another white metal miniature from Pergaso to provide some light relief if the Derfflinger gets too difficult. I hadn't a clue who this chap was but I liked the outfit and the pose. It turns out he was a 17th century pirate and was a bad man! Wikipedia has a full article François l'Olonnais - Wikipedia A few brief extracts "According to Alexandre Exquemelin's 1684 account The History of the Buccaneers of America, l'Olonnais' was born in Les Sables-d'Olonne in the France. He first arrived in the Caribbean as an indentured servant during the 1650s. By 1660 his servitude was complete. He began to wander various islands before arriving in Saint-Domingue – in what is now Haiti – and becoming a buccaneer. He preyed upon shipping from the Spanish West Indies and the Spanish Main. A year or two (dates regarding l'Olonnais are uncertain) into his piratical career, l'Olonnais was shipwrecked near Campeche in Mexico. A party of Spanish soldiers attacked l'Olonnais and his crew, killing almost the entire party. L'Olonnais survived by covering himself in the blood of others and hiding amongst the dead. After the Spanish departed, l'Olonnais, with the assistance of some escaped slaves, made his way to the island of Tortuga. A short time later, he and his crew held a town hostage, demanding a ransom from its Spanish rulers. The governor of Cuba, Francisco Oregón y Gascón, sent a ship to kill l'Olonnais' party. l'Olonnais captured and beheaded the ship's entire crew save one, whom he spared so that a message could be delivered to Havana: "I shall never henceforward give quarter to any Spaniard whatsoever." "L'Olonnais himself was an expert torturer, and his techniques included slicing portions of flesh off the victim with a sword, burning them alive, or tying knotted "woolding" (rope bound around a ship's mast to strengthen it) around the victim's head until their eyes were forced out." "'He drew his cutlass, and with it cut open the breast of one of those poor Spanish, and pulling out his heart with his sacrilegious hands, began to bite and gnaw it with his teeth, like a ravenous wolf, saying to the rest: I will serve you all alike, if you show me not another way". Not someone you would take home to meet the family. The kit has quite a few parts for a white metal figure and the use of brass pins helps a lot in holding the main parts together while the glue sets. The white metal is quite soft and I broke a number of drill bits because they seemed to bind up in the part and sheer off (leaving the broken piece irretrievably stuck in the piece). I may need to fina a better source of bits for the metal figures. The base seems to be a wooden deck although the lamp standard isn't immediately recognisable as a shipboard feature. The main elements of the figure have been assembled and the fit is not perfect in a few places and may need to be filled, His upper left body has a gap that needs attention. Thanks for looking in. Alan

Working through the basics. Everything has had a coat of black primer which finally emptied the Mig Ammo One Shot bottle. Its been feeling light for a while but this session finally reached the bottom and I had to switch to Vallejo which actually sprayed on nicely. After letting things cure overnight I gave the hull a coat of dark grey and the structures and details were painted in light grey. Next we will find out how well the wooden deck painting goes. Thanks for looking in, the likes and helpful comments Alan

Thank you very much for a very helpful note Mike. Saved me a bit of disappointment. I ordered the Gold Medal kit 780004 thinking it was the kit and upgrades. So I have just been back and found 1301S at a decent price and a wooden deck so now I have the complete package. Thanks again, Flyhawk have some devious kit nomenclature. Alan

Thank you for the information. If the Derfflinger goes together well, Lutzow will not be far behind. Alan

Thank you for the video clip Jack. That looks like an exhilarating sport on a crisp winters day. Beautiful. Alan

Thanks Mike. The evil demon on my shoulder is pointing me at the Lutzow Gold edition which looks like it has the wooden decks, metal barrel and lots of PE. Well it’s Christmas and I don’t think I bought myself a gift! alan

Ice sailing sounds like a great thing. I hope you get the weather. alan

I hope 2025 brings better fortune and good things

Welcome Andrew. The hull has lovely lines. I have the Iron Duke for WW1 RN. I’ll be interested to see how it builds up. alan

Welcome Jack, glad you are there. Hope you are having a great Christmas period alan

The cloth sounds like a good idea. I suppose you could use a diluted dab of toothpaste if you needed a bit more “bite” alan

Thank you Phil I hope I can make it an enjoyable read alan