DocRob

Actually these are my preferred tools for working with PE: The bending tool and the long bending pliers are good for long sheet parts, like landing flaps and larger parts on ships superstructures. The small tipped bending plier and the above mentioned tweezer is very universal with smaller parts and much faster in use, than the bending tool. The rolling tool is perfect for railings and AA nests on ships and was used a lot for my USS Arizona build. The back side has a thick rubber coating, which enables rolling parts with curved contours, specially when annealed. That's where the lighter comes into play. Annealing brass PE is often overlooked. Heating the brass above the tip of the flame, until it changes color to blue, changes the crystalline structure of the brass and softens the brass for easier bending, specially on curved contours. The pencil is a grease pencil, for holding or lifting up small parts. Not mentioned, different types of CA and a soldering iron. Cheers Rob

In 2018, I wrote this little review about the Tamiya bending tweezers over at LSM and the verdict still stands. I work a lot with PE and have a huge assortment of tools, pliers, bending tools, rolling tools, ..., but these tweezers are by far the most universal tool, when it comes to tiny parts, like with ship modeling. Buenos Dias, friends of the tool heavy workbench, I have a very special relationship towards photoetched parts in modelling. I love to work with metal, enjoy the enhancement of detail and after applying PE sometimes I whish, it would not be necessary to paint these parts because of the luster shine. On the other hand PE can be a real PITA and has the tendency to unify itself with the carpet monster even more than plastic parts. Over the years I used lots of tools for working with PE, there were bending tools, rolling tools, pliers and tweezers and all of them were helpful, but there was something missing between the pliers and a fine tweezer and then I bought this little gem. It is the Tamiya Bending Tweezers (for Photo-Etched Parts) with the Item No: 74117. I got it six weeks ago and I absolutely love that tool. It has become a nearly universal tool for small PE parts. Because of it's short tweezer tips which are finely grinded with sharp angles you can apply enough force to hold PE-parts in place and bend them around the edges. The smallness of the tips make it easy to bend complicated three-dimensonal forms. Another advantage is, that with mentioned small PE parts, there is a much reduced need for tool changes, because of the versatile design. I highly recommend this little helper. It improved my enthusiasm with small PE parts a lot, because of the easiness of use and it's versatility. Tools should make live easier and this one is a very fine example. Cheers Rob

Get well soon Chris. You had a nice trip, it seems. Looks like Lisboa and Obidos on the pictures, both places I really like and might have lived there, haven't I found my remote island. You are absolutely right about the looks of cruising ships, they are a disgrace for maritime vessels. I've seen a lot, cause they are cruising in our waters here around the Canary Islands as well. The nicer are the smaller, classic build ones. Would there be a GB for cruising ships here, I would pass . Cheers Rob

I have never used one of these models, but use different airbrushes since over thirty years. I always bought quality in airbrushes and compressors as well. What you choose for your purpose should be determined through some factors, like: - how often do you use the AB - what type of airbrushing do you plan, meaning, how fine or how artistic do you go - which color mediums do you plan to spray - what are you planning to invest - are you willing to learn proper airbrushing (if that is not already the case) - ergonomics Choosing the right airbrushing equipment is difficult as is airbrushing itself. My personal view is biased to top quality, like H&S Infinity or Rotring airbrushes, a Sparmax compressor with tank a spray booth and a respirator mask, but I use my airbrushes almost daily and also spray aggressive materials, like lacquer paints. Assumptions: The mentioned airbrush might have a pulsing airflow with the tiny or non existent tank, it is bulky and I guess will lead to camps in the hand with longer usage. The cheap fabricated airbrush might be unreliable with the pressure consistency and not too easy to maintain. I don't now the price of the pictured airbrush, but are there fitting spare parts around, a very important aspect in long term use. Are different needle / nozzle sets available? One last anecdote about quality, My old compressor died away this year due to expansion tank corrosion. It was a good model and costed me about 400 (hard earned at the time) German Mark, about 200 € in 1984. Cheers Rob

