HMS Warspite by Old Collingwood - FINISHED - Academy - 1/350 scale - PLASTIC

[Old Collingwood]

4 minutes ago, CDW said:

Gotta give you some kudos for your brush work, OC.

Looks real, real nice.

Thank you so much.

 

OC.

[popeye the sailor]

had to........it was almost up to my knees!   been too rainy here to do it      bet your patio is dust free   

[Old Collingwood]

11 minutes ago, popeye the sailor said:

had to........it was almost up to my knees!   been too rainy here to do it      bet your patio is dust free   

Sure is I vacumed it yesterday 😀

 

OC.

[CDW]

36 minutes ago, popeye the sailor said:

had to........it was almost up to my knees!   been too rainy here to do it      bet your patio is dust free   

We must be in another El Nino year. It's been raining extremely heavy every day here in Tampa. Lots of creeks, ponds and lakes are starting to overflow their banks. In Florida, percolation accounts for about a third to half of all stormwater runoff (which is a good thing). But when it rains every day like this and the ground becomes saturated, it cannot absorb any more water and it all tries to run off into the bay/gulf. That's when things get real dicey and all these newer subdivisions who have been built in the past 50 years begin to have real problems.  

[Jack12477]

2 hours ago, CDW said:

We must be in another El Nino year. It's been raining extremely heavy every day here in Tampa

Try living in the Finger Lakes region this past week.  Seneca Lake, the 2nd longest (38 miles, 61 km) and largest (by volume, estimated at 3.81 cubic miles or 15.9 cubic km) lake in the Finger Lakes saw the lake level rise 10 inches between 3:30 AM and 1:00 PM on this past Tuesday after 5-9 inches of rain fell in a short period of time over the southern end of the lake.  Seneca Lake, for those not familiar, holds about half the total volume of all the other Finger Lakes.  Cayuga Lake, its neighbor and the longest of the lakes( just under 40 miles, 64 km), experienced a water level rise of about 3 inches.  That's a lot of acre feet of water. The system sat off the New England coast pumping moisture off the Atlantic into central NY in a counter clockwise pattern, dumping most of it over the Finger Lakes area and central Pennsylvania.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening all,     pom pom  number three  - kit bashed, assembled pe fitted and painted  then glued down.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

I took a shot this evening with my dslr,   it was a low light shot using the camera flash.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening everyone,    again - sincere thanks to all for the looks,  likes and comments.

 

Right!  I thought I would do a mini blog on the building of one of my pom pom units,  I thought I would do this as its the last one to be built and perhaps it will be useful and hopefully interesting.

 

So lets start -

First job was to cut the base and the left and right barrel units from the spru,  then they were tieded up removing the join pips - after the two halves of the barrel unit were glued together, and the ammo feeds were filed smmoth all the way round,    then the base recieved some attention starting by the fitting of the motor body made from 2mm dowel sanded down slightly and cut to a legnth of about 4mm,  it was then glued using ca  and heated by hairdryer to speed up setting.

Next I cut and filed off the plastic interpretation of the barrel guard.

Here are the pictures showing the barrel unit assembled, and the base with the motor unit  -

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Then I turned the base over and set about removing some of the framework by filing it (the idea is to reduce the height they sit on the deck)   next was to remove the pe barrel guard  and clean it up slightly around the edge also filing the inside a bit to aid gluing the center strip against the body,   then after drying I had to bend in both wings of the guard and glue it to the base  -

 

Pictures show this sequence starting from the flat guard.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Next was to cut away the two hand rails that go on the front of the base - again pe units,    these were cut using my sharp scalpel blade, with a small amount of trimming the pips that come away with it,   to aid fitting in place - I scored a slight channel in the base (only a scalpel blade width)   then I dribbled a small amount of ca into the channel using a tooth pic size dowel thats been pointed,    and used my scalpel to place the rails  carefully nudging them into correct alignement.

 

Pics show the pe fret with the rails highlighted inside the red circle, and me cutting them away with my scalpel, then showing them placed on the base.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

So were getting there piece by piece  -  next comes the barrel units that were fiited with the left and right  ammo unit frames, these were cut from the pe fret then bent into a U shape bending in their wings,  these were then placed over the ammo boxes (but a little trick was to hold the units upside down so the frames were placed with gravity keeping them in place)  then some ca was applied over them - this found its way behind the frames by capillary action, this was repeated front and back and on both ammo boxes, then dry heated.

