Jeff59

Fantastic job on this, it’s certainly a labour intensive model, great to see others solutions to this model. 🤛👍

Brilliant job Herby, love it. Mind watch out for position of 6 inch guns on main deck, think they need moved outward 2 to 3mm to let the guns sit more in middle of housing, l didn’t do this but would if l were to do it again, the gun should be able to run parallel to side of bridge superstructure, you’ll see what l mean when you investigate it. 👍Shall try to follow this and enjoy, pressures of me now. 😂

On 5/3/2024 at 6:42 AM, madtatt said:

Oh, there was already some information from you that helped me with my model. Of course, it is always much easier and requires less research when you can use such a detailed report. Funnily enough, it was user CDW's model that brought me to the Mikasa. And don't worry, I'm not a fan of quick construction, I worked on my Battleship Bismarck for almost two and a half years.
So thank you again for sharing this report with us.

That’s a coincidence madtatt, my next planned build is the 1/200 Trumpeter Bismarck, for my youngest Son Rory, think l shall be much more in my comfort zone with this, as a child this was always my favourite looking battleship and still is, bit like how l always liked the Tiger Tank IV, bought myself an Airfix Spitfire 1/24 scale a the show so shall be tinkering with this at same time, might be a couple of months down the road though, need a rest, wife says 😂 Best for you on your build, l shall always remember this as a difficult challenge but a rewarding one, again thanks very much. 🤛

On 5/2/2024 at 6:52 PM, Herby63 said:

Congratulations with the marvelous model, the inspiring buildlog and the many trophys

Thanks very much Herby, glad the build log is helpful to you, sometimes not very good with the way l wright or word things, not the sharpest cookie in the world but always liked working with my hands, always going back and fixing grammar and spelling mistakes 🙄 Trophies, think someone was smiling down on me there. 😊

On 5/2/2024 at 5:50 PM, GrandpaPhil said:

Congratulations!  Very well done!

Thanks Phil , the results were just a nice surprise bonus, cheers.👍

On 5/2/2024 at 4:37 PM, Tim Moore said:

Stupendous result Jeff! What an awesome model. A lot of painstaking work I know but you really brought it home. 

Thanks Tim, hope you revisit your own build and repair whatever damage she had. Definitely worth finishing 👍Hope my Son can look at this for many years after l am pushing up the daisies. 😂

On 5/2/2024 at 3:15 PM, ccoyle said:

Wow! That is a fantastic model and display! The awards are well-deserved. Congratulations!

Thank you ccoyle the whole model has progressed through each part of build log, constantly having little ideas, some from looking at old photos and some from visiting the Mikasa museum, some from artistic license, the final part with the raised waterline was always in my head, the three quarter effect stems from deciding to display torpedo net extended, anyone deciding on this for their build, would recommend fitting this last as it’s so very easy to knock and damage it am speaking from experience, l damaged it at least three times, very frustrating, only just finished making it a bit better now, never as good as my first attempt though, trying to keep those guy wires straight is a mission for sure. Can safely say won’t be doing another one, that’s me got that out of my system for good 😂  Regarding awards, that was just  so incredibly, never experienced anything like this before but shall always remember humbly the experience. Thanks again ccoyle. 🤛

8 hours ago, madtatt said:

A fantastic diorama for an impressive model. The prizes are well deserved. 
I hope that my Mikasa comes close to the quality of yours.

Thanks madtatt so glad l got to the end, had a lot of kind remarks at the show, so was a great lift to the spirits. Hope you enjoy your own build and that some of my information is helpful to you. Don’t see this model as a quick build, it’s labour intensive 😂 Thanks for your support madtatt 🤛 and all the best with your build 👍

19 hours ago, Canute said:

Outstanding work. Jeff. Congratulations on your efforts and the awards.

Thanks Canute, it was a long slog for sure, it’s only when you look back at start of build log you realise just how much work goes into something like this, you do forget this as the years roll on, it was a bit stressful near the end in giving myself a deadline, especially when lm so slow, night before show is cutting it fine, in fact didn’t get all the men finished, doing that now, think the Son shall like it. Awards were a very big surprise for me, never had an experience like that, shall always remember this. Again thanks for your support appreciated 🤛

23 hours ago, CDW said:

Just excellent, Jeff. Such a beautiful display and well-deserved awards.

Thanks CDW, it was your build log that initially got me into this, you’ve cost me three years and four months of my life 😂 listening to Jacqueline shouting upstairs, your supposed to be enjoying it, it’s your hobby 😂 Really clad it’s finished now though, looking forward to starting something fresh. Again thanks for your nice comments, means a lot coming from the builder that inspired me in first place, l showed your build log to Jacqueline a few times during your build and she gave me that sceptical look as if to say, you’re going to try and build that 👀  fair thought though l hadn’t completed anything in over forty years, am quite encouraged now😂 🤛

On 5/1/2024 at 1:27 PM, yvesvidal said:

Fantastic diorama. So many great ideas in this presentation.

