Jump to content
NRG Photographic Model Ship Competition - All eligible to enter - Reduced memberhsip fee - JULY 31 ENTRY DEADLINE ×

mikegr

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    745

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Everything posted by mikegr

  1. mikegr
    I done some detailing in Amatsukaze, same style. Added bridge windows, put new AA guns, railings, depth charges and paravanes on stern as I show on a 3d detailed model online. Then I sprayed them with IJN grey. I will paint again, add some minor details like boats then finish paint and weathering. But after o get back, in two weeks
  2. mikegr
    I was thinking of balsa coated with gel coat for strengthening because its easier to work with. I do have some 0.6 and 1mm aviation plywood but I don't know if I can bend it. Note that the bulwark stands vertical to the deck and as it goes to stern it also twists somehow, so I need a flexible material.
  3. mikegr
    i think the high angled AA gun are not that much an upgrade. Because they look as a single piece. I think those provided in the kit can look great with some extra work like adding blastbags, drilling etc. Are these made of plastic or resin?
  4. mikegr
    Nevertheless the living conditions in the US Navy ships remained fairly good. Even quite cramped is some cases, there was A/C in most ships and food was quite decent with servings ok cokes, ice cream, fresh bread making machines etc. In IJN conditions were not that good especially in certain units like submarines. Some claim, that was an psychological factor which affected negatively crew's combat performance, although i believe Japanese sailors had great self discipline and control. However even today they are building merchant vessels with less comforts for crew, small cabins with low ceilings etc. On the other hand they offer high standards of automation so even a 300K DWT oiler can fully operate with less than 20 crew members
  5. mikegr
    thats a lot of great work on the prototype boat
  6. mikegr
    The progress in 3d is going on. I put all things together as a preview although I will print the cranes in separate pieces. However it seems that i prefer spend time on this and avoid to concentrate on a more challenging project. To built the deck frame, present on all cargo ships of the time instead of rail bars Because of the curvy shape that follows the hull, I'm not sure how to design it yet. And still I am worry about the overall fitting of the triangle supports to the deck. A last worry would be to find a glue for resin that won't also make a mess to the deck. For scratchbuild this piece I face the problem of finding the proper material. Metal strip would be too thin to handle and the tiny supports too hard to be made equally. The overall look of it may not look satisfying to my eyes. Balsa over 1mm would be more stable and still easy to work but too thick while thinner would be very optically ideal but easy to break unless fortified with some material like gel coat.
  7. mikegr
    I almost done with Hatsushimo Need only to paint, add boats, rigging and weathering. I used general ww2 railings. Hopefully when visit Malaysia this winter again will stock up with supplies from nearby China and Japan. I will paint it with IJN Gray later along with Amatsukaze
  8. mikegr
    I am test fitting the cargo holds while experimenting in 3D design amd printing.
  9. mikegr
    I think Flyhawk produces the best plastic in the market, turrets, funnels, airplanes, all comes in great detail even in 1/700 scale, plus the PE Now for the 3D parts I found myself enjoying design and print my parts. I This may take more time than scratchbuilding but while increasing my design skills hopefully the overall time will be shorten. Results are satisfactory although there's always space for improvement
  10. mikegr
    The detail difference in the turrets even noticeable in not something that cant be reproduced in plastic. If Flyhawk would release a 1/350 Roma i'm pretty sure it could compare with the fine Micromaster product
  11. mikegr
    i really hope one day to visit back London and tour the RAF Museum, HMS Belfast and the Naval Museum nearby.
  12. mikegr
    I done added some extra details. I also found out that I was rebuilding Hatsusimo not Amatsukaze as I thought. Therefore the mistake with the rear turret. Back to the plan, second rear turret replaced again with AA gun.😁 Better concentrate on one ship each time. Added ladders, doors and few other PE details. Then I sprayed photo etched primer. Now will finish up details by adding rails and prepare for final paint
  13. mikegr
    It depends on the criteria used. If we take under consideration the purpose of built, then Bismarck was a disaster as her task to destroy enemy merchant vessels was never accomplished. Had the Germans used its steel to produce several dozens U boat instead, the war in the Atlantic may would have a different outcome. Same for Vanguard , that was built to fight in a war that finished too early for her. But if you consider the technology involved things may appear different. Bismarck was the Yamato of its time being the most armored ship ever created with 42% of its weight dedicated to armor. Vanguard built finally in 1946 was a state of the art ship with the most extended battle damage control.
  14. mikegr
    Yamato, Bismarck, Mogami. All these seems to be in the black list for Antony Preston. Not that we, modelers, care much though https://www.worldcat.org/title/worlds-worst-warships/oclc/52131104
  15. mikegr
    Yes it is a bayonet fight variation, called Jukendo in fact https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jūkendō But my wonder is different. Are these big kits really complete? Or extra PE are required to get the most details out of them?
  16. mikegr
    Not even. This is Kendo
  17. mikegr
    I have heard also about making alcohol from potato processing that was used to fly their training planes. Not sure about the carrier you mentioned. Perhaps Taiho or Shinano. Both they were easily sunk but a single torpedo hit. This is caused also by lack of training in damage control. In contrast to American crews IJN sailors used to spend their training time on more traditional practices
  18. mikegr
    First prints were successful in general although had failed attempts. Correct printer settings takes time to be learnt. Design online is fun though
  19. mikegr
    Same style upgrade for the searchlight tower. Here I drilled the light with mini drill and round file. I dropped a little amount of epoxy resin, hopefully to have a transparent light effect.
  20. mikegr
    So I did a bit of scratch built on AA platform. I replaced the frame with PE canvas style. I also added supports but look a bit long. Will be shorten in the other platform. I used brush hair for this. Guns were replaced. I have PEs but I'm not sure how they will look as they are quite thin. Maybe fit them on the other ship.
  21. mikegr
    I would rather worry about Aber itself than supper hobby. The 1/700 railings I bought was a joke, they could bent even with the touch of a brush. I expect in larger scales to be better. Got universal grills and other PE parts for larger scale, seemed ok.
  22. mikegr
    I checked drawingns and pictures of Amatsukaze only to find that mast is quite different. So I scratch built a new one using real 0.4 mm solid steel rods. A bit hard to cut but hold much better with CA glue comparing to brass maybe cause of less shiny surface. I added the secondary mast and a third 5" gun aft as seen also on box of kit but for a reason in plans there was a triple as gun instead which I replaced. Finally I added front funnel with some pipe details
  23. mikegr
    I restructured the bridge by cutting and adding windows, portholes and hatchdoors. Then I scratch built masts using soldering for the main frame and CA glue for the smaller parts around the tripod base
  24. mikegr
    Brilliant work.
  25. mikegr
    While I am almost done with the cargo holds, meantime I designed some parts for 3d printing