Since more than a week, we have 35° C in the day- and more than 30° C in the nighttime and in between some days of storm, so watering the garden and Siestas in the shadow are the way to go. The humidity is about 15%, which dries nose, eyes and brain and the weather will stay at least for another week like this, phew . Modelling wise, I made only little progress with the DoK and only managed to prepare one spar with lifts, footrests and other fittings. I should emphasize a bit more on the knots, as my basic household knotting isn't up to the game. I will simplify, but not too much. I will pre rig all the spars next, followed by the pre rigging of the masts, but it will take some time and maybe a tiny in between build . Cheers Rob

Your Macchi looks fantastic, Chris. It always amazes me to see, what great results you achieve with these card kits. I never tried one, but your logs are tempting, so maybe... Cheers Rob

You are cruising through your build Craig, it seems and what you produce pleases the eye. The chassis, motor combo looks so realistic, same with the dashboard. Cheers Rob

My first and only wooden ship build until now is Vanguard's Duchess of Kingston and it was a pure pleasure build. I finished hull and masts in about three month and had lots of fun learning new techniques and I'm a bit proud with what I achieved. After a longer brake, I now start with rigging and this will keep me busy for a while. The DoK might not be a beginner kit, but it's very well designed, has a great manual and plans and there are plenty of very helpful build logs here on MSW. My planking might not be historical correct (I consider to buy a NRG planking clinic kit for further enlightenment), but overall, the build never frustrated me. Like you, I wanted to start my wooden ship modeling career with a subject, I really like to build, but I knew beforehand, I will challenge me a lot. I have an engineering background and decades of model building, using lots of different materials on my back and have a personal quality approach and like to challenge myself. Without these, I'm sure, I would have failed with the DoK. Besides the pointed bow, she has all you asked for and adds some flashy decorations as a bonus. Cheers Rob

The worn effect on the radiator looks fantastic Craig. This seems to develop into a clinic of wear and tear and I'm all eyes and ears, as I really like studying these effects. Cheers Rob

Very nice progress Craig and I learn a lot about the real thing. Definitely an interesting car. Cheers Rob

I can't seem to find building time lately. Nonetheless, I added all the wooden fittings to the yards, glued the PE footrest holders in with CA and inserted brass rods for pinning the yards to the masts. Then all was sprayed matte black. Cheers Rob

The Model Factory Hiro belts are a very nice addition and more detailed than the ones Tamiya supplies. Interestingly, it takes about the same time for the Spot Model parcels to arrive on my doorstep, but I live in Spain. The Canary Islands always need some extra effort, to ship goods here . Your engine looks busy and sports fantastic details. The exhausts are great. Cheers Rob

True words Paul, thank you for that. Modeling for me is competing with myself only, as I never went to competitions. I like to challenge myself and as I'm easily bored, staying with the always same subjects, I like to diversify my projects and try to learn new techniques with every project, I start. You are absolutely right, that acting this way, never will lead to a mastership in all these disciplines, but I accepted that. I feel that working with many different subjects widens the view for possible solutions and applied techniques. If you are an accomplished airbrusher, like yourself, (I'm using airbrushes since over thirty years) it helps with wooden ship modeling as well, for two reasons, first, directly, you can avoid rattle cans and apply color smooth and fine, where many traditional model ship builder would use a brush. Second and even more important, you learned to have the correct disciplined mindset and quality approach, that is needed for both, airbrushing and ship building. I think, ship modeling has closed a bit into the direction of plastic modeling recently, due to extensive use of photoetch, resin casting, 3D-printing, ... and if you are willing to leave the traditional path, skills earned in plastic modelling, become more and more helpful. Your verdict is correct though, but general modeling experience and a quality orientated open mindset helps a lot to close the gap to the masters, but for sure, never reaching it, unfortunately . I hope your struggles with wooden ship modeling will be solved soon and you still have fun, because that's what count most. It's a hobby and meant to be fun. Cheers Rob

Thank you for your encouragements, I omitted some macro shots, revealing the shortcomings of my clumsy rigging . Cheers Rob