 

Yves

Thanks Yves, have appreciated all your support throughout this build log. Hope this engorges people to have a go at this model, her looks have grown on me as time has past, initially it was all the marvellous detailing by previous builders that encouraged me into this build, first thoughts on her was from the side didn’t have much difference between forward and aft profile but have grown to like it’s appearance. Again thanks for all your nice comments. 🤛

Thanks guys for following this through to its conclusion, it’s been an experience and a half for me. She also did really well at the model show, have to say floored me, winning four Trophies, boy that was unexpected 

Well there’s the wee guy in the main turret, just about ended up with all the guys in photo 😂

Well that’s as far as got with recording things, the rest involved final stages including painting another sixty odd figures, didn’t quite get them all done before show but finishing of her now, will have to approach my excellent joiner for making top piece of display cabinet, maybe when l get started next build log, Bismarck 1/200 for second Son shall slip a photo of her in case. 👍

These are all photos before changing colour scheme of sea surface.  Once the water base was completed it was another task to fix it to wooden base and model, this was definitely more tricky, the brass supporting tubing had to be 3mm longer for insertion int base witch meant that when l tried to carefully ease into place it was just to high to fit neatly around hull, was touching the rubbing strake around the waterline so couldn’t get a true marking for drilling for brass supports, sussed out had to slacken of model again on base and slip in 3mm packing, joy, got it though, marked around the supports carefully with pencil and removed everything so l could drill the base for brass tubes 3mm deep, yip then it was Gorilla glue around supports and in holes in base then carefully ease back in place without breaking anything, once in position had then to remove 3mm packing that was holding model higher, almost got it right but had to slacken model on base to line up for all pins to fall into holes, then nip up model, that was the tricky bit, not the curve to side of hull, sure you’ll agree 😂

Everything seemed to be coming at same time regarding deliveries, fifty foot boat more figures and other things, can’t even mind. Decided to try and alter the fifty foot boat by removing the weather shielding in front of helm and cutting away and altering rear cabin, had a small book l purchased on these boats so used that for ideas.  Was a model changing moment when l removed her from building cradle to fit her to wooden base, all be it very carefully, boy was l glad to see this in place. The boy at bow for anchorage, piece of 10 mm Copper piping, was about right size for me.

Think at this stage l also started to mark and drill metal frame underneath for brass tubing supports, then started playing with liqitex, cut a long story short, just played around on some off cuts till l thought time to go for it, forgot to say l notched out the foam for the two boats at side of hull before doing this, again using Micro Master boats, modified the 50ft steam Pinnace to make her look different, had this thought in my head of Mikasa arriving in Japan and being fully crewed up from other ships in fleet, hence making the boats looking slightly different. Once the sea surface was dry started fitting brass tubing to metal frame, again using Gorilla glue and trying to keep them all vertical and square. Also managed to purchase a nice piece of wood for base of cabinet, beech l think it is, maybe a bit over top but l think l can get this to work, jigsaw wasn’t a happy bunny though, neither was the wife when she seen all the sawdust in kitchen 😂

Once all fitting good to hull, was good to glue foam boarding to 2mm plastic base, just used gorilla glue for this, worked ok. After this next stage was trying to get right colour for surface of water, as this is totally new ground for me thought would try Vallejo USN Blue, figuring it’s got to be a Pacific Ocean sort of colour, wasn’t quite sure though so asked one of the more experienced members in model club for guidance, when he seen it he said it would be to dark, better going for shades of green. So back to the drawing board and repainted, unfortunately didn’t have time to take photos of this stage as l was racing now 🙄 Ray also gave me bit guidance in coating surface with liquitex Acrylic Gel, another first for me, also recommending Yacht Varnish for final covering.

Hi guys, sorry for the time lapse since last post, but as l said was on a steep learning curve on limited time to finish her for the Scottish National Scale Model Show in Perth so was under a lot of self inflicted pressure to complete on time, in the end l was working till 11 o’clock at night prior to show, boy was l stressed out, thought modelling was supposed to be a pleasure 👀 glad that’s all behind me. 👍 shall try and keep this final update in some sort of order. Here’s what l meant about paper template to side of hull, easier if it’s slightly heavier card 👍

Thanks Evan, getting the contour to the hull not to difficult, just cut a paper template till you get it fitting good and then mark this onto plastic and cut it, then trim this part or parts till they fit to satisfaction. Same procedure for cutting the thicker foam sheet. Trust me the harder part has to come which is  fitting the finished assembly to model and base in the final stages. Shall try an update after this weekend after the show and show finished model. 🤛

7 hours ago, yvesvidal said:

Fantastic idea for the presentation.

 

Yves

Thanks Yves, think you could say trying to get the best of both worlds 👍 first time trying this, so just about there, fingers crossed it works out 🤛 Great feeling being near the end and seeing it come together and thanks for all the kind and encouraging remarks throughout my build log. Started this over three years ago, that’s scary where the time goes.

That’s me for the now. 👍

Back again with another step forward, got the PVC Foam boards cut and shaped to side of hull, happy with how this looks, you can see from photos were l am going with this now, this shall be sea level to the hull, just have to notch out for a mooring boy and two boats before gluing this to plastic underneath, see what l can come up with for a mooring boy, starting to feel like something from Blue Peter now 😂 wish l could say here’s one l finished earlier.

Oh by the way, one other thing l forgot when mentioning corrections was using wooden decking for boat decks and bridge superstructures, be nice to see one done this way too see difference, better to get this in whilst l remember. 👍

That’s me for now, shall post again when l make some more progress. 🤛