About us

Modelshipworld - Advancing Ship Modeling through Research

SSL Secured

Your security is important for us so this Website is SSL-Secured

NRG Mailing Address

Nautical Research Guild
237 South Lincoln Street
Westmont IL, 60559-1917

Model Ship World ® and the MSW logo are Registered Trademarks, and belong to the Nautical Research Guild (United States Patent and Trademark Office: No. 6,929,264 & No. 6,929,274, registered Dec. 20, 2022)

Helpful Links

About the NRG

If you enjoy building ship models that are historically accurate as well as beautiful, then The Nautical Research Guild (NRG) is just right for you.

The Guild is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to “Advance Ship Modeling Through Research”. We provide support to our members in their efforts to raise the quality of their model ships.

The Nautical Research Guild has published our world-renowned quarterly magazine, The Nautical Research Journal, since 1955. The pages of the Journal are full of articles by accomplished ship modelers who show you how they create those exquisite details on their models, and by maritime historians who show you the correct details to build. The Journal is available in both print and digital editions. Go to the NRG web site (www.thenrg.org) to download a complimentary digital copy of the Journal. The NRG also publishes plan sets, books and compilations of back issues of the Journal and the former Ships in Scale and Model Ship Builder magazines.

Our Emblem ®

Modelshipworld - Advancing Ship Modeling through Research

Nautical Research Guild ® and the NRG logo are Registered Trademarks, and belong to the Nautical Research Guild (United States Patent and Trademark Office: No. 6,999,236 & No. 6,999,237, registered March 14, 2023)

×
×
  • Create New...