GeorgeKapas

So here is the current (finished?) article! 

Unfortunatelly this was the last photo before the "finished" ship or at least the current state of the diorama. I made a simple base with only sea. The rigging is seen almost finished. I used thread and melted spruce as well, especially in the deadeyes, which were also made from scratch. The guns are from my stash. 

As for the sails, I did a lot of tests... in the end, I used A4, drew the lines with pencil, and glued some strips of additional A4 on the edges and in the midle. Then it was painted with acrylics and coated with matte enamel varnish, just like the deck. The edge was lined with black thread. 

I was not happy with the central gangway and remade it. The bow superstructure was also finished here, as well as the stern deck and awning supports. The masts are now properly done. Unfortunately I took few photos from this stage to the finish...

Making 60 oars in 1/350 was not a pleasant process that is for sure. Here is with some test-masts that were later replaced with proper ones. 

Here she sits in the base with the fort partially built behind her, this plan, as I said, was revised... 

The progress here jumps, I used melted spuce and strips of plastic to make the benches for the oarsmen and the rest of the superstructure.  

Here was the original plan for the base. It is still possible to do it, but for now I use a simpler version. It would have the fort to one side, the lighthouse on the other, and a chain, lowered, for the galley to pass. 

Here is how the deck initially looked, although I made it again a bit later to correct the warping. I guess the photos of the built are limited...

The lower hull was easy enough, considering it is only a waterline model, and the galley has very little freeboard. It will be recessed into the base, and so only 2-3 milimiters of freeboard for the model. As for the materials, it is made mostly with card and thin plastic strips. I used my usual method for decking, drew planks in the PC, printed them in A4 black and white, and painted them. First with acrylics then with a coat of matte enamel. 

Evening! So I decided another small built is in order. I wanted to be thematic to the history of my hometown. The plan was of a diorama of a venetian galley exiting the port of Chania, circa 1640. 1/700 was very small, so I went for around 1/350. I used the plans of "La Dracene 1675" although I mixed and matched other earlier plans I had, after all, the waterline hull at 1/350 left little room for specific details. In any case, the galley was of the heavy 2 masted version or "Capitana" Unfortunately I ommited photographing many steps of the built. Also, although the ship it self is basically finished, I revised my initial plan to have it exiting the port, and quickly built a simpler sea-base. So technically it is not finished yet, as the original plan is still feasible. 

And we now reach the present with the model as it is now. Some more details, including the square portholes, the railings, the funnels were rebuilt again from the start, I added a deck made also from scratch, just like in Averof. 

Significant progress here, it shows the layout of the main battery in the forward barbette, as well as the rear turret. The surface is still rough at his point.  

I'll post a few more updates to bring the built into the present condition: The masts now with photoetched parts: 

The base is a simple seascape, as the ship will be, once again, anchored. Of course it is not attached to it, and I may change it alltogether later. In any case. The superstructure of the forward barbette and the masts are made of strips of plastic and melted spuce. I may use some ready boats from other 1/700 kits, but I am not sure.. 

A simple bread and butter technic with foamcore for the start. Unfortunately I did not take any photos in the first day... I encase the foamcore in paper. The scale is tiny anyway, so other than some core measurements and planing, my guide is the high resolution photos that I have of these ships. 

A similar project to the cruiser Averof. Once again, the lack of detailed plans was a problem, which was alleviated by the small scale and the decision to make it waterline. There are almost no models of this class of ships outside the two in the museums here in Greece. I wanted to make one for some time now. Bizzare little battleships, with an unconventional layout which proves a bit of a challenge to recreate. In any case. Here are a few photos of what I am talking about: 

Thank you all! She is finally ready! I managed to find a small enough chain in a jewelry shop, and with small additions she is finished. The final gallery: 

The model is almost ready, some details need to be added like chains etc. I also re-did the base....again!  

Initial Painting: It will require some back and forth with sanding. 

Almost ready for painting! 

The deck is painted by hand (I did the lines in MS paint and printed them on A4, then added color etc)

I know this is getting tiresome, resurecting this thread already twice... This time I starting tinkering into a diorama - base. I am not sure about the background at the dock, I havent gone that far yet..

Once again, sorry for the lack of updates, as always I am working on many projects at once! 

Thank you. The sea is a very thin papier mache with a coat of wood glue. I may need too add a few more coats of wood glue. This method gave a hard time at this scale (1/700)