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That MIG Ultra Glue does the trick.

After watching how 'Dave' is attaching his PE to the Hood in the YouTube Hood build, I decided to give it a try.  David is using heavy super glue because of the slow(ish) drying time and then fixing it into place with extra thin super glue.  The thick glue gives him time to move the part around, the thin glue locks it into place.  I was all set - but my thick glue managed to become set in the bottle over time.  So, no bueno.

Had to try the Ultra Glue.  It works great for the purpose of a slow drying fix.  It dries clear and it doesn't seem to be nasty on the residue.  Then, I lock the part into place with the extra thin.

We shall see.  My first PE is a bit messy, but starting to get the hang of it.  I haven't painted any of it yet.  Again, we shall see.

Beautiful job weathering that wood deck. 

My build will be lightly weathered because the Admiral Graf Spee did not take fire till the 'Battle of River Plate'.  I am either going to model her as she left Germany or as she looked before she sported the bow wave and the second darker grey camo pattern.  I love the bow wave, but that is how most model her and I hanker to be different...

Anyway, if you could summarize the techniques you used to weather those wood decks I would be forever in your debt.  I have never implemented a wood deck and paralysis by analysis is starting to take hold🤪

The build is going slow, but reasonably well.  Got a growing bag-of-bones awaiting sanding, puttying, priming, and painting.  Since you all like photos, here is a sample of the contents in that old bag:

So exciting.

I'm actually in a bit of a holding pattern.  The wife noticed that I was eying some nice barrels for the 150mm secondaries and some brass masts.  She  thought that would make a nice gift.  Man, I want the barrels but I NEED the masts.  I break masts like crazy.  I have never had a mast survive my ten thumbs.  So, that was nice of her. 

I also kinda glammed some paint that is supposed to be a match for the metal decks.  That wasn't too important when I started, but research indicates that the Admiral Graf Spee sailed out of Germany with Hellgrau 50/51 pre-war colors, got a camo pattern on the superstructure with Hellgrau 51, and later sported the dark grey used on the steel decks in other superstructure patterning.  At the end, she was given the bow wave.  So, now there is a chance I will need a better match for the steel deck grey since I may be using it for more of the ship.  That decision is coming soon...

Man, the Hood is a stunning ship.  Look at her.  You are doing her justice... 🫠

While it may not be anything you can use, there is a YouTube modeler videoing his 1/350 build of the Trumpeter Hood.  His site is "David's Ships".  Even though he is building to a different scale, a different manufacturer, and likely has different goals there might be a tidbit in there that is useful.  I know his build series has been helpful in my Graf Spee.  Helped me organize things for my most adventurous project yet.  I kinda like how he discusses mistakes and how to fix them.  I know you won't make any, but...

My first photo etch!!!

I think I'll keep it pretty much hidden till I get a coat of paint on it🤪.  What a chore.  I'm starting to figure out ways of doing things, but...

I don't think I am going to use the photo etch for those square 'windows' to the front of the superstructure.  That is what paint or a heavy wash is for!!!

It seems like such a waste to file off the hatches just to apply PE hatches.  In fact, as this time I don't see the benefit.  Since I am modeling the ship underway, her hatches will be closed.  And, the closed hatches have very little detail.  On the other hand, I think the catapult and cranes will look great in PE.

So, the Bro-In-Law has vacated the premises and I am grinding to start afresh on the Admiral Graf Spee.

This video is from a site showing their build of an HO scale model train environment - the engines, the cars, the roadbed, the scenery, etc...  I am slowly grinding my way through some of them.  I think some of you folks will find the weathering techniques useful:
 

Sometimes you can find the crown jewels in unexpected places.  Her most recent video is about heavily weathering an diesel engine.  That weathering job makes some of @RGL's stuff look like it came off the showroom floor 😁

BTW, I might have corrected my initial entry or maybe I didn't, but...  The Admiral Graf Spee was out to sea for months before her sinking.  She was active off the West and East African coasts, around the Indian Ocean, and then all the way to South America.  Those paint fade weathering techniques mentioned in the above video will be implemented.  They look quite doable.