Next off was to cut away  the top details that simulate the ammo, this was attached to other parts of the frames on the pe fret, then it was just a case of applying some ca and placing the two ammo plates ontop of the ammo boxes.

 

These pics show the completed barrel unit  and the base.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Nearly there  - Next was to glue dow the barrel unit to the base and in doing choose what elevation I wanted, then after drying I fitted the final small pe items including the sights unit that was fitted ontop of the barrel unit, and a front sight unit that was glued to the edge front of the base.

 

So apart from painting, this is the completed pom pom unit  - and last one I needed to build.

 

Hope its been of interest and helpful in building these interesting assemblies.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

All four pom poms now on the ole girl.

 

OC.

Edited August 17, 2018 by Old Collingwood

[lmagna]

It is interesting to see something about the size of a truck in real life be reduced to having to use a macro lens to even see the details!

 

Nice work and interesting presentation OC

[Old Collingwood]

13 hours ago, lmagna said:

It is interesting to see something about the size of a truck in real life be reduced to having to use a macro lens to even see the details!

 

Nice work and interesting presentation OC

Thank you kindly lou,  its supprising just how small the pieces are, and the level of dexterity just to hold them takes some doing.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening all,   I started work on the cranes today  I decided to make the kit one and compare it to the pe version,   after cleaning and thinning some of the support struts, I decided to go with the kit one,  I decided to make up some platform gantrys also some railings, not foregeting  the ladder,  also I added some pe bits and pieces just to give it some detail.

Next off was the actual crane lattice boom,  this is a alum pe part that comes with the kit, the main part is folded in three and then has the bottom glued to make up the box work, then there is a upper sheave with control wheel that I fitted on both sides, I even fitted the hook up inside the sheave.

 

Here are a few pictures showing the state of build minus the guy lines.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Good day friends,   crane number one complete and fixed inplace,   from where I left off i had to fit the two control cables, this was tricky as they are preformed pe parts with wheels on both ends, but they are too long - so I glued the one end then when set I secured the other end and applied some glue and trimmed off the the excess.

Next I applied a few coats of paint starting with the lattice boom (trying to hand paint inside this is awkward)   then I painted the cables and the drum flat black - whils't using the black I painted the end of the boom aswel.   then it was the turn of the cranes body  - this too was painted the same as the boom.

 

When dry I fitted it to the deck.

 

Here are a few pics with it fitted.

 

OC.

[CDW]

Once again, you've done some remarkable brush work on that crane. It looks outstanding, OC. You must have a very small brush to paint inside that boom.?

PS: I like the combination of kit parts with the photo etch ones to build your crane. Looks very good that way.

 

Edited August 19, 2018 by CDW

[Old Collingwood]

9 minutes ago, CDW said:

Once again, you've done some remarkable brush work on that crane. It looks outstanding, OC. You must have a very small brush to paint inside that boom.?

PS: I like the combination of kit parts with the photo etch ones to build your crane. Looks very good that way.

 

Thank you so much.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

5 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

trying to hand paint inside this is awkward

Hi OC

I have had to do similar painting things on models in years past and as I didn't even own an airbrush had to brush paint just as you do.

I found that if you pour a small puddle of paint onto a flat surface you can dip the item into the paint and then brush OFF the excess with a dry brush rather than paint it on. smaller stuff you can just dip into the jar.

 

Sounds odd but it worked for me back in my younger days.

[Old Collingwood]

33 minutes ago, lmagna said:

Hi OC

I have had to do similar painting things on models in years past and as I didn't even own an airbrush had to brush paint just as you do.

I found that if you pour a small puddle of paint onto a flat surface you can dip the item into the paint and then brush OFF the excess with a dry brush rather than paint it on. smaller stuff you can just dip into the jar.

 

Sounds odd but it worked for me back in my younger days.

Thanks for that lou,   I will see if I can try that - it might not  work out too well though, as I only have a small amount of paint left in my Lifecolor tubs so I dont think I would have enough paint to dip the other boom into,   the build has used up almost all my paint so far also allowing for shrinkage as the set of paints is over 3 years old,  I will have to put another paint set on my  (needs to finnish the build list)   so far that includes those Shapeways 20mm Oerlikons, some very thin wire for the comms wires   then my display case.

 

OC. 

[Old Collingwood]

Hi all,   so after a slow start earlier - I managed the complete and fix in place the second crane,   so this complates the hanger/boat/crane block.

 

OC.

