yvesvidal

Finally, Step 8 of the second session is over. I am letting you enjoy the plethora of information and guidance that CAF model is giving to the builder: Coppering !!! It is all in the name :-) That tedious process is finally over, with close to 2,400 tiles cut, embossed, peeled and placed by hand. The number is very close to what the real ship used and that is a testimony to the size of the model tiles (25 mm x 8 mm). I would absolutely recommend the process of using the 3M copper tape, as it is so much easier to prepare, install and glue than pre-cut tiles with CA glue. The burnishing allowed with the copper tape also permits you to finish nicely, those delicate sections where a piece of metal may not fit perfectly. Finally, if the cost is a consideration, know that I was able to finish this enormous hull with only two rolls of tape and I have plenty left for the rudder or any repair. Cost was $43 including shipping versus the $400 for the tiles + many glue bottles that the kit copper tiles would cost you. A big thank you to all the readers that have convinced me to go with the tape. I am going to let it sit for a few days, as the copper is slowly tarnishing and acquiring that red and warm hue that I enjoy so much. After that I will seal it with Future Floor most likely. Let's enjoy some pictures of the finished animal: For those who would be tempted to follow this process, here is the invoice for the two rolls of 3M tape: and the product: There are some variations in the color of the tiles, which is actually rather pleasant, but the more I wait and the more everything blends nicely like the foliage in autumn. I hope you have enjoyed that approach. I know I was very hesitant to start it and I do not regret it in any ways. The only casualty of this process is that I no longer have a full nail on my right thumb, after peeling 2400 copper tiles from their protective adhesive backing. I am going to force on the brewer's yeast supplements to re-grow that nail.... Yves

I am completely ignorant in these tropical species, but does that coffeewood smell like coffee? It would make for a very fragrant model... 🙂 Yves

For people, I would use the large choice of figures available in 1/24th scale. G scale is not 1/24, more like 1/29th.... O-scale is 1/48th 1-Scale is 1/32nd G-scale is around 1/29th if I am not mistaken. MASTER BOX offers a nice range of girls, ladies and men at that scale. Yves

Can't stop building, even when relaxing in one of the most beautiful locations on the planet. I would be in the water, all day long.... Enjoy. Yves

Nice recovery from the rust.... Yves

So beautiful. I can feel that you truly are enjoying building this model. Yves

Not exactly the same, but it could serve as a base for your upcoming RC model: https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-models/hobby-diy/other/castle-class-corvette Yves

That is such a great idea. Your direct descendants may not care about your models, but someone down the line may have one day some curiosity about them. These scrolls will tell them about you and the building of that model. Yves

I love the suspension of the cabin 🙂 Yves

Big milestone today, as the starboard side is fully tiled: Close to 1200 copper tiles went onto the hull. Each tile being 25 mm x 8 mm, cut, embossed and placed by hand one at a time. The beautiful side of the copper tape is that you can burnish each tile and make it blend with the neighboring tiles, for a more realistic aspect. Each tile is overlapping on two sides by a minute amount (usually under 1 mm). Now, of course, I still have the port side to cover and blend the two sides together: Below are the reference of the copper tape used. Very inexpensive and with two packs, I should be able to cover the entire hull and may have some tiles left for the rudder. Some close-ups pictures: Once both sides are ready I will let the copper tarnish to a beautiful red color and will seal it to prevent ripping the tiles and to block the oxidation to a certain amount. I have been running some tests and will be disclosing the chemical soon: no, it is not Wipe On Poly. WOP is not strong enough for such a large covering. Without additional light, the reddish color is starting to show nicely: Yves

I see the Italeri FIAT 806 that you described in another thread. It feels lonely.... Yves

Allan, thank you for the compliments. To be completely honest and precise, the Copper tiles set from CAF is $328 plus shipping (not $500 as I had said before). They basically send you 50 sheets of copper, pre-printed and pre-stamped. You still have to cut them one by one and glue them. I never purchased the whole copper set and only asked them to send me a sample of the tiles when i purchased the Session #2, before committing to the copper purchase. I am glad I did that, as the size was not what it needed to be. CAF offered to print larger tiles for me and that may have entailed an additional cost. In the end, I decided to go with the copper tape, and I am glad I did as the installation is a lot easier and the hull will not look like it has chicken pox. I have tiled close to a quarter of the hull, as shown below: Each roll of copper tape is 33 meters long by 7.98 mm wide. That is equivalent to 1320 tiles of 25 mm long each. With this calculation, I should be able to tile half of the hull with one spool of copper tape, since the original vessel required about 2400 tiles to cover the entire hull. We will see how it goes. I have a second spool on hand for the other side. Yves

Superb copper tiling! I am in the process of doing this on my large Bellona model. Yves

One of my favorite boats.... What a superb model! Yves

What a beautiful Sphinx. Your model is becoming a reference for enthusiasts and I will certainly use some of your ideas on my ship. Yves

I am having some success with the copper tape from 3M. I like it a lot better than gluing with CA (fumes...and fingers) pre-fabricated tiles. These massive vessels require a lot of tiles. Yves

Updates will be coming very slowly, from now on, until I can finish at least one side of the hull coppering. Each tile is cut, embossed and placed by hand. There is a slight overlap in both dimensions (flotation line overlapping keel tiles and bow overlapping stern tiles). A labor of love and infinite patience, but so beautiful under a dimmed light. Yves

Glen, it is coming along very nicely. Congratulations. Yves

Please, send me your address and I will ship you my manual and the Paint Reference booklet. Yves

Ras, this is superb and so realistic. Please paint the crew when you get a minute or two. I love the distressed look of the hull, it is perfect. Yves

I just started on the coppering..... The beginning is not too tedious, but I am sure it will not be the same in a few days.... The tiles are made one by one, using the chopper tool: I am using 3M adhesive tape and that helps a lot as the tiles are easy to install, do not require any glue and can be burnished in position for a nice fit. As mentioned before, the copper tiles provided by CAF are not of the right size and require the use of CA glue. Below you can see the difference in size between the CAF tiles and the ones I am building: The CAF tiles are rather expensive (I think the set for Bellona is about $500 plus shipping) and the 3M tape is a lot more affordable. The real tiles were 4 feet long by 15 inches wide. At the scale of 1/48th, it means a tile of 2.5 cm (1 inch) by 8 mm. The 3M tape is 7.98 mm wide which is perfect for this use. I am using a wheel to mark a line of nails all around the tile. In my humble opinion, it looks more realistic than the traditional porcupine tiles provided by kit makers. Also, the holes are indented into the tiles instead of protruding out, which is contrary to the real way this was done. Copper nails were hammered into the tiles and there were no bumps visible. The real ship required 2741 tiles and about 2.5 tons of copper nails (according to the Anatomy of the Ship book). The overlap was about 1 inch and a half, which is close to 1 mm at 1/48th scale. I am setting the tiles starting from the keel and from the stern, and overlapping them, until I reach the flotation line and the bow. Yves

That was quite funny" The cruel Seas from 1962..... Yves

Absolutely superb and bellissimo. What would have been the use of such drawer? Yves

Now,I understand the choice of the tiny mine sweeper..... Yves

Thank you guys for the encouragements and praises. I will try to get a friend who has some professional cameras to take a few more pictures. Yves