Finally - and this is scary - some of those engines she is painting can cost upwards of $1,000.  Oftentimes higher if brass.  Yowser, you have to have some serious brass nuggets to start detailing on those models.  Before I touch an engine with a paintbrush I will have to KNOW I am pretty good.  Not yet, not quite yet😶

Yup, pretty slow...

And, my Bro-In-Law is dropping by...

So, gotta box the Spee and set things up for him...

Wow, this is going to take some TIME...

I didn't realize that the doors and 'windows' had to be drilled out.  I thought they just had to be flattened or filed off to get the PE on.  I've never done that before.  

Is that what you guys do?  It sure looks like that is the process. 

Am I the only one looking down the funnels at those 'details' and noting a ladder...

I think we just found the absolute worse job on the Dreadnought.

Yowser, that would not be fun...

Came out great!!!

Little fix-ups needed here and there.  A little work on the stern, and some bleed of hull red into the hellgrau 51, but tiny stuff that can be fixed after the paint completely cures.  The only unhappiness is that the hull red - although I lightened it a bit - is very dark and the waterline is not contrasting very well.  Regardless...  

Couldn't be happier with the results.

Those drilled out portholes are pure happiness in the end.  It wasn't as much a task as I thought it would be.  Just a bit monotonous, but spread out over a few days it wasn't too bad.  Now to do the sharpened pencil thang, fix the minor flaws in the paint, and apply a matte clear coat.

Then off to either the superstructure or my first wooden deck.

Pray for me...

The time is nearing for when I must pull the tape off. 

Will there be a nice, level waterline - or...

something worse, much worse

One more hour till yank time...

3 hours ago, shipman said:

I admire the results you are presenting

I'm having to re-address what I accept is modelling/model making.

It's undeniable the fidelity achievable using 3D printing is impressive.

Progress is in the eye of the beholder and its justification no doubt will be ''it's just another tool''.

No doubt this tech is here to stay and will develop, but it is another aspect of the hobby only accessible to those with deeper pockets than mine.

As I say, I admire the results displayed on a project such as this, but wonder what impact it will have on the hobby as a whole.

The paradigm has shifted.

And I just got older.

We all just have to be adult enough to look at

• What we want out of the kit
• What our skill level is
• and, our budget

I lurked this site for about a year before I built my first model in 30 years.  So, the 1:700 Tamiya HMS Repulse it was.  I didn't want to spend over the kit price for something I wanted displayable, but not museum quality - especially since this was going to be a new experience for me.  So, I had to step back from trying to duplicate the quality of RGL and others in that build.  I don't think I will ever get there, but small steps and time may get me closer.  You have to know what you want out of a kit. 

However, with the basic skills down and the enjoyment of the subject and the fact that this will be my first real 1:350 build, I am willing to spend the kit price on aftermarket for the Graf Spee.  It won't be museum quality, but it will be presentation quality for my case (that I haven't built yet😶.  So, the overall cost will be about double the cost of the kit alone.  That is not a bad investment for what will likely be 4 - 6 months of 'enjoyment'.

Not every kit will need this effort and expense.  Some will just be a break, some have no chance of getting there, some will not get there for financial reasons - but, some will.

GLHF

Some amazing photos of the Admiral Graf Spee throughout her career:  

'German Heavy Cruiser Admiral Graf Spee', Destination's Journey

These cover her from christening through scuttling.  Well worth reviewing if you want to see how refits affected her.  Not going to post any of these photos.  I know some are in the public domain, but others...

Got the Hull Red on.  Easy peasy...  Hopefully😄.  The truth will be in the unmasking after the bootline is applied.  🤞

BTW, you guys almost let me paint this dang thing without the prop shafts and stabilizers (or, whatever they are called)...