[CDW]

Nice that they give you the boom cables with the photo etch. A very realistic look to it, the way the cables sag and all. I like it.

[Old Collingwood]

32 minutes ago, CDW said:

Nice that they give you the boom cables with the photo etch. A very realistic look to it, the way the cables sag and all. I like it.

Thanks mate,    yep I worked on the cables to get  some sag in them by gently pushing down and runing a tooth pic type device along the cable, also applying heat helps.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Planing ahead for my work tomorrow -  I will take off the boat/hanger.crane block  and put it aside,  then with the hull without too many obstructions or delicate parts,   I will work on the anchors then paint and fit them,  the same with a few of the hull booms that need wok on them and a bit of paint then fitting.

Then back on the deck I will be able to start working on the main mast and the Type 281 RDF radar from my pontos frets,  I will also use some of the other pe details but will substitute the plastic masts and beams for wood dowel versions,  as I have a few from my wood kits that will give a little bit more strength over the plastic ones.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening all,   a bit more progress today this time on the hull,  first off I ftted the last two booms  - simple operation just cut from the fret trim up and glue in place then painted hull color,  next was the two main anchors and the spare one - these are the kit plastic ones as they are quite a good shape, I trimmed the pips of the edges and gave the edges more shape, then I attached the shank uisng ca  for strength,  then I painted all three the same color as the hull  and added a slight dry brush on the edges, then I glued them into place.

Next I decided to have a go at some paravane cables,  first off I needed some very fine wire - so I found a way to create some,  inner brass wire from low voltage wiring (like phone chargers)   I found an old one with about a meter length so it was just a case of stripping the outer casing then each positive and negative till I found the brass inner thin wire, I cut a length about a 8 inches long, then I centered the mid point around the inner first bollard and added a touch of ca to the wire, this held it in place, then I pulled the wires forward and over the extreme front hull and down to the bottom of the hull and fixed them from both ends into the anchor hole points.

Then a coat of flat black.

 

Just the two pics today.

[popeye the sailor]

wow!  great progress OC!  the cranes and pom poms came out super.......look great on the superstructure.  very well done!

[Old Collingwood]

17 minutes ago, popeye the sailor said:

wow!  great progress OC!  the cranes and pom poms came out super.......look great on the superstructure.  very well done!

Thank you denis,  very nice of you to say.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening everyone,   well I started work on the main mast  so I hope your all sitting comfortably  -

 

I started with the pontos pe 281 RDF Radar device, this had to be cut from the fret then bent inwards in four places to form a kind of box,  straight forward just a bit delicate, I decided to to apply a bit of ca all over to strengthen it,  next off  I had to consider what I was going to use for the pole thats runs through the center, this is so tiny but needs to be strong and long enough to include a few items to it.

I decided to try my tiny drill set to see if one fits  "success"  it fitted it perfectly, this was just lined up and secured with ca,  below this on the pole is a swiggly electrical device glued in place then a platform with a railing around it,   this was dryed using the dryer then a few extra dabs of ca for strength.

This was put a side while I worked on the main mast,  first I cut from the kit fret the plastic main mast part,  this part has  a platform containing a light lower down, and a device at the top,  I decided to make a version from my narrow wood dowel,  first I cut to the same length as the kit part - then I had to work on thinning the whole dowel,  I did this by using some medium wet and dry and a sanding stick, I kept rolling the dowel on the wet and dry till I reached the correct thiness,  I also cut away two pe brackets with holes through them - I was able to use the holes to compare mast thickness.

 

So after getting the correct size wood dowel mast - next job was to position two brackets a third of the way down, these are placed at 90/180 degrees ontop of each other, a few dabs of ca and they were placed,  next I had to position the light platform - this was another pe part, and was bent into shape then glued onto the mast, ontop of this I glued the kit light fitting part,   to finnish off I had to drill through the center of a tiny kit part, this goes at the top of the main mast  for the Radar device to fit to,  after drilling the part was cut away from the plastic mast then glued to the new wood version.

Next off I had to work on the two differnt size yards,  to be placed at cross angles on the brackets fitted to the mast,  these yard needed some considerable thinning from the dowel used for the mast,  after a hour or so I arrived at correct thickness (thiness)  so these were also glued in place.

 

To finnish off I smeared some ca over the mast/yards to give them a bit of extra protection.

 

So after a day mast building here are a few pics.

 

OC.

[popeye the sailor]

nice start on the masts