Long time no see and there is a reason for it, RIGGING. I built some WW I biplanes over the years and found the rigging difficult but manageable, but this is something completely different, this is frightening and I don't know, how the talented builders here manage to rig their ships to perfection. BUT, I will not give up, I will try to finish the Duchess of Kingston as good as I can, but I can tell you, never in my modeling career I felt so lost. Luckily there are many good build threads here on MSW, which helped me during the earlier stages of the build and will help with the rigging too. I started rigging, adding several blocks and deadeyes to the bowsprit and yard. The process is complicated and my seizing looks terrible in places. CA glue for securing my simple knots is the savior. The bowsprit and yard are not permanently attached to the hull, as I want the maximum possible freedom of movement as long as possible. My rigging will be far from perfect and I'm willing to take some shortcuts. I hope my technique will develop, while at it and in the end the DoK will look at least ok. I will continue to pre-rig all the masts, before adding them to the hull. Cheers Rob

Nice progress Craig, I will see through your build, If you can convert me into a Italeri Bugatti buyer. I considered it sometimes, but I don't like Italeri's quality approach generally and have not one of their kits in my huge stash, therefore. Cheers Rob

Somehow with my approach 25 years ago, the fit of the bulwark looks decent. I cant remember the building sequence, but given my non existent experience at the time and also lack of internet resources, because there was no internet then , I guess, I followed the manual. It looks like this, hope that helps (yes, it's not up to even my standards today). Cheers Rob

I will follow your great build log to gain some motivation. I started the kit maybe 25 years ago and knew next to nothing about wooden ship modeling. I managed the first planking and since then the Le Renard is a shelf queen. Last year, I reentered the hobby and built the Vanguard Duchess of Kingston as my first 'serious' build and finished all the woodwork, hull and masts and try to find the courage for rigging right now. The Renard will be finished, if possible at a later stage. I visited the replica about 20years ago and that should be motivation enough. Cheers Rob

Looking good RGL, but I'm not sure if polishing works. Depending on the silver color used, there will be visible grain, disrupting the chrome appearance. I experimented a bit with chrome and polished aluminum lately and found the best chrome you can spray is Alclad onto Tamiya LP1 lacquer gloss black. The LP 1 need to be thinned with at least two thirds of leveling thinner and the Alclad chrome should be applied in very thin layers, slowly building up the chrome. The finish is very fragile and you have to be careful not to leave fingerprints or scratches. I wouldn't recommend strong decal solvents, I used lukewarm water with a drop of detergent. Cheers Rob

Nice project Craig, can't wait for the paint job, faded and chipped. Cheers Rob

Thank you Theodosius, it's my first wooden ship build and only the thought of rigging makes me shiver. In normal live, I tie my shoes and that's it . The correction of my mistake with the mizzen mast, seems to be robust enough to take the strain, luckily. Cheers Rob

Thank you Craig, you should do yourself a favor and get one of the Tamiya P-38 kits. There is nothing to regret. I think, I learned a lot about finishing through my car builds. It's not perfect, but I'm satisfied with the outcome. Cheers Rob

Thank you Dan, I've just seen that you built the Arado 196B, which looks absolutely beautiful. Only yesterday, I held the box in my hand, thinking about, building the Arado next. I want to learn to airbrush camo patterns better freehanded, so it will be unlikely the Arado, but it's not finally decided. Cheers Rob

Thank you Gentlemen, the so called Gabelschwanzteufel or Fork Tailed Devil was boring to build (Tamiya top quality ) but fun to rivet and finish. My goal was to achieve a polished aluminum surface as shiny as possible and I devoted some time to develop my modus operandi. It will not be my last NMF plane for sure, as some airframes look best with this finish, like a P-51 as well. @Landlubber Mike Good that you've looked only for the hair, but hey, I have a weak spot here too . Cheers Rob

Thank you Ron, Chris and Keith for explaining your method. The common process you describe is to assemble the masts completely off the model. I wouldn't have thought of that, but now, pondering about, it seems logical. Handling is much easier this way, but I'm not sure, if I want to add the yards right away, but will definitely do all the preparations to accept the yards, before starting with the shrouds. @hollowneck I will use my razor saw with a very fine blade for the surgery of the Gentlemen. The construction of the hull took about two and a half month and was faster done than thought. For the rigging, I expected more, given my non existent expertise. It's not often that I feel that lost with modeling . Cheers Rob