It's weird how the color doesn't really show in the photo.  My mix for Hellgrau 51 has a blue tint to it.  The photo looks like a matt finish on raw plastic.

Gotta get those photo skills improved, eh...

Yowser, after a lot of putty, much sanding, and a bit more primer than I like, I finally got the Hellgrau 51 on the hull.  

And, still had a seem in the hull.  I think it would have been noticeable by Muppet Children when displayed, so...

Since I am likely going to use a stand I decided to fill that seam with the ole' wet finger technique.  So, the hull is masked for applying the anti-fouling red after the putty dries, gets sanded down, and a flat clearcoat cures.  I'll get the clearcoat on tonight.  This hull has been a nightmare, but she is coming along.  I really don't like this kinda 'work' in modeling.  I managed to avoid wiping out the detail on the hull since most of the kluge work has been on the seam - which in spots was more a gap, a hole, a canyon... 

Next, a little more more masking for the boot line and a bit of flat black.

Then post some exciting photos.  All heck, why not spread the pain around - I'm sure all of you have dealt with this:



The amount of work to get here has been stupid.  It is a known issue with this kit, but I think mine was special.  Anyway, looking at the sprues and the bits of superstructure I have been 'working' on it seems to indicate that the rest of the kit is pretty good.  At least I don't think I'll be gluing open boxes together and hoping things square off...

Any ideas on improving the masts.  RGL was right in that the Pontos aftermarket kit had masts, but it was more than a bit overwhelming for my current skillset.  I would never finish the kit.  But, I do like the subject, so perhaps in a future build.  The masts are both fragile and a bit clunky.  It would be nice to replace them with something a bit sturdier and elegant.

Ooo, that use of bed foam while working the hull is a great idea.

Looking good.

Wow, that is impressive.  I never saw it coming.

It looks like the hull will come through.  However, I think I am going to rattle can primer rather than messing with the airbrush.  Man, that hull took a lot of putty.  It was kinda warped in 3D 🫣.  I hope it comes out.  From the look I believe it will be fine...

Then paint.

Then off to the superstructure.  Actually, I think I will start the superstructure build soon.  Maybe as I wait for the primer and the three hull colors to dry...

All that repair work slowed things down.  Finally got some putty on that mess.  Waiting for it to dry.

It will come out alright.  I was going to take a photo and post it, but...

Duke is playing UNC tonight.  So...

Hope the rest of the kit is engineered better than this:

This has been a PITA.  I used medium gap filling super glue and a roll of tape.  This is the first time I have ever used such glue.  I may have lathered it on a bit too much.  It is taking forever to dry...

I'm not dead yet!!!

I was going to post a pre-paint, but finished and filled hull.  Wow, the fit and finish of this is awful.  I knew that was the case, but this is going to be a bit difficult.  Not only does it want to split apart, but the fit at the bow and stern pins is god awful.  My understanding is that the rest of the kit is a gem, so all will be forgiven.  I will get the hull completed tomorrow under natural light.  I can see better in natural light.  Anyway, I have received all but the Micro Master turrets - and, I ordered those just recently.  Here is the aggravating hull and the aftermarket items:

Many thanks, Greg.  Nice tip for the inner porthole ring.

Anyway, if there are noobs out there (me!!!) who fear carving into a perfectly good plastic model ship then take a gander at this PlayList of an HMS Hood 1/350 Trumpeter kit.  The site is David's Ships.

I found his site quite a while ago when I first started getting reinterested in building model ships.  Highly recommended.

Wow, looks awesome...

I'm glad I spotted the mention of the MicroMaster guns in one of your early posts.  They are amazing.  Bought some for my build.  Now, I see you painted them on their supports.  Follow the leader...

Noob Question: 

Do you leave the drilled out portholes:

• Open
• Put a dark backing behind them
• Build some kind of light blocking structure in the hull

A simple layer of hemorrhoid cream seems to have healed the pox 🤪